Chicago Press Club Chicagoan of the Year Committee records
Collection
Identifier: Midwest-MS-Chicago Press Club
Scope and Contents of the Collection
Records compiled by the Chairman of the Chicagoan of the Year Award Committee, Roger B. Johnston, that include Press Club newsletters, publicity material, awardee biographical information, correspondence, and information about the nomination process. Also includes a plaque with award winner names from 1959 to 1985. Other materials include records of Johnston’s project for 1981 awardee Henry Betts and 1984 awardee Dallas Green to visit the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago with members of the Chicago Cubs during 1985.
Dates
- 1973-1986
Creator
- Johnston, Roger B., -2014 (Person)
Language
Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The Chicago Press Club Chicagoan of the Year Committee records are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).
Ownership and Literary Rights
The Chicago Press Club Chicagoan of the Year Committee records are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections at reference@newberry.org.
Biography of Roger B. Johnston
“Roger B. Johnston enjoyed a distinguished career in public relations that spanned nearly four decades.
After graduating from Harvard University, he spent a dozen years as press relations manager for Pan American World Airways in New York before moving to Chicago and joining the corporate communications department of Illinois Bell Telephone in 1965. During his twenty-six year tenure at Illinois Bell, he served as media relations director for more than two decades and also as director of Corporate Public Policy.
Johnston retired from Illinois Bell in 1991 and was appointed an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. In 1992, he was appointed by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley to the Chicago Advisory Council on Aging, which advised the City of Chicago Department of Aging. Johnston chaired the Council in 1995 and 1996.
He served on the Board of Directors of the Dearborn Park Corporation in Chicago and on the Board of the Arthritis Foundation, Illinois Chapter. He was a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Public Relations Society of America.
Johnston was a member of the Chicago Press Club Board of Directors for nearly a decade and was Chairman of the Chicago Press Club Chicagoan of the Year Committee from 1974 through 1995. In 1981, he received the Press Club’s Most Valuable Member Award.
Johnston was married to Chicago journalist Marcia Slater Johnston for 47 years. He died on April 8, 2014 in Chicago.”
- Marcia Slater Johnston, 2016
Extent
2.1 Linear Feet (1 box and 1 oversize plaque)
Abstract
Records compiled by the Chairman of the Chicagoan of the Year Award Committee, Roger B. Johnston, that include Press Club newsletters, publicity material, awardee biographical information, correspondence, and information about the nomination process. Also includes a plaque with award winner names from 1959 to 1985.
Organization
Materials are arranged alphabetically.
Collection Stack Location
1 47 4
Provenance
Gift, Marcia Slater Johnston, 2016.
Processing Information
Processed by Catherine Grandgeorge, 2023.
The Chicago Press Club Chicagoan of the Year materials were previously closed until Feb. 11, 2023.
Source
- Johnston, Marcia Slater (Donor, Person)
Creator
- Johnston, Roger B., -2014 (Person)
- Press Club of Chicago (Organization)
- Title
- Chicago Press Club Chicagoan of the Year Committee records, 1973-1986
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- ©2023.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512
reference@newberry.org
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512
reference@newberry.org