Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Homer E. Davis Papers
Davis, Homer E.
Ms.2001.051
16 Linear Feet
35 boxes, 3 oversize folders
ca. 1861-2000
bulk 1967-1982
The Homer E. Davis Papers is a collection of photographs resulting from an effort to record the gravesites of American Civil War generals. Also represented are the gravesites of other prominent personalities in U. S. military, political, legal, business, entertainment, art and literary history--together with research files on cemeteries and individuals. Materials related to historical organizations (particularly District of Columbia area Civil War roundtables); Civil War printed materials and memorabilia; and personal materials.
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Homer E. Davis Papers, Ms2001-051, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The Homer E. Davis Papers were donated to Special Collections in August 2001.
Existence and Location of Copies
Images of graves in Southwest Virginia have been digitized and are available online.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Homer E. Davis Papers commenced in April 2002 and was completed in July 2002.
Biographical Note
Homer Ellis Davis, a realtor, stockbroker and American Civil War history enthusiast, was born in Livingston, Montana on 28 October 1922, the son of Ellis Davis and May Beach. During World War II, Davis joined the Army Air Corps and served in the Panama Canal Zone and Caribbean. Returning to Montana in 1946, Davis attended Montana State University for a year before transferring to Georgetown University, graduating from the School of Foreign Service in 1951. Davis married Margaret Ernestine "Peggy" Smith on 12 June 1952. Soon thereafter he went to work for the Central Intelligence Agency and remained there until 1957, when he joined a realty company in Lansing, Michigan. In 1959, Davis returned to Washington, D. C. and worked as a stockbroker until his health forced him into retirement in 1971. Davis devoted his retirement years largely to his interest in American history--particularly the Civil War. He was an active member in both the American Revolution and Civil War roundtables of Washington, D. C., as well as the Civil War Roundtable of Alexandria, Virginia. Davis' main interest, however, lay in photographing cemetery monuments. The cemetery project was apparently initiated as a means to document and preserve the gravesites of Civil War generals, but Davis also photographed the gravesites of politicians, judges, entertainers, authors and others. While photographing cemeteries in Michigan, Davis was involved in a car accident and died on 6 August 1982 as a result of his injuries. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Scope and Content
This collection contains the papers of Homer E. Davis, an American Civil War enthusiast whose hobby was documenting and photographing the gravesites of Civil War generals and other historical figures and celebrities. The collection is divided among the following series: Cemeteries and Gravesites, Historical Organizations, Printed Material, Memorabilia, Personal Materials and Oversize Materials.
The Cemeteries and Gravesites series represents the core of the collection and is arranged in two subseries. The Gravesite Research subseries contains materials gathered by Davis during his research on various cemeteries and other historic sites (homes, battlefields, monuments, etc.) as well as individuals. The files provide details--including maps and brochures--on cemeteries throughout the United States and often contain biographical information on the interred. Also included are a few files of correspondence with other cemetery researchers and files on cemetery topics that are not location-specific. The Gravesite Images subseries contains more than 12,000 black-and-white gravesite photos. Nearly every photo includes brief biographical information on its verso. The photographs are complemented by approximately 800 color slides. Negatives are included as well.
The Historical Organizations series contains materials accumulated by Davis during his membership in various organizations and includes such materials as correspondence, memoranda, rosters, notes and printed materials (newsletters). The series is arranged in four subseries: American Revolution Roundtable of the District of Columbia; Civil War Roundtable of Alexandria, Virginia; Civil War Roundtable of the District of Columbia; and Other Historical Organizations.
The Printed Materials series contains such items as booklets and magazine articles (including items related to Civil War topics but not to research for the cemetery project or the roundtables) and catalogs from dealers in Civil War publications and memorabilia.
The Memorabilia series includes Civil War commemorative items as well as relics from the Civil War era.
The few materials in the collection that relate to Davis' personal life may be found in the Personal Materials series. The series contains such things as correspondence, invitations and biographical information.
The Oversize Materials series consists of items pulled from the other series because they were too large to be inter-filed with other items in those series.
Arrangement
Series I: Cemeteries and Gravesites, 1972-1982, n.d.
This collection of materials related to Homer E. Davis' cemetery research and photography is divided between two subseries: Gravesite Research
The research files include notes, correspondence and printed materials. Materials are arranged alphabetically by state, then locale, with foreign locations at the end. Correspondence with other researchers and files on topics that are not location-specific complete the subseries.
