Charles Johnson (1870–1961) was a distinguished English historian and archivist whose career was dedicated to the preservation, classification, and publication of historical records. A graduate of Trinity College, Oxford, Johnson entered the Public Record Office (PRO) in 1893, where he would spend nearly four decades. During his tenure, which lasted until 1930, he played a vital role in organizing the nation's historical assets, focusing particularly on the classification of Chancery files and ancient miscellanea.
Beyond his archival duties, Johnson was an active scholar of medieval history. He authored and edited numerous editions of medieval documents and produced scholarly monographs that advanced the study of English administrative history. His expertise in medieval texts also led to his involvement in the British Academy's project to compile a comprehensive dictionary of medieval Latin, a major collaborative effort of his era.
Johnson's contributions to the historical and archival communities were widely recognized by his peers. He served on several academic administration boards and was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1934. He was also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and the Royal Historical Society. In 1951, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of his services to scholarship.
