Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Lemuel A. Johnson (1941-2002) was born in Maiduguri, Nigeria. An expert in African literature and the Diaspora, a literary critic, and poet, he taught English at the Fourah Bay College of the University of Sierra Leone and comparative literature at the University of Michigan. From 1985 to 1991 he served as director of the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies; author of a three-volume work of poems entitled the Sierra Leone Trilogy. and numerous works of literary criticism. Papers include biographical information, correspondence from colleagues and family, and information about his work in the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies and the Department of English Language and Literature. There are also notes and drafts of Johnson's literary criticism, poetry, and his other writings.

The Lemuel A. Johnson papers (6 linear feet) date from 1942-2002. The papers include biographical information, correspondence from colleagues and family, and information about his work in the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies and the Department of English Language and Literature. There are also notes and drafts of Johnson's literary criticism, poetry, and his other writings. They are arranged into six series: Biographical Information, Conferences, Correspondence, University of Michigan, Writings, Materials Related to, and Writings.