Gravesite Images
Both the color slides and the photographs are filed alphabetically by the names of the people whose graves are pictured. The negatives at the end of the subseries are arranged alphabetically by state. Images of graves in Southwest Virginia have been digitized and are available online.
Series II: Historical Organizations, 1951-1981, n.d.
The papers and other materials arising from Davis' involvement with various historical organizations are arranged in four subseries: American Revolution Roundtable of the District of Columbia
Includes newsletters and other general materials. Arranged by document type, then chronologically.
Civil War Roundtable of Alexandria
Includes preparatory documentation for field trips (research notes, printed material, etc.), correspondence and memoranda, newsletters, and general materials. Arranged by document type, then chronologically.
Civil War Roundtable of the District of Columbia
Includes the same types of material as the Alexandria roundtable files, as well as rosters, programs and presentation texts. Arranged by document function, then chronologically.
Other Historical Organizations
Includes newsletters and brochures from other Civil War roundtables, as well as materials (notes, brochures, invitations, etc.) from non-roundtable organizations. Arranged alphabetically by name of organization.
Series III: Printed Materials, 1929-2000, n.d.
Arranged in two subseries: Articles and booklets
These materials relating to the Civil War are arranged alphabetically by title.
Catalogs
These catalogs from dealers in Civil War publications and relics are arranged alphabetically by dealers' names.
Series IV: Memorabilia, 1952-1976, n.d.
This series includes modern Civil War commemorative items as well as relics from the Civil War era. The materials are arranged by type, with the commemorative items preceding the relics. Series V: Personal Materials, 1929-1981, n.d.
This small collection of materials related to Davis' personal life is arranged by document type, then chronologically. Series VI: Oversize Materials, 1863-1978, n.d.
This series contains items which were too large to be inter-filed with materials in the other series. Items in this series are arranged according to the order in which they would have been filed had they remained with their respective series.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Homer E. Davis Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Civil War
Sepulchral monuments
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Cemeteries
Series I: Cemeteries and Gravesites1972-1982, n.d.Subseries A: Gravesite ResearchAlabama11Alaska12Arizona13Arkansas14California(2 folders)15Colorado16Connecticut(2 folders)17Delaware18District of Columbia(3 folders)19Florida110Georgia(3 folders)21Hawaii22Idaho23Illinois(3 folders)24Indiana(2 folders)25Iowa(2 folders)26Kansas31Kentucky32Louisiana(2 folders)33Maine34Maryland(4 folders)35Massachusetts A-K(3 folders)36Massachusetts L-Z(3 folders)41Michigan(2 folders)42Minnesota43Mississippi(2 folders)44Missouri45Montana46Nebraska47Nevada48New Hampshire49New Jersey(2 folders)410New Mexico51New York (except New York City area)(5 folders)52New York City: The Bronx(2 folders)53New York City: Brooklyn54New York City: Manhattan55New York City: Queens and Staten Island56North Carolina57North Dakota58Ohio(4 folders)61Oklahoma62Oregon63Pennsylvania(6 folders)64Rhode Island71South Carolina(2 folders)72South Dakota73Tennessee74Texas75Utah76Vermont77Virginia A-E(5 folders)78Virginia F-Z(6 folders)81Washington82West Virginia83Wisconsin84Wyoming85Foreign Countries(3 folders)86Correspondence: Jack Brown1975-1982, n.d.91-3Other Correspondence1972-1981, n.d.(3 folders)94Notes on Cemetery Trips1975-198095-6General cemetery research materials1978-1981, n.d.97Subseries B: Gravesite ImagesSlides10-11Photos12-24Scope and ContentsA-Bld; Ble-Chd; Che-De Z; Dea-Fq; Fr-Har; Has-Joq; Jor-Mam; Man-Nek; Nel-Rd; Re-Smh; Smi-Tos; Tot-Will; Wilm-Z
