Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Head of Special Collections.
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation: [Identification of item], Davis Family Diaries, WLU Coll. 0293, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA.
In some cases the citation format may vary. Please contact Special Collections staff to verify the appropriate format.
Processing Information
Blue sheet prepared by Betty Kondayan (March 14, 2007)
Biographical / Historical
William Davis was a 1909 graduate of Washington and Lee University. He previously graduated from West Point, Virginia high school in 1904.
Scope and Contents
This a a collection of diaries of William Couch Davis, Jr., and his wife, Mary Anderson Davis, including accounts of William's jobs in France (1917-19), Cuba, Savannah, and Norfolk. They include many details about the Davis family of West Point, Virginia. One of Mary's diaries covers their first married year (1924-25) in Cuba and others cover their trips (1935-1959) out west in Canada and to Central America and Europe.
Separated Material
The control folder for the WLU COll. # 0293, Davis Family Diaries, and the William Couch Davis, Jr. oversize documents including certificates and diplomas have been removed to OVERSIZE Drawer 27.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Canada
- Central America
- Cuba
- Davis family
- Diaries
- Europe
- France
- Georgia -- Savannah
- Virginia -- Norfolk
- Virginia -- West Point
- Voyages and travels
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Davis, Mary Anderson
- Davis, William Couch
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Canada
- Central America
- Cuba
- Europe
- Florida
- Florida -- Miami
- France
- France -- Paris
- Georgia -- Savannah
- Guatemala
- Mexico
- Mexico -- YucataÌn (State)
- New Mexico -- Gila National Forest
- South Carolina -- Sumter
- Tennessee -- Nashville
- Virginia -- Hopewell
- Virginia -- Norfolk
- Virginia -- Richmond
- Virginia -- West Point
Container List
The 1919 diary has notes from 1920 and 1921. The 1922 diary is mostly written from Nashville, Tn. The 1924 is written in Cuba when Davis was on his honeymoon. The 1925 and 1926 are written in Virginia and Florida.
The 1927 diary was written in Florida and Savannah. The 1928 was written in Savannah.
Mary started writing her first diary in 1925 on her honeymoon in Cuba after she got married to William.
1935 - Mexico 1939 - Canada (canoeing and fishing trip) 1940 - Gila National Forest, New Mexico 1949 - Yucatan 1951 - Guatemala 1959 - 2 diaries of European trip