Frances E. Williams Papers, 1965-1995

Processed by Nina Chang
Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research
6120 South Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Phone: (323) 759-6063
Fax: (323) 759-2252
Email: archives@socallib.org
URL: http://www.socallib.org/
© 2004
Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research. All rights reserved.

The Register of Frances E. Williams Papers, 1965-1995

Collection number: MSS 086

Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research



Los Angeles, California

Contact Information:

  • Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research
  • 6120 South Vermont Avenue
  • Los Angeles, CA, 90044
  • Phone: (323) 759-6063
  • Fax: (323) 759-2252
  • Email: archives@socallib.org
  • URL: http://www.socallib.org/
Processed by:
Nina Chang
Date Completed:
September, 2004
Encoded by:
Nina Chang
© 2004 Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Frances E. Williams Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1965-1995
Collection number: MSS 086
Creator: Frances. E. Williams
Extent: 13 boxes 4 1/3 linear feet
Repository: Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Abstract: The collection contains Frances E. Williams' personal papers from 1965 to 1995 relating to her professional career as an actress, personal/cultural interests, community involvements, and to a larger extent her political activism. The bulk of the material covers the years between 1975 and 1986 when Williams was active in the anti-apartheid and communist solidarity movements taking place in the greater Los Angeles area. The collection also includes materials pertaining to the Frances E. Williams Corner Theater, her most personal project in which she converted her garage in South Los Angeles into a theater where young actors, writers, and artists from the neighborhood would come together to practice their crafts.
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

The collection is available for research only at the Library's facility in Los Angeles. The Library is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Researchers are encouraged to call or email the Library indicating the nature of their research query prior to making a visit.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research. Researchers may make single copies of any portion of the collection, but publication from the collection will be allowed only with the express written permission of the Library's director. It is not necessary to obtain written permission to quote from a collection. When the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research gives permission for publication, it is as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Frances E. Williams Papers, Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research, Los Angeles, California.

Provenance

The collection was donated to the Library by the estate of Frances E. Williams following her death in 1995.

Biography

Frances Elizabeth Williams (b. June 17, 1905; d. January 2, 1995)
Frances E. Williams was a notable African-American actress and activist in Los Angeles from the early 1940s until her death in 1995. As an actress, she was a pivotal force in the arts community, serving as a role model to many young, aspiring actors wanting to make it in the film industry during a time when racial discrimination was widely accepted and practiced. As an activist, she was an outspoken advocate for social justice and equality at the local level, and her political activism spanned outside her local community to around the world. She was most notably involved in the South African anti-apartheid movement and communist solidarity activities. She was an extraordinary individual who fiercely fought for the rights of all people, passionately believing that every individual regardless of race, age, gender, and political affiliation is created equal.
Born on September 17, 1905 in East Orange, New Jersey, Frances E. Williams shortly afterwards moved with her family to Cleveland, Ohio where she spent most of her childhood. At the age of 16, she began her acting career on stage at the famous Karamu Theater, one of the oldest African-American theaters. There she formed lifelong friendships with other renowned figures like Langston Hughes, Paul Robeson, and Ethel Waters. In 1934 at the encouragement of Paul Robeson, Williams went to study theater arts in Russia at the height of the socialist revolution. It was during this time that she came into close contact with socialist philosophies and formed ties with those of communist convictions. It was also in Russia that she received the formal training and education in acting that she would not have otherwise received in a still highly segregated America. She returned to New York two years later with the intention to pursue her acting career in theater.
Theater being her first love, Williams initially had no desire to work in films or television when she moved to California in 1941. She also felt a deep sense of disdain for the stereotypical, demeaning roles that were given to blacks in Hollywood during that time. However, the desire to improve the conditions of her fellow African-Americans in the arts outweighed the personal sense of frustration. She entered Hollywood believing that she could only make an impact from the inside, which she did by helping to start the Actors' Equity Association and working as the assistant director of the landmark film "Salt of the Earth" amidst the racism and discrimination she received. Unabashedly herself in speaking her mind and making her views known, Frances Williams came to be known as a feisty and vibrant actor who delighted her audiences. She indeed paved the way for many of today's African-American artists and entertainers in Hollywood.
However, Frances Williams was clearly more than a socially-conscious actress. She was an activist and humanitarian in her own right, who deeply felt a social and moral responsibility towards her community and the world at large. In her local community, she was involved in various organizations as a member of the Arts Advisory Board and the California Arts Council and as the co-founder of the Los Angeles African-American Arts Council. As a political activist, she was one of the first black women to run for the California State Assembly in 1948 on the Progressive Party ticket. She also represented the World Peace Council at the first Angola Independence Celebration in 1975, helped to organize Women for Racial and Economic Equality (WREE) in Chicago, co-founded the Art Against Apartheid Movement in Los Angeles, and was actively involved in number of other political efforts.
Another of Williams' great contribution was the Frances E. Williams Corner Theater, her most personal project of all. She converted her garage into a theater where young, aspiring writers and actors from the neighborhood could come to express their artistic talents and creativity. She offered a gathering place and opportunities, which would not otherwise be available to the youth living in economically and socially depressed South Los Angeles. Having lived a truly full and meaningful life devoted to the fight for justice, equality, and rights of all people, she died on January 2, 1995 at the age of 89.

