Preliminary Inventory of the Griffith J. Davis Papers, 1947-1991

Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University

Davis, Griffith J.

Griffith J. Davis Papers, 1947-1991

Material in English

6 Linear Feet

476 Items

Photographer and film maker from Atlanta, Ga.

Collection comprises 354 negatives, with contact prints and related materials (1947-1987), concerning Langston Hughes, Hale Woodruff, and Charles Alston, all prominent black writers, poets, or artists, and the Palmer Memorial Institute, a private junior and senior high school for African Americans in Sedalia, N.C. Motion pictures, videocassettes, and papers (1952-1989) include nine color and black and white 16mm films taken in Liberia by Davis during part of William V.S. Tubman's presidency.

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.

[Identification of item], Griffith J. Davis Papers, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.

The Griffith J. Davis Papers were received by the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a gift in 1999-2003.

Processed by Meghan Lyon, February 2009

Encoded by Meghan Lyon, February 2009

This collection is minimally processed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Collection comprises 354 negatives, with contact prints and related materials (1947-1987), concerning Langston Hughes, Hale Woodruff, and Charles Alston, all prominent black writers, poets, or artists, and the Palmer Memorial Institute, a private junior and senior high school for African Americans in Sedalia, N.C. Motion pictures, videocassettes, and papers (1952-1989) include nine color and black and white 16mm films taken in Liberia by Davis during part of William V.S. Tubman's presidency. Davis was asked by Tubman to take films of Liberia in 1952. In 1956 and 1957 he made films while stationed in Liberia with the United States technical assistance mission and the Liberian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Films depict a wide range of subjects, activities and events, including the country's people, industry, leaders, and rural life. Included are three videocassettes produced from the original 16mm films and miscellaneous non-audiovisual items.

Papers (1991 and undated) include two sheets of photographic contact prints taken by Davis when he visited Methodist missionaries Mr. and Mrs. George Way Harley in Ganta, Liberia. Subjects include African masks and the Ganta Mission. A letter written by Davis describes his visit with the Harleys.

The addition (2003-0247) (6 items, .6 lin. ft.; dated 1952-1956) comprises a digital beta cam videocassette and a DVD viewing copy of Liberia 1956 Presidential Inauguration of William V. S. Tubman & William R. Tolbert made from a 16mm print produced by Davis. Also includes a betacam SP video tape of Pepper Bird Land and three VHS viewing copies of all 7 RBMSCL's Griff Davis films: Liberia 1956 Presidential Inauguration of William V. S. Tubman & William R. Tolbert, President and the Press Exhibit (1956), Gold Coast Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah Visits Liberia (1953), Pepper Bird Land (1952), Progress Through Cooperation (1957), Cocktails for Dorothy Monrovia Children's Birthday Party (1956), and Night Village Dancing in Liberia (1956). The viewing copies are stored onsite in the repository. This accession is closed to researchers.

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.