This cabinet card creates a historical mystery. Is this image really a portrait of Captain William James Williams? Captain Williams was among the first African American officers to serve in a state volunteer regiment during the Spanish American War. He served in the 6th Massachusetts Infantry, Company L. This company was probably the first and possibly only African American company to be attached to a white regiment. Williams commanded Company L and was the first African American to enter the US Volunteer army with a captain’s commission. He was six feet tall. He was a product of Boston schools and was a lawyer. He joined the Massachusetts Militia in 1891. The reverse of this card is inscribed “William James Williams, Captain, Spanish American War”. A photograph of Captain Williams found from another source, has resemblance to the man in this image, but does not confirm the identity. The photographer of this image is William G. Hussey of Salem, Massachusetts. A photographic journal (1900) reported that Hussey sold his Salem studio in 1900.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM J WILLIAMS: AFRICAN AMERICAN SPANISH AMERICAN WAR VETERAN
The URI to TrackBack this entry is: https://cabinetcardgallery.com/2010/09/26/captain-william-j-williams-african-american-spanish-american-war-veteran/trackback/
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 
This is William J Williams. He’s my great grandfather.
Thank you so much for your comment. I am so glad that you were able to see this photograph. Your great grandfather was a very impressive individual and apparently a pioneer in integrating the military. I am certain that he had to deal with racism and many other obstacles. I am wondering if the biographical information that I provided, concerning Captain Williams, was correct. I would appreciate hearing more about him, if you are willing to share. This is one of the most treasured photographs in my entire collection. Thanks again.
My wife’s great grandfather, George Washington Braxton, was second lieutenant to Captain Williams in Company L of the Massachusetts 6th regiment during the Spanish-American War. We have some correspondence and a few photos from that time, but would love to learn more. Do you have documents or photos from those years?
Thanks for your comment. I have posted a few thousand photographs and I think this is one of the most fascinating photographs in my collection. Unfortunately, I have no other information to add to what I have written. At some point, I will do additional research. Thanks again for expanding on the information about Caption Williams and Liertenant Braxton. If you learn more, please let us know. bruce marsh
That’s great to hear. I’m William J. Williams’s great-grandson. (Jayson’s second cousin.) There are a number of items available online that discuss the history of Company L, including my great-grandfather’s officers, 1LT Jackson and 2LT Braxton. I trust that you and your wife have seen the 6th Massachusetts’s Spanish-American War unit history, which was published in 1899. I love the photo in it of the three officers.
https://archive.org/details/98campaignof6thm00edwa/page/322/mode/2up
https://www.spanamwar.com/6thMassCoL
https://www.baystatebanner.com/2015/08/07/captain-william-j-williams-lawyer-war-veteran-first-african-american-elected-to-the-chelsea-board-of-aldermen/
Thanks for sharing the links to additional biographical information concerning Captain Williams. His story is a fascinating one.
Captain Willam J. Williams is my step great grandfather. I have a few photos of he and his colleagues at Pine Point, Boothbay Harbor, Maine, from around the early 1900s. If you have any photos or correspondence from that era, I would love to see anything you’ve got. Please let me know or post the letters and photos on line.
I wish I had more material to post online but the cabinet card photograph is all I have. I don’t understand why no one has written his biography or at the very least, an article about him. He was an admirable man.
I’d love to see more photos of my Step Great Grandfather, William T. Williams. If possible, can you post any historical snapshots you might have. Thank you kindly.-Dana Stewart
I wish I had more photos or information to share but unfortunately you have seen it all. I would suggest reaching out to the historical society in Boston. That would be a good start. Please let me know if you find additional information. Good luck and Happy New Year.