Archive

Jacksonville History Center

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

2017.023

Scope and Content

Thomas Frederick Davis (writer and historian) was born in Chatham, Virginia on April 24, 1877. He was the son of Horatio Davis, a prominent Virginian lawyer who moved his family to Gainesville, Florida in 1886 (and later served as mayor from 1908 to 1909). T. Frederick grew up in Gainesville and attended East Florida Seminary (today University of Florida). He then joined the National Weather Bureau and worked in Galveston, Texas, Jacksonville, Florida, and Curacao in the West Indies. In 1902, upon his return to the United States, he worked in the Weather Bureau's Washington, D.C. office and wrote a history of Curacao. In 1905, he moved back to Jacksonville and continued his interests in research and writing by compiling a history of Jacksonville's climate. The National Weather Bureau accepted this compilation and published it as an official reference. In 1911 Davis published the book for which he is most noted, The History of Early Jacksonville, Florida. He later revised this book and republished it in 1925 as The History of Jacksonville and Vicinity, 1513-1924. In 1914 Davis retired from the Weather Bureau and started his own insurance company. During World War I, he played an active role at home, enlisting in the Duval County Militia and working on the Home Front. He also wrote extensively for the Florida Historical Quarterly. Among his better-known articles are "MacGregor's Invasion of Florida, 1817," "History of Juan Ponce de Leon's Voyages to Florida, Source Records," and "US Troops in Spanish East Florida, 1812-1813." In 1939, Davis published another important work: Digest of Florida Material in Niles' Register, 1811-1849, an index to articles about Florida published in the 76 volumes of the Register. The Florida Historical Society described it as a "continuous, contemporaneous and semiofficial history of the United States." Beginning in 1943, he also wrote a series of narratives for the Quarterly called Pioneer Florida. The collection comprises various journals/scrapbooks created by him 1912-1929 and a first editon of his book "The History of Jacksonville and Vicinity". It also includes family photos and genealogical material donated to the Society in 2017.

Collection

T. Frederick Davis

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Nomenclature Class

Documentary Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Archive Details

Date(s) of Creation

1912 - 1928

Archive Items Details

Date(s) of Creation

1912 - 1929

Title

Family papers of the Davis family

Description

These include:Leah's and Annie's report cards; Davis' appointment to the Weather Bureau; Horatio Davis appointment as attorney; Anne Neville Jervis birth certificate, Parke's confirmation certificate; Florida State College commencement book for 1933; marriage license of Parke and Winston Holmes Jervis, Parke's birth certificate; T.F. and Annie's marriage certificate

Date(s) of Creation

1880 - 1950

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 10

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Correspondence dealing with copyright issues reagrding use of T.F. Davis work

Date(s) of Creation

1926 - 1958

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 13

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Newspaper clippings dealing with the Davis Family

Date(s) of Creation

1959 - 1971

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 14

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Miscellaneous Correspondence

Date(s) of Creation

1952 - 1959

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 15

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Horatio Davis Books

Description

" George Davis" by H.G. Connor, 1911 "A Memorial of the Honorable George Davis", 1896 ( 2 copies) "A Study in Colonial History" by George Davis, 1880 The North Carolina Booklet, 1910 "The Trials and Trial of Jefferson Davis" by Charles M. Blackford, 1900 "A Sermon Commemorative of the Rt. Rev. Thomas Frederick Davis...", by Rev. John Johnson, 1872 The Morning Star , 1911

Date(s) of Creation

1872 - 1911

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 18

Subjects

Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Portraits of Annie Clarkson Davis

Date(s) of Creation

1880 - 1955

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 2

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Portraits of T. Frederick Davis

Date(s) of Creation

1880 - 1930

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 3

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Portraits of Leah Davis

Date(s) of Creation

1905 - 1920

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 4

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Portraits of Parke Cabell Davis and her children Winston and Anne Neville Jervis

Date(s) of Creation

1910 - 1960

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 5

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Photo of house in Gainesville, FL where T. Frederick was raised

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 6

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Date: late 19th century Public Access

Title

Portraits of Dr. and Mrs. Theodore Hartridge and their house

Description

These were Annie Clarkson Davis' grandparents

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 6

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Date: late 19th century Public Access

Title

Photos of the Davis' homes in Jacksonville, FL

Description

The houses were located at: 401 E. Forsyth St. 1650 Hubbard St. 2163 Post St.

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 8

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Date: 20th century Public Access

Title

Photos of Judge Horatio Davis, his wife Parke and their children

Description

These were T. Frederick's parents

Date(s) of Creation

1880 - 1920

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 9

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Hunting Photos of T. Frederick

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 10

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Date: 1920s Public Access

Title

Photos of Sharswood-Miller Plantation in Virginia

Description

T. Frederick inherited this plantation

Date(s) of Creation

1890 - 1920

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 11

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Family photographs

Description

Included are: George Davis - half brother of Horatio Davis Aunt Sue Patti Miller Mary Hatter Lula Tucker Charles Miller - uncle of T. Frederick Leak Anne Hartridge Clarkson Albert Clarkson - grandfather of Annie Walter B. Clarkson Theodore and Robertson Clarkson Lillian Hartridge Clarkson Susie Parker Tuch Annie Mundin Jane McCleod Sam, Daisy and Frank Harrison Jerry the Dog Davis Ancestors Jervis Family

Date(s) of Creation

1890 - 1972

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 12

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Cabell Family coat of arms

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 13

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy, Cabell Family

Notes

Public Access

Title

Davis Family Records

Creator

J. Montgomery Seaver

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 17

Subjects

Virginia - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Date: ca. 1929 Public Access

Title

History of Jacksonville, Florida and Vicinity, 1513 to 1924

Description

First edition published by the Florida Historical Society

Creator

T. Frederick Davis

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 2 Folder 1

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History

Notes

Date: 1925 Public Access

Title

Account of a Hunting Trip

Description

Includes a couple of photos and obituary and photo for H. Clay Crawford who died in 1929.