Scope and Content

The collection contains personal and organizational correspondence, calendars, photos, conference reports, legal documents, handwritten notes, and various flyers, mailings, and invitations detailing Frances E. Williams' interests and activities. It also includes a 30-minute video dialog of Frances Williams at the William Grant Still Gallery in 1982. The materials document Frances Williams' cultural interests, professional career, community involvements, and political activism in the anti-apartheid and communist solidarity efforts. Having been the chairperson of National Anti-Imperialist Movement in Solidarity with African Liberations (NAIMSAL), Los Angeles Chapter, co-founder of Art Against Apartheid, and an active member of the World Council, Williams' political materials are the highlight of the collection. This includes materials documenting her personal support of Paul Robeson, Bill Taylor, and William Patterson, all well-known African-American political activists of the time. The materials relating to her community activities detail Williams' particular interest in the arts and cultural scene of Los Angeles, desegregation of the schools, and various public works projects aimed at improving the neighborhood. Also of special interest is the section on the Frances E. Williams Corner Theater, a theater that she started at her garage in an effort to bring together young artists around the neighborhood. The collection includes over twenty play scripts submitted to Frances for her review.

Arrangement

The collection was donated to the Library by the estate of Frances E. Williams following her death in 1995. The collection is divided into eleven series: 1. Personal, 2. Acting & Theater Career, 3. Community Activities, 4. Religious Activities, 5. Paul Robeson, 6. William (Bill) Taylor, 7. The William L. Patterson Foundation, 8. Political Activism, 9. Anti-Apartheid Activism, 10. Communist Solidarity Activism, 11. Clippings.

Separated Material

Carson McCullers' The Ballad of the Sad Café
Los Angeles Public Library Films Catalog, 1974

Related Material at the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research

Title: Charlotta A. Bass Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1874-1968
Physical Description: 8 document boxes, 3 cubic feet


Title: · Bill Taylor Papers,
Date (inclusive): [1960s-1970s]
, unprocessed
Physical Description: [3 cubic feet]


Title: Frances E. Williams 1905-1995 Film Clips,
Date: n.d.,
Physical Description: 11-minutes,
Location: Video Collection, tape # 96

Bibliography

Christian, Anna. Meet it, Greet it, and Defeat it: The Biography of Frances E. Williams. Los Angeles : Milligan Books, 1999.

A copy of the collection register is kept in the first box of the collection (1/0).
 

Series 1. Personal, 1965-1995

Physical Description: 44 folders

Scope and Content Note

This series contains Williams' personal materials including her passport, weekly calendars and address books, and extensive personal correspondence with friends. It also includes a proposed outline of an biography on Frances Williams which was published in 1999 under the title, Meet it, Greet it, and Defeat it: The biography of Frances E. Williams. The section on Arts and Culture includes assorted flyers, mailings, and invitations from various organizations and local art galleries such as the Brockman Gallery in Leimert Park. The materials on Surinam detail Williams' initial visit in 1981 and the theater tour she led in 1982. There is also an extensive amount of handwritten notes (some illegible) placed in the original order it was collected. The photos are mostly of her friends, many of whom include other famous African-American figures like Paul Robeson, Beah Richards, Sydney Poitier, Marilyn McCoo, and Billy Davis. The 30-minute video is a talk Frances Williams gave at the William Grant Still Gallery in 1982 as part of the "History of Blacks in Film" series. It is a personal and candid talk on Williams' fight against discrimination as a black actress in Hollywood.
Box-folder 1/1

Passport, 1975-1980

Box-folder 1/2

Memorial service, Jan. 1995

Box-folder 1/3

Autobiography proposal, 1993

Box-folder 1/4

Address books, n.d.

