Madaline A. Williams facts for kids

Madaline A. (Worthy) Williams (born May 5, 1894 – died December 14, 1968) was an American politician. She was a member of the Democratic Party. Madaline Williams was the first African-American woman ever elected to the New Jersey Legislature.

Early Life and Learning

Madaline Williams was born in Brunswick, Georgia, in 1894. Her parents were Josephine Frances (Jenkins) and Ephraim Wilford Worthy. She went to an all-black public elementary school. She also attended Selden Normal School in Brunswick.

Later, she studied at Atlanta University for one year. In 1917, her family moved to Trenton, New Jersey. There, she took classes at the State Normal School. This school is now called The College of New Jersey. Madaline Williams taught in the Trenton Public Schools for eight years.

Helping Her Community

Madaline met Samuel A. Williams, who worked at a post office in Newark. They got married in New York City on April 2, 1926. Their only child, Samuel Alexander, was born on February 15, 1927. After their son was born, the Williams family moved to East Orange.

Madaline became very active in her community. She joined many groups at her church. She also became a youth adviser and board member for the local branch of the NAACP. The NAACP is a group that works for civil rights for African Americans. Her husband was also a leader in the NAACP.

Williams volunteered for the YWCA in The Oranges and Maplewood. She held several leadership roles there. She also helped start the East Orange League of Women Voters. She served as its vice president in 1947. In 1952, Governor Alfred Driscoll chose her to be on the New Jersey Migrant Labor Board. This board helped people who moved for farm work.

Starting in Politics

Her work on the Migrant Labor Board made Madaline Williams interested in politics. In 1957, she was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly. This was a big moment. She became the first African-American woman elected to either house of the state legislature. She was elected again in 1959.

In the Assembly, she worked on important laws. She focused on helping children and making sure child labor was fair. She also worked on laws about young people who got into trouble. And she continued to help migrant workers.

In 1960, she was elected as the Essex County Registrar. This job involves keeping official records. She was elected again in 1965. She also played a role in national politics. She was a delegate at the 1960 Democratic National Convention. She was also a vice chairwoman at the 1964 Convention in Atlantic City.

Fighting for Equality

In 1961, Madaline Williams was part of an important event. It was about fighting against unfair rules. She was attending a meeting for the Civil War Centennial Commission. This meeting was in Charleston, South Carolina. It was to remember the start of the Civil War at Fort Sumter.

Williams was a member of the New Jersey group. But she was not allowed to stay at the Francis Marion Hotel. This was where the meeting was supposed to happen because it was segregated. President John F. Kennedy supported her protest. At first, the commission refused to change the meeting place. But because of pressure from the White House, they moved the meetings. They held them at the Charleston Naval Base instead. This showed that people were fighting for equal rights.

Later Years and Legacy

Madaline Williams passed away in 1968. She died at Mountainside Hospital in Glen Ridge. She is remembered as a pioneer. She opened doors for other African-American women in politics.