The Original of "The Goddess of the Liberty" whose profile adorns the silver dollar, died in Philadelphia last week. She was Miss Anna Willis WIlliams who years ago was known as the "Silver Dollar Girl" Death occurred at her home 315 50th St. She was 68. The following story is taken from last Sundays Philadelphia Public Leader
"Mrs Williams was born in Philadelphia during the Civil War. Her mother was a Southerner, the daughter of Col. Arthur John Willis, a wealthy slave owner of Maryland who suffered financial reverse. His daughter married Henry Williams of Philadelphia and removed with him to this city. Anna Willis Williams was the youngest of 9 children and was born under adverse circumstances. Her father, once well-to-do, lost his money through some mismanagement and soon after her birth, he died As a girl, Miss Williams would have disproved the theory of some artist that to be beautiful one cannot have brains. She was below medium height, of graceful figure, with a face worthy of the honor bestowed upon it of representing the "Goddess" of her native country. Her complexion was fair, her eyes blue, her nose Grecian, and her hair,which was almost her crowing glory, was of golden color, abundant in quanity and of wonderful lightness of texture. It was worn in a becoming soft coil.
Early in 1876 George Morgan, an expert designer and engraver, waa assigned the new design for the silver dollar that was to be minted at Philadelphia. Thomas Eakins, a Philadelphia artist was a friend of both Mr Morgan and Miss Williams' family and he'd been thrown into contact with the young girl often. It was Mr Eakins suggestion that Mr Morgan and Miss Williams friends finally prevailed upon her to pose for the profile that was to go upon the face of the new dollar.
The sittings took place at the home of Mr Eakins on Mt. Vernon Street below 18th in November 1876. It was sometime later the cap with the sleath was
decided upon as the ornamentation for the head.
Then came stories that the engraccer had put so much of his own soul into his work he firly worshiped his ideal and that the romance would end as it always does. Those stories proved to be the product of romantic imaginations for Miss Williams continued at her work in the Kindergartens, the work in which she found her greatest joy in life.
The deceased lady had many relatives in this section, Mrs Bessie M Redden, a granddaughter of the late Col. Willis being among those who attended the funeral services.∼Model of the Morgan Silver Dollar. Teacher and philosophical writer.
In 1876, George T. Morgan began creating a series of new coin designs at the behest of Director of the Mint, Dr. Henry R. Linderman. Morgan opted to use the profile of an American girl to depict Liberty instead of simply creating an imaginary figure for the obverse of his new design. After he rejected several possible candidates, Morgan's friend, artist Thomas Eakins, recommended Anna Williams of Philadelphia. Eakins knew Williams through her father, Henry Williams. She reluctantly sat for five modelling sessions with Morgan in November 1876 after being convinced to do so by friends. Morgan was impressed with her profile, stating that it was the most perfect he had seen in England or America. The silver dollar bearing her likeness was first struck on March 11, 1878. A condition of her sitting for Morgan was that her identity be kept secret, but the subject of the portrait was revealed to be Williams shortly after the dollar was released. Williams was troubled by her newly acquired fame, receiving thousands of letters and visits at both her home and workplace. Williams preferred not to talk about her modelling work with Morgan, dismissing it as an "incident of my youth."
Despite being offered acting jobs, Williams worked as a teacher until her retirement in 1924. She left her job as principal at a girls' house-of-refuge school to become a teacher of kindergarten philosophy at a girls' normal school.Though she was once engaged to an unknown suitor, Williams died, unmarried, on April 17, 1926.
"Mrs Williams was born in Philadelphia during the Civil War. Her mother was a Southerner, the daughter of Col. Arthur John Willis, a wealthy slave owner of Maryland who suffered financial reverse. His daughter married Henry Williams of Philadelphia and removed with him to this city. Anna Willis Williams was the youngest of 9 children and was born under adverse circumstances. Her father, once well-to-do, lost his money through some mismanagement and soon after her birth, he died As a girl, Miss Williams would have disproved the theory of some artist that to be beautiful one cannot have brains. She was below medium height, of graceful figure, with a face worthy of the honor bestowed upon it of representing the "Goddess" of her native country. Her complexion was fair, her eyes blue, her nose Grecian, and her hair,which was almost her crowing glory, was of golden color, abundant in quanity and of wonderful lightness of texture. It was worn in a becoming soft coil.
