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By Sarah Osorio
Collection Overview
Title: Julia Johnson Davis Papers, 1909-1961
ID: 001/01/MSS 0000-214
Primary Creator: Davis, Julia Johnson (1889-1961)
Extent: 8.0 Boxes
Arrangement: Arranged by record type. Poems and essays are arranged in alphabetical order by title.
Date Acquired: 00/00/0000
Subjects: England, International travel, Poets, American, Scotland, Women authors, American--20th century
Forms of Material: Correspondence, Envelopes, Essays, Manuscripts, Notes, Photographs, Poems
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Essays, poems, notes, correspondence, and other personal papers and manuscripts of Julia Johnson Davis of Norfolk, Virginia. Many of her essays appear to be recollections of Davis's childhood, early life, and later international trips to Europe. Some correspondents include fellow writers Mary Sinton Leitch, John Richard Moreland, William Stanley Braithwaite, and Idella Purnell. Prominent categories for Davis's poetry include ballads, sonnets, lyrics, and "Negro dialect." The collection also contains letters and materials relating to the Women's Voluntary Services for Civil Defence and photographs featuring buildings and people in England and Scotland.
Biographical Note
Julia Johnson Davis was born on May 14, 1889 in Norfolk, Virginia. She was a prolific writer, focusing primarily on children's stories, ballad poetry, and essays. Davis attended Leache-Wood Seminary and Longwood College. She married Mirabeau Lamar Thomas Davis on July 6, 1918. Davis published two books: The Garnet Bug and Gribbles: The Story of a Beloved Penny Shop. Additionally, her poetry was featured in a variety of literary publications including The Christian Science Monitor, The Commonwealth, Nation, and Century. Davis was one of the founders of The Lyric and served as treasurer. She was also a member of the Poets Club of Norfolk, Poetry Society of America, Norfolk Society of Arts, and Irene Leache Memorial. Davis was also vice director for the Norfolk Chapter of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. She was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Davis died on December 26, 1961 in Norfolk, Virginia and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Sargeant Memorial Collection
Access Restrictions:
This collection is open to all researchers.
Use Restrictions:
The status of copyright for these materials is governed by Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. C.). Copyright restrictions may apply.
Acquisition Source:
Unknown
Preferred Citation:
Julia Johnson Davis Papers, MSS 0000-214, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.
Processing Information:
Processed June 16, 2020.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[
Box 1: Poems],
[
Box 2: Essays (Box 1 of 4)],
[
Box 3: Essays (Box 2 of 4)],
[Box 4: Essays (Box 3 of 4)],
[
Box 5: Essays (Box 4 of 4)],
[
Box 6: Notes],
[
Box 7: Correspondence],
[
Box 8: Ephemera],
[
All]
- Box 4: Essays (Box 3 of 4)
- Folder 1: Essay, On Acquiring An Early Education
- Folder 2: Essay, On the Advantages of Being Considered Literary
- Folder 3: Essay, Paper Doll Book
- Folder 4: Essay, The Party
- Folder 5: Essay, The Penny Shop
- Folder 6: Essay, Pilgrim's Way
- Folder 7: Essays, Plum Bushes and Funerals
- Folder 8: Essay, Pranks
- Folder 9: Essay, Realism and Jane Austen
- Folder 10: Essay, Recollections of Childhood: Christmas Preparations and Christmas Shopping
- Folder 11: Essay, Recollections of College Place
- Folder 12: Essay, Recollection of Ghent
- Folder 13: Essay, Recollections of a Wood Stove
- Folder 14: Essay, Sabrina
- Folder 15: Essay, Sailors
- Folder 16: Essay, School Days
- Folder 17: Story, A Sea Baby's ABC Book
- Includes sketches in pencil.
Browse by Box:
[
Box 1: Poems],
[
Box 2: Essays (Box 1 of 4)],
[
Box 3: Essays (Box 2 of 4)],
[Box 4: Essays (Box 3 of 4)],
[
Box 5: Essays (Box 4 of 4)],
[
Box 6: Notes],
[
Box 7: Correspondence],
[
Box 8: Ephemera],
[
All]
