Percy Norman Johnson
Date of birth / Date established
Circa 1903
Date of death / Date closed
17 Nov 1971
Place of birth / Place established
Place of death / Place closed
Person/Corporate type
Individual
Biography
Reporter, Collector, Amateur Historian.
Obituary in the Taranaki Herald on November 17 1971 "Mr Percy Norman Johnson, who had a life-long interest in the history of Taranaki, died in New Plymouth today. He was 68. He was a foundation member of the New Plymouth Historical Society and a member of the Paritutu Centennial Park Committee, the Taranaki branch of the Royal Society for the Protection of Forest and Birds and the Historic Places Trust. In his youth he studied local Maori history and began a collection of Maori artefacts which included a very rare rongo, or kumara god. Plaster casts of it are in the Auckland and Dominion Museums. Mr Johnson also built up collections of early colonial artefacts and small arms which he donated to the Taranaki Museum. He was born in New Plymouth and and attended New Plymouth Boys' High School before joining the Taranaki Herald as a reporter. In 1933 he married Miss Mary Yandle. Mr Johnson leaves his wife and two daughters, Jocelyn (Mrs J M Bell, New Plymouth and Jennifer ( Mrs J L Bithell Stratford).
Obituary in the Taranaki Herald on November 17 1971 "Mr Percy Norman Johnson, who had a life-long interest in the history of Taranaki, died in New Plymouth today. He was 68. He was a foundation member of the New Plymouth Historical Society and a member of the Paritutu Centennial Park Committee, the Taranaki branch of the Royal Society for the Protection of Forest and Birds and the Historic Places Trust. In his youth he studied local Maori history and began a collection of Maori artefacts which included a very rare rongo, or kumara god. Plaster casts of it are in the Auckland and Dominion Museums. Mr Johnson also built up collections of early colonial artefacts and small arms which he donated to the Taranaki Museum. He was born in New Plymouth and and attended New Plymouth Boys' High School before joining the Taranaki Herald as a reporter. In 1933 he married Miss Mary Yandle. Mr Johnson leaves his wife and two daughters, Jocelyn (Mrs J M Bell, New Plymouth and Jennifer ( Mrs J L Bithell Stratford).