Rare Book & Manuscript Library
 

Richmond B. Williams papers, 1904-1987

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.: MS#1353
Bib ID 4079639 View CLIO record
Creator(s) Williams, Richmond Barnes, 1903-1986
Title Richmond B. Williams papers, 1904-1987
Physical Description 0.42 linear feet (1 manuscript box)
Language(s) English .
Access You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Arrangement

Description

Summary

Correspondence, manuscripts, subject files, drawings, printed materials and memorabilia documenting the life of Richmond B. Williams. Many of the letters relate to Columbia University. The manuscripts are mainly concerned with the President's House, John Jay Hall and the Brander Matthews Dramatic Museum. There are several photographs of Williams during his college years and with other members of the Victorian Society. There are several drawings and both Williams' BLitt degree certification and his Distinguished Classmate Award.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Richmond Barnes Williams papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Related Materials

There is file related to Williams in the Historical biographical files (UA#0004). There are some Class of 1925 donated from Williams' estate in the University Artifacts collection (UA#0046). Williams also donated Class of 1925 materials which can be found in the Alumni class records (UA#0259).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Williams, Richmond B. via his executor Thomas Eyestone & Columbia College Dean's Office. Method of acquisition--Bequest; Date of acquisition--10/23/1989. Accession number--M-89-10-23.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Processed JHR 02/05/1990.

Revision Description

2023-01-20 Finding aid published (JR)

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Heading "CUL Archives:"
"Portal"
"CUL Collections:"
"CLIO"
"Nat'l / Int'l Archives:"
"ArchivedGRID"
Certificates Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Memorabilia Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Photographic prints Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID

Subject

Heading "CUL Archives:"
"Portal"
"CUL Collections:"
"CLIO"
"Nat'l / Int'l Archives:"
"ArchivedGRID"
Brander Matthews Dramatic Museum Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Columbia University -- Alumni and alumnae Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Columbia University -- Students Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Columbia University. John Jay Hall Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID

History / Biographical Note

Biographical Note

Richmond Barnes Williams was born in Brooklyn in 1903. He was a student at Columbia College and the School of Journalism (BLitt, 1925). As a student, Williams wrote for the student newspaper, the Spectator, and served as the Editor-in-Chief in his senior year. He also wrote for the Varsity magazine, was an editor of the Blue Book, wrote a history of Columbia for the 1925 Columbian yearbook, and was a member of the Debate Team.

Williams was very active in alumni organizations. He was a member of the Alumni Association of Columbia College and the Society of Older Graduates. He received the Alumni Federation Medal in 1942, the Columbia College Dean's Award in 1969 and 1974, and was the Classmate of the Year in 1975. He was an American Telephone and Telegraph executive, having worked for AT&T from 1926 to 1968. He also wrote articles for the Columbia alumni magazines, travel magazines and newspapers.

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Series I: Richmond B. Williams papers, 1904-1987


Correspondence

The correspondence includes some letters from Williams's days as a Columbia student, but the majority of the letters relate to a draft of an article Williams was working on in 1960 about the President's House. An updated version of the article appeared in Columbia College Today in the Fall 1970 issue.



Box 1 Folder 1 Coffee, Joseph D., 1961


Box 1 Folder 2 Columbia University, 1924-1971

Includes materials related to the Brander Matthews Dramatic Museum


Box 1 Folder 3 Fackenthal, Frank D., 1925-1960


Box 1 Folder 4 Hocker, H.D., circa 1960


Box 1 Folder 5 "Jim", 1960

School of Architecture


Box 1 Folder 6 K, 1959-1961


Box 1 Folder 7 Michelfelder, Phyllis, 1961


Box 1 Folder 8 Proffitt, Ruth, circa 1960


Box 1 Folder 9 Seabury, Charles Ward, 1904-1940

Williams's godfather


Box 1 Folder 10 Thomas, Milton Halsey, 1960


Box 1 Folder 11 Williams, Richmond, 1932-1970


Box 1 Folder 12 Manuscripts, 1960s-1970s

Includes manuscripts of articles on the President's House and Brander Matthews's legacy


Box 1 Folder 13 Drawings, 1920s


Subject Files


Box 1 Folder 14 Academic Transcripts, 1924-1942

Columbia College and School of Journalism


Box 1 Folder 15 Biographical, 1986-1987

Obituaries


Box 1 Folder 16 Dramatic Museum, circa 1970

Notes for an article


Box 1 Folder 17 John Jay Hall, 1928


Box 1 Folder 18 Oral History, 1970


Photographs

Includes original prints, copy negatives and prints from the copy negatives


Box 1 Folder 19-20 The Great God Pan and the Victorian Society, 1920s, 2 folders

The statue used to located near the southwest corner of 120th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.


Box 1 Folder 21-22 The Reading from Homer, 1920s, 2 folders

Victorian Society members in front of the Great God Pan statue reading from a book


Box 1 Folder 23-24 The Victorians express horror at the Age of the Machine, 1920s, 2 folders

Victorian Society members pose with machinery on campus


Box 1 Folder 25 Negatives, undated

Copy negatives for the three prints


Box 1 Folder 26 Certificate and Award, 1925-1975

Certificate of degree of Bachelor of Literature and Distinguished Classmate award


Box 1 Folder 27 Printed Materials, 1922-1969

Newspaper clippings from the 1920s and a George C. Marshall Research Library newsletter, 1969


Additions

These materials were donated by Richmond Williams to the Columbiana Collection. His Class of 1925 materials can be found in the Alumni class records (UA#0259).


Box 1 Folder 28 Articles re: Columbia, 1954-1956

Includes articles on Arden House, the American Assembly, Poughkeepsie Regatta


Box 1 Folder 29 Columbia Alumni News, 1939-1948

Issues of CAN: King's Visit in 1939, Nicholas Murray Butler's retirement, and Dwight D. Eisenhower's appoint to University President


Box 1 Folder 30 International Debates, 1923-1924, 1966

Debate team materials, invitations to the President's House and a note from Jacques Barzun on remembering the 1923 Debate Team. The first Oxford-Columbia debate was held at Columbia in 1922. Money was raised to send the Columbia team to Great Britain in June 1923 on a ten-university tour. When the Oxford team returned in 1924, Williams served as the Debate Manager.


Box 1 Folder 31 King's College seal reproductions, 1958-1962

As a member of the Columbiana Committee, Williams looks into making reproductions of the King's College seal


Box 1 Folder 32 Newspaper clippings, 1920s-1950s

Includes Class Day 1925 clippings


Box 1 Folder 33 Spectator Banquet menus, 1922-1925

Spring dinner menus, held at hotels before the opening of Faculty House


Box 1 Folder 34 Spectator re: Students Hall (now John Jay Hall), 1924-1925

Correspondence Williams received as Spectator Editor-in-Chief in response to this editorials on the need for a Students Hall. Includes a letter from Nicholas Murray Butler.


Box 1 Folder 35 When Columbia Rowed at Henley, 1920s

Article by Williams published in the Columbia Varsity