Swift's View of Poetry

manosca10 Herbert John Davis Personal Papers, 1893-1973 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Tamara Weiner. Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Smith College Archives

Northampton, MA

Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Brook Hopkins. 2003-06-03 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 manosca10 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Smith College Archives Herbert John Davis Personal Papers, 1893-1973 Finding Aid RG 32 Tamara Weiner 1999 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Davis, Herbert John, 1893-1967. Herbert John Davis Personal Papers1893-1973 RG 32 6 boxes (2.5 linear ft.) Smith College Archives

Northampton, MA

Fourth president of Smith College, Professor of English, and world renowned expert on Jonathan Swift. Contains material primarily related to his personal life including correspondence, speeches, publications, photographs, newspaper articles, and memorabilia. English. Biographical Note

Herbert John Davis was born on May 24, 1893 in Northamptonshire, England, where he received his elementary and secondary education. He later attended Oxford University (St. John's College) from which he graduated in 1914. He then served in France and Belgium during WWI and in 1919 he returned to Oxford to earn his A.M. In 1922, Davis married Gertrude Lucas of Opladen, Rheinland, Germany but she died tragically just six years later. In 1930, Davis married Gladys Wookey of Toronto and the couple had two daughters, Charlotte Elisabeth Ann and Jane.

In 1920, Davis acquired a position at the University of Leeds where he taught for two years. He then moved to the University of Toronto where he remained for sixteen years. Davis was hired as an Associate Professor of English, and later promoted to a full Professor. He also served as Chair of the English department. In 1938, Davis accepted a position as Chair of the English department at Cornell University.

In 1939, Davis succeeded William Allan Neilson as president of Smith College and he assumed this role for the 1940-1941 school year. Davis served as the fourth president of Smith College until 1949 when he returned to Oxford as a reader in textual criticism. Davis retired from Oxford in 1960.

During his academic career, Davis made several notable contributions. Following his passion for poetry and prose, Davis became a world renowned expert on Jonathan Swift and wrote several books on his work including Swift's View of Poetry (1931) and Stella, a Gentlewoman of the Eighteenth Century (1942). The latter is an account of the friendship that existed between Swift and Esther Johnson. Davis also edited the fourteen volume work, The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift (1939-68). Davis' distinguished literary contributions were well recognized and he received several honorary degrees including a Doctorate of Laws from Amherst College in 1940.

In addition to his enthusiasm for the English language, Davis was also extremely socially conscious and particularly concerned with WWII raging overseas. Perhaps his most memorable act of charity was providing a home to five British refugee children for several years during the war. Many of his colleagues and friends followed his lead and opened their doors to children in need. Davis died on March 28, 1967.

1893 Born on May 24, at Long Buckby, Northamponshire, England. Son of Carter and Martha Ann (Sheldon) Davis. 1905 Educated at Northampton Grammar School. 1911 St. John's College, Oxford. 1912 Pass Moderations (Classics) 1914 B.A.; Honour School of English Language and Literature. 1915 Reading for Anglican Orders, Wells Theological College. 1916-1919 War Service--gunner, R.G.A.; subaltern with 301 Siege Battery, France and Belgium; acting-adjutant, 4th Brigade, R.G.A., Army of Occupation. 1919 M.A., Oxford. 1920 Lecturer in English, University of Leeds. 1922 Associate Professor English, University College, Toronto. Married Gertrude Lucas of Opladen, Rheinland, Germany. 1924-1925 Guest Professor in the University of Cologne, Germany. 1925-1935 Professor of English, University College, Toronto. Elected Chairman of the Department of English, University of Toronto. 1928 Gertrude Lucas Davis died. 1930 Married Gladys Wookey of Toronto. Children--Charlotte Elisabeth Ann Davis (Falconer) and Jane Davis (Knowles). 1937 Appointed Professor of English at Cornell University; granted leave of absence for one year in England. Frederic Ives Carpenter Visiting Professor at the University of Chicago, summer quarter. 1938 Chairman of the Department of English, Cornell University. 1939 Appointed Goldwin Smith Professor of English Literature at Cornell University. 1940 Accepts position as fourth President of Smith College; L.L.D. from Amherst College. 1949 Leaves Smith College; Returns to Oxford to teach English. 1960 Retires from Oxford. 1967 March 28, 1967--Died. Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Herbert John Davis Personal Papers are primarily related to his personal life. Types of material include correspondence; speeches; publications; photographs; newspaper articles; and memorabilia. Although the chronological focus of the collection is Davis' presidential years, the records pertain to life outside his presidential duties.

Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into five series:

I. Biographical Material II. Correspondence III. Inauguration IV. Photographs V. Publications and Speeches Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

The papers are open for research according to the regulations of the Smith College Archives without any additional restrictions.

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the documents must be requested from the Smith College Archives. Smith College owns copyright to any published material relating to college events and activities. Provenance and copyright ownership of other materials is unknown and researchers are responsible for determining any question of copyright.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Herbert John Davis Personal Papers, Box #, Smith College Archives.

