Papers are primarily speeches and addresses given by Johnston soon after his presidency was announced. Johnston toured throughout Illinois and the southern states, introducing himself and speaking about the World War and its impact on the railroad industry. Aside from speeches, there also contains in the papers some articles, a biography, some testimony, and minutes and certificates of dissolution dated 1953 from the following subsidiary companies: Canton, Aberdeen & Nashville (IC 6 C2); Cedar Rapids & Chicago (IC 8 C3); Cherokee and Dakota; (IC 8 C4); Chicago, Havana & Western (IC 8 C52); Chicago, Madison & Northern (IC 8 C63); and Central Elevator and Warehouse Company (IC 9 C2).