Ann and Jim Williams papers

Collection

Identifier: MS0606

Staff Only

Content Description

The collection contains materials related to Ann Williams' work as an author and historical docent. There is a small amount of material related to Jim Williams that contains correspondence and a resume concerning his own work as a historical interpreter and his letters to publishers on behalf of Ann.

The collection also contains material documenting the Hezekiah Alexander Homesite from 1985-1990, when Ann Williams was President of the Hezekiah Alexander Auxiliary. It also includes letters and legal documents regarding lawsuits as well as agendas and minutes of the Charlotte City Council regarding the operation of the site.

Dates

1985 - 2016

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Ann Williams papers are the physical property of J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections. Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Biographical Notes

Patricia Ann Jones Williams was born on August 7, 1940 in Jacksonville, Florida to Ellis and Billie Hobbs Jones. Ann and her husband Jim moved to Charlotte in 1969 and lived there for the rest of their lives. In the late 1970s, Ann got interested in local history and became active at historic sites throughout Mecklenburg county, where she and Jim served as Revolutionary War reenactors. Ann extensively studied the letters and journals of those who had lived on antebellum piedmont plantations and mastered the workings of plantations, especially those pertaining to cotton and slavery. Ann wrote several books concerning Charlotte history, including Your Affectionate Daughter, Isabella. She also co-edited and transcribed many important local documents, such as Life in Antebellum Charlotte, the Private Journal of Sarah F. Davidson, 1837 and the Rural Hill Farm Journals of Adam Brevard Davidson, 1834-1856. Her proudest achievement was her novel, The Uncommon Bond of Julia and Rose in which she created a story with the goal of telling the experience of slavery through the eyes of those who lived through it. Ann died on February 20, 2020 in Charlotte.

Source: https://hankinsandwhittington.com/tribute/details/176402/Ann-Williams/obituary.html

Extent

5 Linear Feet (7 record storage cartons)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection primarily consists of materials related to Ann William' work as a local historian, author, and involvement with local history sites in Charlotte, particularly the Hezekiah Alexander Homesite.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into the following three series: Ann Williams' personal papers, Hezekiah Alexander House Auxiliary, and Audiovisual Materials.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was donated by Jim Williams in 2020 with additional material acquired from the Williams family in 2021.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Andrew Pack in 2020 and Jess Best in 2021. Processing was made possible by the contributions of members of the Mecklenburg Historical Association and the Trail of History Board of Directors.