Conditions Governing Use

The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright, beyond that allowed by fair use, requires the researcher to obtain permission of copyright holders.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Custodial History

The collection was donated by Eda W. Martin, daughter of Eda Carter Williams, in October 2003.

Preferred Citation

Eda Carter Williams Personal Papers (SC-12). VMFA Archives, Richmond, Virginia.

Processing Information

Two annual reports (1954 and 1955), "Members' Bulletin" (September 1955), and the first issue of "Arts in Virginia" (1960) were transferred to the VMFA Library's holdings. Original newspaper clippings were photocopied and originals.

Biographical Note

Eda Atkinson Carter Williams gave a lifetime of community service and was still volunteering at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church when she died in 2002 at the age of 96. A 1927 graduate of Oldfield's School, Mrs. Williams was the widow of Walter Armistead Williams Jr., who died in 1971. She was a former president of the board for Richmond's Sheltering Arms Hospital, a past trustee of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, a charter member of the Junior League of Richmond, and a charter member of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Council.

In 1978, she was awarded the Junior League of Richmond's Barbara Ransome Andrews Award for her volunteer service, which included helping to establish the former Children's Theater of Richmond. Mrs. Williams crafted puppets for children's shows and wrote several puppet plays. An amateur watercolorist who loved writing, she was the author of several articles for local publications, including Richmond Quarterly, and was co-author of "The Lone Vixen," a play about Civil War spy Elizabeth Van Lew. Her interest in Virginia history and her own family history led her to help found the Richmond Committee of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association, an organization that works to support Stratford Hall.

Source: "Eda Williams Dies at Age 96 - She was Known for Volunteering," Jennifer V. Buckman, Richmond Times-Dispatch, October 15, 2002

Scope and Contents

The collection's inclusive dates are 1940-1993, but the bulk of the material is from the 1950s. The collection is comprised of correspondence.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into one series, and items are arranged chronologically within each folder. Items with no date are placed at the end.

Series 1

Correspondence, 1940-1993

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Belmont, the Gari Melchers Memorial Gallery‏
• Martin, Eda W.
• Melchers, Corinne Lawton
• Melchers, Gari, 1860-1932
• Museum trustees -- Virginia
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts‏. Council