Williams, Aubrey Willis, 1890-1965

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Williams was executive director of the Wisconsin Conference of Social Work from 1922 to 1932. He joined the Roosevelt administration in 1933 and left in 1943 to become director of the National Farmers' Union. From 1945 to 1965 he was editor of SOUTHERN FARM AND HOME.

From the description of Papers, 1914-1959, 1930-1959 (bulk) (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155525242

Aubrey Willis Williams (1890-1965), social worker, federal official, and civil rights advocate, was born in Springville, Alabama. In 1911, Williams entered Maryville College in Tennessee with the intention of becoming a Presbyterian minister. He remained at Maryville for five years and developed an increasing interest in the social sciences. In 1916 he transferred to the University of Cincinnati, but left school the following year to go to Paris as a student representative of the Young Men''s Christian Association. Williams was soon caught up in the excitement of World War I and joined the French Foreign Legion, serving until the arrival of American troops led to his reassignment to an American unit. He was wounded in action. Williams remained in France after the armistice to attend the University of Bordeaux. He returned to the United States in 1919 and resumed his studies at Cincinnati, finally earning the B.A. in 1920. In 1932, Williams became a field representative for the American Public Welfare Association. His job was to make sure that relief loans from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation actually reached those in need. He proved adept at dealing with local politicians who saw federal relief as a threat. During one foray into Mississippi, he organized what in effect became the country''s first statewide work relief program. In May 1933, Harry Hopkins, the director of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), put Williams in charge of FERA''s southwestern district. Williams'' background, education, temperament, and experience in public welfare made him a fervent New Dealer. Together he and Hopkins began planning for the Civil Works Administration (CWA), the first federally run work relief program. Williams became a highly visible public advocate of New Deal social welfare policies. As deputy administrator of the CWA and, beginning in 1935, of its successor, the Works Progress Administration, he oversaw the spending of billions of dollars and helped put large numbers of people to work. He was among the minority of New Dealers who believed that the federal government''s responsibility for the well being of all Americans extended beyond the economic crisis caused by the Great Depression. When, in 1935, an executive order created the National Youth Administration (NYA), Williams became its head. His work for the NYA, which aided young people in completing their education by offering them part-time employment, drew him into the orbit of Eleanor Roosevelt, who made the agency one of her pet projects. She and Williams formed a close working relationship and came to admire each other personally. With her support Williams was able to make the NYA particularly responsive to black youths.

From the description of Williams, Aubrey W. (Aubrey Willis), 1890-1965 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10679482

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Smith, Hilda Worthington, 1888-. Papers, 1837-1975 (inclusive), 1900-1975 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Papers. 1860 - 1964. Correspondence with Harry S. Truman. 1945 - 1962. Harry S. Truman, 1945-May 1947. 1945 - 1962. Letter from Harry S. Truman to Eleanor Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
creatorOf Bankhead, John Hollis, 1872-1946. Papers, 1880-1947 and n.d. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Wright, Marion A. (Marion Allan), 1894-1983. Marion A. Wright papers, 1936-1982. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Amlie, Thomas R., 1897-1973. Papers, 1888-1967. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Papers, 1928-1948. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Irving Brant papers, 1910-1977 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Hugo LaFayette Black Papers, 1883-1976, (bulk 1926-1971) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn A. Philip Randolph Papers, 1909-1979, (bulk 1941-1968) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Papers, 1911-1979. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Blaine, Anita McCormick. Correspondence and papers, 1828-1958. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Baldwin, William O. (William Owen), 1895-1987. William O. Baldwin family papers, 1835-1993. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Irving Brant papers, 1910-1977 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Bane, Frank, 1893-. Public administration and public welfare [manuscript] 1965. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Papers of Virginia Foster Durr, 1919-2007 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Meiklejohn, Alexander, 1872-1964. Papers, 1880-1969. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn National Committee against Repressive Legislation (U.S.). Records, 1952-1980. Wisconsin historical society
referencedIn Papers, 1928-1946. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn National Committee Against Repressive Legislation. Records, 1948-2003. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Stokes, Anson Phelps, 1874-1958. Anson Phelps Stokes family papers, 1761-1960 (inclusive), 1892-1958 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Papers, 1837 (1900-1975) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Lyndon Baines Johnson Archives Collection. 1931 - 1968. Subject Correspondence Files Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Anson Phelps Stokes family papers, 1761-1960, 1892-1958 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn James A. Dombrowski papers, 1918-1983 Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Papers, 1914-1959, 1930-1959 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Durr, Virginia Foster. Papers: Series II, 1929-1991 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Relation Name
associatedWith Alabama Farmers' Union. corporateBody
associatedWith Amlie, Thomas R., 1897-1973. person
associatedWith Baldwin, William O. (William Owen), 1895-1987. person
associatedWith Bane, Frank, 1893- person
associatedWith Bankhead, John Hollis, 1872-1946. person
correspondedWith Black, Hugo LaFayette, 1886-1971. person
associatedWith Blaine, Anita McCormick. person
correspondedWith Brant, Irving, 1885-1976. person
associatedWith Dombrowski, James A. (James Anderson), 1897-1983. person
associatedWith Durr, Virginia Foster. person
associatedWith Hilda Worthington Smith, 1888-1984 person
associatedWith Hopkins, Harry L. (Harry Lloyd), 1890-1946. person
associatedWith Meiklejohn, Alexander, 1872-1964. person
associatedWith National Committee against Repressive Legislation (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Farmers Union (U.S.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Randolph, A. Philip (Asa Philip), 1889-1979. person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945. person
associatedWith Smith, Hilda Worthington, 1888- person
associatedWith Southern Conference Educational Fund. corporateBody
associatedWith Stokes, Anson Phelps, 1874-1958. person
associatedWith Taussig, Charles W. (Charles William), 1896-1948. person
associatedWith Tugwell, Rexford G. (Rexford Guy), 1891- person
associatedWith United States. Federal Emergency Relief Administration. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. National Youth Administration. corporateBody
associatedWith Williams, Anita. person
associatedWith Wisconsin Conference of Social Work. corporateBody
associatedWith Wright, Marion A. (Marion Allan), 1894-1983. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Alabama
Wisconsin
Southern States
Subject
Agriculture
Civil rights
Endowments
New Deal, 1933-1939
Social work
Youth
Occupation
Editors
Social workers
Activity

Person

Birth 1890-08-23

Death 1965-03-05

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6np3nff

SNAC ID: 62522363