Inventory of the Marion Stuart Davis Papers, 1770-2003Collection Number 5073![]() Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
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Collection Information
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Back to Top Descriptive Summary
Back to Top Administrative Information
Online Catalog HeadingsThese and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
Related Collections
Davis and Hill Family Papers (#4393); Daniel Shine Hill Papers (#4834). Biographical NoteArchitect Marion Stuart Davis, who is alternately referred to as M. S. Davis, Jr., or M. Stuart Davis, was born in Louisburg, N.C., in 1877. His parents were Matthew Smart Davis, a prominent educator in Franklin County, N.C., and Sarah Louisa Hill Davis. Davis married May Amanda Holmes in 1913, and they had four children: Marion Stuart, Kenneth, May, and Sarah. After being educated in the Louisburg schools, Davis attended Trinity College, Durham, N.C., and the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He did not graduate from either institution, and his architectural skills were acquired via correspondence school and self-study. Davis's architectural practice focused on the construction of churches and schools within North Carolina. In addition to architectural design work, he was also involved in agriculture and owned a property insurance business. During World War II, he served with the office of the Post Engineer at Camp Butner, N.C. Davis was an active Mason and one-time Master of the Louisburg Lodge. He died in 1959. Educator and librarian, Mabel Irwin Davis, who was a sister of Marion Stuart Davis, was born in Louisburg, N.C., in 1874. She was educated at Louisburg College and taught there for a number of years before assuming the position of librarian at the newly created Warren County Memorial Library in 1924. Davis served in this post until her retirement in 1954. In addition to her professional activities, she was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and secretary of the Warren County Historical Society. She died in 1961. Back to TopCollection OverviewThis collection is architect Marion Stuart Davis's personal and business correspondence, architectural project files, legal and financial papers, Masonic papers, Davis family history papers, and materials relating to the history of Louisburg College. Davis's chief personal correspondents were family members, especially his mother, Sarah Louisa Hill Davis, his sisters, Mabel Irwin Davis and Mary Davis Allen (Mrs. Ivey Allen), and his wife, May Amanda Holmes Davis. Business correspondence, primarily related to his architectural practice in North Carolina, is with clients, contractors, building material suppliers, and other architects. Note that correspondence related to specific design and construction projects is filed in the Series 2 project files. Architectural project files contain construction specifications, correspondence, invoices, account statements, building supply literature, brief notes, pamphlets, plans, blueprints, and photographs. There are also lists of church building projects; professional architectural association materials; newspaper clippings about church buildings and church architecture; and correspondence, pamphlets, government documents, and newspaper clippings relating to Davis's activities with the Franklin County Industrial Association. Financial and legal papers consist of contracts for the purchase of real estate, dental care, a Model T Ford, and subsurface mineral rights; life insurance policies; receipts; statements of account; and other items. There is also correspondence concerning Davis's involvement with Mabel Davis's financial affairs. Louisburg Masonic Lodge No. 413 materials are official lodge correspondence, meeting notes, membership rolls, printed programs, and a brief history of the Louisburg lodge. There are also a 1907 copy of "H.T.W.S.S.T.K.S. and his Followers" and materials relating to other clubs with which Davis was associated. Also included are family history materials; essays about Louisburg, N.C., Louisburg College, and the Davis family; school records; World War II ration cards and books; and other papers. Family history clippings relate to a number of different family members, but Mary Davis Allen (Mrs. Ivey Allen) is most prominently represented. Essays include remembrances by Mary Davis Allen about her tenure as president of Louisburg College and Marion Stuart Davis's history of his family's relationship with the College. There are also historical notes created by Sarah Davis, the collection's donor. Mabel Irwin Davis materials include letters, financial papers, writings, school papers, and notebooks. Notebooks contain attendance lists, notes related to teaching at Louisburg College, and original writings. Some writings discuss literature and history. Other writings are fictional short works with religious or moralizing themes; a play; The March of Events: A Pageant; and a tribute to her cousin, poet and novelist Edwin Wiley Fuller. Back to TopOrganization of Collection
2. Professional Papers 3. Legal and Financial Papers 4. Club Materials 5. Family History Materials and Other Papers 6. Mabel Irwin Davis Papers Additions of 2004-2005 Items SeparatedPhotographs (folders P-5073/1-4). Oversized papers (folders OP-5073/1-3). Oversized volume (folders V-5073/S-1). Back to Top Detailed Description of the Collection1. Correspondence, 1902-1968.
About 150 items.
