Clarence Strong Williams (CSW) was born in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1890, and graduated from Northfield (Minn.) High School in 1908. He edited the Minneapolis Chronicle (1910?-1914), attended the Northwestern College of Law (graduating in 1914), assisted his brother and sister in publishing the Chicago County News (1914-1917), and practiced law (1914-1917). In 1915 he joined the Minnesota Naval Militia, and later served in the United States Naval Reserve (June 1917 - Sept. 1919). In August 1918 he married Zita Stafford; their daughter, Enid Roberta Williams, was born in March 1923. The marriage ended in divorce.
Settling in southern California, CSW worked in the real estate, insurance, and building fields (1921-1928), and taught aviation subjects in various schools. A navigational consultant, he established a reputation as a navigational "wizard," plotting courses and preparing flight analyses for Amelia Earhart (AE) and other outstanding pilots for their record-breaking flights. He remarried in 1934, to Gladys Vivienne Culver.
During World War II, CSW headed the navigation department of the Navy's midshipmen's school at Northwestern University (Sept. 1940 - Nov. 1941); served as a convoy commander in the Pacific (Mar.-June 1942); and then commanded the submarine repair dock at Pearl Harbor. In 1945 he was promoted to captain, and served until released to inactive duty in November 1946. He retired from the USNR in 1948. For additional biographical information, see #1.
From the guide to the Papers, 1907-1971 (scattered), (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)
