Albert C. Johnston (born 1900/1901 – June 23, 1988)[1] was a doctor who, along with his family, passed as white in Gorham and then Keene, New Hampshire. William Lindsay White wrote a Reader's Digest article about the family and a short book was published from it in 1948 titled, Lost Boundaries. A year later in 1949, a film was adapted from the book about the family was released, though changing the names of all involved and key elements were altered and made up.[2] In 1989 a follow-up film, Lost Boundaries Reunion was made with interviews of family members.[3]

Johnston was from Chicago and studied at Rust College. He interned at Maine General Hospital.[4] Johnston had trouble finding work but was eventually able to secure employment as a doctor by passing as white. He was a country doctor and radiologist in Gorham and Keene, New Hampshire.[3] He entered the Navy as a commissioned officer but the offer was rescinded. He eventually uncovered that the decision was a result of his ethnic background.[3]

His son, Albert C. Johnston Jr., one of four children, composed music including songs used in the film about the family.[3] After working in Keene until the mid-1960s, Johnston Sr moved to the island of Kauai and worked as a radiologist at Wilcox Memorial Hospital; he died at the age of 87 at Castle Medical Center after being treated for chest congestion. He was buried in Keene.[5][6]

Except for supporting cast members, white actors were used for the film.[2] The film was banned in Atlanta and Memphis.

A high school student wrote about Johnston and his home in 2001.[7] In 2013, Stanford University professor Allyson Hobbs wrote about the Johnstons and their passing in her book A Chosen Exile: A History of Racial Passing .[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Albert Johnston, 87, Focus of Film on Race". The New York Times. June 28, 1988.
  2. 1 2 Robinson, J. Dennis. "History Matters: The story behind 'Lost Boundaries'". seacoastonline.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Johnston Mural".
  4. ↑ "Landmark '49 Film About Family Passing for White Recalled". Los Angeles Times. July 25, 1989.
  5. ↑ "Doctor Portrayed in 1949 Movie "Lost Boundaries" Dies at 87". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  6. ↑ "Albert C. Johnston Jr". SentinelSource.com.
  7. ↑ KATZ, ZEKE. "The home of Dr. Albert C. Johnston in Keene". SentinelSource.com.
  8. ↑ "Stanford historian re-examines practice of racial 'passing' | Stanford News Release". news.stanford.edu. December 18, 2013.
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