Processing Note: See also Additions of 2004-2005.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly, personal and business correspondence of Marion Stuart Davis. His chief personal correspondents were family members,
especially his mother, Susan Louisa Hill Davis, his sisters, Mabel Irwin Davis and Mary Davis Allen, and his wife, May Amanda Holmes Davis. Additional correspondence between Marion Stuart Davis and Mabel Davis concerning Mabel's financial affairs is filed in Series
3, Legal and Financial Papers.
Davis's business correspondence is primarily related to his architectural practice in Louisburg, N.C. Business correspondents were clients, contractors, building material suppliers, and other architects. Additional correspondence
related to specific design and construction projects is filed in project files in Series 2, Professional Papers.
Folder
1
1902-1911
Folder
2
1911-1914
Folder
3
1916
Folder
4
1918-1942
Folder
5
1942-1955
Folder
6
1955-1958
Folder
7
1958-1968
Back to Top 2. Professional Papers, 1910-1958.
About 1000 items.
Processing Note: See also Additions of 2004-2005.
Arrangement: chronological.
Most of Davis's professional papers are architectural project files. These files are not uniform in content and may contain
some of the following types of materials: construction specifications, correspondence, invoices, account statements, building
supply literature, brief notes, pamphlets, plans, blueprints, and photographs. There are also lists of church building projects;
professional architectural association materials; newspaper clippings about church building and church architecture; and correspondence,
pamphlets, government documents, and newspaper clippings related to Davis's activities with the Franklin County Industrial Association.
Folder
8Methodist Episcopal Church South, Louisburg, N.C., 1910s
Folder
9Corinth Baptist Church, Franklin County, N.C., 1910s
Folder
10Miscellaneous architectural drawings, 1914
Folder
11Land surveys and associated materials, 1914
Folder
12Residence for Mr. Wood, project no. 2001, [1916?]
Folder
13Residence for Mr. Hudson, Louisburg, N.C., project no. 2006, 1916?
Folder
14Warrenton Grocery Company storage warehouse, project no. 2011, 1916?
Folder
15Index cards listing architectural projects, 1929-1930
Folder
16-18Louisburg College gymnasium project, 1948-1952
Folder
19Williamston Christian Church, project no. 5003, 1950-1954
Folder
20Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, Durham, N.C., 1952-1953
Folder
21Rich Square Methodist Church, 1952-1953
Folder
22Louisburg Methodist Church, 1952-1959
Folder
23Glenwood Methodist Church additions, 1954
Folder
24First Methodist Church, Henderson, N.C., 1955
Folder
25Hamilton Methodist Church, 1955-1957
Folder
26Hay Street Methodist Church, Fayetteville, N.C., project no. 5106, 1953
Folder
27Residence for Mr. Oelrich, Stanford, N.C., project no. 5201
Folder
28First Christian Church, Williamstown, N.C., project no. 5202, 1952-1954
Folder
29Edenton Methodist Church, project no. 5208, 1952-1955
Folder
30Zion Methodist Church, Brunswick City, N.C., project no. 5400
Folder
31Windsor Methodist Church, project no. 5401, 1953-1955
Folder
32Epworth Methodist Church, Wilmington, N.C., project no. 5403, 1954-1955
Folder
33Jamison Memorial Methodist Church, Clarksville, Va., project no. 5404, 1951-1955
Folder
34Rones Chapel, 5 miles southeast of Mt. Olive, N.C., 1954
Folder
35C. E. Quinn Building, Kenansville, N.C., project no. 5502, 1955-1958
Folder
36Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, Wilmington, N.C., project no. 5503, 1955-1957
Folder
37Faison Methodist Church, Duplin County, N.C., project no. 5503, 1954-1955
Folder
38Zion Methodist Church, Gates County, N.C., project no. 5504, 1955-1956
Folder
39Pembroke Methodist Church, project no. 5600, 1955-1957
Folder
40Center Methodist Church, Pittsboro, N.C., project no. 5602, 1955-1956
Folder
41Sarecta Methodist Church, Duplin County, N.C., 1955-1956
Folder
42Garris Chapel Methodist Church, Goldsboro, N.C. 1956
Folder
43Pittsboro Methodist Church, 1956
Folder
44Elevation Methodist Church, Benson, N.C., project no. 5604, 1956-1957
Folder
45Stokes Christian Church, project no. 5605, 1956-1958
Folder
46Salem Methodist Church, Person County, N.C., project no. 5606, 1956-1957
Folder
47Princeton Methodist Church, project no. 5607, 1956
Folder
48Providence Methodist Church, Wayne County, N.C., project no. 5608, 1956
Folder
49Masonic Temple, Skewarkee Lodge No. 90, Louisburg, N.C., project no. 5701, 1956-1958
Folder
50Falling Creek Methodist Church, Wayne County, N.C., project no. 5703
Folder
51C. G. Saunders Dry Cleaning Plant, Louisburg, N.C., project no. 5801, 1957-1958
Folder
52Wesley Heights Methodist Church, Fayetteville, N.C., project no. 5803, 1955-1959
Folder
53Youngsville Baptist Church
Folder
54
"List of religious buildings commenced or completed in the last two years"
Folder
55Miscellaneous project file materials
Folder
P-5073/1Photographs: Architectural work
Folder
56Professional architectural memberships and activities, 1919-1957
Folder
57Newspaper clippings: Church building and architecture1950s
Folder
58-59Franklin County Industrial Association, 1952-1957
Back to Top 3. Legal and Financial Papers, 1899-1959.
