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    Johnson, Alfred I.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1941-58 (District 25)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Swift

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: ??/??/1898
    Birth Place: Six Mile Grove, Minnesota
    Birth County: Swift
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 2/15/1977
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Benson
    Occupation (when first elected): Owner and Operator, Grocery Business

    EDUCATION

    Minnesota Schools; Elementary School; 8th Grade Education

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Board of Regents: University of Minnesota; 1959 to 1965

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Adeline Rasmussen
    Children: Two children: Marilyn Ann (daughter), James (son, served as an aide to Vice-President Walter Mondale), (both born while he was in office)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was of Norwegian ancestry.

    He was born and raised on a farm.

    He was one of the people who helped combine the Minnesota Farmer-Labor party with the Democratic party to form the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party.

    "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)

    A public affairs scholarship at the University of Minnesota was named for him in 1987.

    He died at a nursing home in Benson, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Benson, Minnesota. He was buried in the city cemetery in Benson, Minnesota.

    He was a member of Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Benson, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by the Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957 and his obituaries.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 6573

    SESSIONS SERVED

    60th Legislative Session (1957-1958)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/6/1956
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/8/1957 to 1/5/1959
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Businessman, Real Estate
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.); "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    Leadership Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.)
    term photo
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    59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/2/1954
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/7/1957
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.); "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    Leadership Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.)

    58th Legislative Session (1953-1954)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/5/1952
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/6/1953 to 1/3/1955
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Taxes
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    • Towns and Counties

    57th Legislative Session (1951-1952)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/7/1950
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/5/1953
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Taxes
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
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    56th Legislative Session (1949-1950)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/2/1948
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/4/1949 to 1/1/1951
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Communications
    • Education
    • Taxes
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    • Veterans and Military Affairs
    term photo
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    55th Legislative Session (1947-1948)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/5/1946
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/3/1949
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Banking
    • Employees Compensation
    • Taxes
    • Temperance and Liquor Control

    54th Legislative Session (1945-1946)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/7/1944
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/2/1945 to 1/6/1947
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Aviation
    • Cooperatives
    • Education
    • Employees Compensation
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    term photo
    Click to view

    53rd Legislative Session (1943-1944)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/3/1942
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/1/1945
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Merchant, Operates Own Grocery Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Aircraft and Airways
    • Civilian Defense, Veterans and Military Affairs
    • Communications
    • Education
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    term photo
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    52nd Legislative Session (1941-1942)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/5/1940
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/7/1941 to 1/4/1943
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Owner and Operator, Grocery Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Public Welfare
    • Relief
    • Taxes
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "A.I. Johnson Scholarship Dedicated." Swift County Monitor-News, February 18, 1987.

    Farley, Rose. "Public Affairs Scholarships Will Honor Former Regent." Minnesota Daily, February 11, 1987, p. 5, 8

    "Alfred I. Johnson, The Editor's Page (Obituary)." Swift County News, February 23, 1977, p. 4.

    "Mondale Coming for Alfred I. Johnson Funeral." Swift County Monitor, February 18, 1977.

    "Mondale to Attend Johnson Funeral." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 17, 1977.

    "Ex-House Speaker A.I. Johnson Dies (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 16, 1977.

    “Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957.


    Archive Collections
    Johnson, Alfred I. ("A.I") Papers, 1933-1971 - Available in the West Central Minnesota Historical Research Center's Collection at the University of Minnesota, Morris, Briggs Library.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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