Finding Aid to the Thomas Newman Davis and Horatio Minor Davis Papers

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
THOMAS NEWMAN DAVIS AND HORATIO MINOR DAVIS PAPERS
The collection includes selected papers and photographs that originally belonged
to Thomas Newman Davis (1842-1924) and his son Horatio Minor Davis (1876-1963),
both lifelong residents of Lynchburg, Virginia.
Papers from T. N. Davis are mainly records of his public life between 1870s and
1910s, of property transactions, and the inventory of his estate. Also included are some
personal letters. A typed Davis family genealogy included in the collection was written
by Lambert Davis, the son of H. M. Davis, in 1982.
The collection includes a handwritten set of recollections penned by H. M. Davis
written between 1937 and 1950. They feature reminiscences about his boyhood in the
Garland Hill district in the 1880s and 1890s. He wrote his memories in an old ledger
book and was referred to by the family as “Big Minor’s Dog Book”. [The surviving
family members are not sure why it was so named.]

[Detailed finding guide available with the collection.]

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JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
THOMAS NEWMAN DAVIS AND HORATIO MINOR DAVIS PAPERS
The collection includes selected papers and photographs that originally belonged
to Thomas Newman Davis (1842-1924) and his son Horatio Minor Davis (1876-1963),
both lifelong residents of Lynchburg, Virginia.
Papers from T. N. Davis are mainly records of his public life between 1870 and
1910, of property transactions, and the inventory of his estate. Also included are some
personal letters. A typed Davis family genealogy included in the collection was written
by Lambert Davis, the son of H. M. Davis, in 1982.
The collection includes a handwritten set of recollections penned by H. M. Davis
written between 1937 and 1950. They feature reminiscences about his boyhood in the
Garland Hill district in the 1880s and 1890s. He wrote his memories in an old ledger
book and was referred to by the family as “Big Minor’s Dog Book”. [The surviving
family members are not sure why it was so named.]

BOX 1

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1-2
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1-5
1-6

1-7
1-8
1-9
1-10
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1-12
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1-18

‘What I Remember: Memories of Garland Hill” by H. M. Davis
CD: H. M. Davis “Big Minor’s Dog Book”; T. N. Davis Papers
and Print out of the CD contents
H. M. Davis: Unidentified Notes Recollecting Garland Hill
Playbill: “Dear Ruth”, May 6-10, 1946-47
H. M. Davis Photos
Sketches and Recollections of John Dobbins Murrell, Jr. for the
benefit of his son, Dr. Thomas W. Murrell: Included is Genealogy
report of the Descendants of John Dobbins Murrell prepared by the
Staff of Jones Memorial Library
Play: J. R. C. Freight Boat Sarah Jane – A Burlesque on Pinafore
Index to Lynchburg and it’s People by W. Asbury Christian
Print: View of Monticello
T. N. Davis: Lynchburg College Diploma, 1858
Davis, Diuguid & Co., Business Report, 1896
T. N. Davis: Papers concerning is role as City Tax Collector
T. N Davis: Correspondence, Letter from mother, 1855
T. N Davis: Correspondence: Letter from wife
T. N. Davis: Correspondence: Letters from family members
T. N. Davis: Land Purchase Deed, 1898
T. N. Davis: Record of Title, Property Purchased
Flyer: 1920 Auction of Munford House, 205 Harrison Street
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T. N. Davis: Speech on Secession, May 1860, typed copy
T. N. Davis will (Duplicated, transcribed)
T. N. Davis: Inventory of estate, 1924
T. N. Davis: Miscellaneous documents Relating to his public life
Descendants of Thomas Newman & Eliza Blanche (Thompson)
Davis by Lambert Davis
T. N. Davis Family Photos

BOX 2

Books from the library of H. M. Davis.
2-1
Our Own Third Reader by Richard Sterling, A.M. © 1862
2-2
Sketches and Recollections of Lynchburg by its Oldest Inhabitant
© 1858
2-3
Our Countrymen: or Brief Memoirs of Eminent Americans by
Benson J. Lossing, © 1855
2-4
Memoirs of Narcissa Owen 1831-1907
2-5
Wall-Street to Cashmere: A Journal of Five Years in Asia, Africa,
and Europe by John B. Ireland © 1859

BOX 3

Family Bible (1815), Family Bible (1791), Daguerreotype
(T.N.Davis – 1861)

THOMAS NEWMAN DAVIS (1842-1924)
“Thomas Newman Davis is a native of Amherst County, but has resided here
(Lynchburg) all of his life. He was known to everybody, having been prominent for
years in various lines of business. His early life was spent in the offices of the railroad
now (1900) known as the Norfolk and Western; later he was engaged in mercantile
business, the president of the Bonsack Company and now (1900) City Collector. In this
office he has made a great record, having reduced the delinquent list to the lowest figure
ever reached.” [Pamphlet Collection, Jones Memorial Library, (PAM2757, page 93)]
T. N. Davis, son of William Minor Davis and Nannie Hunter Eubank, married
Eliza Blanche Thompson (1845-1930) on 11 February 1874 in Rockbridge County, VA.
She was the daughter of Horatio Thompson and Eliza Kinnear. In 1876 Mr. Davis
purchased a home at 215 Harrison Street, Lynchburg, VA. It was in this home five of
his 6 children were born.
Thomas Newman Davis died 3 May 1924 in Lynchburg, Virginia.
HORATIO MINOR DAVIS (1876-1963)
Horatio Minor Davis, son of Thomas Newman Davis and Eliza Blanche
Thompson, was born 11 July 1876, the first to be born at 215 Harrison Street in
Lynchburg.

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H. M. Davis followed in his father’s footsteps and worked in his office starting in
1899, becoming city tax collector in 1920. In 1954, Mr. Davis was honored by the
League of Virginia Municipalities of Virginia Municipal League at its annual meeting in
Roanoke for having the longest service record of any municipal office in the state.
H. Minor Davis was well known for his work on the State Hospital Board, a body
on which he served for over 30 years. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church,
where he served as superintendent of Sunday school and a vestryman. He was educated
in the Lynchburg public schools and attended Hampden-Sydney College. After
graduation, his firs job was with the Southern Railway and then the old Lynchburg Plow
Company (later known as Lynchburg Foundry) and from there to work in his father’s
office.
H. Minor Davis was married to Charlotte Suydan (Lottie) Lambert on 20
November 1900 in Richmond, Virginia. She was born in Beaufort, N. J. to Charles
Graham Lambert and Annie Pinney.
Horatio Minor Davis died 29 April 1963 in Lynchburg, Virginia.

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