September 1950

Kent, Virginia Williams, 1918-1987

Envelope

Title: to Cordelia Williams

Envelope addressed to Mrs. Cordelia S. Williams at 221 Harrison Avenue, N.E, Roanoke, Virginia. It is from Virginia Williams who was living at 610 Kenyon St., N.W., Washington, D.C when the letter was sent. Postage stamp on upper right corner cost three cents. There is a tear on right side where envelope was opened. Written in pencil is "school address inside."

GLC09587.397

27 January 1951

Kent, Virginia Williams, 1918-1987

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dearest Mom

Letter from Gin, most likely Virginia, to "dearest Mom," most likely Cordelia Williams saying that she received her letter yesterday at school and that she should not worry about her turning back. She went to see her lawyer today. He "drew up the papers asking for custody of the children" along with papers for care of the children and for the settlement of property. It also says that the reason for divorce is "assult and cruelty and abuse." The case will not be seen until next week because the court is closed on Saturday. Her lawyer said that after the case is filed it could take up to three…

GLC09587.398

16 April 1951

Kent, Virginia Williams, 1918-1987

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dearest Mom

Letter from "Gin," Virginia Williams to "dearest Mom," Cordelia Williams. She writes that the [divorce] case came up Saturday but the only thing decided on was the maintencance. The judge ruled that she gets $70.00 per month for the kids. They discussed property settlements but could not come to an agreement. It appears that Bookers lawyer wanted to deed the property to the kids but her lawyer did not. Virginia spoke with Booker and he said he would tell his lawyer to ask for the children's name to be sbstitututed in his place and that her name will remain on the deed. Booker will still live…

GLC09587.399

11 November 1975

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Grand

Letter from "Gerrry" to "Grand." "Gerry" is most likely Geraldine Pinn, James T. Williams II's wife or Geraldine Williams, his sister. "Grand" is most likely Cordelia Williams. "Gerry" writes that she thought about the recipient recently and planned to write but then people visited and she was not able to. She says that she put flowers on Jimmie's grave, who most likely is James T. Williams II. She also says that she always gives the Church flowers on the first Sunday of November in his memory. She also tries to get to Church that Sunday. She says it is funny that the recipient said she wants…

GLC09587.400

2 May 1912

The National League of Negroes, 1920-1931

Pamphlet

Title: Taft Denounces Lynching, Tells Afro-American Audience it is Cowardly Murder. President Advocates the Rope for Lynchers

The pamphlet announces that President Taft was endorsed by a conference that convened on the issue of race. The conference marked the inaugural meeting of "The National League of Negroes" and a committee on resolutions was formed. The pamphlet lists resolutions adopted by the committee concerning race, race relations, and goals for the League. These goals include enfranchisement of the African American population by means of the constitution, civil rights, and equality under the law. The pamphlet also contains an excerpt of Taft's speech denouncing lynching.

GLC09588

August 1952

Students for Democratic Action, fl. 1952

Pamphlet

Title: The Big Little Person's Book of Songs For Democratic Action

The book, published by the Students for Democratic Action (SDA), is a mix of common picketing and protest songs and original works by the author. The table of contents is ordered by genre of the song as follows: popular folk songs; old favorites; SDA, ADA (Americans for Democratic Action) miscellaneous political; union songs; freedom line; war and peace; old west; satire and parody. The songs center around the theme of socialism and democracy while bringing awareness to social and economic injustices like poverty, the United Nations, and class inequality. Some songs directly reference…

GLC09590

1862

Warder, T.B., fl. 1862

Book

Title: Battle of Young's Branch; or, Manassas Plain, Fought July 21, 1861

Co-authored with James M. Catlett. First edition copy published in Richmond by Enquirer Book and Job Press. Folded map (39.2 x 29 cm.) in front of book of the Centerville-Manassas, Virginia area. Says it is a "Map of the country occupied by the Federal and Confederate Armies on the 18th & 21st July 1861." Created by the authors. Also has another large (55.3 x 50.5 cm.) fold-out topographical map of the Manassas, Virginia and Bull Run area between pages 72 and 73. It is a "Relief Survey and Map" by James L. Bowen. Says "Linear Survey" was made by the authors. Shows where Union and…

GLC04061

1831

Galveston Bay and Texas Land Company

Pamphlet

Title: Address to the reader of the documents relating to the Galveston Bay....

One of the first accounts of Texas written in English. Printed by G.F. Hopkins and Sons. Graff 1494, Howes S1137.

GLC04063

1843/04/11

Great Britain. Acts.

Pamphlet

Title: An Act for carrying into effect the Treaty between Her Majesty and the Republic of Texas for the Suppression of the African Slave Trade

An act of Parliament effecting a treaty between Great Britain and the Republic of Texas. Paginated 166-180 + unpaginated first page.

