Davis Family Diaries

Access and use

Location of collection:
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library
Special Collections and Archives
James G. Leyburn Library
Washington and Lee University
204 W. Washington Street
Lexington, VA 24450
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tom Camden
Phone: (540) 458-8649
Phone: (540) 463-8109
Fax: (540) 463-8964
Terms of access:

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.

Summary

Extent:
1 Linear Feet
Creator:
Davis, William Couch and Davis, Mary Anderson
Language:
English .
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.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

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

Biographical / historical:

William Davis was a 1909 graduate of Washington and Lee University. He previously graduated from West Point, Virginia high school in 1904.

Processing information:

Blue sheet prepared by Betty Kondayan (March 14, 2007)

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard