Danville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Camilla Ella Williams (1919–2012)

Camilla Ella Williams Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 4, 2024

1. Camilla Ella Williams Marker

Inscription. Camilla Williams, operatic soprano, grew up in Danville. In 1946 she became the first African American woman to secure a contract with a major U.S. opera company, making her debut in Madama Butterfly with the New York City Center Opera. Williams starred in Columbia Records’ recording of Porgy and Bess (1951), performed with the Vienna State Opera and other prominent companies, toured internationally as a soloist, and served as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department. In 1963 she performed in Danville to raise funds for civil rights demonstrators, and she sang the national anthem at the March on Washington before Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Erected 2020 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number Q-91.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Civil Rights • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1946.

Location. 36° 34.916′ N, 79° 24.398′ W. Marker is in Danville, Virginia. It is on Central Boulevard (Virginia Route 86) 0.2 miles north of West Main Street ( Route

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293), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 238 West End Ave, Danville VA 24541, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southside Virginia

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Langhorne House (approx. ¼ mile away); Lady Astor Birthplace (approx. ¼ mile away); Andrew Jackson Montague (approx. ¼ mile away); The Gibson Girl / Lady Astor (approx. ¼ mile away); The A.J. Montague House (approx. ¼ mile away); Holbrook-Ross Historic District (approx. ¼ mile away); First Catholic Church In Danville, Virginia (approx. ¼ mile away); Stratford College (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 4, 2024

2. Camilla Ella Williams Marker

of all markers in Danville.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 4, 2024

3. Camilla Ella Williams Marker

Camilla Ella Williams image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, October 15, 2024

4. Camilla Ella Williams

Portrait on display in the Ruby B. Archie Library in Danville

Madame Butterfly image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, December 10, 2024

5. Madame Butterfly

Camilla Williams, in one of her most notable operatic roles, starred as the titular Madame Butterfly. A portrait of Williams wearing her Madame Butterfly costume is on display in the Danville Mall.

Madame Butterfly costume image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, March 22, 2025

6. Madame Butterfly costume

On permanent display in the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History.

Camilla Williams portrait image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, March 22, 2025

7. Camilla Williams portrait

On permanent display in the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History.

Camilla Williams museum gallery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, March 22, 2025

8. Camilla Williams museum gallery

Camilla Williams has a permanent exhibit galletry dedicated to her life in the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2024, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 206 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 6, 2024, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 5. submitted on December 27, 2024, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 6, 7, 8. submitted on September 3, 2025, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.