About 80 items.
Processing Note: See also Additions of 2004-2005.
Arrangement: by type.
Material chiefly related to Marion Stuart Davis's financial and legal concerns. They include contracts for land, dental treatment,
and a Model T Ford; life insurance policies; receipts, statements of account; and other materials. There is also a file concerning
Davis's involvement with Mabel Irwin Davis's financial affairs.
Folder
60Contracts, 1899-1958
Folder
61Life insurance policies, 1917-1940
Folder
62Receipts and statements of account, 1917-1956
Folder
63Income tax returns, 1925-1927
Folder
64Mabel Irwin Davis financial file, 1957-1959
Back to Top 4. Club Materials, 1907-1959.
About 60 items.
Processing Note: See also Additions of 2004-2005.
Primarily materials related to Davis's activities with Louisburg Masonic Lodge No. 413. Included are official lodge correspondence, meeting notes, membership rolls, blank certificates, printed programs, and a
brief history of the Louisburg lodge. There is also a 1907 copy of "H.T.W.S.S.T.K.S. and his Followers" and materials relating to other organizations with which Davis was associated.
Folder
65Louisburg Masonic Lodge, no. 413, 1934-1959
Folder
66Bound copy of "H.T.W.S.S.T.K.S. and his Followers,"
1907
Folder
67Miscellaneous civic and social club materials, 1936-1957
Back to Top 5. Family History Materials and Other Papers, 1770-2003.
About 60 items.
Processing Note: See also Additions of 2004-2005.
Family history newspaper clippings; essays about Louisburg, Louisburg College, and the Davis family; school records; World War II ration cards and books, identification papers, family photographs, and other items. Clippings
relate to a number of family members, but Mary Davis Allen (Mrs. Ivey Allen) is most prominently represented. Essays include
remembrances by Mary Davis Allen about her tenure as president of Louisburg College and Marion Stuart Davis's history of his
family's relationship with the College. Also included are a court order from 1770 related to Mosley v. Jones and Phillips and historical notes created by Sarah Davis, the collection's donor.
Folder
68-69Family and Louisburg, N.C., history materials, 1770-2003
Folder
P-5073/2Photographs of Davis family members
Folder
70Louisburg College, 1908-1950
Folder
71School records: May Amanda Holmes Davis, 1908-1939
Folder
72Ration books and identification papers, 1941-1945
Folder
73Newspaper math puzzle contest, 1905
Folder
74Miscellaneous printed materials, 1890-1952
Folder
75Miscellaneous ephemera
Back to Top 6. Mabel Irwin Davis Papers, 1887-1932.
About 50 items.
Processing Note: See also Additions of 2004-2005.
Chiefly letters, financial papers, writings, school papers, and notebooks of Mabel Irwin Davis. The bulk of this subseries
is comprised of Davis's notebooks and writings. Notebooks are not uniform in nature, but may contain attendance lists, notes
related to teaching at Louisburg College, and original writings. The writings include essays about literature and history;
original fictional short works with religious or moralizing themes; a play; The March of Events: A Pageant; and a tribute to her cousin, the poet and novelist, Edwin Wiley Fuller.
Additional materials related to Mabel Irwin Davis can be found in Series 1, Correspondence, and in Series 3, Legal and Financial
Papers, which contains a file concerning her financial affairs that was maintained by Marion Stuart Davis.
Folder
76Letter and notes, 1901-1932 and undated
Folder
77Financial papers, 1887-1903 and undated
Folder
78Writings, undated
Folder
79
The March of Events: A Pageant, 1917-1918?
Folder
80Notebook, 1898
Folder
81Notebook, 1910
Folder
82Notebook, 1914-1915
Folder
83Notebook, 1916
Folder
84-86Notebook, undated
Folder
87Attendance book, Wesleyan Bible class, 1913
Folder
88Attendance sheets, 1913-1914
Folder
89Miscellaneous school papers, undated
Back to Top Additions of 2004-2005. About 1,282 items.
