Yolande Du Bois Williams: A Legacy of Education and Family
The history of the Du Bois family is inextricably linked to the intellectual and social progress of the 20th century. Central to this lineage was Yolande Du Bois Williams, the daughter of Nina Du Bois and granddaughter of the renowned scholar W.E.B. Du Bois. Her life reflected a commitment to education, family, and the preservation of a profound ancestral legacy.
Key Facts
- Yolande Du Bois Williams was the only granddaughter of W.E.B. Du Bois.
- She earned a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Colorado.
- She served as a faculty member at Xavier University of Louisiana starting in 1988.
- She is buried in the Mahaiwe Cemetery in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
- Her great-grandson, Arthur Edward McFarlane II, was the first male born into the family since 1897.
Academic Achievements and Professional Career
Yolande Du Bois Williams pursued an extensive academic path, beginning her higher education at Fisk University before attending New York University to complete her bachelor's degree. Her dedication to the study of the human mind led her to the University of Colorado, where she earned a Ph.D. in psychology.
In 1988, she joined the psychology faculty at Xavier University of Louisiana. She dedicated the remainder of her professional life to teaching and mentoring students at the institution until her eventual retirement.
Family Ties and the Du Bois Lineage
Yolande's personal life was marked by deep familial bonds. After returning to Baltimore, she worked as a teacher and raised her daughter. Her marriage to Howard Irvin led her to be known as Yolande Du Bois Irvin.
A significant moment of joy for the family occurred on December 25, 1957, with the birth of Arthur Edward McFarlane II. He was the first male born into the Du Bois family since 1897, when W.E.B. Du Bois' son, Burghardt, passed away at 18 months of age—a tragedy later documented in the seminal work The Souls of Black Folk. W.E.B. Du Bois expressed great delight at the birth of his great-grandson, even addressing his 90th birthday speech in New York City specifically to Arthur.
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The Final Years of W.E.B. Du Bois
Following the death of Yolande in March 1961 due to a heart attack, her father, W.E.B. Du Bois, entered a new chapter of his life. He accepted an invitation from Kwame Nkrumah to relocate to Ghana. While there, he worked on the Encyclopedia Africana, a comprehensive project he was unable to complete before his death in 1963.
W.E.B. Du Bois was buried in Ghana, where his second wife, the activist and writer Shirley Graham Du Bois, was also laid to rest years later.
Commemoration and Resting Place
Yolande Du Bois Williams was buried in the Mahaiwe Cemetery in Great Barrington, Massachusetts—her father's hometown. She rests beside her mother, Nina Du Bois, and her brother, Burghardt. In 2014, her grandson, Arthur E. McFarlane II, installed a headstone at her grave. This coincided with the dedication of a new interpretive trail at the W.E.B. Du Bois Boyhood Homesite, a recognized National Historic Landmark.
Yolande passed away on November 15, 2021, at the age of 89, survived by three of her four children and their descendants.
| Name | Relationship to Yolande | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| W.E.B. Du Bois | Grandfather | Scholar; worked on Encyclopedia Africana in Ghana. |
| Nina Du Bois | Mother | Buried in Mahaiwe Cemetery. |
| Burghardt Du Bois | Brother | Died as an infant in 1897. |
| Arthur E. McFarlane II | Great-grandson | Born 1957; installed Yolande's headstone in 2014. |
| Shirley Graham Du Bois | Step-grandmother | Writer and activist buried in Ghana. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Yolande Du Bois Williams teach?
Yolande Du Bois Williams was a member of the psychology faculty at Xavier University of Louisiana from 1988 until her retirement.
What was the significance of Arthur Edward McFarlane II's birth?
He was the first male born into the Du Bois family since 1897, filling a long void after the tragic death of W.E.B. Du Bois' son, Burghardt.
Where is Yolande Du Bois Williams buried?
She is buried in the Mahaiwe Cemetery in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, alongside her mother and brother.
What project was W.E.B. Du Bois working on in Ghana?
He was working on the Encyclopedia Africana, a project he pursued after moving to Ghana at the invitation of Kwame Nkrumah.
What degrees did Yolande Du Bois Williams hold?
She held a bachelor's degree from New York University (after attending Fisk University) and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Colorado.