Box-folder 1/5

Handwritten names and addresses, n.d.

Box-folder 1/6

Yearly calendar, 1981

Box-folder 1/7

Weekly calendar, 1977

Box-folder 1/8

Weekly calendar, 1978

Box-folder 1/9

Weekly calendar, 1979

Box-folder  2/1-2/6

Correspondence

Box-folder 2/1

Personal, 1974-1976

Box-folder 2/2

Personal, 1977-1979

Box-folder 2/3

Personal, 1980-1984

Box-folder 2/4

Personal, 1985-1989, 1991

Box-folder 2/5

Personal, n.d.

Box-folder 2/6

Organizational, 1977, 1979-1981, 1986, 1988-1989

Box-folder 2/7-2/9

Finances

Box-folder 2/7

Bank statements, 1980-1981

Box-folder 2/8

Receipts, 1970, 1978-1980, 1982, n.d.

Box-folder 2/9

Unemployment Insurance Appeals Hearing, 1980

Box-folder 2/10

Business cards, n.d.

Box-folder 2/11

Children's drawings, n.d.

Box-folder  2/12-3/6

Arts and culture

Box-folder 2/12

Conferences and events programs, 1990-1991

Box-folder 3/1-3/3

Museums, galleries

Box-folder 3/1

Invitations, 1978-1979, 1981-1982, 1984

Box-folder 3/2

Brochures, catalogs, 1965, 1979-1981, 1990, n.d.

Box-folder 3/3

Brockman Gallery, 1977-1981, 1984, 1986, 1988, n.d.

Box-folder 3/4

Poems, essays, and songs, n.d.

Box-folder 3/5

Assorted flyers, mailings, invitations, 1963, 1975-1982, 1984-1992, 1994, n.d.

Box-folder 3/6

Publications, 1975-1976, 1978-1979, 1981-1987, 1989, n.d.

Box-folder 4/1-4/6

Travel

Box-folder 4/1

Assorted brochures, 1980, 1982, 1990, n.d.

Box-folder 4/2-4/6

Surinam

Box-folder 4/2

Travel documents, Nov. 1981

Box-folder 4/3

Theater tour, June-July 1982

Box-folder 4/4

Articles about Surinam, n.d.

Box-folder 4/5

Brochures, pamphlets, n.d.

Box-folder 4/6

"Rebirth in Words: Poetry and Prose from Surinam", 1981

Box-folder 4/7

NACHES, 1981-1982, 1986

Box-folder 4/8

Assorted documents, n.d.

Box-folder 4/9

Handwritten notes, n.d.

Box-folder 5/1

Blank cards n.d.

Box-folder 5/2

Video, Frances E. Williams in Dialog, 1982

Box-folder 5/3-5/6

Photos, [1940?-1995?]

Box-folder 5/3

Personal, friends

Box-folder 5/4

Events

Box-folder 5/5

Headshots

Box-folder 5/6

Various

 

Series 2. Acting and theater career, 1977-1994

Physical Description: 55 folders

Scope and Content Note

This series contains materials directly relating to Williams' acting career in Hollywood during the late 1970s and 1980s, including her most well-known role in the sitcom Frank's Place. It also includes materials documenting Williams' membership in several professional organizations, the Actors' Equity Association being one of which she helped to establish and served on as a board member for 20 years. The section on the Frances E. Williams Corner Theater documents her extraordinary vision and efforts to form a community of actors and writers to come together and nurture their talents. It includes flyers, programs, and newspaper clippings of plays performed at the Corner Theater. The series includes over twenty play scripts (some of which were performed at the Corner Theater) submitted to Williams for her review. Williams' comments on the play scripts are also included.
Box-folder 5/7

Headshot photos n.d.

Box-folder 5/8

Resume, n.d.

