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Guide to the Henry Delton Williams Papers
MS154
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Title: Henry Delton Williams Papers
Dates: 1950-2012
Collection number: MS154
Creator:
Williams, Henry Delton.
Collection Size:
6.75 linear feet
(5 boxes + 3 oversized boxes)
Repository:
African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland, CA 94612
Abstract: Henry Delton Williams (b. 1941), costume designer who crafted pieces for Motown and Hollywood stars, was born in Alexandria,
Louisiana. The Henry Delton Williams Papers includes performance costumes, clothing, and accessories designed by Williams,
as well as correspondence, clippings, photographs and assorted printed material documenting his career as a gospel singer
and fashion designer.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
No access restrictions to the Henry Delton Williams Papers . Collection is open to the public.
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
Permission to publish must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.
Henry Delton Williams Papers, MS 154, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.
Collection donated to the African American Museum & Library at Oakland by Henry Delton Williams.
Processed by Sean Dickerson, June 08, 2017.
Biography / Administrative History
Henry Delton Williams (b. 1941), costume designer who crafted pieces for Motown and Hollywood stars, was born in Alexandria,
Louisiana. His father worked at the local saw mill, performed gospel music and provided tailoring services. In 1945, hearing
of naval supply jobs in the Bay Area, the family moved to West Oakland, California. The family then relocated to East Oakland
where Williams attended Roosevelt Junior High School and Oakland High School. Williams went on to work at the Chevrolet assembly
line while pursuing a career in gospel music, singing with such talents as the Hawkins Family and on the weekly live gospel
show for KRE radio, Berkeley.
In 1963, Williams was offered a singing contract with the Los Angeles Gospel All Stars. After returning to Oakland, Williams
decided to pursue a career close to the entertainment business and enrolled in Laney College to be a designer-tailor. After
graduating in 1968 Williams opened The Original Brothers clothing store at the corner of 18th and San Pablo Streets in West
Oakland. The Original Brothers was the first dashiki shop in the Bay Area, a West African-inspired garment which found a market
in America during the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. Popular with Merritt College students, the Original Brothers
also developed Afro hair care products, predating the introduction of Johnson's Afro Sheen. When students at Oakland High
protested in demand of a Black Student Union in 1969, the Original Brothers were called alongside the Black Panthers to negotiate
between the administration and the students.
Around this time, Williams began making slack suits for the Whispers (then performing in residence at the San Francisco Whisky-A-Go-Go)
and the Edwin Hawkins Singers. Over the next decades he would develop a business designing entertainment costumes for performers
such as Martha Reeves, Tina Turner, Marvyn Gaye, Sherrie Payne, Freda Payne, the actor and former Oakland Raider Fred Williamson,
Janie Bradford, and Lenny Williams of Tower of Power. Williams also made costumes for Hollywood productions, such as
Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976), and the Fred Williamson films
Adios Amigo (1976),
Death Journey (1976),
Mean Johnny Barrows (1976), No Way Back (1976), and
One Down Two to Go (1982). He would later go on to open A.F.A.R. ("American Fruit with African Roots") Creations Fashion Art Gallery and remained
active through his career designing for Motown events such as the Tribute to Heroes and Legends (HAL Awards). In 2010, the
African American Museum & Library at Oakland honored Williams in the exhibition
Extraordinary Person, Extraordinary Life.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Henry Delton Williams Papers includes performance costumes, clothing, and accessories designed by Williams, as well as
correspondence, clippings, photographs and assorted printed material documenting his career as a gospel singer and fashion
designer. The papers are arranged into seven series: Series I. Costumes and accessories Series II. Correspondence Series III.
Newspaper clippings Series IV. Tribute to Heroes and Legends (HAL Awards) Series V. A.F.A.R Creations Series VI. Assorted
printed material Series VII. Photographs
Series I. Costumes and accessories
Series II. Correspondence
Series III. Newspaper clippings
Series IV. Tribute to Heroes and Legends (HAL Awards)
Series V. A.F.A.R Creations
Series VI. Assorted printed material
Series VII. Photographs
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Payne, Freda
Reeves, Martha
Williams, Henry Delton
African American fashion designers.
Costume design--California--Los Angeles--History--20th century.
Fashion--African influences.
Soul (music).
Rhythm and blues music--California.