Negatives25Series II: Historical Organizations1951-1981, n.d.Subseries A: American Revolution Roundtable of the District of ColumbiaNewsletters1975-1999261Organizational Papers1974-1980, n.d.262-3Subseries B: Civil War Roundtable of AlexandriaNewsletters1998-2000264Correspondence1957-1971, n.d.265Organizational Papers1958-1999, n.d.(3 folders)266Field Trip: New Market1974(2 folders)267Field Trip: Spotsylvania1974(2 folders)268Field Trip: Stuart's Raid on Chambersburg1973269Field Trip: The Wilderness1976(2 folders)271Subseries C: Civil War Roundtable of the District of ColumbiaField Trip: Antietam1973(2 folders)272Field Trip: Gettysburg1971(3 folders)273Field Trip: Lee's Retreat From Richmond1971274Field Trip: Manassas, First1961275Field Trip: Manassas, Second1979276Field Trip: Monocacy1975277Field Trip: South Mountain1972278Field Trip: Stuart's Cavalry in the Gettysburg Campaign1968279Other Field Trips1967-1979, n.d.2710Presentations1975-1981, n.d.(2 folders)27A1Programs1951-197827A2Correspondence1967-1980, n.d.27A3-4Membership Rosters1970-1980, n.d.281Newsletters1959-1998, n.d.282-4General Materials1961-1979, n.d.285Subseries D: Other OrganizationsA-Ciu286Civ-Ck(2 folders)287Cl-F288G-H289I-J2810K-L291M292N-R293S-U294V-Z(2 folders)295Series III: Printed Materials1929-2000, n.d.Subseries A: Booklets and ArticlesA-Cn301Alexandria: Occupied City, 1861-1865, A City-Wide Civil War Exhibit1978Bedford Soldiers in the Civil War: A Paper Read Before the Beford Historical Socity by Melvin M. Scott1970The Cairo Storyn.d.Civil War Action in Rockingham County Virginian.d.The Civil War and Reconstruction: A Dissertation Bibliography1980Civil War Deterrent: The Defenses of Washington1966"Civil War Monitor Tecumseh Recovery Planned"1971Scope and Contents(reprinted from
Naval Engineers Journal), Feb 1971Co-J302Grafton and Taylor County [West Virginia] During the Civil War Days and Points of Interest1961Historical Society of Fairfax, Virginia, Inc.1962-1963"If the South Had Won the Civil War" (Look), 1960L(4 folders)303"Lee and Napoleon : Gentleman and Player"n.d.(Typescript, 4 folders)M-N304"Memoranda on the Civil War : Comments on General Grant's 'Chattanooga Campaign'" [Century Magazine, ?]n.d."Military History and Policy of the United States" (Military History)1929-09Museum of the Confederacy Newsletter1979North and South: The Official Magazine of the Civil War Society2000-06O-Z305"Our March Against Pope" n.d.The Stonewall Brigade: of a Band of Heroes and Their Commanders1956The Valley Dispatch1984-09"What Happened to Lincoln's Body" (Life)1963-02-15Subseries B: Dealer Catalogs, 1977-1983, n.d.A-B306C-L307M308N-R309S-Z3010Series IV: Memorabilia1952-1976, n.d.Arrangement noteMemorabilia commemorating the Civil War appears before actual relics from the Civil War.
"Medallic History of the Civil War" Commemorative Medallionsn.d.2 folders311Lincoln Mint Civil War Commemorative Medallion Setn.d.(2 folders)312Other Commemorative Medallions1970-1972, n.d.313Abraham Lincoln Images and Printed Materialn.d.321Photographs322Robert E. Lee and Lee Familyn.d.(11 items)A. P. Hill Carte De Visite (Reproduction)n.d.Washington D. C. / Baltimore Area Scenesn.d.(20 items)Monticello, Virginian.d. "Stonewall" Jacksonn.d.Samuel Eddy (Medal of Honor Recipient, 37th Massachusetts Infantry)n.d.Other images323John Brownn.d.Nathan Bedford Forrestn.d.Civil War Uniform Printsn.d.Historic Locomotive Color-Etch Prints (Civil War Era)n.d.Composite Portrait, Confederate Commandersn.d."101 Civil War Battles" Slide Chartn.d.324"The Original Red Tape"n.d.324Civil War Collectors' Stampsn.d.324Sheet Music for "O I'm a Good Old Rebel" [reprint]n.d.324Program Honoring 86th Anniversary of Ulysses S. Grant's Birth (New York Avenue Presbyterian Church)1908324Last Meeting of Lee and Jackson - Stained Glassn.d.33Kepi (Reproduction) - 