History of the Collection

These papers were transferred to the College Archives from the Office of the President after President Davis left the College in 1949.

Processed by Tamara Weiner.

Search Terms Davis, Herbert John, 1893-1967. Swift, Jonathan, 1667-1745. Smith College--Presidents. Series I. Biographical Material, (1893-1973) 2.5 linear inches

This series provides an overview of Herbert John Davis' career and personal life and is arranged alphabetically. Newspaper clippings and magazine articles, dating from 1939 to 1973, document Davis' many achievements, focusing on education, awards, and travel as well as his work with the European Recovery Program.

1 1 Association of Begatees of Clergymen n.d. 1 2 Awards 1940-1947, n.d. 1 3 Data 1893-1973 1 4 Degrees 1940-1949, 1957 1 5 European Recovery Program 1948 1 6 Luncheons, etc. 1947 1 7 Miscellaneous 1941 1 8 Newsclippings and Publications Oct 1944-Dec 1946 1 9 Obituaries 1967 1 10 Resignation 1948, n.d. 1 11 Resignation - Surprise Party 1949 1 12 Trips Abroad 1946-1948 Series II. Correspondence, (1940-1950) 5 linear inches

This series documents Davis' personal correspondence during his time as president of Smith College. This series is arranged by subject and includes correspondence regarding, among other things, Davis' interest in the author Jonathan Swift.

1 13 American Academy of Arts and Sciences 1948 1 14 The Atheneum Pall Mall 1948 1 15 Birch Wathen School 1945 1 16 British Consulate, 1942 1944 1 17 British Refugee Children 1940-1942 1 18 Sponsors-Davis, Herbert J. 1940-1943 1 19 Sponsors, A-L 1940-1941 1 20 Sponsors, M-Z 1940-1943 1 21 Connely, Willard Jul 1940-Mar 1941 1 22 Davis, Gertrude, Fellowship 1947-1950 1 23 Finn, John 1949-1950 1 24 Grolier Club 1949 1 25 Homberg May 1949 1 26 Invitations 1940 1 27 Johnson Oct 1949-Jan 1950 1 28 Kinnevan, J.W. 1942-1943 1 29 Miscellaneous 1942-1950 1 30 Mongan 1941 1 31 New Modern Language Association 1941 1 32 Oxford, England 1948 1 33 Pons 1949 1 34 Power, Eugene 1941 1 35 Randall 1949-1950 Resignation 2 1 Responses, A-L 1948 2 2 Responses, M-Z 1948 2 3 Smith, Anne Nichol 1943-1944 2 4 Smith, David Nichol 1940, 1944 2 5 Schroder, August 1948-1949 2 6 Schott, Carl 1948-1949 2 7 Spect, Betty 1949 Swift, Jonathan 2 8 1939-1940 2 9 July 1, 1940-July 1, 1942 2 10 July 1, 1942-July 1, 1944 2 11 July 1, 1944-July 1, 1945 2 12 July 1, 1945-July 1, 1946 2 13 July 1, 1946-July 1, 1947 2 14 July 1, 1947-July 1, 1948 2 15 July 1, 1948-July 1, 1949 2 16 Index to Vol. XI 2 17 "War and Post War" 1942 2 18 Wooley, David 1949 2 19 Yale University 1944-1949 Series III. Inauguration, (1939-1940) 2.5 linear inches

This series documents Davis' presidential appointment in 1939 as well as his inauguration in 1940. Included in this series are congratulatory letters from colleagues and friends as well as newspaper clippings and publications.

2 20 Appointment and Pre-Inaugural Visit 1939-1940 2 21 Committee of Inauguration 1940 2 22 Congratulations Nov 1939-Jul 1940 3 1 Congratulations, Alumnae and Smith College Clubs 1940 3 2 Exercises 1940 3 3 Luncheon and Broadcast 1940 Newsclippings and Publications 3 4 Appointment 1939 3 5 Inauguration 1940 Series IV. Photographs, (1939-1964) 2.5 linear inches

The bulk of this series documents Davis' presidency at Smith College and is arranged chornologically. Included in this series are inaugural photographs, formal portraits, candid shots, and the weddings of daughters, Charlotte Elisabeth Ann Davis (Falconer) and Jane Davis (Knowles).

3 6 1939-1940 3 7 Inauguration Oct 1940 3 8 1940-1941 3 9 British Children 1940-1941 3 10 President and Mrs. Davis 1940-1941 3 11 1942-1943 3 12 1945-1946 3 13 1947-1948 3 14 1948-1949 3 15 Formal 1940-1949 3 16 Miscellaneous 1940-1949 3 17 The weddings of Charlotte Elizabeth Ann Davis (Falconer)and Jane Davis (Knowles) 1957-1964 Series V. Publications and Speeches, (1940-1964) 1.5 linear feet

Arranged by subject.

This series is comprised of speeches and publications written during Davis' presidency at Smith College and the years following. Included are speeches given at area colleges and organizations and his published work on the poetry of Jonathan Swift.

Publications 4 1 Untitled 1941-49 4 2 American Association of University Professors n.d. 4 3 Article for Professor Lowenstein 1941 4 4 Burden of Knowledge 1945 4 5 Challenge to the Intellect 1941 4 6 Charles Montagu Doughty 1945 4 7 Foreign Literatures and Our Youth 1941 4 8 Freshman Handbook 1948 4 9 Inaugural Speeches 1940 4 10 The Manuscripts of Swift's "directions to servants" 1954 4 11 No Time for Poetry 1941 4 12 The Poetry of Jonathan Swift 1939-1941 4 13 Princeton University 1944-1947 4 14 Princeton University-Awards 1946 4 15 Recent Studies of Swift and Johnson 1959 4 16 Reviews 1942-1945 4 17 Satire of Jonathan Swift 1939-1947 4 18 Smith Alumnae Quarterly 1944, n.d. 4 19 Smith College Museum of Art 1959 4 20 Stella 1942 5 1 WAVES 1942-1943 5 2 Wilson, Frank Percy 1963 Speeches 5 3 Advice to Daughters n.d. 5 4 Alumnae Association 14 Jun 1941 5 5 Alumnae College 1941 5 6 Alumnae Council 1941-1949 5 7 American College Publicity Association 1944 5 8 American Russian Institute Dinner 1948 5 9 Amherst College 1940 5 10 Ann Arbor 3 Oct 1946 5 11 Armistice Day 1940 5 12 Assembly 1939-1949 5 13 Assembly 10 Dec 1947 5 14 Augustan Art of Conversation 1957 5 15 Baccalaureate 1941-1949 5 16 Bates College 1946 5 17 Boston 1940 5 18 Brown University 1941 5 19 Chapel Talks Sep 1940-Jan 1943 5 20 Chapel Talks Sep 1943-Jun 1949 5 21 Christmas Celebration 1942 5 22 Commencement, Smith College 1943 5 23 Commencement, Smith College 1944 5 24 Commencement, Smith College 1950 5 25 Conference on Academic Freedom 1948 5 26 Conference on Academic Freedom 1949-1950 5 27 Conference on Education about the Soviet Union 1944 5 28 Connecticut College 1941-1947 5 29 Cooley Dickenson Hospital n.d. 5 30 Criticism of Writer's Manifesto in Horizon n.d. 5 31 Democracy n.d. 5 32 Education at Smith College, New York 1947, n.d. 5 33 Eighteenth Century Conference 1947 5 34 England n.d. 5 35 Ethel Walker School n.d. 5 36 Faculty Meetings 1940-1947, n.d. 5 37 Freedom in Education n.d. 5 38 Gaucher College 1949-1956 5 39 Grolier Club Dinner 1945 6 1 Humanities and a Liberal Arts Education n.d. 6 2 Inaugural 1940 6 3 Jefferson Day 1945 6 4 Kent Place School 1945 6 5 Kiwanis 1949 6 6 Limits of General Education 1947 6 7 Literature, Teaching of n.d. 6 8 Massachusetts State College 1944 6 9 Mt. Holyoke College 1941-1949 6 10 New Concepts in Education for Women 1945 6 11 New York Dinner 30 Apr 1946 6 12 New York, Executive Committee 10 Apr 1947 6 13 New York Luncheon 1943 6 14 New York Smith College Club 1948 6 15 Northampton Chamber of Commerce 1940 6 16 Northampton Grammar School 1952 6 17 Northampton Historical Society 1946 6 18 Northfield School for Girls 1942 6 19 Phi Beta Kappa 1949 6 20 Poland 1941 6 21 Pompeian Conference 1948 6 22 Pontypool Girls' School 1951 6 23 Princeton University 1941 6 24 Queen's University 1945 6 25 Radio Broadcasts 1942, n.d. Rally Day

See: Washington's Birthday Introductions

6 26 Rhodes House 1954 6 27 Scholarships n.d. 6 28 Scripps College 1964 6 29 Senior Day 1943 6 30 Smith Clubs 1941-1949 6 31 Summer Session 1943, 1944 6 32 Sweet Briar College 1943 6 33 Toronto University-Alexander Lectures 1942 6 34 Trustee-Faculty Dinner 1944 6 35 Trustee's Meetings 1948 6 36 Unidentified 1940, 1948, 1949, n.d. 6 37 V-E Day Plan 1945 6 38 Vespers 1940-1948 6 39 Washington's Birthday Introductions 1941-1949 6 40 WAVES 1942, 1944 6 41 Wells College n.d. 6 42 Wheaton College 1942 6 43 Williamsburg-175th Anniversary 1946 6 44 Williston Academy n.d. 6 45 Wilson College 1945 6 46 Yale University Lecture 1942, 1944