Alma Bishop Williams Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS-0165

No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

This collection documents the history, ownership, and legacy of Tanglewood, a plantation house and its 474 acres of surrounding land in Hale County, Alabama. Materials include books, correspondence, personal and scholarly writings, newspaper clippings, photographs, scrapbooks, genealogical records, and blueprints.

The collection traces Tanglewood’s history from its settlement by Page Harris (1795–1887) in 1824 and the construction of the existing house in 1859. It also highlights the life of Alma Bishop Williams (1879–1979), Harris’s great-granddaughter, who was active in the Daughters of the American Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The materials further document her 1949 deed transfer of Tanglewood to The University of Alabama, where it continues to serve as a biological research station for undergraduate and graduate studies in biodiversity and environmental science.

Dates

Creation: 1860-1973

Creator

Bishop/Tanglewood (Organization)
Williams, Alma Bishop (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections. For more information about copyright policy, please visit: https://www.ua.edu/copyright/. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.

Biographical / Historical

Tanglewood Estate, located in Akron, Alabama, is a historic plantation featuring a Greek Revival cottage built in 1859 by Page Harris on land he purchased in 1824. The property was gifted to The University of Alabama in 1949 by Alma Bishop Williams as a memorial to her aunt, J. Nicholene Bishop. At the time of the donation, the estate spanned 474 acres and included the Bishop family home, memorabilia, and historical documents. Alma Bishop Williams envisioned Tanglewood as a plant and wildlife sanctuary, a biological research station, and an educational resource for citizens of all ages.

The estate, now known as the J. Nicholene Bishop Biological Station, supports undergraduate and graduate research in biodiversity and environmental processes. To further its educational mission, a classroom facility was built on the property in 2012. Additionally, two parcels of land were acquired, expanding the estate to approximately 567 acres. Recognized for its architectural significance, Tanglewood was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 11, 1973.

Tanglewood is a member of the Organization of Biological Field Stations, continuing its legacy as a center for scientific research, education, and historical preservation.