History Matters: Delaware Tech unveils Williams House Museum and Conference Center

By Isreal Hale

Published November 21, 2025 at 9:36 AM EST

Delaware Tech's John and Elsie Williams House Museum and Conference Center

Delaware Tech recently celebrated the opening of the John and Elsie Williams House Museum and Conference Center

The facility encompasses several rooms in the Williamses’ former home, which the family built in Millsboro in 1927.

The Williamses’ daughter, Blanche Baker, wanted the home to honor the accomplishments of her parents - former Delaware U.S. Senator John Williams, who was often lauded for a non-partisan approach to politics, and his wife Elsie, who contributed to that approach by building social connections in Washington that fostered “across-the-aisle” relationships.

In this edition of History Matters, Isreal Hale is joined by Del Tech President Mark Brainard to hear more about the new dual role for the Williams house and it will serve the surrounding community in Millsboro.

DPM'a Isreal Hale interviews Delaware Tech President Mark Brainard

Delaware Tech opened the new John and Elsie Williams Museum and Conference Center earlier this month.

The facility is, in large part, a restored version of the original Williams home in Millsboro, where late Sen. John Williams and wife Elsie lived during the Senator’s nearly 25-year stint in Congress.

During that time, Williams built a national reputation.

A historic marker at the John and Elsie Williams House Museum and Conference Center details the career of Sen. John Williams

“What’s most notable about him is not just what he did, but how he did it. Those individuals who knew him commented that he always brought a sense of willingness to work with everyone; he truly had a non-partisan approach to trying to solve problems in government.” said DelTech President Mark Brainard.

While Sen. Williams was primarily known for his bipartisan approach to politics, Brainard says he also worked to root out corruption in national politics.

“He had a couple of employees that had the courage really to interact with him and identify ways that the IRS of the 40s and 50s weren’t complying with the spirit or the letter of the law. He was able to use some of the information he received from those employees to use his senate position to root that corruption out. ” he told DPM.

Williams is also credited with exposing the corruption in the office of U.S. Senate aide Bobby Baker, a protégé of then vice-president Lyndon Johnson, just one month before President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and Johnson’s inauguration as President of the United States. Baker was connected to the Carroll Arms Hotel, and frequently mixed politics with personal business.

The lobby of the Williams House Conference Center

Williams non-partisan approach was reportedly aided “invaluably” by his wife Elsie Williams, who often hosted meetings and gatherings of state officials right in the Williams’ own home. Williams often referred to her not just as his wife, but as a crucial partner to his work in Washington, D.C.

Brainard says the museum is now officially open to the public, and that a non-profit “Friends of the Williams House” will be charged with coming up with programs, community engagement events, and conferences to hold in the new building. That will include guest lectures and presentations that honor Sen. Williams and his work.

Brainard says the public can expect those to begin in the beginning of 2026.

The facility will also be available as a rental and will be open to the public throughout the year.