1940s

Photograph

Title: Ike Small Award NAACP Youth Council

A group photo of young African-American men and women. In the back row, eleven men stand. In the middle, three men and three women sit. In the front row, five women sit. Some smile and some look serious. Each person is labeled with their name in blue pen. On the reverse, a note written in pencil reads "Ike Small Award NAACP Youth Council 1940's," along with Geraldine Williams' signature. It was accompanied by a program for a NAACP Virginia State Conference as well as her NAACP membership card (GLC09587.247 and GLC09587.248).

GLC09587.296

1941-1945

Photograph

Title: [Geraldine Williams and Richard H.L. Meadows]

A photograph of two dressed-up children playing grand pianos in an old room with a large curtained window. The girl is Geraldine Edna Williams and the boy is Richard H. L. Meadows.

GLC09587.297

1941-1945

Davis, fl. 1884-1930

Photograph

Title: Davis Roanoke, Va.

Photograph of Geraldine Williams in her cap and gown, mounted on cardboard.

GLC09587.298

12 April 1947

Pamphlet

Title: Thirteenth Annual Music Festival at Virginia State College Petersburg, Virginia

Program for the 13th Annual Music Festival held at Virginia State College. The first page is a title page and lists when different types of musical groups will perform. The groups all appear to be high schools. At the top of the page is written, "E. Geraldine Williams 221 E. Harrison Ave. Roanoke, 12, Va. and "Please return". Subsequent pages lists the schools performing, what pieces they are performing and who pieces are by. Comments have been written beside each piece, on the quality of the performance. Most are one word but some are more detailed descriptions of the performance. Addison…

GLC09587.299

9 April 1948

Pamphlet

Title: Fourteenth Annual Music Festival at Virginia State College Petersburg, Virginia

Program for the 14th Annual Music Festival held at Virginia State College. The first page is a title page and lists when different types of musical groups will perform. The groups all appear to be high schools. On the first page is handwritten, "1,400 hundred". Subsequent pages lists the schools performing, what pieces they are performing and who pieces are by. Addison High School in Roanoke, Virginia is listed as a "Class A" school on page seven. At the bottom of page eight begins the list of Participating Bands, beside a few of which are written comments on the quality of performance. The…

GLC09587.300

December 1945

The H I-Y Club (Roanoke, VA) fl. 1945-1946

Pamphlet signed

Title: The Addisonian

Volume 1, No. 1. "For the development of student expression" published by students at Lucy Addison High School. It contains a number of essays by students reflecting on life and society. The front cover has been signed by ten people. The legible names are: Roger E. Moore (Art Editor), Rudolph (Hess) Flood (Circulation Manager), Hubert "Woe" Dudley (Sport Editor and Business Manager), Kenith "Mauchy" Hylton (Assistant Editor), B. LaFayette Hamlar (Assistant Editor), Paul Adams (Assistant Editor), and Robert Bailey III (Editor).

GLC09587.301

March 1946

The H I-Y Club (Roanoke, VA) fl. 1945-1946

Pamphlet

Title: The Addisonian

Volume 1, No. 2. "The addisonian" published by the HI-Y club. Articles written by students on various issues such as growing up and sports. There are also word games, poetry, cartoons and trivia. Ads in the back of the pamphlet.

GLC09587.302

6 January 1954

Williams, H. Hamilton, 1911-1981

Typed document

Title: to Mother

Letter to Cordelia S. Williams signed "Doc" from her son Dr. Harold Hamilton Williams. He tells her he is glad she has a T.V. now. He describes the Rose Parade he attended and "the guys" he is living with and how in the same day, one had burned food and the other had broken the T.V. He describes the Christmas presents he recieved and the Christmas party his friends threw. Williams then tells her that George Jeffries, someone from Roanoke (Williams' hometown) who had stayed with him in Los Angeles had written a number of letters address to Rose Sheffey but were really intended for "Hazel". In…

GLC09587.303

7 March 1969

Williams, H. Hamilton, 1911-1981

Typed document

Title: to Mother

Letter from H. Hamilton Williams (signed Harold) in which he accuses his mother, Cordelia S. Williams of being too emotional and overbearing, forgetting that they are now all grown and adults themselves. He accuses her of trying to "glorify James out of proportion" which is not Christian. He insists that he and his sister Virginia Williams were not trying to steal any of the money from James Williams' estate legally due to Cordelia from a "loan" and the sale of Eugene's automobile. He says the he has been the man of the house since his father died and he was not be overruled by her when she…

GLC09587.304.01

8 March 1969

Williams, H. Hamilton, 1911-1981

Envelope

Title: to Mrs. Cordelia S. Williams

Envelope addressed to Mrs. Cordelia S. Williams. 225 East Harrison Avenue Roanoke, Virginia 24016. The return address is H. Hamilton Williams Ph.D. 1128 East 80th Street Los Angeles 1, California. The evelope is stamped near the bottom left hand corner with the words "OPERATION GREEN CARPET". Near the postage stamp in the top right hand corner the envelope is stamped "Los Angeles California, AM, 8 Mar 1969".

GLC09587.304.02

1945

Photograph

Title: H. Hamilton Williams

H. Hamilton Willliams standing outside a house in navy uniform. Reverse says in pencil "H. Hamilton Williams from Roanoke, Va. 1945-" and "30" is stamped.

GLC09587.305

1941-1945

Photograph

Title: H. Hamilton Williams

Headshot of H. Hamilton Williams in uniform. His hat says "U.S. Navy" on it. Reverse says "H. Hamilton WIlliams Roanoke, Va."

GLC09587.306

1941-1945

The Ullman Company, Inc., fl. 1940

Pamphlet

Title: U.S naval training school

Captioned photographs of men training to become part of the navy at the Hampton Institute. The front is captioned "a picture record of the school and its activities."

