Picture courtesy of Michael Reed of thecemeteryproject.com
Samuel Johnson
 
Tercentenary 2009
 
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Events

The Tercentenary celebrations in the UK commenced on 2 March 2009, the 272nd anniversary of the departure of Johnson and Garrick from Lichfield for London. A  modern-day Johnson and Garrick re-enacted their journey (complete with shared horse). They visited a number of schools en route to talk about their walk and the lives of Johnson and Garrick. On arrival in London on Thursday 12th March, a reception took place at the Guildhall.

The Tercentenary itself is on Friday, 18 September 2009. It will be marked by a weekend of events in his birthplace, Lichfield, including a dinner in Lichfield Guildhall on 19 September as well as events at his House in London.

The year’s events will end with a commemoration at Westminster Abbey on 12 December 2009, the 225th anniversary of Johnson’s death.

Programme of events

Date

Event

Place

7 January 2009 BSECS Conference annual lecture: ‘Johnson’s Lives’ (Professor Jack
Lynch)
St Hugh’s
College, Oxford
28 January

Talk: ‘Johnson’s rattlesnake’

Ian McIntyre (author, Hester: the Remarkable Life of Dr Johnson’s ‘Dear Mistress’)

Dr Johnson’s House, London
14 February

Johnson Society of London Lecture

‘Arthur Murphy and Samuel Johnson: a case of intellectual affinity’

Dr Garry Headland

www.johnsonsocietyoflondon.org

Wesley’s Chapel, London
25 February

Dr Johnson’s House Library

Talk and ‘open bookshelf’ with Christopher Edwards

Dr Johnson’s House, London
28 February A Gala Evening with John Sergeant and friends The Lichfield Garrick Theatre
1 March Intimate Theatre in 'The Golden Moment’: a Family Farewell to Johnson & Garrick

Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Lichfield

1 March Evensong Address by Rt Revd Lord Harries Lichfield
Cathedral

2 March

Johnson and Garrick  (Professor Peter Martin and Dr Nicholas Cambridge) depart for London

Lichfield

2 March

Gresham College lunchtime lecture
'Dr Johnson, I presume'
Dr Henry Hitchings

Gresham College, London
5 March

Dramatized talk: ‘The scandalous Mrs Piozzi’

Karin Fernald

Calder Bookshop, The Cut, London SE1, 7:00pm
5 March

Late night opening. First Thursday of every month (starting Thursday 5 March).  During the tercentenary year, Dr Johnson’s House will be open late every Thursday evening from 6pm to 8:30pm.  Normal admission charges apply.

Dr Johnson’s House, London
9 March Gresham College lunchtime lecture Gresham College, London

12 March

Lord Mayor's reception for Johnson and Garrick (Please note: By Invitation Only)

Guildhall, London

14 March

Johnson Society of London Lecture
‘Slow rises worth by poverty depress’d’: Johnson comes to London
Professor Peter Martin

Wesley's Chapel, London
16 March Gresham College lunchtime lecture Gresham College, London
23 March Gresham College lunchtime lecture Gresham College, London
23-24 March Johnson at Bucknell: A Tercentenary Celebration
Convenor: Professor Greg Clingham
Bucknell
University,
Lewisburg, PA
1 April

Johnson 300th anniversary lecture (Oxford Literary Festival)

‘Dr Johnson’s second wife’

Adam Sisman

www.sundaytimes-oxfordliteraryfestival.co.uk

Pembroke College, Oxford

1 April

Lecture: Scrofula, Melancholy and Dropsy: Samuel Johnson and Medicine

Dr Nicholas Cambridge

Dr Johnson's House, London
4 April

Johnson Society of London Lecture
‘The present hour alone is man’s’: Johnson’s poetry and the redemption of time’
Dr Ken Smith

Wesley's Chapel, London
6 April 'Dr Samuel Johnson - A Tercentenary Celebrated'
Dr David Allan, Honorary RSA Historian

Borough of Twickenham Local History Society
St Mary Church Hall, Church Street, Twickenham
17-18 April Meeting of the Johnson Society of the Central Region. Guest speaker: F.
P. Lock. Speakers: Martha Bowden, Pat Bruckmann, Jonathan Clark,
Katherine Clark, Jasper Cragwell, Alvaro Ribeiro, Paul Ruxin, and
Michael Suarez.
Chicago, Illinois
23 April - 2 October Exhibition: ‘An Immortal Friend: Dr Johnson and the Royal Academy’
Library Print
Room, Royal
Academy, London
2 and 3 May ‘Johnson’s House comes alive’

Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Lichfield

14 May Samuel Johnson Tercentenary Banquet (speakers: Lord Kenneth Baker and Professor Christopher Ricks) House of Lords
15 May Johnson Tercentenary Dinner (Johnson Society of Australia) Mitre Tavern,
Melbourne
16 May Boswell Society lunch TBA, London
20 and 22 May Dr Who? In Search of Samuel Johnson
A new production by award-winning solo performer David Benson
Dr Johnson's House, London
23 May-20 September Exhibition, "Samuel Johnson, Literary Giant of the Eighteenth Century, 1709-1784" Huntington Library, San Marino, CA
25 May

Lichfield Bower

Lichfield

27 May Lecture: 'Samuel Johnson, Literary Giant of the Eighteenth Century,
1709-1784'
Professor O M Brack
Huntington Library
1 June to 29 August

Exhibition: The House of Words
Seven contemporary artists respond to Johnson, his House and his legacy. See website for exhibition events

Dr Johnson's House, London
5 June to 30 September Exhibition: Samuel Johnson and London
This small display follows Samuel Johnson, his friends and collaborators around C18-century London.
The British Library, Sir John Ritblatt Gallery
8 June Lecture: ‘Johnson Agonistes: Portraying Samuel Johnson’
Professor Richard Wendorf
Huntington Library
13 June Lesley Smith in ‘An Audience with Hester Thrale’ St Mary’s Centre, Lichfield
24 June

Lecture: Samuel Johnson’s Impact on America

Peter Martin (author, Samuel Johnson: A Biography)

Dr Johnson’s House, London
27 June Lesley Smith in ‘An Audience with Hester Thrale’

Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Lichfield

11 July

Lichfield Festival Georgian Market

Lichfield
11 July Walking tour: London and Letters with Phil Baines and Catherine Dixon (Part of The House of Words exhibition) Starts at Dr Johnson's House, London
12 July

Inner Circle Seminar No. 142 on 'Choice of Life' and 'Madness': Dr Johnson's Existential Thinking

10am - 5pm, £120 or £96 for students
Apply to Anthony Stadlen, 0208 888 6857 or stadlen@aol.com for further details

Dr Johnson's House, London,
16 July

Music in the Age of Samuel Johnson

Cellist Annabel Gordon performs at the House

Dr Johnson’s House, London
18 July - 13 December Display: The Life and Lives of Dr Johnson Room 16, National Portrait Gallery, London
21 July Samuel Johnson and the English Dictionary
Talk by Tim Moorey, 5.15 - 6pm
£5 on the door, or free to Summer School customers
Ellis Theatre, Marlborough College Summer School, Wiltshire
22 July Choral Evensong followed by drinks in the Master's Garden. Preacher: Rt Hon The Lord Bingham of Cornhill The Temple Church, London
27 July Dr Who? In Search of Samuel Johnson
Solo show performed by David Benson
Theatre Royal (Ustinov Studio) Bath
28 July Dr Who? In Search of Samuel Johnson
Solo show performed by David Benson
Tobacco Factory Bristol
August - October Samuel Johnson in Prints : a small display of prints showing how Johnson's reputation developed and changed during his lifetime and in the years following his death The British Museum, Prints and Drawings Gallery
1 August

Rasselas Evening including
Lecture: ‘Rasselas’ kingdom, then and now’
Jean and John Broadbent

Lichfield Guildhall and Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
1 August Walking Tour: Johnson's London
with London historian and author Antony Clayton (part of The House of Words exhibition )
Contact Dr Johnson's House
6 August-1
November

Exhibition: ‘Samuel Johnson 1709 - 2009: Life and Afterlife'

Dunedin City
Library, Dunedin,
New Zealand
19 August 'And Pray, Sir, Who is Bach?'
Piano duet music and readings from the time of
Dr Johnson. Penelope Cave and Helena Brown with a Broadwood square piano of 1795. 3pm, £8/£6
Edinburgh Festival at St Cecilia's Hall, Niddry Street
22-31 August

Dr Whom? My Search for Samuel Johnson
Solo show performed by David Benson

Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Assembly Rooms
27-29 August Symposium and exhibition of Hyde Collection Houghton Library, Harvard
1-30 September A display on Samuel Johnson looking at his life and his Dictionary. There will also be items from the Johnson Collection on display on Floor 6. Birmingham Central Library
7 September

Johnson and the Thrales: a talk by Stephanie Pickford, curator of Dr Johnson's House.

