Historical Photographs of China

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Johnson, George Collection

George Alfred Johnson (1879-1952) was born at Great Crosby, Lancashire, England. After a stint in the army, he qualified as an architect in 1905. Soon afterwards, Johnson arrived in Shanghai, apparently with only £10 in his pocket. In 1913, he become a partner with Henry Lester and Gordon Morriss. The offices of the firm Lester, Johnson & Morriss, Architects and Civil Engineers, were on the Bund, Shanghai, at 1 Kinkiang Road. Johnson married Myrtle Harris (1898-1976) at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Shanghai in May 1917. The couple lived at 727 Avenue Haig and had four children. In 1935, George, Myrtle, an amah and their youngest son Robert Basil Johnson, left China to live in England. HPC refs: GJ01, GJ02, GJ03, and GJ-s.

George Johnson, in fancy dress as 'Johnnie Walker' Whiskey striding man, Shanghai

George Johnson, in fancy dress as 'Johnnie Walker' Whiskey striding man, Shanghai

Light Horse Troop, Shanghai Volunteer Corps, at Public Recreation Ground racecourse, Shanghai

Light Horse Troop, Shanghai Volunteer Corps, at Public Recreation Ground racecourse, Shanghai

The 'Long Bar', The Shanghai Club, 2 The Bund, Shanghai

The 'Long Bar', The Shanghai Club, 2 The Bund, Shanghai

The exposed head of an executed man tied up by a shop

The exposed head of an executed man tied up by a shop

Main staircase, 727 Avenue Haig, Shanghai

Main staircase, 727 Avenue Haig, Shanghai

Children and young people at a public event, Shanghai

Children and young people at a public event, Shanghai

Sikh men at the Public Recreation Ground, Shanghai

Sikh men at the Public Recreation Ground, Shanghai

A street corner - a food cart near a shop selling soap

A street corner - a food cart near a shop selling soap

Boatmen and passengers on a houseboat

Boatmen and passengers on a houseboat

Stone camels and elephants, Xiao Ling Tomb, near Nanjing

Stone camels and elephants, Xiao Ling Tomb, near Nanjing

Miluobao Pavilion, Xuanmiao Temple (玄妙观弥罗宝阁), Suzhou

Miluobao Pavilion, Xuanmiao Temple (玄妙观弥罗宝阁), Suzhou

Mourners under a white canopy in a funeral procession, Shanghai

Mourners under a white canopy in a funeral procession, Shanghai

Huxinting ('The Willow Pattern Tea House') and nine-bend bridge, Shanghai

Huxinting ('The Willow Pattern Tea House') and nine-bend bridge, Shanghai

Toung mourners in a funeral procession, Shanghai

Toung mourners in a funeral procession, Shanghai

Two men at a farm, with a haystack and animal enclosure

Two men at a farm, with a haystack and animal enclosure

Lilong houses with curved gables, Shanghai

Lilong houses with curved gables, Shanghai

A young woman sitting on a stone slab at a vacant building plot

A young woman sitting on a stone slab at a vacant building plot

A woman washing laundry in the doorway of a carpenter's workshop

A woman washing laundry in the doorway of a carpenter's workshop

Men standing beside a peep show box

Men standing beside a peep show box

Tianxinghao (天興號) tea shop, Huizhou District (徽州区), Huangshan City (黄山市)

Tianxinghao (天興號) tea shop, Huizhou District (徽州区), Huangshan City (黄山市)

Punting passengers on a canal in a town or village

Punting passengers on a canal in a town or village

A shop on the corner of Nanking Road and Fokien Road, Shanghai

A shop on the corner of Nanking Road and Fokien Road, Shanghai

People with a hedgehog and pups in a street

People with a hedgehog and pups in a street

People gathered outside a shop selling fans, Shanghai

People gathered outside a shop selling fans, Shanghai

A group including a man holding a small package

A group including a man holding a small package

Dragons on a rooftop, Longhua Temple, Shanghai

Dragons on a rooftop, Longhua Temple, Shanghai

Man wearing a boater hat standing beside a censer

Man wearing a boater hat standing beside a censer

Boats near Panmen (a water and land gate) and city walls, Suzhou

Boats near Panmen (a water and land gate) and city walls, Suzhou

A shopping street with horse carriage, rickshaws, carter and water carrier, Shanghai

A shopping street with horse carriage, rickshaws, carter and water carrier, Shanghai

The Temple of the Queen of Heaven (天后庙), North Honan Road (河南北路), Shanghai (上海)

The Temple of the Queen of Heaven (天后庙), North Honan Road (河南北路), Shanghai (上海)

River boat dwellers buying and selling rice, Shanghai

River boat dwellers buying and selling rice, Shanghai

Buildings in the old city, Shanghai

Buildings in the old city, Shanghai

Dajing Pavilion (Dajingge 大境阁), workshops and city wall, Shanghai

Dajing Pavilion (Dajingge 大境阁), workshops and city wall, Shanghai

Loading salt onto barges, beside salt stacks, Tianjin

Loading salt onto barges, beside salt stacks, Tianjin

Ruin of the front gate of the Ming palace, Nanjing (南京市)

Ruin of the front gate of the Ming palace, Nanjing (南京市)

Hall of Abstinence (Zhaigong), Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Hall of Abstinence (Zhaigong), Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Huxinting ('The Willow Pattern Tea House'), Shanghai

Huxinting ('The Willow Pattern Tea House'), Shanghai

Two boys beside a man holding a split piece of bamboo

Two boys beside a man holding a split piece of bamboo

Barges, boats and ships on the Huangpu River, Shanghai

Barges, boats and ships on the Huangpu River, Shanghai

Children and adults standing and watching at the side of a street, Shanghai

Children and adults standing and watching at the side of a street, Shanghai