Box-folder 5/9

Award nominations, 1982, 1985, 1989

Box-folder 5/10-5/14

Memberships

Box-folder 5/10

Actors' Equity Association, 1977, 1979-1980, 1989

Box-folder 5/11

Screen Actors Guild, 1987-1989

Box-folder 5/12

Black Women in Theater West, 1987, n.d.

Box-folder 5/13

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, 1988-1989

Box-folder 5/14

Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, 1988, n.d.

Box-folder 5/15-5/18

Television appearances

Box-folder 5/15

Call sheets, 1982, 1990

Box-folder 5/16

Cast & crew lists, 1982, 1990

Box-folder 5/17-5/18

Frank's Place

Box-folder 5/17

Photo of cast, n.d.

Box-folder 5/18

General, 1988

Box-folder 5/19-5/22

Frances E. Williams' Group

Box-folder 5/19

Mailing list, n.d.

Box-folder 5/20

Minutes, Aug. 1981

Box-folder 5/21

Essays, 1981, n.d.

Box-folder 5/22

Resumes n.d.

Box-folder 6/1-6/9

Frances E. Williams Corner Theater

Box-folder 6/1

Mailings, 1983-1984, n.d.

Box-folder  6/2

Mailing list n.d.

Box-folder  6/3

Invoices, 1994

Box-folder  6/4

Quarterly reports, 1993-1994

Box-folder  6/5

SEED scholarship, 1990

Box-folder  6/6

Announcements, 1984, n.d.

Box-folder  6/7

Calendar of events, 1983-1984, 1993, n.d.

Box-folder  6/8

Flyers, programs, n.d.

Box-folder  6/9

Clipping, press releases, 1981, 1984, 1991, 1993, n.d.

Box-folder  6/10

Interview with Luisah Teish, 1985

Box-folder  6/11-9/1

Play scripts

Box-folder  6/11

Comments of review, n.d.

Box-folder  6/12

Miscellaneous, n.d.

Box-folder  6/13

Alexander, Fran, E.A. Krumschimdt, and Lisa Osten. The Gentle Folks, n.d.

Box-folder  6/14

Angelou, Maya. And I Still Rise, 1977

Box-folder  6/15

Benjamin, Paul. Carrier, n.d.

Box-folder  6/16

Brooks, Joan Halimah. The Reunion, 1984

Box-folder  6/17

Burgess, Granville. Dusky Sally, 1985

Box-folder  6/18

Campbell, Clifford. 21 Jump Street: Cory and Dean Get Married, 1988

Box-folder  7/1

Christian, Anna. The Big Table, n.d.

Box-folder 7/2

Davis, Gail and Clyde Santana. The Phantom of the 87th St. Playground, 1980

Box-folder  7/3

Finney, Sara V., Kathleen McGhee, and Joan Halimah Brooks. Olivia: A Trilogy, 1986

Box-folder  7/4

Freeman, Vincent Patrick. Leona, 1982

Box-folder  7/5

Galloway, Stephen. A Little Night Magic, 1982

Box-folder  7/6

Greenwood, Frank. Please Call Me Langston, [1985]

Box-folder  7/7

Gibson, William. Handy Dandy: A Comedy But, 1984

Box-folder  7/8

Harrison-Devore, Frances. Ring around the Rosie, 1981

Box-folder  7/9

Hodges, J.J. Never Enough, n.d.

Box-folder  7/10

Los Angeles Playwrights. Coming Home to the NAACP and Black Theatre, [1989]

Box-folder 8/1

McGhee-Anderson, Kathleen. Memphis September: A Play in Two Acts, 1986

Box-folder  8/2

McGhee-Anderson, Kathleen. Oak and Ivy, 1985

Box-folder  8/3

Moreland, J.B. To Woodrow Wilson: A Stage Play, n.d.

Box-folder  8/4

Prince, Paul. The Mark of a Man, n.d.

Box-folder  8/5

Rosenthal, Mark I. and Edgar Stroke. Brer Rabbit: Estimate, 1988

Box-folder  8/6

Sain, L.C. What Is to Be Done? 1985

Box-folder  8/7

S.n. Over Fried Chicken, n.d.

Box-folder  8/8

Wadsworth, Pat. Child Development as Applied at Nursery School, n.d.

