Skip to main content

Richard Harding Davis Correspondence and Other Documents

 Collection
Identifier: SC MS 0001

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The documents here include letters, telegrams and notes, mostly written by Davis. It is predominantly letters to his publisher, J. Henry Harper, at Harper and Brothers, but also includes other letters to Raymond H. Walters, Lehigh University, a few letters from Rebecca Harding Davis to Richard Watson Gilder, and letters and telegrams from various persons in Athens, Ga. to J. Henry Harper regarding an incident involving Davis there in 1895.

Dates

  • Creation: 1887-1916

Creator

Access Restrictions:

Collection housed remotely. Users need to contact 24 hours in advance.

Use Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Copyright Notice:

Please inquire about copyright information.

Historical/Biographical Note:

Richard Harding Davis (1864-1916) was a student at Lehigh University from 1882-1884. During his stay at Lehigh University, Davis wrote for the Lehigh Burr (student magazine), played in the first varsity football team, and helped founding the Mustard and Cheese, student drama club that has been active since then. Davis wrote many novels and short stories, and was a prominent war correspondent during the Spanish-American War (1898).

Extent

1 box (125 pieces), .5 linear foot + 26 posters

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Richard Harding Davis, 1864-1916, was a student at Lehigh University from 1882-1884. During his stay he wrote many novels and short stories and was a prominent war correspondent during the Spanish-American War (1898). The documents here include letters, telegrams and notes, mostly written by Davis. It is predominantly letters to his publisher, J. Henry Harper, at Harper and Brothers, but also includes other letters to Raymond H. Walters, Lehigh University, a few letters from Rebecca Harding Davis to Richard Watson Gilder, and letters and telegrams from various persons in Athens, Ga. to J. Henry Harper regarding an incident involving Davis there in 1895.

Arrangement of the Collection

Arranged topically then chronologically. Oversized posters are in folders and shelved in flat cases.

Acquisition Information

Donated to Lehigh University Library by Hope Harding Davis (Mrs. Frank Kehrig), daughter of Richard Harding Davis and Bessie McCoy, in October 1942. (See the Brown and White article titled "University Library Houses R. H. Davis Letter Collection" October 6, 1942)

Related Material:

Mustard and Cheese documents The Lehigh Burr Dr. Allen J. Barthold Papers (1914-1984) SC MS 0138

Separated Material:

Oversized posters shelved in map case.

Physical Description

1 box (125 pieces), .5 linear foot + 26 posters

Title
Finding Aid of Richard Harding Davis Correspondence and Other Documents
Status
Completed
Date
July 8, 2014
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Lehigh University Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Lehigh University
Linderman Library
30 Library Drive
Bethlehem PA 18045 USA
610-758-4506
610-758-6091 (Fax)