From Samuel W. Williams
Author: Williams, Samuel W. (Friendship Baptist Church)
Date: November 18, 1954
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Genre: Letter
Topic: Martin Luther King, Jr. - Career in Ministry
Details
Williams, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta, was King’s philosophy professor at Morehouse.1William refers to Christine King, King’s sister.
The Reverend M. L. King, Jr.
309 South Jackson Street
Montgomery, Alabama
Dear M. L.:
I’m very happy that it was possible for you to accept our invitation to deliver the Mens’ Day Sermon on November 28. The entire Church is delighted that you’re coming.
Now Brother, we need to have the likeness of you in the newspaper. So if you have available a cut or a mat, would you please send the same to us for publicity purposes next week? We would like also a brief biographical sketch.
Christine told me this morning that you’re likely to be in town Saturday. I hope I may see you, but in any case, call me.
Very fine reports are reaching Atlanta of your works at Dexter. Our prayer is that all will continue to go well.
Very sincerely yours,
[signed] Sam/s
Samuel W. Williams
SWW/japs
1. Samuel Woodrow Williams (1912–1970) received his A.B. from Morehouse in 1937 and his B.D. and M.A. from Howard University’s School of Religion in 1941 and 1942, respectively. He completed his course work, though not the dissertation, for a Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of Chicago. After teaching at Alcorn College in Lorman, Mississippi, and Alabama A & M in Normal, he joined the Morehouse faculty in 1946. In addition to teaching at Morehouse, Williams also served as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church from 1954 until his death.
Source: MLKP, MBU, Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers, 1954-1968, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University, Boston, Mass.,