Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Murat W. Williams & Williams Family Papers, 1884-1991, Accession #10724-b, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

These papers were given to the University of Virginia Library by Michael C. Williams, Chevy Chase, Maryland, and his siblings, Kathleen M. Williams, Brigid C. Williams, and Nicholas M. Williams on June 10, 1998.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of the additional papers of Ambassador Murat W. Williams and the Williams family, ca. 1884-1991, and n.d., primarily the business, legal, and professional papers, correspondence, and diaries, of Ambassador Murat W. Williams and Joan Cunningham Williams.

The papers also contain correspondence, bound volumes, photographs and miscellaneous material of other Williams family members, including Dr. Ennion G. Williams, Lewis Catlett Williams, John Langbourne Williams and John Skelton Williams. For more information about the Williams family and Murat Williams, please consult the guide for Accession #10724.

The majority of the correspondence (Series I) is with Murat Williams, who also kept several separate folders of correspondence with individuals, including Dr. Fabio Castillo, Douglas Southall Freeman, Walter La Feber, John B. Oakes, Josefina Tudelo, Robert E. Wilson, and Frank G. Wisner. Most of the financial records (Series II) concern the Cunningham family estates and trusts, especially those of his wife, Joan Cunningham Williams, and the investments of Murat and Joan Williams.

Because of the quantity of material in the collection concerning El Salvador, it has been placed in a separate series (Series III), which includes articles, speeches, printed material, news clippings, and correspondence about El Salvador, as well as several miscellaneous folders. Murat Williams served as the Ambassador to El Salvador from 1961-1964, and was appointed by President John F. Kennedy.

The fourth series consists of topical and miscellaneous papers including: files on the political campaigns of Armistead Boothe, Eugene McCarthy, and Murat Williams; biographical information about Murat Williams; church auxiliary papers and Christmas stories written by Murat's mother, Maria Ward Skelton Williams; many news clippings concerning politics in Virginia and some about the career of Murat Williams; news clippings and a topical file on John Skelton Williams; the Nora Isabella Samuelli case; the White Burkett Miller Center of Public Affairs and Ken Thompson; and a file on Frederick Palmer Webber. Files pertaining directly to Murat Williams include: various articles & writings by Murat Williams, an oral history interview transcript for the John Kennedy Library, personnel records while in service with the State Department, and speeches by Williams.

Series five chiefly contains bound volumes, which have been divided into two subseries. Williams family members represented in the first subseries are John L. Williams (1831-1915), Mrs. Maria Ward Skelton Williams, and M.W. Williams. The second subseries has volumes pertaining only to Murat Williams, including calendars, desk diaries, and pocket diaries, from 1950-1988. Other items in this series include oversize certificates for Murat Williams' navy and foreign service, reel-to-reel recordings and a film reel, 1970-1972, concerning Williams' political campaigns.

Organization

Series I: Correspondence (Boxes 1-5)
Series II: Financial Papers (Boxes 6-9)
Series III: El Salvador & Central America (Boxes 10-12)
Series IV: Topical & Miscellaneous Papers (Boxes 13- 16)
Series V: Bound Volumes (Boxes 17-29), Oversize Material (OVERSIZE BOX P-24) & Audiotape Recordings