Frances E. Williams facts for kids

Frances E. Williams was a talented actress and activist.

Frances Elizabeth Williams (born September 17, 1905 – died January 2, 1995) was an amazing American actress, activist, and theatre producer. She also worked as an organizer and helped her community a lot. In 1948, Williams made history as the first Black woman to run for the California State Assembly. She was part of the Progressive Ticket. She also served on important boards like the Screen Actors Guild. Later, in 1975, she represented the World Peace Council in Angola. In the 1980s, she helped start the Art Against Apartheid Movement in Los Angeles.

Early Life and Theatre Beginnings

Frances Elizabeth Jones was born on September 17, 1908, in East Orange, New Jersey. She was the youngest of three children. Her father delivered goods, and her mother was a laundress. After her father passed away, her mother remarried Ben Williams. The family then moved to Cleveland, Ohio.

While still in high school, Frances worked at the Central Avenue Bath House. She directed activities there. Nearby was the Playhouse Settlement, founded by Russell and Rowena Jelliffe. Frances started working at the Settlement. She even lived there for fourteen years. She left to study theatre in the Soviet Union.

The Playhouse Settlement had a children’s theatre. Frances began writing and directing plays for kids. Later, she performed in the adult theatre. In 1927, the theatre changed its name to Karamu House. This is a Swahili word meaning "central meeting place."

In 1932, Williams married George Ferguson, but their marriage lasted only one year.

She stayed at Karamu House for fourteen years. She was involved in eighty-five productions! She wrote and directed plays, made costumes, and designed sets. Her friend, the famous writer Langston Hughes, suggested she study theatre in the Soviet Union. In 1934, Soviet theatre was very famous for its amazing productions. Williams studied at the Moscow Children’s Theatre. She also saw many other plays in Moscow.

After two years, she traveled to Helsinki, Finland, to renew her passport. This was in 1936, when Europe was facing many political tensions. She found a job at a travel agency. She stayed in Finland for several months. She met important writers and politicians there. Williams felt this time taught her a lot about politics.

In 1939, Williams married William Anthony Hill. He was a social worker who became a famous ceramist. In 1941, they moved to Los Angeles, California. They did many cultural things together. They organized art exhibits for artists like Jacob Lawrence. When dancer Katherine Dunham came to L.A., Williams helped arrange a tour for her. Williams also worked as an assistant for actress Ethel Waters. She even became Waters' understudy for a play called Mamba’s Daughter.

Acting Career Highlights

Frances Williams was a huge part of the arts community for over seventy years. She was an actress, director, producer, and union organizer. Author Bill Reed wrote a whole chapter about her career. The famous singer Paul Robeson admired her "complete artistic contributions."

After returning from Europe, Williams moved to New York City. She joined the cast of You Can't Take It with You. The play toured the U.S. for two years. Afterward, Williams became active in the Negro Actors Guild. This group was formed to support Black actors.

Williams appeared in two films by Oscar Micheaux: Lying Lips (1939) and The Notorious Elinor Lee (1940). She continued her training at Actor’s Lab. She was frustrated that she rarely got lead roles. Instead, she often worked behind the scenes. She was a stage manager and helped with lights, sets, and costumes. She also worked with the legendary Charlie Chaplin.

In 1946, she got her first Hollywood film role in Magnificent Doll. She acted alongside David Niven and Ginger Rogers. In 1949, she worked with James Mason in The Reckless Moment. Then, in 1951, she was in Show Boat with Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, and Ava Gardner.

Williams appeared in over forty films and many TV shows. She usually played smaller roles. But in 1987, she got a big role as Miss Marie in Frank's Place. This comedy-drama series was set in New Orleans. It had a diverse cast of experienced actors. Williams played "Miss Marie, waitress emeritus." The show was loved by fans and critics. However, it was canceled after one season. This was partly because CBS kept changing its time slot.

Activism and Community Work

After nine years of marriage, Williams and Hill divorced in 1948. Williams was a member of Actors' Equity, a union for actors. She became very involved with people who wanted social change. She joined the Homeowners Protective Association. This group was organized by Charlotta Bass, a newspaper publisher. In the same year, Williams became the first Black woman to run for the California State Assembly.

Williams was a strong supporter of trade unions. She served on the board of the National Negro Labor Council (NNLC). She attended their first meeting in Cincinnati with her friend Paul Robeson. This group worked to improve conditions for workers. However, during the 1950s, the NNLC was unfairly called "subversive."

In the early 1950s, television became very popular. Several entertainment unions formed the Television Authority (TVA). This group later became the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Williams was on the board of the TVA. During this time, Senator Joseph McCarthy led a campaign against people he thought were "un-American." Many people in Hollywood were unfairly prevented from working. This was called blacklisting. Williams was asked to resign from the board because she was a progressive and refused to sign a loyalty oath. She gave a powerful resignation speech in 1952. Because of her work, more Black actors were able to find jobs, even if they were often as extras. After she resigned, it took a year before she worked in film again.

Williams was asked to help with a film called Salt of the Earth (1954). She was an Assistant Director. She helped cast the film and worked with the actors. This movie faced many challenges from the government. Despite this, it became a very important film. She was very proud of it.

In the 1960s, Williams moved to Mazatlán, Mexico, with her brother Bill. They lived there for nine years. It was close enough to Hollywood for her to fly back and forth.

In 1975, Williams was a delegate to the World Women's Conference in East Berlin. In November of that year, she attended the first independence day celebration in Angola, Africa. She was the only American representative there. A year later, she attended the World Peace Council in Athens, Greece.

From 1975 to 1989, Williams co-founded Art Against Apartheid. She and other artists performed in schools around Los Angeles. They taught students about Apartheid in South Africa, which was a system of racial segregation.

Later Life and Legacy

Frances Williams passed away on January 2, 1995. She had been in the hospital after a stroke.

The Frances E. Williams Artist Grants (FEWAG) were created after her death. She wanted to help Black artists "take classes to perfect their craft." Between 2005 and 2014, over $229,000 was given to artists and arts groups.

Williams' important papers are kept at the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research in Los Angeles.

Awards and Honors

• Frances E. Williams Crystal Stair Award, Black Women of the Theater, West (named in her honor)
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Image Award, Hall of Fame
• National Women of Journalism
• Paul Robeson Pioneer Award, Black American Cinema Society
• Rosa Parks Award, Southern Christian Leadership Conference
• Saint Philip's Episcopal Church

Select Filmography

Television Appearances

Series, 1970s and 1980s

Movies for Television

Stage Performances

Radio

• Lux Theatre of the Air

Producing and Directing Work

• Film: Salt of the Earth (1954) – Assistant Director and production staff.
• Television:
  • Integration LA – Writer and director.
  • Magic Carpet to the Fine Arts – Writer and director.
  • These Are Americans Too – Writer and director.
  • Uptown – Co-producer and director.