A Guide to the Papers of Olivia Davis, 1955-1980
A Collection in
Special Collections
The University of Virginia Library
Accession Number 13389
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Special Collections, University of Virginia Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections LibraryUniversity of Virginia
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USA
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Processed by: Special Collections Staff
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.
Preferred Citation
Papers of Olivia Davis, Accession #13389, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
Acquisition Information
The collection was received as a gift to the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections at the University of Virginia Library from Miranda Wiebusch, Stafford, Va. on August 14, 2005.
Biographical/Historical Information
Olivia Davis, daughter of the portrait painter Henry Carr, was born in England and lived there until World War II when she met and married an American lawyer. She wrote, "The Last of the Greeks, ""Steps to the Sun, " and had short stories published in books and leading literary journals. She and her family lived in Springfield, Virginia.
Scope and Content
The collection, 1.5 linear feet, 3 Hollinger boxes and ca. 107 items, includes 33 short stories and two unfinished manuscripts, "Long After Bedtime " and "Unequal Voices " written by Olivia Davis. Some of the short stories contain rejection notices from various publishers.
One of the manuscripts, "Unequal Voices, " has many versions and several titles such as, "Unequal Voices, ""Secret Societies, " and "Renata. " It tells the story of a family living in England at the outbreak of World War II amidst air raids and bombings. In the beginning the parents are in love with each other and their children have dreams of success and romance but as time passes and the war is upon them, they experience disappointments.
After the war, they struggle with the acceptance of their relationships as a collection of familiar patterns and mutual understandings or yielding to an excitement and passion that surrounds romantic love. Some of the characters are unhappily married, divorced, unmarried, happily married, homosexual or in love with other spouses.
There are miscellaneous news clippings and a license agreement between Marcia Lerner and Olivia Davis for the sale of the publication of "The Other Child " for production by Marcia Lerner.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by title of each manuscript. License agreements and news clippings are also filed alphabetically with the manuscripts.
Contents List
Rachel/Julia/Elizabeth meet Philip; Philip's marriages.
(Visit with Philip).
(Visit with Kathleen, meeting of Philip's son, visit with Andrew, reflection of Ralph and Freer and return home.)
Julia goes abroad to take care of her mother, Edith when she has a stroke.
Edith first meets Quentin and memories of World War I.
Valentina and Mexico. Rachel's husband Murray is shot.