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| Sandra Ann Williams , born 1953, in the crib my father hand-made. |
Most books, articles, workshops, etc. on genealogy state that research starts with
yourself but it never dawned on me to do my own biography until recently.
I
was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, the daughter of Willis B.
and Evelyn O. Williams. Under their strong love, guidance and
support, I was instilled with the importance of family, loyalty and
community.
My earliest memories are of growing up at 218 Walnut Street in Buffalo and attending P.S. 47. Months before my sixth grade graduation, my family moved to 523 Woodlawn Avenue in Buffalo's "Cold Spring" area. I remember my brothers and I thinking that we were rich because it was a beautifully tree-lined neighborhood with large well-kept homes. My brothers, Richard, Steven, Barry, and Raymond were transferred to the new neighborhood school, P.S. #53. For the few months until my sixth grade graduation, I stayed in the old neighborhood living with my great-aunt, Elizabeth Mason aka Auntie Lizzie during the school week and going home for the weekends.
My earliest memories are of growing up at 218 Walnut Street in Buffalo and attending P.S. 47. Months before my sixth grade graduation, my family moved to 523 Woodlawn Avenue in Buffalo's "Cold Spring" area. I remember my brothers and I thinking that we were rich because it was a beautifully tree-lined neighborhood with large well-kept homes. My brothers, Richard, Steven, Barry, and Raymond were transferred to the new neighborhood school, P.S. #53. For the few months until my sixth grade graduation, I stayed in the old neighborhood living with my great-aunt, Elizabeth Mason aka Auntie Lizzie during the school week and going home for the weekends.
In
September 1965 I attended the neighborhood school Woodlawn Jr. High (from
7th through 9th grades), and later East High School (1968-1971). After a
few false attempts at college -- Howard University {I attended Howard because it was my mother's dream to go there}, Villa Maria
College, and Buffalo State College -- I finally earned an undergraduate
degree from Medialle College in Human Services (1981).
Not
finding a job in my field, I worked a variety of jobs before
taking a county clerical exam and being offered a job at the Buffalo
& Erie County Public Library where I worked at many of the city
branches, including the mobile units, the RAM Van and Lookie Bookie.
While at the library, I attended evening classes at the
University of Buffalo School of Information Library
Science and earned a Master
of Library Science degree (1991).
My
biggest joy has been my daughter, Elizabeth -- her birth,
raising her, seeing the woman she has become and sharing travel
experiences with her. (At her request I never mention her
age or birth year and seldom full name on social media.)
I
met my husband, Joseph Bush, in 1986 while we were working at the
Central Library. We married and honeymooned in Niagara Falls NY on
January 6, 1996. I retired from the Buffalo & Erie County
Public Library in August 2015 after 30 years of service. My last position was Branch Manager of the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library.
Since
1995, I have performed as a solo artist and as a charter member of
Tradition Keepers: Black Storytellers of Western New York. In
addition to storytelling, I am a djembe drummer with the group
Daughters of Creative Sound (since 2004), an African American women's
percussion ensemble.
I am currently ENJOYING retirement!