Woodlawns, Streatham
8 September

' Antony Alsop, Samuel Johnson and the Anglo-Latin Poetic Tradition'

Email K.e.smith@bradford.ac. uk for further details

Dept of Classics, University of Otego , Dunedin , New Zealand

9 September

'The Present Hour Alone is Man's: Johnson's Poetry and the Redemption of Time'

Email K.e.smith@bradford.ac.uk for further details

Dept of English, University of Otego, Dunedin,
New Zealand
10 September

‘ Readings and Music': Readings from Johnson's works with music and refreshments

Contact: paul.tankard@otago.ac.nz

Clifford Skeggs Gallery, Dunedin , New Zealand

11 September Dr Johnson's London
A walking tour by historian and author Antony Clayton
Westminster Reference Library

12
September

Dr Johnson Day
Exhibition and walking tour

Email b.bloice@btinternet.com for further details

St. Leonard's Church, Streatham
13 September

Afternoon tea party
Tea and cakes to celebrate Johnson’s 300th birthday

Dr Johnson’s House, London

14-18 September

'Johnson at 300'
Samuel Johnson Tercentenary Conference (convenors: Professor Lynda Mugglestone, Dr Freya Johnston)

Pembroke College, Oxford

15 September Lecture: ‘Johnson and Boswell: No Theory Please, We're British’
Paul Ruxin
Huntington Library
17 September

Lecture: ‘Boswell, George Steevens and the Johnsonian Biography Wars'

Email paul.tankard@otago.ac.nz for further details.

St. David Lecture Theatre, University of Otago , Dunedin, New Zealand
18 September 2009

Tercentenary of the birth of Samuel Johnson

Johnson at 300 Son et Lumière , 8pm Market Square, Lichfield
Dr Johnson’s House will be open for free to the public throughout Johnson’s birthday, 11am to 5:30pm Dr Johnson's House, London
Dr Johnson's City - Guided Walk, 2pm
Starts at the Barbican Library
Barbican Library , London

Unveiling of a plaque to Samuel Johnson
Contact: The Streatham Society

Samuel Johnson public house,
Streatham

19 September Johnson at 300 Birthday Ceremony, 12 noon Market Square, Lichfield
19 September

Dr Johnson and the Big Dictionary Adventure!
Children's event, 10:30am to 12noon

Barbican Library, London

18-20 September

Samuel Johnson’s 300th Birthday Celebrations & Lichfield Georgian Heritage Weekend

Lichfield

20 September

Johnson Birthday Evensong in the Nave with a full choir and music, 3.30pm
Preacher - Bishop of London

Lichfield Cathedral
20 September Crosswords Demystified, 1pm
With the help of Dr Johnson's Dictionary and professional crossword setter, Tim Moorey
Barbican Library, London
23 September

The Lives of Dr Johnson, 7:30pm
Prof Peter Martin and Prof David Nokes discuss their respective approaches to Johnson biography

Barbican, London
23 September Dr Johnson's London
A walking tour by historian and author Antony Clayton
Westminster Reference Library
28 September

A Celebration of Samuel Johnson
With Libby Purves, Beryl Bainbridge, Richard Ingrams, David Nokes and A N Wilson

British Library, London
29 September

Lecture: ‘How to Give Advice: Samuel Johnson and the Essay'.

Contact paul.tankard@otago.ac.nz for further details.

Archway Lecture Theatre, University of Otago , Dunedin, New Zealand
3 October Conference: “ Reassessing Hawkins's Life of Johnson ", sponsored by Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry, Emory University , and the University of Georgia Press.
Contact: martine.brownley@emory.edu
Emory University

7 October

Exhibition runs from 18th Sept. to 11th Dec.

