Funding:
Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a
grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Processed by:
Sharon Defibaugh
Repository
Special Collections, University of Virginia
Library
Accession number
10724-b
Title
Murat W. Williams & Williams Family Papers
1884-1991
Physical Characteristics
ca. 6,500 items (29
Hollinger boxes, ca.12 linear shelf feet)
Language
English
Abstract
This collection consists of the
additional papers of Ambassador Murat W. Williams and the
Williams Family, ca 1884-1991, 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.
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.
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.
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
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