Daniel Williams (historian) facts for kids
Daniel Thomas Williams Jr. (1932–2010) was an important American historian and archivist. An archivist is someone who collects and keeps important historical documents. He was the first African American to be honored as a fellow of the Society of American Archivists. He also led the university library at Tuskegee University for many years, from 1968 to 1999.
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The Life of Daniel T. Williams Jr.
His Early Life and Education
Daniel Williams Jr. was born on September 20, 1932. His parents were Willie Mae and Daniel T. Williams Sr. He grew up in Miami, Florida, and had two brothers, Emmett J. and Rodney M. Williams.
He went to West Virginia State College, which is now a university. He graduated in 1956 with degrees in Spanish and History. Just one year later, he earned his Master’s degree in Library Science. He got this from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Later, he went back to school again. In 1968, he received a special certificate in archival administration from American University. He also did more advanced studies at both the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago. He earned his doctorate degree from Auburn University in Alabama in 1987.
Mr. Williams retired in 1999. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He passed away on June 24, 2010, in Hollywood, Florida.
His Amazing Career
After getting his master's degree, Daniel Williams Jr. started working at the Tuskegee Institute in 1957. His first job was as a serials librarian. This meant he managed magazines, journals, and other publications that came out regularly.
He moved up in his career at Tuskegee. In 1966, he became the Director of the University’s Professional Libraries. Then, in 1969, he became the University Archivist. In this role, he was in charge of all the important historical records of the university.
Among his many tasks, he became the curator for the Daniel James Memorial Hall in 1987. A curator is someone who manages a collection or museum. He also taught as an Assistant Professor. He continued to work in the Archives until he retired in 1999.
Important Connections
Daniel Williams Jr. was involved in many important groups and projects:
- In 1972, he was part of the US team at the World Congress on Archives. This big meeting took place in Moscow.
- He worked as a consultant for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change. A consultant gives expert advice.
- He also advised the Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Special Recognitions
Mr. Williams received several important awards for his work:
- He became part of the Academy of Certified Archivists in 1989.
- In 1992, he was honored as a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists. This is a very high honor in his field.