Opening reception of "Scarce Books and Elegant Editions"Samuel Johnson and James Boswell: Selections from the Edward R. Leahy Collection Heritage Room.
Contact: Michael.Knies@Scranton.edu

Weinberg Memorial Library, The University of Scranton
10 October Johnson Society of London Lecture
‘Johnson and the Art of Human Happiness: The Case of Rasselas
Dr Thomas Woodman
Wesley's Chapel, London
15 October Readings from the works of Samuel Johnson Westminster Abbey
20 October Now and in Time: Birmingham City University Honours Samuel Johnson The Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire
21 October Symposium, "Samuel Johnson - from cradle to grave and beyond: his illnesses, physicians, autopsy and religious faith" Royal Society of Medicine
6 November

Candlelit church service to commemorate Johnson.
Contact Revd Mandy Hodgson: rectorstleonards@btinternet.com

St. Leonard's Church, Streatham
7 November

Samuel Johnson Study Day
pdf Download a programme for the day (23 KB)

Museum of London
8 November

Inner Circle Seminar No. 145 . Dr Johnson's Existential Thinking on 'Madness' , 'Choice of Life', and Other Matters 
Apply to Anthony Stadlen, 0208 888 6857 or stadlen@aol.com for further details

Dr Johnson's House, London
14 November Johnson Society of London Lecture Wesley's Chapel, London
19 November 'And Pray, Sir, Who is Bach?'
Piano duet music and readings from the time of
Dr Johnson. Penelope Cave and Helena Brown with a Broadwood square piano of 1795. 3pm, £8/£6
Call 01483 518737 to book.
Surrey History Centre 130 Goldsworth Road , Woking, Surrey GU21 6ND
21 November Sir Joshua Reynolds: The Acquisition of Genius Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery
22 November

Samuel Johnson Tercentenary dinner (Samuel Johnson Society of Southern California)
President and Daniel Blum Memorial Lecturer: John W. Byrne

Huntington Library, San Marino, CA
25 November

Samuel Johnson and the Book Trade
An illustrated lecture by Margaret Willes

Dr Johnson's House, London
26 November Dr Johnson's Christmas Light Night Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
6 December The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum presents Lady Giorgianna in 'Ladies of Misrule'
Costumed eighteenth-century girl band present a varied programme of music and readings
Guildhall, Lichfield
6 December

Samuel Johnson: The Man and Lexicographer
Speakers: Prof David Crystal, Stephanie Pickford, Donald Hyde Curator and Svetlana Stojics.
For information email Branka Panic

English Speaking Union, Belgrade (in association with Dr Johnson's House)
9 and 10 December Back to Dr Johnson's..
A one man performance by Ian Redford
Dr Johnson's House, London

12 December

Commemoration: wreath-laying and lunch
Speaker: Professor Christopher Ricks

Westminster Abbey and St Ermin’s Hotel, London

14 December

'My Man-Servant, a Negro: Dr Johnson and Frank Barber'. Talks by David Dabydeen and Charles Nicholl.
The Royal Society of Literature

Kenneth Clark Theatre, Courtauld Institute, London.

PDF Print the calendar of events (PDF, 61K).

More will be added as details become available. If you know of any event not in the calendar, please let us know at info@johnson2009.org

 

Tercentenary publications

  • Sir John Hawkins, The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, ed O M Brack (University of Georgia Press, 2009)
  • Peter Martin, Samuel Johnson: A Biography (Orion and Harvard University Press, 2008)
  • Ian McIntyre, Hester: the Remarkable Life of Dr Johnson’s ‘Dear Mistress’ (Constable, 2008)
  • Jeffery Meyers, Samuel Johnson: The Struggle (Basic Books, 2008)
  • David Nokes, Samuel Johnson (Faber, 2009)
  • John Wiltshire, The Making of Dr Johnson (Helm, 2009)
  • Samuel Johnson After 300 Years, ed Philip Smallwood and Greg Clingham (Cambridge University Press, 2009)
  • “Samuel Johnson, Lives of the Poets. A Selection, text edited by Roger Lonsdale, introduction and notes by John Mullan (Oxford World's Classics, 2009)”
  • “Samuel Johnson, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia (ed. Thomas Keymer) (Oxford University Press, 2009).”
  • Samuel Johnson: Selected Writings, selected and edited by Peter Martin.  A Tercentenary Edition.  Harvard University Press, 2009.