A Resource for Research
The Johnson Collection welcomes inquiries from scholars, museum professionals, educators, graduate students, and independent researchers whose work relates to the art of the American South.
A Growing Research Library
TJC’s Special Library includes more than 5,000 catalogued books and resources spanning a wide range of subjects related to the art and cultural history of the American South.
Its holdings encompass art, architecture, history, botany, regional studies, and other subjects that inform the lives and work of Southern artists. The library also contains rare and hard-to-find publications that can be valuable to researchers studying artists whose work has received limited scholarly attention. The collection’s oldest book dates to 1797.
TJC Catalogues
Companion publications provide scholarly interpretation and serve as a permanent record of the collection’s traveling exhibitions. Since initiating its publications program in 2012, TJC has produced four major volumes—abundantly illustrated books that bring Southern art to life.
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TJC’s inaugural catalogue examines how Romanticism manifested in the American South before and after the Civil War. It explores landscape, history painting, and cultural identity, positioning Southern artists within broader transatlantic artistic movements while also addressing regional distinctiveness.
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This publication traces the career of Eugene Thomason, an artist associated with the Ashcan School who later became a key interpreter of Appalachian life. It highlights the intersection of urban realism and regional subject matter, demonstrating how national movements were adapted within a Southern context.
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Featuring forty works created between 1880 and 1940, this lushly illustrated catalogue investigates how global aesthetic movements—particularly Impressionism—were absorbed and reinterpreted by Southern artists.
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TJC’s most recent and expansive publication examines the careers of Southern women artists from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century. It addresses systemic barriers, professional networks, and evolving gender roles, while foregrounding artists whose contributions were historically overlooked. The catalogue represents a major step in the Collection’s commitment to expanding representation and scholarship.
Research & Catalogue Inquiries
We welcome research inquiries related to the Collection, library holdings, and our exhibition catalogues—including availability and content. Please submit questions through the form below, and TJC staff will assist with available resources.
Want to Visit the Library?
TJC’s library is available to museum curators, academic scholars, and learners of all levels. To schedule an appointment Monday–Friday, 9AM–5PM, please contact Library Specialist Mary Owens Davidson at least 48 hours in advance. This allows our staff time to prepare the space and pull relevant files and materials for your visit.
