Mamie Williams House

Mamie Williams spent more than 75 years on Quincy St as a prominent pillar of the Topeka community.

Quick Facts

Location:

1503 Quncy Street, Topeka, KS 66612

Significance:

Home of Mamie Williams, Prominent Topeka Figure.

OPEN TO PUBLIC:

No

MANAGED BY:

Private Residence

Mamie Luella Williams was a lifelong educator in Topeka, Kansas. She was born in 1894 in Greenwood, South Carolina. Five years later she moved with her family to Topeka, where she would become an accomplished teacher and principal at some of the segregated schools. Miss Williams was the only African American in her graduating class at Washburn University, and went on to spend 4 summers at Columbia University in New York, where she earned advanced certificates. Miss Williams chose to be a career educator, as she taught at a time when women had to choose between their career as educators, or forfeiting teaching in order to have families. After retiring from teaching, Miss Williams continued to play an active role in her community. In addition, she served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in 1971. In 1976 she was featured in a documentary titled, "75 Years on Quincy Street," where she talked about her career and life in Topeka. Located two blocks from the former Monroe Elementary School is the Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School, named in honor of Miss Williams.

• Mamie Williams

  
  

  Life and times of Mamie Luella WIlliams

  Credit / Author:

  NPS

  Audio Transcript

  Mamie Luella Williams was a lifelong educator in Topeka, Kansas. She was born in 1894 in Greenwood, South Carolina. Five years later she moved with her family to Topeka, where she would become an accomplished teacher and principal at some of the segregated schools. Miss Williams was the only African American in her graduating class at Washburn University, and went on to spend 4 summers at Columbia University in New York, where she earned advanced certificates. Miss Williams chose to be a career educator, as she taught at a time when women had to choose between their career as educators, or forfeiting teaching in order to have families. After retiring from teaching, Miss Williams continued to play an active role in her community. In addition, she served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in 1971. In 1976 she was featured in a documentary titled, "75 Years on Quincy Street," where she talked about her career and life in Topeka. Located two blocks from the former Monroe Elementary School is the Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School, named in honor of Miss Williams.