Clarence Noel Johnson was born on December 25, 1897 in Chicago, Illinois according to his World War I and II draft cards. In the 1900 United States Census, he was the youngest of two sons born to David, a music teacher, and Mamie. The family’s Chicago address was 2239 Ashland Avenue.
The 1910 census counted a third son in the Johnson family who resided at 4626 North Ashland Avenue in Chicago.
The name of Johnson’s high school is not known. There were two students named Clarence N. Johnson who attended Waller High School. The Chicago Daily Tribune, January 29, 1915, said one graduated the two-year vocational course. The Tribune, June 23, 1916, listed the same name under the four-year commercial course.
On September 12, 1918, twenty-year-old Johnson signed his draft card. He was a printer at R. R. Donnelly. Johnson’s description was medium height, slender build, blue eyes and brown hair.
The 1910 census counted a third son in the Johnson family who resided at 4626 North Ashland Avenue in Chicago.
The name of Johnson’s high school is not known. There were two students named Clarence N. Johnson who attended Waller High School. The Chicago Daily Tribune, January 29, 1915, said one graduated the two-year vocational course. The Tribune, June 23, 1916, listed the same name under the four-year commercial course.
On September 12, 1918, twenty-year-old Johnson signed his draft card. He was a printer at R. R. Donnelly. Johnson’s description was medium height, slender build, blue eyes and brown hair.
The 1920 census said Johnson lived with his parents at the same address. He was a printer.
Johnson married Marjorie May Stewart on April 9, 1927 in Evanston, Illinois. The Chicago Tribune, April 11, published a photograph of the bride. The 1927 Evanston city directory listed the couple at 911 Elmwood Avenue. Johnson worked in advertising.
Johnson has not yet been found in the 1930 census. He was not listed in the 1931 Evanston directory.
Art Director Johnson and his wife were Chicago residents at 25 East Bellevue Place. The 1940 census said he was in the advertising industry and earned $3,900 in 1939.
On February 16, 1942, Johnson signed his draft card. His address was unchanged. Johnson’s description was five feet eleven inches, 168 pounds, hazel eyes and brown hair.
Art Director Johnson and his wife were Chicago residents at 25 East Bellevue Place. The 1940 census said he was in the advertising industry and earned $3,900 in 1939.
On February 16, 1942, Johnson signed his draft card. His address was unchanged. Johnson’s description was five feet eleven inches, 168 pounds, hazel eyes and brown hair.
The Art Directors Club of Chicago published their ADCC Record of Advertising Art in 1944. Johnson, art director at Reincke-Ellis-Younggreen & Finn, had four advertisements represented in the book. (The New York Times, December 25, 1945, said the agency’s name would change, effective on January 1, to Reincke, Meyer & Finn.)
Fifty-two-year-old Johnson had the same address in the 1950 census. (On the same enumeration sheet was cartoonist Dick Fletcher who lived a block south on Oak Street.)
Johnson had letters published in numerous publications including the Congressional Record of the Senate on July 25, 1950.
Fifty-two-year-old Johnson had the same address in the 1950 census. (On the same enumeration sheet was cartoonist Dick Fletcher who lived a block south on Oak Street.)
Johnson had letters published in numerous publications including the Congressional Record of the Senate on July 25, 1950.
I am, and have been for the last 24 years, art director for Reincke, Meyer & Finn, advertising, 520 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill. I am a veteran of the First World War and during World War II was sponsor for a Japanese alien for the United States Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization.
Martin K. Speckter wrote about creating the interrobang in Type Talks,
March-April 1962. The article included three interpretations by Martin
K. Speckter Associates, Inc. art director, Jack Lipton. Johnson’s three designs appeared in a 1967 issue of Art Direction.
Johnson passed away on April 6, 1975 and laid to rest at Windsor Congregational Cemetery. The Chicago Sun-Times, April 8, 1975, published an obituary.
Clarence N. (Jim) Johnson, 77, a retired advertising agency official, died Sunday in Grant Hospital.
Until retiring in 1969, Mr. Johnson, of 2247 N. Geneva, was art director of Reincke Meyer & Finn Inc., 625 N. Michigan. He was a director of the Mid-North Assn., a Lincoln Park neighborhood group, and editor of the association’s newsletter.
Surviving are his widow, Marna, and a bother, Raymond H.
There will be no visitation or services.
Related Posts
Interrobang, Part 1, Martin K. Speckter, Art Director
Interrobang, Part 2: Jack Lipton, Designer and Art Director
Interrobang, Part 3: Larry Ottino, Lettering Artist, Designer and Art Director
Interrobang, Part 4: Joe Carter, Lettering Artist and Calligrapher
(Next post on Monday: Interrobang, Part 6, Kenneth Wright)
