Author Tells Titanic Family Survival Story at UA’s Gorgas Library

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — As the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic approaches, author Julie Hedgepeth Williams will speak about her great aunt and uncle’s survivor story at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, in room 205 of Gorgas Library on The University of Alabama campus.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by the Tolbert Lecture Series, University Libraries and the Alabama Center for the Book.

Williams’ book, “A Rare Titanic Family: The Caldwells’ Story of Survival,” details the rescue of Albert and Sylvia Caldwell and their 10-month old son, Alden, aboard Lifeboat 13.

The Titanic sank the night of April 14, 1912. The trip was only one part of a bigger nightmare. The Caldwells had been Presbyterian missionaries in Bangkok, Thailand, but they fled in what they described as a desperate journey around the world to save Sylvia’s health.

Fellow missionaries, however, believed that the couple had plotted to renege on their contract at financial loss to the church. “Titanic Family” tracks the journey of the Caldwells, who survived their trip on the Titanic but never could get out from under the shadow the ship cast over them.

“‘A Rare Titanic Family’ is a rare work indeed,” writes Don Lynch, author of “Titanic — An Illustrated History.”   “Julie Williams has taken a seemingly ordinary family and not only describes in detail their experiences in the worst sea disaster of their era but also describes the fascinating and unusual circumstances which led them to be on board the Titanic.”

Williams earned a master’s and doctorate at UA. She teaches journalism part-time at Samford University in Birmingham. She has also taught media history at UA’s master’s degree program in community journalism.

The Tolbert Lecture Series is funded by the generous support of Library benefactors, Susan S. Tolbert and the late Dr. Lakey Tolbert of Birmingham.