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Descriptive Summary |
| Title: John W. Davis: Collection Summary |
| Creator:
Davis, John W., 1916-1992
|
| Inclusive Dates: 1936-1975 |
| Language(s): English |
| Extent:
342 box(es)
(111.75 linear feet, 432 audiovisual items, 634 photographs)
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| Collection Number: RBRL132JWD |
| Repository:
Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
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| Abstract: John W. Davis was a lawyer and judge who served in the U.S. House from 1961 to 1974, including service on the House Administration Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Science and Astronautics Committee. Davis's papers document his political career and includes correspondence, legislative files, speech and press files, and campaign materials. |
Historical Note
John W. Davis, Jr. was born in Rome, Georgia on September 12, 1916 to John Camp Davis and Era DeLay. He graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens with an A.B. in 1937 and an LL.B. in 1939. He was admitted to the bar in 1939 and commenced practicing law in Rome, Georgia. Davis served in the War Department Headquarters from July 1942 to December 1945, and was assigned to the Counter Intelligence Corps, serving for a time in South America. He moved to Summerville, Georgia in 1946 and resumed practicing law. From December 27, 1950 to January 1, 1953, he served as solicitor general of the Rome Circuit. Davis was elected judge of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit for six years, and served from January 1, 1955 , until his resignation December 31, 1960. The following year, Davis was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-seventh and to the six succeeding Congresses (1961-1975). Davis served on the House Administration Committee (1965-1970), the House Foreign Affairs Committee (1971-1974), and the Science and Astronautics Committee (1961-1974), chairing the Subcommittee of Science, Research, and Development. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1974 to the Ninety-fourth Congress. He married Vivian Hawkins of Walker County, Georgia on February 6, 1944, and they had three children, Katherine, John W. Jr., and Mary Ellen. Vivian died in 1969, and, later in life, Davis married Bridget Christmo. Davis practiced law in St. Simons Island until his death on October 3, 1992.
Scope and Content
Davis's papers document his political career and includes correspondence, legislative files, speech and press files, and campaign materials. Commons subjects include science and technology, Georgia's infrastructure, water resource management, civil rights, and Watergate.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection is organized into 18 series: Series I. Speech/Press Files, Series II. Political Campaigns, Series III. Personal, Series IV. Intra-Office, Series V. Legislative, Series VI. General File, Series VII. Yellows [CLOSED], Series VIII. Greens [CLOSED], Series IX [CLOSED], Series X. Case Mail [CLOSED], Series XI. Rivers, Harbors, and Watersheds, Series XII. Seventh District Federal Funding, Series XIII. Office Administration, Series XIV. Technology Assessment, Series XV. Scrapbooks, Series XVI. Artifacts and Memorbilia, Series XVII. Photographs, and Series XVIII. Audiovisual Materials.
This series is open for research with the following exceptions:
Series III. Personal: The family files are restricted for 75 years from the date of creation.
Series IV. Intra-Office: Mail logs are restricted to Russell Library staff use only.
Series VII. Yellows, Series VIII. Greens, and Series IX are restricted.
Series X. Case Mail is restricted for 75 years from the date of creation.
Series XVIII. Audiovisual: Though the series is open for research, reference copies of the audiovisual recordings are available upon request. Research requests will be filled as soon as possible and will be dependent upon the condition of the recordings.
John W. Davis Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.
Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permissions. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.
Library acts as a "fair use" reproduction agent.
Finding Aid Publication
Finding Aid prepared by Adriane Hanson and Jordan Graham (student assistant), September 2016.
Subject Terms
Maston O'Neal Papers
Robert G. Stephens, Jr. Papers
Richard B. Russell, Jr. Collection
Herman E. Talmadge Collection
Ben Blackburn Papers