Processing Information
The additions of 2004 and 2005 are arranged in the same way as, but have not been incorporated into, the original deposit
of materials.
Back to Top
1. Correspondence, 1899-1972.
About 1750 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly, personal and business correspondence of Marion Stuart Davis. His chief personal correspondents were family members,
especially his mother, Susan Louisa Hill Davis, his sisters, Mabel Irwin Davis and Mary Davis Allen, his wife, May Amanda Holmes Davis, and his children. Also included is the personal correspondence of May Amanda Holmes Davis with her mother, Ida Long Holmes,
her brother, Russell Holmes, her daughter, May Davis, and other family members.
Davis's business correspondence is primarily related to his architectural practice in Louisburg, N.C. Business correspondents were clients, contractors, building material suppliers, and other architects. Additional correspondence
related to specific design and construction projects is filed in project files in Series 2, Professional Papers.
February 1899-May 1899
Folder
92-93
February 1900-April 1905
Folder
94
1906
Folder
95-98
1907
Folder
99-101
1908
Folder
102
1909
Folder
103
1910-1917
Folder
104
1918
Folder
105
1919
Folder
106
1920-1925
Folder
107
1926
Folder
108
1927-1930
Folder
109-112
1931
Folder
113
1932
Folder
114
1933-1934
Folder
115
1935-1936
Folder
116
1937-1939
Folder
117
1940-1941
Folder
118-120
1942
Folder
121
1943
Folder
122
1944
Folder
123-124
1945
Folder
125
1946-1947
Folder
126
1948-1949
Folder
127
1950-1959
Folder
128
1960-1972
Folder
129
Undated, pre-1910
Folder
130
Undated, circa 1910s
Folder
131
Undated, circa 1920s
Folder
132
Undated, circa 1930s
Folder
133
Undated, circa 1940s
Folder
134
Undated, circa 1950s
Folder
135
Undated
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2. Professional Papers, 1901-1959.
About 250 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Davis's architectural project files primarily contain contracts for architectural and engineering work. Other files contain
lists of building projects; professional architectural association materials; and newspaper clippings about school architecture.
Also included are materials relating to Davis's work in the insurance business with Davis and Davis and the Davis Insurance
Agency.
Sandy Creek project, 1917
Folder
137Land survey: Pineview Cemetery, Bunn, N.C., 1918
Folder
138Nash County roads project, 1925-1927
Folder
139Franklin County building and Wright Memorial Dormitory, 1926
Folder
140Littleton Graded School auditorium project, 1926
Folder
141Louisburg College auditorium project, 1928-1929
Folder
142Nash County Board of Education project, 1935
Folder
143Franklin County Board of Education projects, 1938
Folder
144Warren County Board of Education projects, 1938
Folder
145Hecks Grove School and Warren County bus garage projects, 1938
Folder
146Louisburg armory and community building project, 1938-1939
Folder
147Franklin County Public Schools projects: agriculture building and African American high school, 1949
Folder
148Bunn High School P.E. building project, Franklin County, N.C., 1950
Folder
149"List of Religious Buildings Commenced or Completed in the Last Two Years"
Folder
150Miscellaneous project file materials
Folder
P-5073/3Photos: Architectural work
Folder
151Business cards
Folder
152-155International Correspondence Schools Instruction Papers, 1901-1907
Folder
156-157Ledger and enclosures: Lists of architectural work, 1916-1934 and undated
Folder
158North Carolina Board of Architecture: Booklets, 1916-1958
Folder
159Certificates: Architecture and engineering, 1918-1954
Folder
160-161State Board of Architectural Examination and Registration for N.C.: Booklets, 1924-1956
Folder
162Newspaper clippings: Architecture, 1927-1929
Folder
163Transfer leaves from plan record book and enclosures, 1927-1940 and undated
Folder
164Lists of project numbers, 1940-1957
Folder
165The American Institute of Architects, North Carolina Chapter: Standards for Architectural Service, 1953-1955
Folder
166Professional architectural memberships and activities, 1955 and undated
Folder
167Davis and Davis/Davis Insurance Agency: T.W. Watson Agency materials/Fire Association of Philadelphia, 1921-1922
Folder
168Davis and Davis/Davis Insurance Agency: Certificates, 1930-1935
Folder
169Davis and Davis/Davis Insurance Agency, 1931-1933 and undated
Folder
170Davis Insurance Agency, 1933-1959 and undated
Folder
171-172Davis Insurance Agency account book and enclosures, 1930s-1940s
Back to Top
3. Legal and Financial Papers, 1876-1963.
About 800 items.