Early in 1876 George Morgan, an expert designer and engraver, waa assigned the new design for the silver dollar that was to be minted at Philadelphia. Thomas Eakins, a Philadelphia artist was a friend of both Mr Morgan and Miss Williams' family and he'd been thrown into contact with the young girl often. It was Mr Eakins suggestion that Mr Morgan and Miss Williams friends finally prevailed upon her to pose for the profile that was to go upon the face of the new dollar.
The sittings took place at the home of Mr Eakins on Mt. Vernon Street below 18th in November 1876. It was sometime later the cap with the sleath was
decided upon as the ornamentation for the head.
Then came stories that the engraccer had put so much of his own soul into his work he firly worshiped his ideal and that the romance would end as it always does. Those stories proved to be the product of romantic imaginations for Miss Williams continued at her work in the Kindergartens, the work in which she found her greatest joy in life.
The deceased lady had many relatives in this section, Mrs Bessie M Redden, a granddaughter of the late Col. Willis being among those who attended the funeral services.∼Model of the Morgan Silver Dollar. Teacher and philosophical writer.
In 1876, George T. Morgan began creating a series of new coin designs at the behest of Director of the Mint, Dr. Henry R. Linderman. Morgan opted to use the profile of an American girl to depict Liberty instead of simply creating an imaginary figure for the obverse of his new design. After he rejected several possible candidates, Morgan's friend, artist Thomas Eakins, recommended Anna Williams of Philadelphia. Eakins knew Williams through her father, Henry Williams. She reluctantly sat for five modelling sessions with Morgan in November 1876 after being convinced to do so by friends. Morgan was impressed with her profile, stating that it was the most perfect he had seen in England or America. The silver dollar bearing her likeness was first struck on March 11, 1878. A condition of her sitting for Morgan was that her identity be kept secret, but the subject of the portrait was revealed to be Williams shortly after the dollar was released. Williams was troubled by her newly acquired fame, receiving thousands of letters and visits at both her home and workplace. Williams preferred not to talk about her modelling work with Morgan, dismissing it as an "incident of my youth."
Despite being offered acting jobs, Williams worked as a teacher until her retirement in 1924. She left her job as principal at a girls' house-of-refuge school to become a teacher of kindergarten philosophy at a girls' normal school.Though she was once engaged to an unknown suitor, Williams died, unmarried, on April 17, 1926.
The Original of "The Goddess of the Liberty" whose profile adorns the silver dollar, died in Philadelphia last week. She was Miss Anna Willis WIlliams who years ago was known as the "Silver Dollar Girl" Death occurred at her home 315 50th St. She was 68. The following story is taken from last Sundays Philadelphia Public Leader
"Mrs Williams was born in Philadelphia during the Civil War. Her mother was a Southerner, the daughter of Col. Arthur John Willis, a wealthy slave owner of Maryland who suffered financial reverse. His daughter married Henry Williams of Philadelphia and removed with him to this city. Anna Willis Williams was the youngest of 9 children and was born under adverse circumstances. Her father, once well-to-do, lost his money through some mismanagement and soon after her birth, he died As a girl, Miss Williams would have disproved the theory of some artist that to be beautiful one cannot have brains. She was below medium height, of graceful figure, with a face worthy of the honor bestowed upon it of representing the "Goddess" of her native country. Her complexion was fair, her eyes blue, her nose Grecian, and her hair,which was almost her crowing glory, was of golden color, abundant in quanity and of wonderful lightness of texture. It was worn in a becoming soft coil.
Early in 1876 George Morgan, an expert designer and engraver, waa assigned the new design for the silver dollar that was to be minted at Philadelphia. Thomas Eakins, a Philadelphia artist was a friend of both Mr Morgan and Miss Williams' family and he'd been thrown into contact with the young girl often. It was Mr Eakins suggestion that Mr Morgan and Miss Williams friends finally prevailed upon her to pose for the profile that was to go upon the face of the new dollar.
The sittings took place at the home of Mr Eakins on Mt. Vernon Street below 18th in November 1876. It was sometime later the cap with the sleath was
decided upon as the ornamentation for the head.
Then came stories that the engraccer had put so much of his own soul into his work he firly worshiped his ideal and that the romance would end as it always does. Those stories proved to be the product of romantic imaginations for Miss Williams continued at her work in the Kindergartens, the work in which she found her greatest joy in life.
The deceased lady had many relatives in this section, Mrs Bessie M Redden, a granddaughter of the late Col. Willis being among those who attended the funeral services.∼Model of the Morgan Silver Dollar. Teacher and philosophical writer.
