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Papers of Melvina Williams

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 1296

Overview

This collection consists of family history research by Melvina Williams as well as photographs, various newspaper articles, and letters.

Dates

  • Creation: 1882 - 2012

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of Melvina Williams

Melvina Marie Williams was born in Hastings, Nebraska on May 14, 1928 to James W. Riley and Bessie Louise Lewis. She attended Hastings College; she completed a course of study at Alehouse School of Beauty Culture in Omaha, Nebraska and finished in 1948, joining a cosmetology sorority in Omaha. After moving to Denver she attended the Community College of Denver, Red Rocks. She earned a BS in Human Service Work at Metropolitan State College of Denver. Following that she earned a MA in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley.

In 1957 she joined the Denver Cosmetology guild. She worked as an administrative assistant and a human resource consultant in Denver. She was a paraprofessional in the Denver Public Schools. She was a social service/parent involvement coordinator in Commerce City, CO. She was a vocational rehabilitation aid in Denver. She also had a cosmetology business in Denver.

Her first marriage was to Jimmy Gordon of Columbus, Ohio on July 11, 1946. With him she had two daughters, Mattie Marie and Melvina Louise. They divorced in November 1948. She then married Ferdinand Alfred Milton in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1951. With him she also had two daughters, Lia Adair and Vivian Le Ann. They divorced in 1969. Her third and final marriage was to Rev. Chester A. Williams in Hill City, Kansas in 1997. She moved to Nicodemus, Kansas with him.

Melvina Williams died on February 25, 2013. She is buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery in Bogue, Kansas.

Extent

5.50 Linear Feet (6 boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 1 audio cassette)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

This collection includes family history research by Melvina Williams; correspondence between Melvina and various people; articles and papers that were written by Melvina Williams, some which were published. Also included are photographs of family members, past and present; an interview with Melvina on an audio cassette tape and many newspaper articles on various subjects.

Physical Location

RH MS 1296

Physical Location

RH MS-P 1296

Physical Location

RH MS Q373

Physical Location

RH MS R343

Physical Location

RH Cassette Tape 63

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Rev. C.A. Williams Sr, 2013.

Related Materials

Consult library staff regarding the availability of related photographs, biographical files, and scrapbooks.

Title
Guide to the Melvina Williams Collection
Subtitle
Papers of Melvina Williams
Author
Finding aid prepared by eear, 2015
Date
2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Support for the processing of this Collection was provided by the Dana and Sue Anderson African American Collecting Program Endowment Fund.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/8225256027
Preferred citation
Melvina Williams Collection, RH MS 1296, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334