File:View Of Arch "B" Oberlin, Ohio (1909) Ralph W. Johnston (RESTORED) (9450059378).jpg

Entitled: View Of Arch "B" Oberlin, Ohio [1909] Ralph W. Johnston [RESTORED]. Minimal edge repair, extension of the lower border, and elimination of a gutter line between this two picture panoramic. Light spot removal, augmented contrast and a false duo-tone. The original photograph was found in the US Library of Congress at this link: www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2007662673/

Ralph W. Johnston (alternatively also as RW Johnson), was a well known American photographer of high society as well as a respected craftsman in the recording of architecture, especially in panoramic views. His Trinity Court Studio of Pittsburgh, opened in 1897, became widely publicized as being able to produce one of a kind albums dedicated to the lives his wealthy clients, which included the Heinz family of ketchup fame. Unfortunately, his good name fell victim to a typographic error common to the name Johnston, which in many cases is recorded simply as 'Johnson' (missing the letter "T"); in fact, even the illustrious US Library of Congress collection is tripped up by this simple mistake, confusingly listing various samples of his works using one, the other, and sometimes even both versions of the name on the same web page. Additionally, many of his attributions are generally only referred to as "R.W. Johnston" making research into his history all the more difficult. A listing for his archived works is at this link: digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=...

Oberlin College was founded in 1833 by a pair of Presbyterian ministers, and it quickly became a leader of progressive causes. It was the first institution of higher learning to regularly admit female or black students, and it was a prominent leader in sending missionaries overseas. During the late 1800's, China was seen as the perfect opportunity to do the lord's work of spreading the gospel, and a large number of eager, self sacrificing young men and women ventured into the Chinese hinterlands, learning the language and actively looking for heathens to convert. Unfortunately, their's was a late comer's religious message, asking a five thousand year old race steeped in custom and beliefs to discard their long standing ancestral worship traditions for the words of someone who only died less than two thousand years before. Christianity was also a very jealous belief, requiring that no other gods be placed before it. To the Chinese (who were generally overly superstitious to begin with), Christianity was seen not only foreign, but also heretical, viewed as an evil cult sent to invade and destroy the middle kingdom and civilization as they knew it. During a time of frenzied chaos from a devastating flood, later exacerbated further by an unforgiving drought, angry attention and retribution was directed at the missionary for having brought heaven's dissatisfaction upon China. Thus, foreign and native Christians were attacked for the average peasant's woes. When it seemed then, that the imperial court supported such actions, a ground swell of blood letting was unleashed upon foreigners and Chinese converts, many of whom were slaughtered without quarter.