Box-folder  8/9

Zweibel, Alan. The Boys: Gene's Problem, 1989

Box-folder  9/1

Partial play scripts, n.d.

Box-folder  9/2

Speeches, n.d.

 

Series 3. Community activities, 1979-1992

Physical Description: 14 folders

Scope and Content Note

This series document Williams' activism as a community organizer in various issues concerning the Los Angeles community, especially in the area of arts education and school desegregation. The series contains mailings, meeting notes, and proposals relating to the activities of the Arts Advisory Board, LA African American Arts Council, and the California Arts Council. It also documents Williams' involvement in public works efforts to improve the local neighborhood in areas of sanitation, road safety, and childcare.
Box-folder  9/3-9/5

Arts Advisory Board

Box-folder  9/3

Correspondence, 1990

Box-folder  9/4

Meeting notes, 1990

Box-folder 9/5

Los Angeles Cultural Master Plan, 1990

Box-folder  9/6

Los Angeles African American Arts Council, 1990

Box-folder 9/7

California Arts Council, 1988, n.d.

Box-folder  9/8-9/9

Education in Los Angeles

Box-folder  9/8

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarship, 1990-1991

Box-folder  9/9

Flyers, brochures, n.d.

Box-folder  9/10

Childcare legislation, 1980

Box-folder  9/11

Los Angeles bicentennial celebration, 1979, 1981

Box-folder  9/12

Committee to save Sunset Hall, 1990

Box-folder  9/13-9/16 1981-1982, n.d.

Public works

Box-folder  9/13

Neighborhood watch signs, n.d.

Box-folder  9/14

Ordinance on Public Works Improvement, n.d.

Box-folder  9/15

Yard sanitation complaint, 1981-1982

Box-folder  9/16

Miscellaneous, 1979-1981, 1990, 1992, n.d.

 

Series 4. Religious activities, 1978-1982

Physical Description: 7 folders

Scope and Content Note

This is a small collection of materials relating to Williams' involvement in various religious organizations and churches in the greater Los Angeles area. The most extensive material is from the Diocese of Los Angeles, which includes copies of the nomination forms for the 1981 election of church officials.
Box-folder  9/17-9/19

The Church in the Diocese of Los Angeles

Box-folder  9/17

General, 1980-81

Box-folder  9/18

Nominations for elected officials, 1979, 1981

Box-folder  9/19

Newsletter, 1981

Box-folder  9/20

The Union of Black Episcopalians, 1980-1981

Box-folder  9/21

Christ the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 1981, 1988-1989, n.d.

Box-folder  9/22

Miscellaneous, 1978, 1980, 1988, n.d.

Box-folder  9/23

Publications, 1981-1982

 

Series 5. Paul Robeson, 1976-1991

Physical Description: 7 folders

Scope and Content Note

As a personal friend and supporter of the famous actor and activist Paul Robeson, Williams was actively involved in establishing the Paul Robeson Community Center that was devoted to serving the ethnic community of South Los Angles. The materials relate to organizing events and rallies in fighting against discrimination, oppression, and imperialism in conjunction with the Paul Robeson Community Center. The series also includes original or copies of nomination forms for the Paul Robeson Citation Award and selected entries of the Paul Robeson 21st Century World Citizen Essay Contest. The clippings relate to the work and events of the Paul Robeson Community Center.
Box-folder  10/1

General, 1976, 1979, 1982, n.d.

Box-folder  10/2

Paul Robeson Community Center, 1986, 1988, 1994, n.d.

Box-folder  10/3

Paul Robeson Archives, Inc., 1976, 1979, n.d.

Box-folder  10/4

Tribute to Paul Robeson, 1991

Box-folder  10/5

Paul Robeson Citation Award nominations, 1979, 1981, n.d.

Box-folder  10/6

Paul Robeson 21st Century World Citizen Contest, entries, 1991

Box-folder  10/7

Clippings, news releases, 1976-1977, 1991, n.d.

 

Series 6. William (Bill) Taylor, [1975-1980

Physical Description: 8 folders

Scope and Content Note

This series documents Williams' involvement in the Tribute to Bill Taylor Committee as its chairperson. The committee was committed to raising fund for Bill Taylor, an active union leader and a chairperson of the Communist Party USA. The series includes mailings, invitations, and programs of events held in tribute to Bill Taylor. It also includes names and addresses of supporters of Bill Taylor.
Box-folder  10/8

Correspondence, 1975

Box-folder  10/9

Sponsors and patrons, n.d.

