The Adelia A. Field Johnston papers are divided into the following five series: Series I. Biographical File, Series II. Correspondence, Series III. Travel Accounts and Diaries, Series IV. Writings and Notebooks, and Series V. Photographs.

Of importance to the Oberlin community is the correspondence series, which sheds valuable insight on the central role Johnston played in the establishment of the Oberlin Village Improvement Society. Filed under the subheading "Oberlin Community" is correspondence related to the local parks project that she had initiated. A receipt of the first photographic reproductions (heliotypes) acquired for the Art Department is filed under "Professional Correspondence."

The seven travel accounts and four personal diaries document Johnston’s general impressions of European art and architecture over two decades. During her summer visits to Europe, she hosted academic field trips for her students and important members of the Oberlin College community, including Mary M. Wright, Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Grandison Baldwin, and Dr. And Mrs. Lucien C. Warner.

The writing and notebooks series consists of two essays, a temperance speech (photocopy – original retired), and a notebook of attendance and lecture notes kept during her career as Principal of Kinsman Academy in Kinsman, Ohio (1862-1865). Her short story entitled Two Sides of a Shield: A Story on the Civil War was published after her death in 1911. The publication is limited to 300 copies of which the collection has two (Unnumbered/300 and No. 198/300). The modest amount of material in this series illustrates a lack of primary sources related to this famous late nineteenth century Oberlin figure.

Series I. Biographical File, c. 1899, c. 1908, 1910, 1936, 1972, 1994, n.d.

The biographical file includes several newspaper clippings and articles in reference to Johnston’s academic influence on the Oberlin College community as a professor and dean, and her involvement in the rescue of fugitive slave John Price. Within the biographical file are also commemorative speeches and pamphlets from Johnston’s funeral in 1910, and information concerning the Adelia A. Field Johnston Fellowship and dedication stone.

Series II. Correspondence, 1896, 1902-1910, n.d. (3f)

The correspondence file is divided into the following three subseries: Subseries I. Oberlin Community, Subseries II: Personal, and Subseries III: Professional. The bulk of the correspondence series consists of letters from members of the Oberlin community in reference to the Oberlin Village Improvement Society projects that Johnston initiated.

Series III. Travel Accounts and Diaries, 1878, 1881-1882, 1888, c.1906, n.d. (12f)

This series consists of eight travel accounts from Algeria, London, Spain and Norway. Included, are also four personal diaries and one admission ticket to a lecture by Johnston.

Series IV. Writings and Notebooks, 1862-1874, 1911, n.d. (5f)

The writings and notebooks series consists of two essays entitled “Architecture” and “Oberlin College,” a temperance speech entitled “Ladies and Gentlemen of the Band of Hope,” a short story entitled Two Sides of a Shield: A Story on the Civil War, and a notebook that Johnston used to keep attendance and classroom rules and regulations from her career as Principal of Kinsman Academy in Kinsman, Ohio.

Series V. Photographs, 1870, n.d. (8 photographs)

The photographs, all of Adelia A.F. Johnston, include three (3) stereo cards and five (5) black/white prints.