Oregon State UniversitySpecial Collections & Archives Research Center

William Appleman Williams Papers, 1877-2012

4. Biographical Materials. Ca. early 1800s, 1877-2012.

Extensive documentation of Williams's genealogy is held in Series 4, as are a number of documents and artifacts related to Williams's parents, Mildrede and William Carlton Williams, Jr. Items related to Williams's high school years and military service are also organized into the series, alongside a diverse array of materials dating to Williams's time in Oregon and his death in 1990.


9 boxes

4.001.
Materials re: Hammond and Appleman family histories. Ca. early 1800s, 1877-1957. 11 folders
1.1.
Psalm and Hymn book. ca. early 1800s. 2.75 in. x 4.25 in. Dark brown cover.

Annotated "Mildred Appleman's great grandfather Hammond's [Zopher Davis Hammond?] book."

1.2.
Hammond family Bible. 1877. 9.5 in. x 12.5 in. Brown and gold fine binding embossed "Holy Bible, Mrs. J. E. Hammond."

Published by Chandler Bros, Rockford, Illinois. Annotated with several Hammond family birth, death and marriage dates. Also includes fifteen photographic tintypes of Hammond family members tipped into the rear of the volume.

1.3.
Autograph book belonging to Harry Appleman. 1883. 5.5 in. x 3.25 in. Dark red and gold embossed cover depicting an image of a spider sitting in its web.

Book is signed by several of Harry Appleman's family members and friends.

1.4.
Correspondence: Willetta Campbell to her grandparents. 1880s. Two handwritten letters.

Willetta Campbell was a sister to Porter Ikler Appleman, William Appleman Williams's maternal grandfather.

1.5.
Correspondence: Porter Ikler Appleman. 1898, 1919-1923, 1944.

File includes post cards sent by Appleman to his family, letters received from Jos Tourlin, sent from Europe, and a Christmas card sent by grandson William Appleman Williams.

1.6.
Appleman Family Record. ca. late 1800s.

Oversize document listing several family birth, death and marriage dates, and including eleven annotated photographs of Appleman family members.

1.7.
Appleman family photographs. ca. late 1800s.

Collection of five mounted photographs annotated with humorous captions. All individuals in these photographs are unidentified.

1.8.
Compendium of History and Biography of Cass County Iowa. Chicago: Henry Taylor & Company. 1906. 8 in. x 10.5 in. Black cover.

Volume includes biographical sketches of Joseph E. Hammond and William Carlton Williams, Sr.

1.9.
Correspondence: Rhea Burst. 1927, 1941, 1961.

Rhea Burst, who more typically was referred to as Mrs. Charles Burst, was a cousin of Mildrede Williams's, descended from the Appleman line. File contains three letters including one sent by Mildrede Williams.

1.10.
Materials re: Minnie (Hobart) and Harlan Trapp. 1940, 1944, 1951.

Minnie Trapp, born Armenia B. Hobart, is believed to have been a cousin of Maude (Hammond) Appleman. File includes Offprint: "My Pioneer Reminiscences," by Minnie Trapp, 1940; letter from Minnie Trapp to Maude and Porter Appleman, December 17, 1944; and a captioned newspaper clipping featuring Harlan Trapp, The Miami Herald, February 23, 1951.

1.11.
Memorial Booklet for Maude Appleman. 1957.

Booklet includes listing of those who paid their respects upon Maude Appleman's death. Also includes short newspaper obituaries.


4.002.
Materials re: William Carlton Williams, Jr. and Mildrede Williams. 1898, 1917-1919, 1927-1963. 9 folders
2.1.
Booklet: Studies in Lace Making, London: The Butterick Publishing Co. March 1898.

Includes lace samples presumably stitched by Mildrede Williams.

2.2.
Masonic artifacts belonging to William Carlton Williams, Jr. 1917.

Includes Masonic apron and knife, as well as certificate and pendant denoting Williams's status as Master Mason.

