Julia Johnson Davis Papers, 1909-1961 | Sargeant Memorial Collection

By Sarah Osorio

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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

England
International travel
Poets, American
Scotland
Women authors, American--20th century

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 8: Ephemera

Folder 1: Correspondence, Typed letters about Drummond Restaurant and food, circa 1940-1946
Folder 2: Bulletins, Women's Voluntary Services for Civil Defence, 1942 February - October
Folder 3: Ephemera, Women's Voluntary Services For Civil Defence, 1942-1946
Folder 4: Newspaper, South London Press, 1940 December 27
Folder 5: Ephemera, English trip, 1952
Folder 6: Photographs, England and Scotland, circa 1920s, 1940s-1950s
Folder 7: Manuscripts, England and Scotland Travels, circa 1945-1955
Folder 8: Notebook, School notes on teaching kindergarten, circa 1912
Folder 9: Clippings, circa 1920-1930
Folder 10: Ephemera, circa 1910-1942: Includes one print photograph titled "Class of June, 1910," one program for Derby Grammar School Graduation Exercises of the Class of 1927, and "Some comments on the work of Julia Johnson Davis."