The Russell (Russ) Johnson collection consists of an audiocassette and transcript of an oral history interview conducted between Johnson and Mike Peterson during the fall of 1987. Johnson devoted his career to working in public education. After working as an elementary school teacher in International Falls, Minnesota during a portion of 1940s and early 1950s, he was hired as an elementary principal within the same district. He remained a principal until 1965 when he was promoted to become the Director of Elementary Education in International Falls. He remained in this position until his retirement in November 1982. In the interview, Johnson discussed his childhood and family, the growth and decline of the school district's population, administrative duties, his expectations for teachers, parents, students, other administrators, and the community's expectations of him as an administrator.

This oral history interview was conducted as a requirement for the graduate level Educational Foundations course entitled History of Education in American Culture at Mankato State University in Mankato, Minnesota.