On June 24, 2021, the Board of Supervisors officially designated Dr. Lulu Merle
Johnson as the new eponym of Johnson County. She grew up in Gravity, lowa, and in 1941 became the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in lowa, and from the University of lowa. Dr. Johnson went on to build a distinguished career in higher-education teaching and administration at multiple historically Black colleges and universities.

During the nationwide movement in 2020 to rethink the names on monuments and memorials, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors formed a community task force to review the county’s eponym. The Eponym Task Force identified accomplished people with the last name of Johnson who had a direct historical connection to lowa and the local area. Following this study, the Board selected Dr. Johnson as its new eponym.

In 2022, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors initiated a project to create an
outdoor public exhibit commemorating the life and accomplishments of Dr. Lulu Merle Johnson. This commemorative exhibit will be educational, historically accurate, respectful, and creative, and will have outdoor and indoor components.
The outdoor component, the Dr. Lulu Merle Johnson Plaza, will be located at the front entrance of the Johnson County Administrative Building located at 913 S. Dubuque Street, across the street from the historic Tate Arms. A seven-foot sculpture of Dr. Johnson will reside on the plaza, which is in an historically Black neighborhood in Iowa City.

The indoor component will be inside of the Johnson County Administrative building and includes visual elements, interpretive panels and a short film about Dr. Johnson. The two installations endeavor to educate future generations about Dr. Johnson’s impact and resilience, serving as a tribute to her groundbreaking contributions to American history, including Black and Iowa history.

The statue will be crafted by renowned Iowa sculptor Steve Maxon, founder of
Max-Cast, and known for his expertise in depicting historical figures.

The project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2025, aligning with the 100th anniversary of Johnson’s enrollment at the University of Iowa. A dedication ceremony is set to take place in the spring 2026 for Dr. Lulu Merle Johnson Exhibit and Plaza.