Herbert John Davis Personal Papers, 1893-1973
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Smith College Archives Northampton, MA
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Herbert John Davis Personal Papers
Creation of Herbert John Davis Personal Papers
Time of Creation of Herbert John Davis Personal Papers
Davis, Herbert John, 1893-1967.
Biographical History for: Herbert John Davis Personal Papers
Biographical Note Herbert John Davis was born on May 24, 1893 in Northamptonshire, England, where he received his elementary and secondary education. He later attended Oxford University (St. John's College) from which he graduated in 1914. He then served in France and Belgium during WWI and in 1919 he returned to Oxford to earn his A.M. In 1922, Davis married Gertrude Lucas of Opladen, Rheinland, Germany but she died tragically just six years later. In 1930, Davis married Gladys Wookey of Toronto and the couple had two daughters, Charlotte Elisabeth Ann and Jane. In 1920, Davis acquired a position at the University of Leeds where he taught for two years. He then moved to the University of Toronto where he remained for sixteen years. Davis was hired as an Associate Professor of English, and later promoted to a full Professor. He also served as Chair of the English department. In 1938, Davis accepted a position as Chair of the English department at Cornell University. In 1939, Davis succeeded William Allan Neilson as president of Smith College and he assumed this role for the 1940-1941 school year. Davis served as the fourth president of Smith College until 1949 when he returned to Oxford as a reader in textual criticism. Davis retired from Oxford in 1960. During his academic career, Davis made several notable contributions. Following his passion for poetry and prose, Davis became a world renowned expert on Jonathan Swift and wrote several books on his work including Swift's View of Poetry (1931) and Stella, a Gentlewoman of the Eighteenth Century (1942). The latter is an account of the friendship that existed between Swift and Esther Johnson. Davis also edited the fourteen volume work, The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift (1939-68). Davis' distinguished literary contributions were well recognized and he received several honorary degrees including a Doctorate of Laws from Amherst College in 1940. In addition to his enthusiasm for the English language, Davis was also extremely socially conscious and particularly concerned with WWII raging overseas. Perhaps his most memorable act of charity was providing a home to five British refugee children for several years during the war. Many of his colleagues and friends followed his lead and opened their doors to children in need. Davis died on March 28, 1967. 1893Born on May 24, at Long Buckby, Northamponshire, England. Son of Carter and Martha Ann (Sheldon) Davis.1905Educated at Northampton Grammar School.1911St. John's College, Oxford.1912Pass Moderations (Classics)1914B.A.; Honour School of English Language and Literature.1915Reading for Anglican Orders, Wells Theological College.1916-1919War Service--gunner, R.G.A.; subaltern with 301 Siege Battery, France and Belgium; acting-adjutant, 4th Brigade, R.G.A., Army of Occupation.1919M.A., Oxford.1920Lecturer in English, University of Leeds.1922Associate Professor English, University College, Toronto. Married Gertrude Lucas of Opladen, Rheinland, Germany.1924-1925Guest Professor in the University of Cologne, Germany.1925-1935Professor of English, University College, Toronto. Elected Chairman of the Department of English, University of Toronto.1928Gertrude Lucas Davis died.1930Married Gladys Wookey of Toronto. Children--Charlotte Elisabeth Ann Davis (Falconer) and Jane Davis (Knowles).1937Appointed Professor of English at Cornell University; granted leave of absence for one year in England.Frederic Ives Carpenter Visiting Professor at the University of Chicago, summer quarter.1938Chairman of the Department of English, Cornell University.1939Appointed Goldwin Smith Professor of English Literature at Cornell University.1940Accepts position as fourth President of Smith College; L.L.D. from Amherst College.1949Leaves Smith College; Returns to Oxford to teach English.1960Retires from Oxford.1967March 28, 1967--Died.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Herbert John Davis Personal Papers are primarily related to his personal life. Types of material include correspondence; speeches; publications; photographs; newspaper articles; and memorabilia. Although the chronological focus of the collection is Davis' presidential years, the records pertain to life outside his presidential duties.
lcnaf
Swift, Jonathan, 1667-1745.
Smith College--Presidents.
lcsh
series
Series I. Biographical Material, (1893-1973)
This series provides an overview of Herbert John Davis' career and personal life and is arranged alphabetically. Newspaper clippings and magazine articles, dating from 1939 to 1973, document Davis' many achievements, focusing on education, awards, and travel as well as his work with the European Recovery Program.
Association of Begatees of Clergymen n.d.
Awards 1940-1947, n.d.
Data 1893-1973
Degrees 1940-1949, 1957
European Recovery Program 1948
Luncheons, etc. 1947
Miscellaneous 1941
Newsclippings and Publications Oct 1944-Dec 1946
Obituaries 1967
Resignation 1948, n.d.
Resignation - Surprise Party 1949
Trips Abroad 1946-1948
Series II. Correspondence, (1940-1950)
This series documents Davis' personal correspondence during his time as president of Smith College. This series is arranged by subject and includes correspondence regarding, among other things, Davis' interest in the author Jonathan Swift.