GLC09587.307

circa 1943

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Two drafts of letters to railroad retirement board]

Draft of two letters from Cordelia to the gentlemen of the railroad retirement board saying that before being called into the armed forces her son, LeRoi Williams was a student at the Hampton Institute. She writes that he volunteered for the air corps but didn't reenter in 1941 because he was working odd jobs until he was called to training at the Tuskegee Institute. Before he was called in he was working at Newport News shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Virginia. She also says that his father is deceased and provides her son's service number. The letter is written on stationary that says…

GLC09587.308

31 December 1943

Railroad Retirement Board

Postcard

Title: to Cordelia Williams

Postcard from the Rairoad Retirement Board to Cordelia Williams sent to acknowledge the receipt of an application for death benefits of LeRoi Williams. It also asks that if her address has changed to send the postcard back with the new address.

GLC09587.310

20 September 1949

Hurt, Evelyn, fl. 1949

Autograph letter signed

Title: Dear Mrs. Williams

Evelyn Hurt begins the letter by stating it is the most difficult one she has ever written, and she is deeply shaken by Eugene Williams' death. She congratulates Cordelia for being the mother of such a great son, saying that Eugene called Cordelia his "sweetheart" and spoke of her often. She says they called Eugene "Flaps" and that everyone loved to be around him. She asks Cordelia to let her know when the services will be, because her and Wesley will come to Roanoke. She finishes by saying that Wesley will be writing as soon as he is emotionally able because the two were "just like brothers…

GLC09587.311

1 December 1949

Lawson, Sadie, fl. 1949

Typed letter signed

Title: My dear Mrs. Williams

Sadie V. Lawson, principal, thanks Cordelia Williams for the donation of an Encyclopedia Britannica in honor of Eugene Williams. It is written on Roanoke City Public Schools stationary.

GLC09587.312

18 February 1974

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter

Title: Dear Geri

Cordelia writes to Geraldine, providing Henrietta's address. She tells a story of Eunice P. fainting in school and being sent to the hospital to be operated on for gall stones. She tells Geri not to worry about how things are going at home and to remember that if she needs help, Cordelia will come to see her. She tells her "God Bless each of you." There is no signature.

GLC09587.313

4 March 1974

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: Dear Children

Cordelia writes to her children telling them to report interest on their bond because their names are all written on it. She asks them to let her know when they do. She will cash the bond she has and then send a check. She is praying for all of them and sends her best. She signs off, "Mom."

GLC09587.314

6 March 1974

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: Dear Children

Cordelia writes to her children, saying that the weather has cooled after being very hot but the spring shrubs are back in bloom. She discusses the bond and reporting income again (see GLC09587.314). Remarking on a break-in at the mailman's house, she says "when naked people are permitted to run the streets, we know judgement day certainly not far off." She tells Geri to get rest and shares some anecdotes. She sends love and blessings, noting that friends in Roanoke still ask after Don. She signs off, "Mom." On the reverse of page 2, she wrote "Jonquils blooming."

GLC09587.315

12 March 1974

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: Dear Children

Cordelia writes to her children, saying that the weather is rainy and storms are expected. There was snow earlier, but it has melted. She notes she is very excited for Christmas, when she will be able to see her family. She has recently gotten over a cold and still has a cough. Mrs. Neely and Myra are home after operations. Ruth Anderson, president of the "Helping Hand" Club at Cordelia's church had a contest for small children to help raise money, which ended up raising $4,580. She notes that the politicians are terrible because they do not care about the poor while utilities prices are…

GLC09587.316

3 April 1975

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: Dear Children

Cordelia writes to her children, telling them that Mrs. Avery was buried yesterday. Cordelia was very touched by her death, noting she had the same "sickening feeling I have when I lose my own." She tells a story about Don fixing her garage door. There have been bad electric storms lately. She says she feels sorry for Virginia and it is everyone's duty to pray for her. She says Booker will reap his reward and that Virginia cannot help herself. Cordelia does not know if it is love or fear or both. It is unclear what she is referencing. She sends love and blessings, signing off, "Mom."

GLC09587.317

6 August 1975

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Cordelia Williams writes to her children about the weather and that the new bedspread ordered for her is too big. She reminds them about Diane's birthday present and to tell her when they got it and how much it cost. She says that her garden is doing well and there might be watermelon soon. Sallye was sorry that she couldn't see the recipients of the letter when they visited, but George Coleman was still on the critical list. Thomas keeps asking when they recipients will visit again. She says that Thomas will come into the room and get in her way but she doesn't say anything, whereas Luther…

GLC09587.318

13 August 1975

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Cordelia Williams writes to her children that it has been quite hot recently. She asks whether Virginia has found Dolores' glasses and speculates as to where they might be. Cordelia then shares the news of George Coleman. She writes that despite the electrical storm, she was able to can four quarts of peaches the previous afternoon. She shares the news of the Butcher-Crocker family reunion, how many people were there and what places they came from. She says that the politicians are trying to "make news" by "bringing Nixon to the public again also digging up the Kennedys, Johnson and…

GLC09587.319

20 August 1975

Williams, Cordelia Shelton, 1889-1978

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Children

Cordelia Williams writes that it has been nice and cool so she has been making dansom preserves. She tells both the "Twitties" and Virginia to bring "it" back when they come down and Diane to make sure that Virginia saves some for Dolores when she comes home. She tells them that Geroge Coleman's funeral was the other day and that it was very expensive but she sent a remembrance from "Virginia + Booker, Twitties, and Williams." She says she is mailing Dolores' birthday present and asks whether Diane has received a gift and if so, what did it cost. Diane has just called to say that she is…

GLC09587.320