author
Mary Wilhelmine Williams
1878–1944
A pioneering scholar of Latin American history, she helped shape the field in the United States while teaching for many years at Stanford. Her work ranged from diplomatic history to studies of early California and the Pacific world.
1 Audiobook
Cousin-hunting in Scandinavia
by Mary Wilhelmine Williams
About the author
Born in California in 1878, Mary Wilhelmine Williams studied at San Jose State Normal School and then at Stanford University, where she earned her bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. She went on to build her career as a historian and became known especially for her work on Latin American history.
Williams taught at Stanford and was active in the profession beyond the classroom. She served on the board of editors of the Hispanic American Historical Review and worked with the Conference on Latin American History, reflecting the respect she earned among fellow scholars.
Her writing explored subjects such as Latin American diplomacy, the relations of the United States with Spanish America, and the history of California and the Pacific. She died in Palo Alto, California, in 1944, leaving behind a body of work remembered for its seriousness, range, and lasting value.