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John W. Davis, Lawyer, Papers A&M 2963

John W. Davis, Lawyer, Papers A&M 2963


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West Virginia and Regional History Center

1549 University Ave.
P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown, WV 26506-6069
Business Number: 304-293-3536
wvrhcref@westvirginia.libanswers.com
URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu

Staff of the West Virginia & Regional History Center

Repository
West Virginia and Regional History Center
Identification
A&M 2963
Title
John W. Davis, Lawyer, Papers 1842, 1861-1897, 1918-1927, 1946-1953, 1978
URL:
https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/201536
Quantity
3.5 Linear Feet, 3 ft. 6 in. (4 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 small flat storage box, 3 in.); (1 large flat storage box, 3 in.); (1 scrapbook, 3 in.); (1 box, 4 in.); (2 boxes, 4 1/2 in. each); 5 reels of microfilm
Creator
Davis, John W. (John William), 1873-1955
Location
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Language
English

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Conditions Governing Access

No special access restriction applies.

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], John W. Davis, Lawyer, Papers, A&M 2963, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Scope and Contents

Scrapbooks, diaries, correspondence and papers of the noted lawyer and 1924 presidential aspirant for the Democrats, John W. Davis, kept by his daughter, a famous author, Julia (McDonald) Davis Adams. Noteworthy is a 1948 official publication in tribute to Davis' career as Solicitor General of the United States (1913-1918). There is a typescript copy of his diary recounting his wartime and post-war tenure (1918-1921) as the U.S. ambassador to Great Britain. His letters include some of his candid feelings about the political events of his day such as the New Deal and tributes to his scholarly approach to practicing law from Supreme Court Justices Robert H. Jackson and Felix Frankfurter.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Arnold, Jackson.
  • Clarksburg (W. Va.)
  • Cornwell, John J. (John Jacob), 1867-1953
  • Davis family
  • Davis, Ellen Graham.
  • Davis, John W. (John William), 1873-1955
  • Davis, Julia, 1900-1993
  • Davis, Julia, 1900-1993
  • Diaries and journals.
  • England
  • Fisher, Jake.
  • Frankfurter, Felix, 1882-1965
  • Great Britain
  • Jackson, Robert H.
  • Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
  • Jewel, Izetta, 1883-1978
  • Lawyers - letters and papers.
  • MacCorkle, William Alexander, 1857-1930
  • Neely, Matthew Mansfield, 1874-1958
  • Politics and government.
  • Post, Melville Davisson, 1869-1930
  • Rose, Herschel H.
  • Slaves and slavery.
  • United Kingdom.
  • United States. Supreme Court
  • Universities and colleges
  • World War, 1914-1918

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Arnold, Jackson.
  • Cornwell, John J. (John Jacob), 1867-1953
  • Davis, Ellen Graham.
  • Davis, John W. (John William), 1873-1955
  • Davis, Julia, 1900-1993
  • Fisher, Jake.
  • Frankfurter, Felix, 1882-1965
  • Jackson, Robert H.
  • Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
  • Jewel, Izetta, 1883-1978
  • MacCorkle, William Alexander, 1857-1930
  • Neely, Matthew Mansfield, 1874-1958
  • Post, Melville Davisson, 1869-1930
  • Rose, Herschel H.
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Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Clarksburg (W. Va.)
  • England
  • Great Britain
  • United Kingdom.
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Container List

Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
John W. Davis ambassador diary [pp. 1-72]
ca. 1918-1921
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
John W. Davis ambassador diary [pp. 114-259]
ca. 1918-1921
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3
John W. Davis ambassador diary [pp. 260-343]
ca. 1918-1921
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
John W. Davis ambassador diary [pp. 344-426]
ca. 1918-1921
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
Davis diary, Lord Curzon sections
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6
Davis diary notes by Mrs. Healy
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7
Clippings regarding John W. Davis
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8
Clippings regarding Julia Davis Adams
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9
WV Mountain Songs collected by A.D. Richardson
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 1
Letters congratulating ambassadorship and from Julia Davis Adams about the United Kingdom
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2
English correspondence
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3
Visit to Ottawa
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4
Letters from John W. Davis to Julia Davis Adams
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5
Miscellaneous letters to Mrs. [Julia] Davis
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6
Letters to Nell Davis potentially from John W. Davis
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 7
Miscellaneous correspondence
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 8
Accounts
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 9
Doctor's diagnosis
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 10
Pamphlets and other material
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11
Fiftieth Anniversary booklet and other material
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 12
Miscellaneous clippings
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 13
Duplicate clippings
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 14
Miscellaneous material
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 15
Davis family photographs
undated
Mixed Materials Box: Oversize 1
Photograph album (labeled "England on exterior and credited to Julia Davis on first page. Includes candid images of Davis with family and friends in England.")
1920–1921
Mixed Materials Box: Oversize 1
Photograph album (includes wedding portraits of Julia Davis and William M. Adams as well as Davis' parents, friends, family, and wedding party. Also includes images of Davis and others in costumes; scenes in Europe, England and Havana, Cuba; and many family photographs. Image of J.W.D. and wife Ellen Bassel Davis in wedding album in WV History OnView, number 037414.)
ca. 1923
Mixed Materials Box: Oversize 1
Photograph album (includes photographs and postcards of the Davis family in Europe and England; also includes some autographs, including J. M. Barrie and D. Lloyd George.)
1918–1927
Mixed Materials Box: Oversize 2 Folder: 1
Photographs of John W. Davis, family members, and contemporaries (Images in WV History OnView database are numbers 037409-037413 and 037415-037429)
undated
Mixed Materials Box: Oversize 2 Folder: 2
Photographs of John W. Davis, family members, and contemporaries (Images in WV History OnView database are numbers 037430-037437)
undated
Mixed Materials Box: Oversize 2 Folder: 3
Unscanned photographs and other material (includes portraits of John W. Davis; J.W.D. and a law class at Washington and Lee, June 1897; Charles Evans Hughes; Robert Lansing; John W. Foster; negatives of Davis' campaigning; Bachrach photographs of Davis at a Banquet; photographs of the Platt bust of J.W.D.; portrait of John J. Davis; Washington and Lee Crest; and an enlargement of campaign material with Davis and his 1924 running mate, Bryan.)
ca. 1897-1924, undated
Mixed Materials Box: Oversize 3
Guest register (includes signatures of J.M. Barrie, D. Lloyd George, Queen Mary, Prince Edward and other members of the British Royal family; Walter Lippman; Nathan Goff; Cyrus Vance; Edith Wilson; and Arthur Murray.)
1918–1946
Mixed Materials Box: Oversize 4
Visiting list
1918–1920
Mixed Materials Box: Oversize 4
Album of letters and cards in celebration of John W. Davis' 80th birthday.
1953
Mixed Materials Box: Oversize 4
Law update with bound and stapled insert -- Copy of Public Law 95-561, 95th Congress, which addresses several issues in education acts/laws.
1978 November 1
Mixed Materials Box: Oversize 4
The Poetical Works of John Milton , published by William P. Nimmo, London, EN
1878
Mixed Materials Box: Oversize 4
Dramatic Works of Shakespeare , published by William Andrus [fragile item]
1842
Mixed Materials Unboxed
Leather case with awards and diplomas of John W. Davis (On top of box there are (loose) metal, engraved awards of the New York State seal, the New York Bar Association seal, and the American Bar Association Medal for 1876. Inside the box are papers of accomplishment for school and organizations, such as Colombia University, Yale University, West Virginia University, University of Glasgow, Washington and Lee University, Concord University, Dartmouth College, Inspector General of New York, and the Freemasons.)
1886, 1915-1923, 1953
Mixed Materials Unboxed
Scrapbook (includes the following: 1861 full newspaper; 1924 newspaper clippings, magazine articles, pamphlets of political topics, such as speeches, West Virginia governor, and the democratic convention. Most [if not all] materials pertain to John W. Davis, his career and his political ongoings for the year. This artifact is VERY FRAGILE; handle with care.)
1861, 1924, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10
Addendum of 1986 January 27, Four postcards from John W. Davis to his daughter Julia Davis Adams (includes one note from Julia Davis Adams explaining why her father referred to her as "Pickles")
undated
Addendum of 1991 August 3, Photographs, clippings, and other material
1924, undated
Scope and Contents

This addendum includes assorted Davis family photographs, newspaper clippings, and other material.

  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 1 Folder: 1
    Loose photographs and calling cards of John W. Davis and Julia Davis Adams
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 1 Folder: 2
    McDonald family photograph album
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 1 Folder: 3
    Presidential campaign photographs of John W. Davis
    1924
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 1 Folder: 4
    John W. Davis photographs
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 1 Folder: 5
    Mrs. Woodrow Wilson photo
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 1 Folder: 6
    Photographs of Julia Davis Adams' trip to Russia
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 1 Folder: 7
    Family photographs
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 1 Folder: 8
    Miscellaneous papers
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 2 Folder: 1
    Four Score Years: Excerpts of McDonald Family Letters compiled by John Y. McDonald
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 2 Folder: 2
    Script of a two act play about John Brown at Harpers Ferry entitled "The Anvil"
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 2 Folder: 3
    Typescript copies of John W. Davis diary
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 2 Folder: 4
    Clarksburg photograph album
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 2 Folder: 5
    John W. Davis house photographs
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 2 Folder: 6
    Davis-Adams New Jersey home photographs
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 2 Folder: 7
    Miscellaneous photographs and prints
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 2 Folder: 8
    Newsclippings
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 2 Folder: 9
    Book review clippings
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: ADD 2 Folder: 10
    Personal clippings
    undated
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Addendum of 1992 February 25, Microfilmed material
1918–1954
Scope and Contents

This addendum consists of five reels of microfilmed letters, diaries, and newsreel.

  • Microform Reel: 1
    Reel #1. Correspondence
    1921–1952
  • Microform Reel: 2
    Reel #2. Correspondence
    1920–1954
  • Microform Reel: 3
    Reel #3. Correspondence
    1921–1952
  • Microform Reel: 4
    Reel #4. Diaries
    1918–1921
  • Microform Reel: 5
    Reel #5. Newsreel
    ca. 1924
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