GLC08513

1 November 1947

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Document

Title: N.A.A.C.P Conference

Booklet is from the twelfth annual convention of the Virginia state conference of the N.A.A.C.P, which met to discuss "complete educational equality a prerequisite for real democracy." It says at the bottom "pay your poll tax, register to vote." It mentions various speakers in the program. Accompanied by a photograph (GLC09587.296).

GLC09587.247

July 1948

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Note

Title: N.A.A.C.P Youth

Note certifies that Geraldine Williams is a member of the N.A.A.C.P. The reverse of the note lists the organization's purpose, including to stop lynchings. Accompanied by a photograph (GLC09587.296).

GLC09587.248

1941-1945

Printed document

Title: Choral Club

Describes the Choral Club of Lucy Addision High School in Roanoke, Virginia. Lists some of the places the club has performed and notes that they have performed for both white and black groups. At the top of the page is a photograph of the group, the word "mascot" has been written beside it with a line drawn to one of the girls in the photograph. Another photograph has been taped to the top right hand corner of a woman standing beside a car. The reverse lists the members of the Choral Club. Accompanied newspaper clipping about the Lucy Addison High School Choral Club (see GLC09587.273).

GLC09587.266

circa 1946

Printed document

Title: Foreword

A page taken from "The Addisonian" the high school yearbook for Lucy Addison High School. The page contains a note from the editor that the Class of 1946 is presenting the high school's first annual in twelve years. The editor also writes that now that the war is over, it is a new world and the class is looking forward to finding their place in it, having had a wonderful experience at Lucy Addison High School. On the reverse side is a picture of the high school. In front of school runs a path along which someone has written "Senior Lane!!!" in blue ink. The caption reads "Lucy Addison High…

GLC09587.267

1941-1945

Typed document

Title: School Spirit

A speech encouraging school spirit. The speech states that one demonstrates school spirit not through hatred of other schools, but by attending school functions of all sorts, by respecting school property, and by being well-behaved, polite, and enthusiastic. At the top right hand corner of the first page is handwritten in pencil, "I think it is excellent" with the word excellent underlined. A few orthographic corrections have been made in ink. On the reverse side of the third page is written in pencil, "Grammar in Use Book 3 by Wilson" and then something illegible. Near the bottom of that…

GLC09587.268

3 July 1942

The World-news (Roanoke, Va.) 1913-1922

Newspaper clipping

Title: First Negro Girl Scouts Off to Camp

A newspaper clipping from The Roanoke World-News announcing the first African-American Girl Scouts to attend camp. It contains a photograph of Rolanda Sydnor and Geraldine Williams on either side of their Girl Scout leader, Mrs. W. M. Scott.

GLC09587.269

1930-1976

Newspaper clipping

Title: Credit To His Race

A story discussing 17-year-old Kenneth Whitlock, from Lucy Addison High School, being chosen to represent Virginia in the Junior Chamber of Commerce regional oratorical contest. He is the first African-American to do so.

GLC09587.270

1946

The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, Va)

Newspaper clipping

Title: Addison Youth Is State Jaycee Contest Winner

A story discussing 17-year-old Kenneth Whitlock, from Lucy Addison High School, winning the Junior Chamber of Commerce regional oratorical contest. He is the first African-American to do so. The article also notes he was the president of the state NAACP Youth council and received a national award for the NAACP on the same day as his contest win.

GLC09587.271

1930-1976

Newspaper clipping

Title: [Clipping of Geraldine Williams]

A clipping with a photograph of E. Geraldine Williams. The caption states that she is a biology instructor at Florida A&M University since 1955 and received a Southern Fellowship Fund to attend the University of California at Los Angeles. It also notes she received a B.S. and M.S. from Howard University.

GLC09587.272

1930-1976

Newspaper clipping

Title: Lucy Addison Singers in Christmas Concert

A photograph of the Lucy Addison High School choral club singing Christmas songs in front of a municipal building. Accompanied printed document about choral club [see GLC09587.266].

GLC09587.273

1930-1976

Newspaper clipping

Title: Racial Strife

A clipping of two responses to articles in the paper. The first "Racial Strife," opposes integration. The second "Ability, Not Color," condemns people not voting for Dr. Taylor for mayor because he is African-American.

GLC09587.274

circa 1960

Photograph

Title: [Wedding kiss]

Geraldine Williams kissing her husband at their wedding. There are three wedding guests in the background.

GLC09587.277

circa 1960

Photograph

Title: [Smiling at wedding]

Geraldine Williams standing with her husband, a clergyman, a couple, and another man. Everyone is smiling. The man on the right side is James T. Williams.

GLC09587.278

circa 1960

Photograph

Title: [Eating cake at wedding]

Geraldine Williams holding her husband's hand and feeding him cake at their wedding. They are standing behind their wedding cake.

GLC09587.279

circa 1960

Photograph

Title: [Wedding cake]

Wedding cake topped with bride and groom figurines. There are flowers surrounding the cake on a flower printed tablecloth.

GLC09587.280

1960

Photograph

Title: [Cutting wedding cake]

Geraldine Williams and her husband cutting their wedding cake together and smiling.

GLC09587.281