South Carolina — a hardship that gave him the idea to establish an all-female teacher training institution.


In 1886, Johnson used his own funds to travel to Boston and meet with lawyer and philanthropist Robert Charles Winthrop (the university’s namesake), chairman of the Peabody Education Board. Johnson left Massachusetts with $1,500 in seed money to establish Winthrop, which opened its doors on Nov. 15, 1886, in Columbia. By 1895, when Winthrop moved to Rock Hill, the school was firmly established as an educational institution that supplied South Carolina with much-needed educators.


Johnson remained a constant presence at the state level, attending state legislator budget meetings and lobbying vigorously for more funds. His tireless efforts transformed Winthrop in the years 1900- 1928, leading to a massive expansion and building program. By the time Johnson died in 1928, Winthrop, which began as a modest one-room school, had grown into one of the largest women’s colleges in the U.S.


Johnson’s professional accomplishments during his 42 years of leadership at Winthrop included:


»» Serving as president of the South Carolina Teachers Association, the Southern Education Association and the National Education Association.


»» Founding the South Carolina Association of School Superintendents.


»» Earning recognition as South Carolina’s Most Distinguished Citizen by the American Legion in 1927 and Educator of the Half Century in 1950 — 22 years after his death.


His unwavering dedication to the university was a commitment he shared with his wife, Mai Rutledge Smith Johnson, a native of Charleston. After the couple married in 1902, they hosted a number of prestigious and influential guests on campus, including 27th U.S. President William Howard Taft, aviator Amelia Earhart and comedian Will Rogers, among others. After her husband’s death in 1928, Mai worked as associate librarian in the university’s library for 50 years, retiring at age 92. For her devotion to Winthrop, she received the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award, which recognizes an alumna for selfless dedication of time, energy and talent in service to others.


The greatest object of your life should be to guard carefully against forming anything but right habits of thought, of feeling, of action — to store your minds and heart with high ideals and right aims and


motives and purposes. David Bancroft Johnson, 1909


D.B.Johnson in front of Tillman Hall, 1918


The Little Chapel, final resting place of D.B. and Mai Johnson


ABOUT THE S.C. HALL OF FAME


The South Carolina Hall of Fame recognizes and honors both contemporary and past citizens who have made outstanding contributions to the state’s heritage and progress. One contemporary and one deceased citizen are inducted into the Hall of Fame annually. Visit www.theofficialschalloffame.com for more information.


David Bancroft Johnson, ca. 1880s 4 Mai Rutledge Smith Johnson, 1902 D.B.Johnson, 1910 5

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