William Augustine Williams facts for kids

William Augustine Williams (born May 26, 1836 – died May 21, 1901) was an amazing African-American person. He was a linguist, a librarian, and a Catholic student studying to become a priest. He was the first openly Black Catholic student to study for the priesthood in the United States.

William Williams started as a barber. He quickly became a Catholic and then began studying to be a priest. He moved to Rome in 1855 for his studies. He stayed there for many years. He returned to Baltimore in 1862. There, he tried different religious projects. He still hoped to become a priest for a while. Later, he started working in other fields.

He became a great teacher, writer, and speaker. He was a leader in Black librarianship. He worked at the Enoch Pratt Free Library and the Catholic University of America. At one point, he was even suggested to President Ulysses S. Grant as the U.S. ambassador to Liberia.

Later in his life, he moved to New York City in 1899. He worked as a sacristan at the famous St. Benedict the Moor Church. His writings were even published in New York Times before he passed away in 1901. He was 65 years old. An article written after his death called him "the best-known Negro in New York."

William Williams's Life Story

Early Years and Background

William Williams was born on May 26, 1836. He was born in the Washington D.C. area. Records are not clear on the exact place. Some say Virginia, while others say D.C. itself.

Information also differs about his childhood. Some sources say his father was a slave. Other sources say his father was a property owner.

Williams was raised Baptist. But at some point, he became interested in the Catholic faith. Local priests, especially Father Thaddeus Anwander, noticed him. They were impressed by his good schoolwork. They also saw his interest in becoming a priest.

During this time, Williams worked as a barber. He was also connected with the Oblate Sisters of Providence. This group of sisters was also linked to Father Anwander. Williams received the sacrament of Confirmation in Baltimore. This happened at the Oblates' chapel on May 28, 1852.

Studying for the Priesthood

In 1853, Father Anwander suggested Williams for seminary. Bishops Louis Amadeus Rappe and Peter Richard Kenrick agreed to support him.

Even then, Williams faced challenges. Archbishop John Hughes of Washington spoke against Williams. He did not want Williams to become a priest in the United States. Hughes felt that racist ideas at the time were too strong. He thought White Catholics would not accept a Black priest.

However, the Vatican's Propaganda office accepted Williams for studies. U.S. seminaries did not allow Black students at that time. Williams arrived in Rome in 1855. He had been refused a place at a seminary in Paris on his way. He spent eight years in Rome at the Urban College. He also spent two years in France, England, and Ireland. During this time, he was known as "the pope's little Black."

While overseas, Williams was told by his supporters in the U.S. not to say he wanted to be a priest in America. Instead, they told him to suggest places like Haiti or Liberia.

By August 1862, Williams sent a letter to the Propaganda office. He said he had decided not to become a priest. He stated he would return home. His obituary later said the Civil War was the reason for his decision. It suggested the war's tensions would have made it hard for him to serve in the South.

Life in Baltimore

When Williams returned to Baltimore, he asked for citizenship in the Papal States. He also told the Propaganda office that he still hoped to become a priest someday. But by 1867, this idea had faded. This was the start of the Reconstruction period.

In Baltimore, Williams started several businesses and religious projects. These included two schools for Black children. He also started a newspaper for freed people called Clear Communicator. This was one of the first of its kind. After giving up on the priesthood, he tried to start a religious order for Black men in 1868. This attempt was not successful. During this time, he was connected with the historic St. Francis Xavier Church in Baltimore.

While teaching, Williams received many honors. In 1876, Bishop Alexander Walker Wayman suggested him to President Ulysses S. Grant. He was recommended to serve as a U.S. ambassador to Liberia.

Williams also won an award in January 1878. This was for an essay he wrote called "The Future of the Negro in America." The essay suggested building a monument to Benjamin Banneker.

Williams had a unique amount of education for African Americans of his time. He took on other jobs too. He tutored foreign languages, as he spoke Latin, Italian, and French fluently. He taught French to David D. Dickson. Dickson was a janitor who became a lawyer. Dickson was connected with the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Williams later became the second Black employee there, working as a librarian in the 1880s.

Williams later became a sacristan and librarian at the Catholic University of America. He was even called a professor in The New York Age newspaper once.

Moving to New York

In 1886, Father Augustus Tolton became the first openly African-American Catholic priest. He was ordained in Rome. His first Mass in the U.S. was held in July at St. Benedict the Moor in New York City. Williams loved St Benedict. He visited the church and spoke with the sacristan in Italian.

Williams moved from D.C. to Manhattan in 1899. He joined the church and became the sacristan himself. There, he was reunited with his former classmate, Archbishop Corrigan. Corrigan had been in charge of the New York archdiocese since 1885.

By this time, Williams was a very active writer. An essay he wrote, "The Polite West Indian Negro," was published in The New York Times. This happened in the year he arrived in New York. He also started translating the life story of St. Benedict from Italian into English.

His Passing

William Williams passed away on May 21, 1901. This was five days before his 66th birthday. His funeral was held at St Benedict the Moor Church. He was buried on June 2 at Calvary Cemetery in Queens.

Personal Life

Williams is not known to have ever married. The only family member listed at the time of his death was a sister in Cleveland.

See also

• Black Catholicism
• Healy family
• Augustus Tolton
• Oblate Sisters of Providence