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Inventory of the Curtis Carroll Davis scrapbook, 1939-1942

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Descriptive Summary

Repository
University Archives, Duke University
Creator
Davis, Curtis Carroll.
Title
Curtis Carroll Davis scrapbook, 1939-1942
Language of Material
Material in English
Extent
1.5 Linear Feet

1 Item
Abstract
Curtis Carroll Davis was a graduate student in English at Duke University from 1939-1947.
The scrapbook includes correspondence, photographs, programs, invitations, telegrams, holiday cards and newspaper clippings accumulated during his early years as a doctoral student. It ranges in date from 1939-1942.
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Administrative Information

Access Restrictions
Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright Notice
Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Curtis Carroll Davis scrapbook, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The Curtis Carroll Davis scrapbook was received by the University Archives as a gift in 1986.
Processing Information
Processed by Jessica Wood, August 2006
Encoded by Kimberly Sims, December 2006
Accession A86-32 is described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
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Biographical Note

Originally from Baltimore, MD, Curtis Carroll Davis received his A.B. from Yale University in 1938 and his M.A. from Columbia University in 1939. He enrolled in Duke's graduate English program in 1939 and wrote a dissertation on the Virginia novelist, William Alexander Caruthers. He received his Ph.D. in 1947. Davis led an active social life while at Duke, attending numerous concerts and dances, and also served as president of the English Graduate Club. Additionally, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942-1946.

Following his graduation from Duke, Carroll worked as desk chief for the CIA, was a member of the directorate of the Star Spangled Banner Flag Home Association, and was also a prolific writer. His most famous works include the biographies, King's Chevalier: A Biography of Lewis Littlepage and That Ambitious Mr. Legare: The Life of James M. Legare of South Carolina.

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Collection Overview

Contains correspondence, clippings of current local and world news (including World War II), Duke athletics programs, clippings related to inspirational celebrities, holiday cards, telegrams, invitations to dances at Duke, programs from events in Durham, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New Haven, CT.

Collection Arrangement

Davis originally included these items in a 28-page scrapbook, which was unbound for preservation. Pages are extremely brittle, and many items taped into the book had come loose, due to the decayed state of the tape. As a result, the scrapbook pages were placed in folders and loose items in envelopes, for preservation. Additionally, since the pages had been slightly bent to fit into its original box, the book was moved into a larger box. Most of the photographs were taped to the pages. While the tape is disbanding from the pages, it remains on the photographs.

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Subject Headings

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.
List of Series in Collection
Scrapbook, 1939-1942
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Detailed Description of Collection

Scrapbook, 1939-1942

This scrapbook contains correspondence, photographs of picnics with Duke acquaintances, news clippings, wedding invitations and other memorabilia from 1939-1942. Many of the cards and letters are from Davis's parents.
Box 1
Front Cover
Items Separated, includes the 1940 N. C. State vs. Duke football program and the 1941 UNC vs. Duke football program
Pages 1-3, includes magazine page of actress Ginger Rogers at play, clippings, two black and white photographs of Jane Myers who became Mrs. A.C. Jordan, and wedding invitations
Pages 4-10, includes cartoons possibly clipped from The New Yorker, clippings, "Fashion for Frolics" program, 1940 program from the 19th Annual Southern Conference Basketball Tournament, and invitations
Pages 11-19, includes correspondence, clippings, invitations, programs, dance card, black and white photographs of people and events (identified), and cards
Pages 20-28, includes grade report, correspondence, clippings, programs, black and white photographs (identified), invitations, and cards