Box-folder  10/10

Receipt book, 1975

Box-folder  10/11-10/13

Tribute to Bill Taylor, event

Box-folder  10/11

Committee name list, n.d.

Box-folder  10/12

Invitations, program, 1975, n.d.

Box-folder  10/13

Program notes, n.d.

Box-folder  10/14

William C. Taylor Memorial committee, 1980

Box-folder  10/15

Clippings, 1980

 

Series 7. The William L. Patterson Foundation, 1976-1989

Physical Description: 3 folders

Scope and Content Note

This is a small collection of materials on Williams' involvement in the William L. Patterson Foundation as a personal friend of William and Louise Patterson and as a board member. The series consist mostly of correspondence relating to the activities of the foundation.
Box-folder  10/16

General, 1977, 1980, n.d.

Box-folder  10/17

Correspondence, 1976-1977, 1979-1980, n.d.

Box-folder  10/18

Louise Patterson, 1989, n.d.

 

Series 8. Political activism, 1955-1990

Physical Description: 19 folders

Scope and Content Note

This series is divided according to the different political organizations that Williams was involved in, including her participation in the Women's Congress in 1980, correspondence in regards to upcoming activities sponsored by WREE and the World Peace Council, and support of the various labor unions active in the Los Angeles area. It also includes materials (clippings, flyers, mailings) relating to the Wilmington Ten Case, which was a well-known civil rights case of the time. The assorted flyers, mailings, and invitations primarily consist of announcements of political rallies, protests, and updates of events. The publication section includes informational pamphlets on various issues like nuclear arms, Zionism and racism, and the Black Panther movement.
Box-folder  10/19-10/20

The Women's Congress

Box-folder  10/19

Annual Conference, Oct. 3-5, 1980

Box-folder  10/20

Handwritten notes, n.d.

Box-folder  10/21-10/24

Women for Racial and Economic Equality (WREE)

Box-folder  10/21

Mailings, memos, 1977-1978, n.d.

Box-folder  10/22

Proposed bylaws, n.d.

Box-folder  10/23

Speech transcripts, n.d.

Box-folder  10/24

Bulletin, May-Aug. 1977

Box-folder  10/25-10/28

World Peace Council

Box-folder  10/25

Information sheets, n.d.

Box-folder  10/26

Mailings, flyers, 1976-1978

Box-folder  10/27

Report of World Conference, Aug. 14-16, 1975

Box-folder  10/28

Publications, 1977, n.d.

Box-folder  10/29

The Black Caucus, name list, n.d.

Box-folder  10/30-10/33

Labor unions

Box-folder  10/30

The Coalition of Black Trade Unionist, n.d.

Box-folder  10/31

Coalition of Labor Union Women, 1981, n.d.

Box-folder 10/32

Los Angeles Area Committee for Trade Union Action and Democracy (TUAD), 1976-1977, 1979, n.d.

Box-folder  10/33

Miscellaneous, 1977, 1982, 1990, n.d.

Box-folder  11/1

Wilmington Ten Case, 1981, n.d.

Box-folder  11/2

Assorted flyers, mailings, invitations, 1976-1979, 1981, n.d.

Box-folder  11/3

Publications, 1955, 1971, 1974-1981, 1986-1987, 1989, n.d.

Box-folder  11/4

Posters, n.d.

 

Series 9. Anti-apartheid activism, 1975-1989

Physical Description: 29 folders

Scope and Content Note

This series well documents Williams' involvement in the South African anti-apartheid movement, especially as it pertains to activities taking place in Los Angeles. The materials document great efforts made to prevent the building of the South African Consulate in Century City/Los Angeles through petitions, rallies, and meetings. As the chairperson of NAIMSAL, Los Angeles Office, Williams was in close correspondence with the American Committee on Africa and the Washington Office on Africa, uniting their efforts to fight against apartheid in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa. Although Williams' attendance at the international conferences cannot be determined, the section on Conferences includes comprehensive reports from the listed conferences. Materials suggest that Williams was peripherally involved in efforts to fight for equality in sports and humanitarian aid for African children. The flyers, mailings, and publications primarily consist of announcements of events, rallies, and protests in support of the anti-apartheid movements taking place in area. The bulk of the newspaper clippings from the late 1970s are on Angola's fight for independence and the clippings from 1980s are mostly on anti-apartheid protests, South Africa, and Nelson Mandela.
Box-folder  11/5

Mailings, 1976-1981

Box-folder  11/6

Handwritten notes, n.d.