2.3.
Invitation: Wedding of Mildrede Louise Appleman and William Carlton Williams, Jr. November 15, 1918.
2.4.
Certificates: Army and Army Reserve Appointment Certificates for William Carlton Williams, Jr. 1918-1919, 1927-1928.

File also includes "Physical Examination for Flying," January 3, 1927.

2.5.
Newspaper Clipping: "Here's How Oklahoma City Looks from Airplane," The Daily Oklahoman, 30, 141: 1. February 16, 1919.

Article includes reproduction of an aerial photograph taken from an aircraft piloted by William Carlton Williams, Jr.

2.6.
Memorial Booklet for William Carlton Williams, Jr. March 1929.
2.7.
Memorandum Book maintained by Mildrede Williams. 1929-1963. 4 in. x 6 in. Red cover with title "Memorandum Book" embossed in gray.

Book annotations include records of expenditures and investments, as well as assorted poems and quotes of interest.

2.8.
War Ration Books issued to Mildrede Williams. 1943-1944.

File also includes Booklet: "Meat Buying Guide for Thrifty Meals," 1942.

2.9.
Notebook maintained by Mildrede Williams. ca. 1940-1960. 4 in. x 6 in. Green cover with title "Note Book" embossed in gold.

Notebook consists primarily of quotations handwritten or pasted in by Mildrede Williams. Notebook also includes assorted newspaper clippings and a collection of five annotated black and white photographs of college-age men and women.


4.003.
William Carlton Williams, Jr.'s Aviation Goggles. ca. 1920s. 2 items

William Carlton Williams, Jr., father of William Appleman Williams, was a pilot in the United States Air Force who ultimately died in an airplane crash suffered during military war games exercises.


4.004.
William Carlton Williams, Jr.'s Military Keepsakes. ca. 1920s. 15 items

Keepsakes include assorted badges and pins. Identified among the collection are two United States Army Second Infantry Division Indian Arm insignia patches.


4.005.
Financial Accounts Ledgers maintained by Mildrede Williams. 1932-1971. 4 folders
5.1.
Financial Accounts Ledger. 1932-1962. 6 in. x 9 in. Green cover with title "Year Book, 1929. United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company" embossed in gold.

Notebook primarily consists of records of expenditures tallied month by month from 1949 to 1957. Also includes records of Christmas gifts given and received.

5.2.
Financial Accounts Ledger. 1939-1948. 8 in. x 12.5 in. Gray cover with red leather corners.
5.3.
Financial Accounts Ledger. 1959-1968. 5.5 in. x 7.5 in. Blue cover with title "Dailyaide - The Silent Secretary, 1956" embossed in gold.

Notebook consists of records of expenditures, investments and gifts given and received.

5.4.
Financial Accounts Ledger. 1966-1971. 5.5 in. x 9 in. Black cover with title "Ledger" embossed in gold.

Notebook consists of records of expenditures, investments and gifts given and received.


4.006.
Assorted Biographical Materials re: William Appleman Williams. 1921-1947. 13 folders
6.1.
Certificate of Birth for William Appleman Williams. May 2, 1928.

Birth certificate was filed May 2, 1928 though Williams was born June 12, 1921.

6.2.
Booklet: "Baby's Record". 1921.
6.3.
High School Scrapbook maintained by William Appleman Williams. 1934-1939.

Williams's high school scrapbook documents both his life as well as current events that interested him during his high school years. The scrapbook includes numerous newspaper articles recounting the exploits of Williams's high school basketball teams and Williams's academic achievements, as well as materials related to the Chicago World's Fair, triumphs of aviation and local cultural events. The scrapbook also contains keepsakes from various activities as well as three photographs of Williams as a teenager.

File also contains photocopies of Williams-related materials from the 1939 Javelin yearbook, Atlantic High School.

6.4.
Varsity letter earned by William Appleman Williams, Atlantic High School, Iowa. ca. 1939.
6.5.
Diploma: Atlantic High School, Iowa. May 26, 1939.
6.6.
Kemper Military School Yearbook. 1940.