In 1876, George T. Morgan began creating a series of new coin designs at the behest of Director of the Mint, Dr. Henry R. Linderman. Morgan opted to use the profile of an American girl to depict Liberty instead of simply creating an imaginary figure for the obverse of his new design. After he rejected several possible candidates, Morgan's friend, artist Thomas Eakins, recommended Anna Williams of Philadelphia. Eakins knew Williams through her father, Henry Williams. She reluctantly sat for five modelling sessions with Morgan in November 1876 after being convinced to do so by friends. Morgan was impressed with her profile, stating that it was the most perfect he had seen in England or America. The silver dollar bearing her likeness was first struck on March 11, 1878. A condition of her sitting for Morgan was that her identity be kept secret, but the subject of the portrait was revealed to be Williams shortly after the dollar was released. Williams was troubled by her newly acquired fame, receiving thousands of letters and visits at both her home and workplace. Williams preferred not to talk about her modelling work with Morgan, dismissing it as an "incident of my youth."
Despite being offered acting jobs, Williams worked as a teacher until her retirement in 1924. She left her job as principal at a girls' house-of-refuge school to become a teacher of kindergarten philosophy at a girls' normal school.Though she was once engaged to an unknown suitor, Williams died, unmarried, on April 17, 1926.
"Mrs Williams was born in Philadelphia during the Civil War. Her mother was a Southerner, the daughter of Col. Arthur John Willis, a wealthy slave owner of Maryland who suffered financial reverse. His daughter married Henry Williams of Philadelphia and removed with him to this city. Anna Willis Williams was the youngest of 9 children and was born under adverse circumstances. Her father, once well-to-do, lost his money through some mismanagement and soon after her birth, he died As a girl, Miss Williams would have disproved the theory of some artist that to be beautiful one cannot have brains. She was below medium height, of graceful figure, with a face worthy of the honor bestowed upon it of representing the "Goddess" of her native country. Her complexion was fair, her eyes blue, her nose Grecian, and her hair,which was almost her crowing glory, was of golden color, abundant in quanity and of wonderful lightness of texture. It was worn in a becoming soft coil.
Early in 1876 George Morgan, an expert designer and engraver, waa assigned the new design for the silver dollar that was to be minted at Philadelphia. Thomas Eakins, a Philadelphia artist was a friend of both Mr Morgan and Miss Williams' family and he'd been thrown into contact with the young girl often. It was Mr Eakins suggestion that Mr Morgan and Miss Williams friends finally prevailed upon her to pose for the profile that was to go upon the face of the new dollar.
The sittings took place at the home of Mr Eakins on Mt. Vernon Street below 18th in November 1876. It was sometime later the cap with the sleath was
decided upon as the ornamentation for the head.
Then came stories that the engraccer had put so much of his own soul into his work he firly worshiped his ideal and that the romance would end as it always does. Those stories proved to be the product of romantic imaginations for Miss Williams continued at her work in the Kindergartens, the work in which she found her greatest joy in life.
The deceased lady had many relatives in this section, Mrs Bessie M Redden, a granddaughter of the late Col. Willis being among those who attended the funeral services.∼Model of the Morgan Silver Dollar. Teacher and philosophical writer.
In 1876, George T. Morgan began creating a series of new coin designs at the behest of Director of the Mint, Dr. Henry R. Linderman. Morgan opted to use the profile of an American girl to depict Liberty instead of simply creating an imaginary figure for the obverse of his new design. After he rejected several possible candidates, Morgan's friend, artist Thomas Eakins, recommended Anna Williams of Philadelphia. Eakins knew Williams through her father, Henry Williams. She reluctantly sat for five modelling sessions with Morgan in November 1876 after being convinced to do so by friends. Morgan was impressed with her profile, stating that it was the most perfect he had seen in England or America. The silver dollar bearing her likeness was first struck on March 11, 1878. A condition of her sitting for Morgan was that her identity be kept secret, but the subject of the portrait was revealed to be Williams shortly after the dollar was released. Williams was troubled by her newly acquired fame, receiving thousands of letters and visits at both her home and workplace. Williams preferred not to talk about her modelling work with Morgan, dismissing it as an "incident of my youth."
Despite being offered acting jobs, Williams worked as a teacher until her retirement in 1924. She left her job as principal at a girls' house-of-refuge school to become a teacher of kindergarten philosophy at a girls' normal school.Though she was once engaged to an unknown suitor, Williams died, unmarried, on April 17, 1926.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