American Academy of Arts and Sciences 1948
The Atheneum Pall Mall 1948
Birch Wathen School 1945
British Consulate, 1942 1944
British Refugee Children 1940-1942
Sponsors-Davis, Herbert J. 1940-1943
Sponsors, A-L 1940-1941
Sponsors, M-Z 1940-1943
Connely, Willard Jul 1940-Mar 1941
Davis, Gertrude, Fellowship 1947-1950
Finn, John 1949-1950
Grolier Club 1949
Homberg May 1949
Invitations 1940
Johnson Oct 1949-Jan 1950
Kinnevan, J.W. 1942-1943
Miscellaneous 1942-1950
Mongan 1941
New Modern Language Association 1941
Oxford, England 1948
Pons 1949
Power, Eugene 1941
Randall 1949-1950
Resignation
Responses, A-L 1948
Responses, M-Z 1948
Smith, Anne Nichol 1943-1944
Smith, David Nichol 1940, 1944
Schroder, August 1948-1949
Schott, Carl 1948-1949
Spect, Betty 1949
Swift, Jonathan
July 1, 1940-July 1, 1942
July 1, 1942-July 1, 1944
July 1, 1944-July 1, 1945
July 1, 1945-July 1, 1946
July 1, 1946-July 1, 1947
July 1, 1947-July 1, 1948
July 1, 1948-July 1, 1949
Index to Vol. XI
"War and Post War" 1942
Wooley, David 1949
Yale University 1944-1949
Series III. Inauguration, (1939-1940)
This series documents Davis' presidential appointment in 1939 as well as his inauguration in 1940. Included in this series are congratulatory letters from colleagues and friends as well as newspaper clippings and publications.
Appointment and Pre-Inaugural Visit 1939-1940
Committee of Inauguration 1940
Congratulations Nov 1939-Jul 1940
Congratulations, Alumnae and Smith College Clubs 1940
Exercises 1940
Luncheon and Broadcast 1940
Newsclippings and Publications
Appointment 1939
Inauguration 1940
Series IV. Photographs, (1939-1964)
The bulk of this series documents Davis' presidency at Smith College and is arranged chornologically. Included in this series are inaugural photographs, formal portraits, candid shots, and the weddings of daughters, Charlotte Elisabeth Ann Davis (Falconer) and Jane Davis (Knowles).
Inauguration Oct 1940
British Children 1940-1941
President and Mrs. Davis 1940-1941
Formal 1940-1949
Miscellaneous 1940-1949
The weddings of Charlotte Elizabeth Ann Davis (Falconer)and Jane Davis (Knowles) 1957-1964
Series V. Publications and Speeches, (1940-1964)
This series is comprised of speeches and publications written during Davis' presidency at Smith College and the years following. Included are speeches given at area colleges and organizations and his published work on the poetry of Jonathan Swift.
Publications
Untitled 1941-49
American Association of University Professors n.d.
Article for Professor Lowenstein 1941
Burden of Knowledge 1945
Challenge to the Intellect 1941
Charles Montagu Doughty 1945
Foreign Literatures and Our Youth 1941
Freshman Handbook 1948
Inaugural Speeches 1940
The Manuscripts of Swift's "directions to servants" 1954
No Time for Poetry 1941
The Poetry of Jonathan Swift 1939-1941
Princeton University 1944-1947
Princeton University-Awards 1946
Recent Studies of Swift and Johnson 1959
Reviews 1942-1945
Satire of Jonathan Swift 1939-1947
Smith Alumnae Quarterly 1944, n.d.
Smith College Museum of Art 1959
Stella 1942
WAVES 1942-1943
Wilson, Frank Percy 1963
Speeches
Advice to Daughters n.d.
Alumnae Association 14 Jun 1941
Alumnae College 1941
Alumnae Council 1941-1949
American College Publicity Association 1944
American Russian Institute Dinner 1948
Amherst College 1940
Ann Arbor 3 Oct 1946
Armistice Day 1940
Assembly 1939-1949
Assembly 10 Dec 1947
Augustan Art of Conversation 1957
Baccalaureate 1941-1949
Bates College 1946
Boston 1940
Brown University 1941
Chapel Talks Sep 1940-Jan 1943
Chapel Talks Sep 1943-Jun 1949
Christmas Celebration 1942
Commencement, Smith College 1943
Commencement, Smith College 1944
Commencement, Smith College 1950
Conference on Academic Freedom 1948
Conference on Academic Freedom 1949-1950
Conference on Education about the Soviet Union 1944
Connecticut College 1941-1947
Cooley Dickenson Hospital n.d.
Criticism of Writer's Manifesto in Horizon n.d.
Democracy n.d.
Education at Smith College, New York 1947, n.d.
Eighteenth Century Conference 1947
England n.d.
Ethel Walker School n.d.
Faculty Meetings 1940-1947, n.d.
Freedom in Education n.d.
Gaucher College 1949-1956
Grolier Club Dinner 1945
Humanities and a Liberal Arts Education n.d.
Inaugural 1940
Jefferson Day 1945
Kent Place School 1945
Kiwanis 1949
Limits of General Education 1947
Literature, Teaching of n.d.
Massachusetts State College 1944
Mt. Holyoke College 1941-1949
New Concepts in Education for Women 1945
New York Dinner 30 Apr 1946
New York, Executive Committee 10 Apr 1947
New York Luncheon 1943
New York Smith College Club 1948
Northampton Chamber of Commerce 1940
Northampton Grammar School 1952
Northampton Historical Society 1946
Northfield School for Girls 1942
Phi Beta Kappa 1949
Poland 1941
Pompeian Conference 1948
Pontypool Girls' School 1951
Princeton University 1941
Queen's University 1945
Radio Broadcasts 1942, n.d.
Rally Day
See: Washington's Birthday Introductions
Rhodes House 1954
Scholarships n.d.
Scripps College 1964
Senior Day 1943
Smith Clubs 1941-1949
Summer Session 1943, 1944
Sweet Briar College 1943
Toronto University-Alexander Lectures 1942
Trustee-Faculty Dinner 1944
Trustee's Meetings 1948
Unidentified 1940, 1948, 1949, n.d.
V-E Day Plan 1945
Vespers 1940-1948
Washington's Birthday Introductions 1941-1949
WAVES 1942, 1944
Wells College n.d.
Wheaton College 1942
Williamsburg-175th Anniversary 1946
Williston Academy n.d.
Wilson College 1945
Yale University Lecture 1942, 1944