Cornelia Williams

Cornelia Williams was a staff member at the college from at least 1945, though some sources say she was on payroll beginning in 1943. She was listed as a cook or kitchen staff.

She shared in an interview that was published in The Arts Journal, v.3, no.7 April 1978, "Black Mountain College was not segregated, I liked it a lot better. It was more like family." She shared that the students cleaned up in the dining room and kitchen and she and her husband were always encouraged to take classes.

Asheville Art Museum Collection

Writings about Cornelia can be seen in digitized college bulletins on Asheville Art Museum's collection website: collection.ashevilleart.org. They can be found by searching these accession numbers:

2017.40.208a-f July 1945 bulletin, "

The old foundation was finished, on schedule in time for Malry, Cornelia, George and Gertrude to move in before the South Lodge Extension was painted. This wasn’t a miracle, it was largely due to Mac Wood; and the paint was nearly dry before the Brices moved into their apartment in the Extension."

2017.40.216a-e June 1946 bulletin,

"Fence posts have been set to protect the laundry of Malry and Cornelia from the dry cattle."