Creator

T. Frederick Davis

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 1

Subjects

Arthur T. Williams, H. Clay Crawford - Florida Secretary of State, Frank Juhan, Episcopal Bishop of Florida, C.O. Holley - Florida State Superintendent of Trade, George F. Drew, Jacksonville, Florida - History, P.E. Bowen, Thomas A. Thompson, Charles C. Bettes, Hunting

Notes

Date: December 3 - 15, 1928 Public Access

Title

Scrapbook

Description

Contains clippings of newspaper articles, many obituaries of important man in Jacksonville and much information about Walter B. Clarkson's death. Mr. Clarkson was Davis' father in law. 7/23/2020- had been cataloged in Library. F 319 .J1 D32. , accession 1278 in ink on 1st page of clippings, upper right corner. Red cover. Inside front cover has notation: T. Frederick Davis' scrapbook.F3. GP

Creator

T. Frederick Davis

Date(s) of Creation

1910 - 1914

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 2

Subjects

Board of Trade, Duval Hotel Co., Jacksonville, Florida - History, W.W. Cummer, trolley, Circuit Court Cases, Walter T. Clarkson, Real estate tranfers, Elks

Notes

Public Access

Title

Scrapbook

Description

Contains clippings of newspaper articles 7/23/2020- had been cataloged in library, F 319.J12.D3. Articles from 1920-1921. Cover title is: Journal., accession 129 on 1st page, upper right, ink.

Creator

T. Frederick Davis

Date(s) of Creation

1920 - 1921

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 3

Subjects

Florida Methodist Church, T.C. Imeson, John W. Martin, Municipal budget, 1920, Primary for Mayor, 1921, Frank W. Brown, P. moody Clarkson, St Elmo W. Acosta, Elberta Hemming and Ancel K. Marable Wedding, John E. Hartridge, Street name changes, Trolleys, street cars, First Methodist Church, Jacksonville, Florida - History, Lacy Mahon, Racial composition of US Population, St. Johns River Bridge, G.S. Kendall, Guaranty Trust -Savings Banks Officers, 1921, Edward Eugene Williard, Theodosia Acosta

Notes

Public Access

Title

Scrapbook

Description

Contains clippings of newspaper articles relating to Davis publication of The History of Jacksonville, Florida in 1925 7/23/2020- had been cataloged in library, F319.J12D2 accession number 1267 on 1st page of scrapbook section. 5/5/1982. Black cover scrapbook. Spine label seems attached to back cover. Clippings range from 1925 to 1929. GP

Creator

T. Frederick Davis

Date(s) of Creation

1925 - 1929

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 4

Subjects

Notes

Public Access

Title

T.F. Davis publications

Description

"First Protestant Prayer in America", Jacksonville, FL 1936 "Milly Francis & Duncan McKrimmon: An Authentic Florida Pocahontas", FLorida Historical Quarterly, January 1943 "The Cold Waves of the Florida Peninsula",Makers of America: Florida Edition, ca 1907 "A genealogical Record of the Davis, Swann and Cabel Families of North Carolina and Virginia", Family Edition, 1934 ( two copies - one hardcover, one paper) "McGregor's Invasion of Florida, 1817", The Florida Historical Society, 1928

Creator

T. Frederick Davis

Date(s) of Creation

1907 - 1943

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 5

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Climate and Weather, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Genealogical Research of T.F. Davis

Creator

T. Frederick Davis

Date(s) of Creation

1840 - 1910

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 6

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Sketchbook of T.F. Davis while attending East Florida Seminary (University of Florida)

Creator

T. Frederick Davis

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 7

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy, Gainesville, FL

Notes

Date: late 19th century Public Access

Title

Wedding book of Annie Clarkson and T.F. Davis

Creator

T. Frederick Davis

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 8

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Date: 1905 Public Access

Title

Ancestry of Leah Hartridge Davis and Parke Cabell Davis

Creator

T. Frederick Davis

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 9

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Family Bible

Description

Davis family bible dated 1801 containing genealogical records of the Davis, Swann and Cabell families of North Carolina and Virginia.

Creator

Mitch Hemann

Date(s) of Creation

1801 - 1801

Container

Location Archives Room 202 Container Bag 1

Subjects

T. Frederick Davis

Notes

Public Access

Title

Annie Clarkson Davis genealogy research

Creator

Annie Clakson Davis

Date(s) of Creation

1808 - 1914

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 11

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Annie Clarkson Davis genealogy research

Creator

Annie Clakson Davis

Date(s) of Creation

1808 - 1914

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 11

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Parke Cabell Davis Baby Book

Creator

Annie Clakson Davis

Date(s) of Creation

1910 - 1911

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 12

Subjects

Jacksonville, Florida - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Public Access

Title

Scrapbook of the Virginia Constitutional Convention

Creator

Charles Miller

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 16

Subjects

Virginia - History, Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Date: 1902 Public Access

Title

Wheeler's Reminiscenses

Creator

John H. Wheeler

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 19

Subjects

Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Date: 1885 Public Access

Title

Reminiscenses and Memoirs of North Carolina...

Creator

John H. Wheeler

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 20

Subjects

Davis Family Genealogy

Notes

Date: 1884 Public Access