{"value"=>"<p>Serve to document the genealogical line of George Lyons, Sr., a freeman born in the mid-1700s and the great, great grandfather of Harry A. Williamson. Three generations are represented in the papers, including: seaman and entrepreneur, Albro Lyons, Sr.; his daughters, Maritcha and Pauline; his son, Albro, Jr.; and his grandson, Harry A. Williamson. Among the papers of Albro, Sr. is a letter from Mary, his wife, to the Governor of Rhode Island denouncing the discriminatory practices in the school system of Providence, Rhode Island where they had settled after fleeing the 1863 Draft Riots in New York City. The papers of Maritcha and Pauline Lyons are of particular interest as they illustrate the interests and activities of two 19th century middle class black women. Maritcha Remond Lyons (1848-?) was a teacher in the Brooklyn school system for forty-eight years and was the second black woman to be appointed an assistant principal in that system. She wrote numerous essays, including an auto biographical sketch entitled, \"Memories of Yesterdays: All of which I saw and part of which I was\", which is in this collection. There are also other writings [filed in Box 3: General Writings] as well as several of her letters to editors concerning racial inequality, continuing a family tradition. Pauline Lyons Williamson's letters are noteworthy in that they were written during the period she was in California to her family back East. The letters present an excellent picture of the activities and concerns of a young widowed woman attempting to adjust to a new environment and raise her young son. A genealogy of the Lyons-Williamson family which was researched and prepared by Harry Williamson is also in the collection.</p> <p>A small group of papers dealing with Blanche C. Williamson have been included among the family papers. They consist of a few letters of sympathy written upon her death in 1960 and a tribute to her written by Williamson.</p>"}