Yearbook is annotated by Williams and by several of his classmates.

6.7.
Annotated Signature Sheets from the Kemper Military School Yearbook. 1941.
6.8.
Diploma: Kemper Military School, Boonville, Missouri. May 30, 1941.
6.9.
Naval Records of William Appleman Williams. 1941, 1945-1947.
6.10.
Diploma: Bachelor of Science, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. June 7, 1944.
6.11.
Certificate of Commission to rank of Ensign, United States Navy. June 7, 1944.
6.12.
Certificate of Satisfactory Service: United States Department of the Navy. September 1, 1947.
6.13.
Parachute Material belonging to William Appleman Williams. ca. 1940s.

4.007.
Assorted Biographical Materials re: William Appleman Williams. 1948-1998, 2009, 2012. 18 folders
7.1.
Passports issued to William Appleman Williams. 1948, 1978, 1984.
7.2.
Assorted Home Title and Insurance Documents. 1956, 1976-1983.
7.3.
Annotated Map to the Williams's Newport, Oregon home. Created by William Appleman Williams. 1969.
7.4.
Typescript: "Outline for a Historian Reflects Upon His Memories," autobiography proposal by William Appleman Williams. ca. 1976.
7.5.
Program: "The Historical Writings of William Appleman Williams," Organization of American Historians conference session dedicated to Williams's scholarship. 1978.
7.6.
Plaque, Bound Letters of Nomination, Program: Distinguished Professor Award, Oregon State University Alumni Association. September 18, 1986.
7.7.
Curriculum Vitae of William Appleman Williams. April 7, 1988.
7.8.
Williams's customized stationary. ca. 1980s.
7.9.
Williams's Last Will and Testament, Funeral Arrangements and Estate Documents. 1990-1991.
7.10.
Program: Memorial Service for William Appleman Williams, St. Luke's-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Waldport, Oregon. March 10, 1990.
7.11.
Audiocassette, Correspondence, Program, Background Material: Memorial Service for William Appleman Williams, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. April 26, 1990.

Audiocassette digitized to *.wav.

7.12.
Correspondence, Program, Background Material: William Appleman Williams Memorial Colloquium, Institute for Policy Studies, Washington, D. C. June 10, 1990.
7.13.
Correspondence, Program: Rethinking the Cold War: A Conference in Honor of William Appleman Williams, University of Wisconsin-Madison. October 18-20, 1991.
7.14.
Program: William Appleman Williams: The Oregon Years, A Roundtable, Annual Meeting of the American Historical Association, Pacific Coast Branch, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. August 13-16, 1992.
7.15.
Inventory of Williams's Personal Library, compiled by Donald McIlvenna, Waldport, Oregon. December 6, 1992.
7.16.
Certificate, Brochure: 1998 Notable Wisconsin Authors, Wisconsin Library Association. 1998.

Recipients of the 1998 award were Williams, Lois Ehlert and Stuart Palmer.

7.17.
Program: A Conference of the 50th Anniversary of the Publication of William Appleman Williams' Tragedy of American Diplomacy. New Brunswick, New Jersey. April 24-25, 2009.
7.18.
Transcript: Oral History Interview of Bill Robbins re: William Appleman Williams. Interviewed by Chris Petersen. March 27, 2012.

File includes comments by Wendy Williams. Audio recording described as part of OH 03, History of Oregon State University Oral Histories and Sound Recordings.


4.008.
Condolence Letters and Cards re: William Appleman Williams. 1990. 3 folders
8.1.
Condolence Letters and Cards: A - H. 1990.
8.2.
Condolence Letters and Cards: I - Q. 1990.
8.3.
Condolence Letters and Cards: R - Z. 1990.

4.009.
Ephemera. 1986-1995, undated. 6 items

Box contains Williams's money clip, signature stamp and pipe tobacco tamp; a commemorative paperweight from the Naval Academy class of 1945; a plaque noting Williams's delivery of the George Bancroft Memorial Lecture in September 1986; and annotated pages from an undated home calendar.