Box-folder  11/7

Membership list, n.d.

Box-folder  11/8

Speech transcripts, 1978, 1980

Box-folder  11/9-11/12

South African Consulate, Los Angeles

Box-folder  11/9

Correspondence, petitions, 1980

Box-folder  11/10

Ad Hoc Committee on South African Consulate, 1980

Box-folder  11/11

Declaration against the South African Embassy, n.d.

Box-folder  11/12

Statement to Mayor Tom Bradley, June 16, 1980

Box-folder  11/13

City of Los Angeles on South Africa, 1980-1981

Box-folder  11/14

Los Angeles African Sister Cities Affiliation, n.d.

Box-folder  11/15

Art against Apartheid Los Angeles, n.d.

Box-folder  11/16

American Committee on Africa, 1978-1980, n.d.

Box-folder  11/17

Washington Office on Africa, 1977-1981, 1986, n.d.

Box-folder  11/18-11/22

National Anti-Imperialist Movement in Solidarity with African Liberation (NAIMSAL)

Box-folder  11/18

Information sheets, n.d.

Box-folder  11/19

Minutes, June 3, 1980

Box-folder  11/20

Financial statements, receipts, 1979-1980

Box-folder  11/21

Mailings, 1979, 1981, n.d.

Box-folder  11/22

Newsletters, 1980

Box-folder  12/1-12/4

Conferences

Box-folder  12/1

World Conference Against Apartheid, Racism, and Colonialism in Southern Africa, June 16-19, 1977

Box-folder  12/2

Conference of Solidarity with the Struggle of the African and Arab Peoples, Sept. 14-17, 1978

Box-folder 12/3

The International Conference in Support of the Liberation Movements in Southern Africa, April 10-12, 1979

Box-folder 12/4

Conference in Solidarity with the Liberation Struggles of the Peoples of Southern Africa, Oct. 9-11, 1981

Box-folder  12/5

The American Coordinating Committee for Equality in Sport and Society (ACCESS), 1976-1981, n.d.

Box-folder  12/6

Feed the Children, South Africa, 1979

Box-folder  12/7

Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), n.d.

Box-folder  12/8

Assorted notes, n.d.

Box-folder  12/9

Flyers, mailings, 1979-1980, n.d.

Box-folder  12/10

Publications, 1975, 1978-1981, 1987-1989, n.d.

Box-folder  12/11

Clippings, 1975-1978, 1980, 1985-1986, n.d.

 

Series 10. Communist solidarity activism, 1974-1990

Physical Description: 9 folders

Scope and Content Note

This series documents Williams' involvement in various communist solidarity efforts. Williams received mailings from the CPUSA and collected informational brochures and reports generated by the Party. The series include seven full articles from Radio Moscow transcribed and mailed from Russia.
Box-folder  13/1-13/5

Communist Party, USA

Box-folder  13/1

Mailings, 1977, 1979, 1984, 1988, n.d.

Box-folder  13/2

Report to the 22nd Convention, CPUSA, n.d.

Box-folder  13/3

Report on the 1977 People's World Circulation Drive, n.d.

Box-folder  13/4

Miscellaneous, 1990, n.d.

Box-folder  13/5

Publications, 1979, 1985

Box-folder  13/6

Society for Cultural Relations, USA-USSR, 1981, 1986, n.d.

Box-folder  13/7

Radio Moscow, articles, 1985

Box-folder  13/8

Publications, 1974-1975, 1978-1979, n.d.

Box-folder  13/9

Clippings, 1976-1978, n.d.

 

Series 11. Clippings, 1975-1987

Physical Description: 1 folder

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of newspaper and magazine clippings that Williams collected over the years. The topics range from recipes to travel advertisements, to personality features of other actors and actresses.
Box-folder 13/10

Clippings, 1975-1979, 1981-1982, 1985-1987, n.d.