1922
Dr. Williams is born in Charleston, South Carolina to Ellison Adger and Elizabeth Simonton Williams.
1943
Dr. Williams serves in the U.S. Army for two years.
1947
Dr. Williams receives a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University.
1949
Dr. Williams receives a Master of Arts from the University of Virginia.
1949
Dr. Williams works as an assistant cashier at Carolina Savings Bank in Charleston, South Carolina.
1953
Dr. Williams marries Harriet Porcher Williams.
1957
Dr. Williams receives a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Virginia.
1957
Dr. Williams becomes an assistant professor of English from Duke University.
1960
Dr. Williams becomes a historiographer for the Diocese of South Carolina.
1963
Dr. Williams is promoted to associate professor at Duke University.
1967
Dr. Williams is promoted to full professor at Duke University.
1969
Dr. Williams becomes a senior fellow of the Cooperative Program in Humanities at Duke University and the University of North Carolina.
1977
Dr. Williams becomes a Guggenheim Foundation fellow.
1981
Dr. Williams becomes a Huntington Librarian fellow.
1982
Dr. Williams is appointed chairman of the Department of English at Duke University.
1982
Dr. Williams serves as a visiting professor at the U.S. Military Academy.
1983
Dr. Williams receives an Outstanding Civilian Service Medal from the U.S. Army.
1993
Dr. Williams retires and becomes Professor Emeritus at Duke University.