Donated by Lillian Howard

This handkerchief belonged to Alpha “Alphie” Williams, who was born near War Eagle (Madison County) in 1907, the youngest of eight children. The Williams family moved to the south Madison County community of St. Paul, where Alpha lived until she was in her twenties. She taught school for a time in Madison County, then graduated from the University of Arkansas and attended graduate school at the University of Chicago’s School of Social Services Administration. Williams went on to become a social worker in Indiana, Missouri, and Arkansas. Her career also included working for the United Service Organizations (USO) and also for the Arkansas state welfare system, where she specialized in cases involving abused children.

Alpha Williams eventually came back home to south Madison County, where she lived until her death in 1993.

Donated by Lillian Howard

This handkerchief belonged to Alpha “Alphie” Williams, who was born near War Eagle (Madison County) in 1907, the youngest of eight children. The Williams family moved to the south Madison County community of St. Paul, where Alpha lived until she was in her twenties. She taught school for a time in Madison County, then graduated from the University of Arkansas and attended graduate school at the University of Chicago’s School of Social Services Administration.  Williams went on to become a social worker in Indiana, Missouri, and Arkansas. Her career also included working for the United Service Organizations (USO) and also for the Arkansas state welfare system, where she specialized in cases involving abused children.

Alpha Williams eventually came back home to south Madison County, where she lived until her death in 1993.