Franklin Williams (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
Franklin H. Williams was a lawyer and civil rights leader in the United States. As an assistant to Thurgood Marshall
he represented the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
before courts in criminal cases throughout the South. In 1950 he was appointed director of the NAACP's western region where for 9 years he directed drives involving open housing, school desegregation and civil rights.
. He graduated from Pennsylvania's Lincoln University
in 1941. In 1945 he earned a law degree from Fordham University
.
administration appointed him to assist Sargent Shriver
in organizing the Peace Corps
. As a delegate to UNESCO
he championed establishment of an international counterpart to the Corps.
Under President Johnson
, Mr. Williams became the first black representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council
and later was appointed Ambassador to Ghana
. During his 3-year tenure at this post, he was credited with improving the formerly strained relations between the United States and the African nation.
Leaving government service in 1968 Mr. Williams headed the Columbia University
Urban Center, issuing the study "Human Uses of the University - Planning a curriculum for Urban and Ethnic Affairs at Columbia University."
For 20 years, Mr. Williams was president of the Phelps Stokes Fund
, established to facilitate the education of African and Native American Students. During this time he served on several boards, among them: Lincoln University, the Council on Foreign Relations
, the New York Board of Higher Education, the American Symphony Orchestra
, the Barnes Foundation, Consolidated Edison
and Borden, Inc.
.
Mr. Williams died in 1990 at the age of 72.
Williams was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity. Williams was married to Shirley Broyard, a sister of literary critic Anatole Broyard
.
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991...
he represented the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
before courts in criminal cases throughout the South. In 1950 he was appointed director of the NAACP's western region where for 9 years he directed drives involving open housing, school desegregation and civil rights.
Early life
Mr Williams was born in Flushing, QueensFlushing, Queens
Flushing, founded in 1645, is a neighborhood in the north central part of the City of New York borough of Queens, east of Manhattan.Flushing was one of the first Dutch settlements on Long Island. Today, it is one of the largest and most diverse neighborhoods in New York City...
. He graduated from Pennsylvania's Lincoln University
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Lincoln University is the United States' first degree-granting historically black university. It is located near the town of Oxford in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The university also hosts a Center for Graduate Studies in the City of Philadelphia. Lincoln University provides...
in 1941. In 1945 he earned a law degree from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
.
Career
In 1959, Mr. Williams became Assistant Attorney General in California and in 1961 the KennedyJohn F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
administration appointed him to assist Sargent Shriver
Sargent Shriver
Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr., known as Sargent Shriver, R. Sargent Shriver, or, from childhood, Sarge, was an American statesman and activist. As the husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, he was part of the Kennedy family, serving in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations...
in organizing the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
. As a delegate to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
he championed establishment of an international counterpart to the Corps.
Under President Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
, Mr. Williams became the first black representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
and later was appointed Ambassador to Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. During his 3-year tenure at this post, he was credited with improving the formerly strained relations between the United States and the African nation.
Leaving government service in 1968 Mr. Williams headed the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
Urban Center, issuing the study "Human Uses of the University - Planning a curriculum for Urban and Ethnic Affairs at Columbia University."
For 20 years, Mr. Williams was president of the Phelps Stokes Fund
Phelps Stokes
Established in 1911 as the Trustees of Phelps Stokes Fund by an act of the New York State legislature and known for much of its history as the Phelps-Stokes Fund, Phelps Stokes connects emerging leaders and organizations in Africa and the Americas with resources to help them advance social and...
, established to facilitate the education of African and Native American Students. During this time he served on several boards, among them: Lincoln University, the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
, the New York Board of Higher Education, the American Symphony Orchestra
American Symphony Orchestra
The American Symphony Orchestra is a New York-based American orchestra founded in 1962 by Leopold Stokowski, then aged 80. Following Maestro Stokowski's departure, Kazuyoshi Akiyama was appointed Music Director of the American Symphony Orchestra from 1973-1978. Music Directors during the early...
, the Barnes Foundation, Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison, Inc. is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $36 billion in assets...
and Borden, Inc.
Borden (company)
Borden, Inc., was an American producer of food and beverage products, consumer products, and industrial products. At one time, the company was the largest U.S. producer of dairy and pasta products. Its food division, Borden Foods, was based in Columbus, Ohio, and focused primarily on pasta and...
.
Mr. Williams died in 1990 at the age of 72.
Williams was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity. Williams was married to Shirley Broyard, a sister of literary critic Anatole Broyard
Anatole Broyard
Anatole Paul Broyard was an American writer, literary critic and editor for The New York Times. In addition to his many reviews and columns, he published short stories, essays and two books during his lifetime...
.