Arrangement: Alphabetical.
Material chiefly related to Marion Stuart Davis's financial and legal concerns. They include contracts and deedsfor land;
life insurance policies; receipts and statements of account; correspondence with Louisburg College regarding financial and
legal disputes with Davis; and other materials. There are also files concerning Ida Long Holmes's financial affairs.
Cash box slips, 1938-1940
Folder
175-178Contracts/deeds of trust, 1895-1959
Folder
179Death certificates, 1891-1906
Folder
180Financial: Miscellaneous
Folder
181Ida Long Holmes financial file: B.G. Long Estate, 1918-1920 and undated
Folder
182Ida Long Holmes financial file: Taxes, 1931-1949
Folder
183Legal: B.B. Egerton property dealings, 1876-1922
Folder
184Legal: Estate of M. S. Davis, 1961
Folder
185Legal: Guardianship papers, 1935-1942
Folder
186Legal: Miscellaneous
Folder
187Legal: Summons and complaints, County of Franklin v. Jessie Holmes King et al., 1943
Folder
188Legal: Will of Ethel M. Holmes, circa 1963
Folder
189Life insurance policies, 1906-1923
Folder
190Loan information, 1914-1959
Folder
191Louisburg College: Disputes, 1929-1937
Folder
192Miscellaneous receipts and financial records
Folder
193-194Mortgage payments, 1936-1957
Folder
195-197Receipts and statements of account
Folder
198Receipt book, 1950-1952
Folder
199-201Taxes, 1904-1958
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4. Club Materials, 1905-1927.
About 25 items.
Arrangement: Alphabetical.
Primarily materials related to Davis's activities with Louisburg Masonic Lodge No. 413, the bulk of which are receipts. Also included are certificates from the National Geographic Society and the Imperial Council
of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, as well as printed materials from the North Carolina Anti-Saloon
League.
Certificates, 1917-1927
Folder
203Louisburg Masonic Lodge, no. 413, 1905-1906
Folder
204North Carolina Anti-Saloon League: Pamphlets, circa 1905-1909
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5. Family History Materials and Other Papers, 1889-2003.
About 750 items.
Arrangement: Alphabetical.
Family history newspaper clippings; a diary and an account book; a number of writings by May Amanda Holmes Davis; school records;
identification papers; advertising pamphlets; United States Military Academy ephemera; and other items. The miscellaneous
folder includes a United States Government Thrift Card from the 1920s; a 1948 driver's license; and a 1904 voter registration
certificate. Also included are historical notes created by Sarah Davis, the collection's donor.
Certificates, 1927, 1948
Folder
206Children's drawings, undated
Folder
207Clippings: Family, 1889-1963 and undated
Folder
208Clippings: Miscellaneous, 1920-2003 and undated
Folder
209-223Day planners and enclosures, 1926, 1949-1959
Folder
224Diary of May Davis, 1934
Folder
225Diary of May Davis, 1935
Includes 1988 letter from Sarah Davis about the diary. Diary includes mention of a lynching in the July 31 entry.
Folder
226Fashion Academy Assignments - May Amanda Holmes Davis, 1920
Oversize Volume
V-5073/S-1F. N. Egerton's Store, "Day Book," 1881
The account book of a grocery and dry goods store in Louisburg, N.C.
Folder
227Family and Louisburg, N.C., history materials
Folder
228Louisburg College bulletin, 1941-1942
Folder
229May Jones (?), circa 1909-1913
Folder
230Medical, 1957-1959
Folder
231Miscellaneous
Folder
232Miscellaneous: "Political 'Key' Men by Townships, Campaign of 1938"
Folder
233Miscellaneous ephemera: Advertising pamphlets
Folder
234Miscellaneous ephemera: Sesquicentennial celebration of the birth of Andrew Johnson, 1958
Folder
P-5073/4Photographs: Miscellaneous
Folder
235Report cards, 1926-1942, and undated
Folder
236United States Military Academy: 1899 certificate and "Guide to West Point," 1900
Folder
237-238Writings, May Amanda Holmes Davis, undated
Folder
239Writings, author unknown
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6. Mabel Irwin Davis Papers, 1929-1954.
7 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Additional materials related to Mabel Irwin Davis can be found in Series 1, Correspondence.
The Current Literature Club, 1933 and undated
Folder
241Notebook, 1929-1930
Folder
242Postcard, 1934
Folder
243Warren County Memorial Library: Clippings and 1954 retirement speech
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