A Guide to the Ben G. Davis Letter, 8 May 1922
A Collection in the
Thomas Balch Library
Collection Number SC 0061
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Thomas Balch Library
Thomas Balch Library208 West Market Street
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
USA
Phone: (703) 737-7195
Fax: (703) 737-7195
Email: balchlib@leesburgva.gov
URL: http://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/thomas-balch-library/
© 2006 By Thomas Balch Library. All rights reserved.
Processed by: Stephanie Adams Hunter
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection open for research .
Use Restrictions
No physical characteristics affect use of this material.
Preferred Citation
Ben G. Davis Letter, 8 May 1922 (SC 0061), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA..
Acquisition Information
Loudoun County Public Library Administrative Office
Alternative Form Available
None
Accruals
1989.0005
Processing Information
Processed by Stephanie Adams Hunter, 17 December 2010
Biographical Information
Ben G. Davis was born around 1866 in Shannon, Illinois. Little information is available about his early life or education.
Davis took a position as private secretary to William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) in 1895, the last year Bryan served in the
House of Representatives. He also worked with Bryan during the latter's campaigns for president 
in 1894 and 1896. When Bryan was appointed Secretary of State by 
President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) in 1913, he chose Davis to be chief clerk of the State Department. Davis held the position until
1924, when he took a posting as disbursing officer for the State Department in Cuba. It is unclear how long he held the position.
Davis and his wife, Annie L. Davis (1866-1958) married in 1887 in Knoxville, Tennessee. They moved to Takoma Park, Maryland in 1895. Davis was an active participant in community affairs, and was appointed town clerk and treasurer in 1906, a position he held for 20 years. He was elected mayor in 1926 and held the office until 1932, when he was defeated after a bitterly contested campaign. Davis died 20 October 1946.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of a one-page letter from Ben G. Davis to Miss Mary D. Carter (n.d.) on 8 May 1922 responding to her request for information about purchasing a copy of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion . The letter was sent to Carter at "The Maples" in Upperville, Virginia.
Related Material
None
Adjunct Descriptive Data
Bibliography
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress , http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000995New York Times , "Arlington Burial Asked for Bryan," 27 July 1925.
New York Times . Obituary 5. 21 October 1946.
Plischke, Elmer. U.S. Department of State: A Reference Work . Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999. http://books.google.com
The Washington Post , "Chief Clerk Davis Takes Post in Cuba," 19 April 1924.
The Washington Post , "J.R. Spates is Elected Mayor of Rockville," 4 May 1926.
The Washington Post , "Couple Marks Golden Jubilee at Takoma Park," 20 June 1937.
The Washington Post , "Takoma to Give Cup to Retiring Mayor," 13 May 1932.
The Washington Post , "Plans Being Made for Honor to Davis," 15 May 1932.
The Washington Post , Obituary 1, 23 October 1946.
The Washington Post , Obituary 1, 17 June 1958.
Other Finding Aid
None
Technical Requirements
None
Other Finding Aid
None
Bibliography
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress , http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000995New York Times , "Arlington Burial Asked for Bryan," 27 July 1925.
New York Times . Obituary 5. 21 October 1946.
Plischke, Elmer. U.S. Department of State: A Reference Work . Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999. http://books.google.com
The Washington Post , "Chief Clerk Davis Takes Post in Cuba," 19 April 1924.
The Washington Post , "J.R. Spates is Elected Mayor of Rockville," 4 May 1926.
The Washington Post , "Couple Marks Golden Jubilee at Takoma Park," 20 June 1937.
The Washington Post , "Takoma to Give Cup to Retiring Mayor," 13 May 1932.
The Washington Post , "Plans Being Made for Honor to Davis," 15 May 1932.
The Washington Post , Obituary 1, 23 October 1946.
The Washington Post , Obituary 1, 17 June 1958.