Johnsen worked at the Libby McNeill Cannery in Taku Harbor as a fireman, pile driver, watched traps and was a deckhand on cannery tender between 1932-34. A man named Tom who was bookkeeper and storekeeper in Taku Harbor took the photos of the Taku Harbor fire. Other views were taken by a crewmember who worked in Taku Harbor. The collection includes images of the Taku Cannery fire on May 9 and 10, 1932, pile-driving and daily activities at the cannery.

Johnsen writes,

“After the fire, Skinner and Eddy had an idle cannery at Kake, southeast end of Frederick Sound. Libby operated Kake until Taku Harbor cannery was rebuilt. … The kings [salmon] were caught in a pile trap at Cape Bendal, north of Kake [Alaska] size 45 to 50 lbs. per fish. They were then salted in large Hog’s head barrels and shipped to England...also hand packed. The Chinese and Native Alaskan Indians packed in half tins. The Finnish [?] fishermen were the people who made the wire mesh for the traps on the Webb Dock. Also, the nets for the traps, [were] for the spiller where the fish was brailed. The Finnish fisherman also fished Taku River for the Taku Cannery.”