Guide to the Charles Burgess Williams Papers, 1895

Descriptive Summary

Repository: North Carolina State University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center
Creator: Williams, Charles Burgess, 1871 - 1947
Title: Charles Burgess Williams Papers, 1895 - 1953
Call Number: MC 16
Extent: 0.25 linear feet, 1 box
Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff.
Language of Material: English

Information for Users

Restrictions to Access: This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.
Acquisitions Information: Gift of Mrs. T. N. Park, 1970 September 9 (Accession 1970-0001).
Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], Charles Burgess Williams Papers, MC 16, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Copyright Notice: The nature of the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NCSU Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Biographical Note

Charles Burgess Williams was born on 1871 December 23, in Shiloh, Camden County, North Carolina. He was the son of farmer Robert J. and Susan Burgess Williams. Williams' association with North Carolina State University began when he registered for classes on 1889 October 3, the day the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts first opened its doors. A member of the College's first class, Williams was captain of the first football team. He graduated in 1893 with highest honors and a Bachelor of Science in agriculture.

Upon graduation in 1893, Williams was hired as the College's first instructor of chemistry and the assistant chemist of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Williams served in the latter capacity until 1896, the same year he obtained a Master of Science in Agriculture from the College. For the academic year 1896-1897, Williams attended the Johns Hopkins University on a fellowship in chemistry. He returned to the College and resumed his position at the Experiment Station, remaining there until 1906. In 1906-1924 and 1926-1940, Williams served as the College's first head of the Department of Agronomy at the North Carolina Experiment Station. He was named Director of the Experiment Station in 1907 and served until 1912. He was Vice-Director from 1913 until 1940. He was the first Dean of the School of Agriculture between 1917 and 1924.

Williams' research focused on soybeans, soil surveys, and fertilizers. Between 1896 and 1934 he published more than 230 articles, bulletins, and books on these subjects. During his academic career, Williams studied at the National Graduate Summer School of Agriculture at Ohio State University (1902) and researched agriculture in California (1899), Ontario, Canada (1904), and Europe (1928). While at the College, Williams served as the Chairman of the North Carolina state soil survey (1915), Chairman of the Southeastern Tobacco Research Committee (1920-1941), and Chairman of the Southeastern Agronomy Research Committee (1927-1931 and 1936-1942). He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the National Grange, and a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was also a charter member of the American Society of Agronomy and its president in 1926. For his contributions to agricultural studies, Williams was listed in Who's Who in America and was honored in 1941 by the Association of Southern Agricultural Workers.

Williams retired from administrative duties in 1940, but remained an active College faculty member until his death on 1947 June 25. Williams had served the institution for more than fifty-three years, longer than almost any other man until that time. He was survived by his wife Margaret Williams Moring Williams, one son, and two daughters. Margaret, a native of Raleigh, North Carolina, was born on 1879 October 4, and was a graduate of Peace College in Raleigh and the Southern Conservatory of Music in Durham, North Carolina. The couple married on 1900 July 5.

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains material relating to the personal and professional life of Charles Burgess Williams in addition to material that documents the history of North Carolina State University. Materials are in the format of photographs as well as written documents such as newspaper and magazine articles, correspondence and telegrams, published and unpublished writings, and certificates.

Organization of the Collection

The collection is organized into three series. The Personal Materials series contains documents relating to Williams' family, community activities, and death. The Professional Materials series is divided into three subseries, namely Professional Organizations, Research and Writings, and Biographical Materials. The North Carolina State University series contains photographs as well as materials relating to agriculture, the university's fiftieth anniversary, university archives, and dedication of Williams Hall.

Online Catalog Terms

Williams, Charles Burgess, 1871 - 1947
North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station (Raleigh, N.C.)
North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts--History
North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts--Athletics
North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts--Photographs
North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. Dept. of Agronomy
North Carolina State College--History
North Carolina State College. School of Agriculture
North Carolina State University--History
Williams Hall (North Carolina State College)
Agricultural research--North Carolina--History--19th century
Scientists--North Carolina--History--19th century
Raleigh (N.C.)--Social life and customs--20th century.

Detailed Description of the Collection

MC 16 Series 1:Personal Materials, 1922 - 1947

3 folders

This series contains documents relating to Williams' family, community activities, and death. Family materials include newspaper articles about the May 1940 death of Williams' brother Claude. The folder also includes newspaper articles about the death of Patrick Henry Williams (1869 September 27 - 1935 May 10), a native of Pasquotank County, North Carolina; a state legislator during the 1920s; and the son of Robert Williams (1812 January 1 - 1896 August 11) and Marenda Torskey Williams (1837 October 17 - 1916 September 1). His relationship to Charles Burgess Williams remains unclear. Community activities documents Williams' participation in business organizations and social events in Raleigh. Materials about Williams' death include condolences to his wife as well as published articles about his death and funeral.
- Family, 1935 - 1940 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 1]
- Community Activities, 1922 - 1942 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 2]
- Death, 1947 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 3]
[Return to Descriptive Summary]
MC 16 Series 2:Professional Materials, 1898 - 1953

10 folders

This series is divided into three subseries. The Professional Organizations subseries documents Williams' participation in numerous academic associations and receipt of professional honors. The Research and Writings subseries contains information about and the final report from Williams' committee in Europe as well as published booklets and articles, edited manuscripts, and lists of his publications. The Biographical Materials subseries documents Williams' personal life and professional accomplishments in a variety of print formats.
- MC 16 Subseries 2.1: Professional Organizations, 1898 - 1947
  - Pamphlets, 1902 - 1906 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 4]
  - Certificates, 1898 - 1947 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 5]
  - Congratulations, 1941 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 6]
- MC 16 Subseries 2.2: Research and Writings, 1901 - 1934
  - European Trip, 1928 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 7]
  - Publications, 1901 - 1934 [Online Content]
    
    [MC 00016 Half Box 1, Folder 8]
  - Typed Manuscripts, 1925 - 1934 [Online Content]
    
    [MC 00016 Half Box 1, Folder 9]
- MC 16 Subseries 2.3: Biographical Materials, 1898 - 1953
  - Letter of Recommendation, 1898 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 10]
  - Newspapers, circa 1910 - circa 1950 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 11]
  - Publications, 1933 - 1938 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 12]
  - Television, 1953 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 13]
[Return to Descriptive Summary]
MC 16 Series 3:North Carolina State College, 1895 - 1953

5 folders

This series contains photographs of North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechnanic Arts and a variety of textual materials. Two photographs are images of individuals near the campus in the late-nineteenth or early-twentieth centuries; a third is of the college football team in 1895. Agriculture materials contain course booklets, an article about a campus corn show, and a proposed consolidation plan for the Experimental Station. University Archives materials include Williams' correspondence regarding the College's desired acquisition of faculty and alumni papers. This series also contains published materials documenting special College events, namely the fiftieth anniversary of the College and the dedication of a campus building named after Williams.
- Photographs, circa 1895 - circa 1910 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 14]
- Agriculture, 1907 - 1912 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 15]
- Fiftieth Anniversary, 1939 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 16]
- University Archives, 1940 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 17]
- Dedication of Williams Hall, 1953 [MC 0016 Half Box 1, Folder 18]
[Return to Descriptive Summary]

Guide to the Charles Burgess Williams Papers, 1895 - 1953

Collection Number MC 16

Collection Information