33rd Virginia CSA Regimentn.d.33Miniature "Flags of the Confederacy" Setn.d.33Metal Bookends (Union and Confederate Soldiers)n.d.33Bust of Lincoln - Presented to Davis by Chicago Roundtable197633Core Sample of Rock Beneath National Tower in Gettysburg197233Confederate Trivet195233Paperweight - American Revolution Roundtable of the District of Columbian.d.33Paperweight - Civil War Roundtable of the District of Columbian.d.33Civil War Playing Cards196133Union Uniform Buttons (Reproductions)n.d.4 items33Salt and Pepper Shakers (Union and Confederate Hats)n.d.33Piece of Brick from the Garret House (Port Royal, Virginia)n.d.33Piece of Glass from the Garret House (Port Royal, Virginia)n.d.33Confederate Officer Uniform Buttonsn.d.7 items33Metal Spikesn.d.2 items33Grand Army of the Republicn.d.33Scope and Contents note(in wooden box labeled "Thos. P. Ward, Cohasset, Mass, G.A.R., 98")
Uniform Buttonsn.d.3 items33Hat Emblemn.d.Veteran's Badge and Ribbonn.d.Ambrotype of Unidentified Union Soldiersn.d.2 items33Ambrotype of Robert E. Lee (Hand-Tinted)n.d.33Series V: Personal Materials1929-1981, n.d.Correspondence1929-1989, n.d.341Biographical Materials1945-1982, n.d.342Invitations and Color Slides1962-1980, n.d.343General Materials1948-1981, n.d.344Series VI: Oversize Materials1863-1978, n.d.Civil War Memorabilia1Civil War Times [re: Battle of Gettysburg]1958Civil War Times Supplement [re: Battle of First Manassas]1961Southern Illustrated News, Jan 17 1863 (Reproduction)n.d.Jefferson Davis Pencil Portrait1971Poster: "Memorial to the Loyal Sons of the South" Portrait Compositen.d.Views of Harpers Ferry, West Virginian.d.(2 items)Battle of Stone River Lithograph (Reproduction)1978Confederate Soldier Prints: Artillery, Cavalry and Infantryn.d.Painting of Confederate Soldiers Stacking Arms at Appomattox, by Hurley1951American History Scenes Print Setn.d.(8 items)"The U.S. Army in Action" - color prints1953(14 items)Civil War Recruiting Poster (Reproduction on Linen)n.d.Confederate Bond1864Arlo Greer Print of Union Troop Review at Farmville, Virginian.d.Maps2Laurel Hill Cemetery (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)n.d.(4 items)Chancellorsvillen.d.Berryville, Virginia (Topographical)n.d.Gettysburgn.d.Second Manassas1972Environs of Richmondn.d.Extract of Military Map of N. E. Virginia, 1865 (Reproduction)1951Strangers Guide to Washington, D. C.: The City as Mr. Lincoln Knew It1968Battle of Gettysburg (Raised Relief)n.d.Atlanta as of 1938, showing the field and fortified lines of the Confederate forces, together with those of the Federal armies...1938Civil War Maps - U. S. Coast Survey (Reproductions)n.d.(19 items)Battle of Chancellorsville [Reproduction]n.d.Brandy Station Battlefieldn.d.Manassas National Battlefield Parkn.d.(6 items)"The Picture Map of the Civil War"1956"A Pictorial Map Showing Historic Shrines and Battlefields of the Civil War, 1861-1865"1961"The Battles of Bull Run or First Manassas Virginia and Other Historic Incidents"1961"Martenet and Bond's Map of Montgomery County, Maryland (Reproduction)1985Personal Materials 3Studio Portrait Photograph of Davis Wearing Confederate Re-Enactor's Uniformn.d.Homer E. Davis Diplomas1936-1951(2 items)Survey Plats for Parcel 104/156 (Juniper St. / Georgia Ave.), Washington, DC1943-1948(8 items)Architectural Plans for Apartment Building at 7701 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, DC (Louis T. Rouleau, Architect)1931, n.d.(6 items)Architectural Plans for Apartment Building at 7011 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, DC (Louis T. Rouleau, Architect)(4 items)Architectural Plans for Apartment Building at 7611 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, DC (Louis T. Rouleau, Architect)1931, n.d.(4 items)Architectural Plans for Apartment Building on Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, DC (Louis T. Rouleau, Architect)(5 items)