GEORGE EVAN DAVIS LUMBER COMPANY RECORDS
Papers, 1900-1981
(Predominantly, 1904-1908)

East Tennessee State University
Archives of Appalachia
Box 70295
Johnson City, TN 37614-0138

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Telephone: (423) 439-4338


INTRODUCTION

Title:

GEORGE EVAN DAVIS LUMBER COMPANY RECORDS

Collection Numbers:

Accession No. 90
L. C. No. MS 82-572

Physical Description:

0.75 linear foot, 3 boxes
photographs and negatives
1 oversize folder

Creator:

George Evan Davis

Repository:

Archives of Appalachia, East Tennessee State University

 

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Provenance: The papers in the George Evan Davis Collection were placed in the Archives of Appalachia in November of 1980 by his daughter, Edith M. Davis.

Access: The collection is open for research.

Processing Information: Michael Shandor completed processing, and the collection was opened for research in March 1981. Ed Speer revised the Finding Aid in 1991, and by Marie Tedesco in 1996.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

George Evan Davis was born in Henry County, Virginia on July 31, 1875. He attended business school as a youth but did not complete any particular degree. He came to Bristol, Virginia in 1896 and was employed as a clerk for the law firm of William F. Rhea and H. G. Peters. Later, he became secretary to Judge Rhea, who represented the Ninth United States Congressional District of Virginia. Between 1901-1903, Davis later worked for the Strong Lumber Company of Bristol. In 1903, he started his own lumber company, the George Evan Davis Lumber Company of Bristol, Virginia, which he operated until his death on April 16, 1955.

He had three children: Edith M., George, and Amelia. For many years they maintained a home on Solar Street in Bristol, Virginia.

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The papers in the George Evan Davis Collection reflect the day-to-day operations of the George Evan Davis Lumber Company. The vast majority of the Davis Company papers were destroyed after his death.

Organization: The collection is divided into three series: Series I, Correspondence, 1904-1908; Series II, Subject Files, c. 1900-1981; and Series III, Negatives and Photographic Prints, 1912-1919 and undated.

Important subjects covered in the collection are:

Davis, George Evan, 1875-1955
Geo. E. Davis & Co.
J. B. Bassett (Firm)
Lumbering
R. G. Dun & Company

 

SERIES DESCRIPTION


Series I, CORRESPONDENCE, 1904-1908, Boxes 1-2.

This series consists of correspondence to George E. Davis Lumber Company, June 1904 to January 1908, by customers, creditors, suppliers, lumber wholesalers, building contractors, and manufacturers. Series is arranged alphabetically by correspondent within two chronological groups, April-August 1904 and September 1904-January 1908.

Series II, SUBJECT FILES, c. 1900-1981, Box 2.

This series consists of diverse material arranged in alphabetical order by the title of the file. In some cases the donor has added marginalia of her own in red ink.

Series III, NEGATIVES AND PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS, 1912-19 and undated, Box 3.

Includes black and white negatives and photographic prints (3 1/2" x 5 3/4"). There are 66 negatives and prints which match and which have corresponding APA (Appalachian Photographic Archives) numbers. Many of the prints are contact prints. Twenty-seven prints have no negatives. Prints which have negatives are placed first in the box, followed by negatives and prints without negatives. Images depict Davis family members and various phases of logging operations.

Oversize Materials

Several mercantile agency notification sheets (1904-1925) have been placed in an oversize folder and stored in the map cabinets by accession number.

 

BOX AND FOLDER LIST


Series I, CORRESPONDENCE, 1904-1908, Boxes 1-2.

Box 1 - Folder #:

1. A, June 1904-August 1904.
2. B, June 1904-August 1904.
3. C, June 1904-August 1904.
4. D, June 1904-August 1904.
5. E, F, June 1904-August 1904.
6. G, June 1904-August 1904.
7. H, June 1904-August 1904.
8. K-L, June 1904-August 1904.
9. M, June 1904-August 1904.
10. N-O, June 1904-August 1904.
11. P-Q, June 1904-August 1904.
12. R, June 1904-August 1904.
13. S, June 1904-September 1904.
14. T, U, V, June 1904-August 1904.
15. W, X, Y, Z, May 1904-August 1904.
16. A, December 1904-August 1905.
17. Dan-Dar, March 1905-November 1907.
18. Dav, November 1904-November 1907.
19. Ded-Dee, July 1906-January 1908.
20. Def-Del, July 1906-January 1908.
21. Dev-Dex, November 1906-September 1907.
22. Dia-Die, September 1904-December 1907.
23. Dif-Diz, September 1904-December 1907.
24. Doa-Dol, April 1905-April 1906.
25. Dom-Don, December 1904-January 1908.
26. Doo-Doz, October 1904-December 1907.
27. Dua-Dum, December 1904-January 1908.

Box 2 -Folder #:

1. Dun-Duz, September 1904-December 1907.
2. Ea-Eb, August 1905-September 1906.
3. Ec-Ed, January 1905-November 1906.
4. Ee-Ei, June 1905-June 1907.
5. Ej-El, August 1905-January 1908.
6. Em-En, February 1905-November 1907.
7. Eo-Er, June 1905-December 1907.
8. Es-Ez, October 1904-January 1908.

Series II, SUBJECT FILES, c. 1900-1981.

Box 2 - Folder #:

9. Bristol Board of Trade, October 1912-October 1913.
10. Clippings, memorabilia, and notes, approximately 1900-1981.
11. Dun-Bradstreet, April 1950.
12. History of George E. Davis, by E. M. Davis, 1981.
13. Ledger, June 1905-December 1909.
14. Lumber, Lists and inventories, February 1934-February 1939.
15. Notebook, approximately 1904-1906.

Series III, NEGATIVES AND PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS, 1912-19 and undated, Box 3.

Includes black and white negatives and photographic prints, (3 1/2" x 5 3/4"). There are 66 negatives and prints which match and which have corresponding APA (Appalachian Photographic Archives numbers. Many of the prints are contact prints. Twenty-seven prints have no negatives. Prints which have negatives are placed first in the box, followed by negatives and prints without negatives. Images depict Davis family members and various phases of logging operations.

 

 

INDEX*


* The citation following the index item refers to the box and folder location of the item within the collection.

American Lumberman Magazine: 1-1.
Bank records: 1-25.
Bassett, J. B. (Firm), Bassett, Va.: 1-2.
Beer Barrel Manufacturers: 1-11.
Board of Trade, Bristol, Va.-Tenn.: 2-9.

Casket Manufacturers: 1-10, 1-12.
Dun-Bradstreet: 2-11.
Dun, R. G.: See Mercantile Agency.
Furniture Manufacturers: 1-2.
Leather Manufacturers: 1-20.

Lumberman Credit Association: 1-8.
Mercantile Agency: 2-1. See also non-manuscript material.
Saw suppliers: 1-4.
Sewing Machine Manufacturers: 1-18.
Spool Manufacturers: 1-13.

Tanning: See Leather Manufacturers.
Tool Suppliers: 1-4.
United States House of Representatives: 1-19, 2-10.
Wagon Manufacturers: 1-9, 2-5.
Whiskey Barrel Manufacturers: 1-11.

Windmill Manufacturers: 2-7.

 

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MTC 09/01