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Williams family papers, 1884-2021. Accession 53348. Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Gift of Ennion Williams, Jr., Richmond.
Ennion Gifford Williams was born 31 January 1874 in Richmond, Virginia, to John Langbourne Williams (1831-1915) and Maria Ward Skelton Williams (1843-1929). He graduated with a medical degree from the University of Virginia in 1897, then served as an intern at the Willard Parker Hospital in New York, New York, and on the resident staff at the Polyclinic Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Williams studied abroad in Germany, researching x-rays under Wilhelm Roentgen. Returning to Richmond, he was appointed professor of Bacteriology at the Medical College of Virginia in 1901,and later served as professor of hygiene and public health (1913) and of preventive medicine (1916). Williams served as a member of the Richmond City Council from 1906 to 1908. Governor Claude A. Swanson appointed Williams Virginia's first Public Health Commissioner in 1908 and he was subsequently reappointed to the position by succeeding governors until his death. His focus was on improving public health through measures such as better sanitation practices and in better public education. Williams married Anna Heath Lassiter (1875-1972) 21 October 1902 and they had eight children, including Ennion Skelton Williams. Williams died 6 June 1931 in Richmond and was buried in Hollywood Cemtery.
Ennion Skelton Williams was born 7 November 1906 in Henrico County, Virginia, to Ennion Gifford Williams (1874-1931) and Anna Heath Lassiter Williams (1875-1972). Williams graduated from the University of Virginia in 1926 and from the Medical College of Virginia in 1930. After serving an internship at the Pennsylvania Hospital of Philadelphia, he returned to Richmond, Virginia, to practice medicine. In 1934 became the assistant medical director for Life Insurance Company of Virginia. Williams was named medical director in 1938 and elected vice president and medical director in 1956. He became vice president, administration in 1963 and senior vice president in 1964. That same year, he became president-treasurer of Virginia-North Carolina 65 Health Association. In 1934, Williams served as chairman of a committee established by the Medical Society of Virginia to study venereal disease, and in 1952 he was chairman of a committee appointed by Virginia Health Department and the Virginia Tuberculosis Association to study tuberculosis. Williams served as a member of several medical and insurance organizations and societies. He married Ann Hill Brown (1909-1997) of Richmond, and they had three children. Williams was killed in a commercial plane crash in New York, New York, 8 February 1965. He was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
Papers, 1884-2021, of the Williams family of Goochland and Henrico Counties, and Richmond, Virginia, consisting of articles, certificates, clippings, correspondence, journals, newsletters, notes, programs, reports and other documents detailing the medical careers of Ennion Gifford Williams (1874-1931) and Ennion Skelton Williams (1906-1965).
This collection is arranged
Series I: Ennion Gifford Williams papers, 1884-2021 Series II: Ennion Skelton Williams papers, 1923-2021Lassiter family correspondence, 1903-1921 (LVA accession 52884).
Rives-Heath-Lassiter-Williams family papers, 1841-2020 (LVA accession 52885).
Ennion Gifford Williams papers, 1884-2021, contains articles, certificates, clippings, correspondence, journals, newsletters, notes, reports, and other documents detailing Williams' career as a physician and as the Commonwealth of Virginia's first Public Health Commissioner. Collections documents efforts to be employed as a naval doctor, involvement in public health projects, and in medical education. Of particular interest are the papers of the Anti-Diphtheria League of Virginia.
Ennion Skelton Williams papers, 1923-2021, contain articles, certificates, clippings, correspondence, journals, newsletters, notes, programs, report cards, and reports documenting Williams' education at the University of Virginia and the Medical College of Virginia; his internship at the Pennsylvania Hospital of Philadelphia; and his career as medical director and vice president at the Life Insurance Company of Virginia.