Willie Williams Papers, 1893.c.1940 (bulk 1893-1895).
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

Housed in Small Collections Box 3.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: Parents' correspondence with teachers concerning students' performance; pupils' notes of excuse for absences, tardiness, or necessity of leaving classroom; teacher reports; lessons; forms; and an unidentified tintype of a group of women, probably of Willie Williams during her time as principal at Tarbox School, with her teachers.

Also included is an undated personal letter from Williams to a Mr. Cunninggum, in which she is distressed and saddened at being told by a church friend that she is sinning and not doing her Christian duty because she is "gloomy," possibly due to a death in the family, perhaps her mother, about a year before. She makes reference to "Charity and Help Com." and "the League;" it is unclear if these are organizations at her church or elsewhere in the community, though it seems she may have been asked to chair the Charity and Help Com. and is considering declining because her life is, in her words, "a Christian failure." She thanks Cunninggum for being a sympathetic friend, and asks for his guidance and compassion.

Cite as: Willie Williams Papers, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library.

This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).

Ralph Levy Jr.;,Gift;,1967.,Acc. RT-120.

Willie Williams served for 58 years in the Nashville, Tenn. public schools. She began her career in 1875 and retired in 1933. At the time of her retirement, no one had served in the school system for a longer period of time. She had the additional distinction of having never missed a day of work. She began her career as a teacher at Howard School and shortly thereafter transferred to Haynes School. In the fall of 1880 she became principal of Tarbox School, holding that position until 1886 when she became hall principal until the spring of 1900. She then transferred to Fall School, teaching third and fourth grades until her retirement.

She was born in Nashville, the daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Brown Williams; her father died when she was a child. She was educated at Ward Seminary, and was the great-niece of Samuel Watkins, founder of Watkins Institute. She was a member of West End Methodist Church for many years. She was very active in educational affairs in the community, and in 1922 was a delegate to the national Parent-Teachers Association convention. Late in life, she made her home with Mrs. W.L. Dismukes. She died on April 22, 1937 of pneumonia, and was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

In English.

According to library records, these documents were found in a desk at Tarbox School.

Process;,2006;,Linda Barnickel;,removed from Schools Ephemera Subject Files.

No further accruals are expected.