Ernest R. Williamson papers

Collection

Identifier: NCC-0195

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection documents E. R. Williamson's life and work, including speeches made during his congressional campaign, writings, folders of campaign notes and clippings, and photographs. The bulk of the collection documents his run to represent North Carolina's Sixth District in Congress in 1950.

Dates

Creation: 1948 - 1956
Creation: undated

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.

Biographical / Historical

Ernest R. "Sparky" Williamson was born in 1907 in Johnston County, NC, and spent much of his childhood in a Methodist orphanage in Raleigh. His father passed away in a sawmill accident when he was about five years old, and his mother died of natural causes around three years later. He lived with an aunt for a time before going to the orphanage. There he met his wife, Lina Wilson. Williamson attended to Duke University for two years. He worked at the Durham post office until 1948 when he went into organized labor full time. Williamson was deeply involved with the labor movement in North Carolina, holding various positions with the AFL-CIO and editing the Durham Labor Journal. He was also secretary of the Durham County Democratic Party and served on the Durham City Council, then became executive secretary of the Durham County Board of Elections until his retirement. Williamson passed away in 1973.