Guide to the DeEtte and Edward Davis family papers
1929-1985
Collection number: HMC-1412.
Creator:
Davis, DeEtte.
Davis, Donald.
Davis, Edward V.
Title: DeEtte and Edward Davis family papers.
Dates: 1929-1985.
Volume of collection: 3.6 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in the collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers of a couple who were active in politics and civic life, including the Alaska Constitutional Convention and the Anchorage Charter Commission.
Biographical note:
DeEtte Davis (née Scholberg) was born in 1907 in Great Falls, Montana. She worked as a teacher in Idaho before marrying probate judge Edward Davis in 1937. In 1939, the couple moved to Anchorage, where Davis became founding member and violinist with the Anchorage Symphony. She also served on the Anchorage Charter Commission. DeEtte Davis died in Anchorage in 1992.
Edward V. Davis was born in 1910 in Aberdeen Idaho. After graduating from law school at the University of Idaho, he served as a probate judge for three years. After moving to Anchorage, he set up a private law practice with William Renfrew. Davis was a delegate to the Alaska Constitutional Convention and was later appointed as a judge to the state Superior Court’s Third Judicial District. During his career, Davis was president of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and served on the school board. He died in Anchorage in 1985.
DeEtte and Edward Davis had three sons, one of whom, Donald, graduated from Anchorage High School in 1962.
Collection description:
The collection consists of materials related to the Davis family’s lives and civic activities, including materials related to Edward and DeEtte’s move to Anchorage; financial documents; programs of events attended; travel memorabilia; photographs; a scrapbook; materials related to DeEtte Davis’s teaching career; two day books; materials related to the Anchorage Charter Commission; correspondence; materials related to the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce; materials relating to Edward Davis’s legal career; Alaska Constitutional Convention materials; and Don Davis’s school papers and memorabilia; and objects.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by document type.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives & Special Collections owns copyright to materials in the collection created by DeEtte, Edward, or Donald Davis. Other materials may be subject to copyright not held by the Archives.
Preferred citation: DeEtte and Edward Davis family papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory:
Naomi Klouda, “Edward Davis presided over Superior Court.” Anchorage Daily Times (Anchorage, Alaska), July 28, 1985: 13.
Separated materials: Published material was removed from the collection, and selected materials were added to the archives’ Ephemera collections and the library’s Rare Books collection.
Related materials:
- Additional collections related to the Alaska Constitutional Convention are listed in our Alaska Constitutional Convention and statehood topic guide.
- For more material related to the 1958 Anchorage Charter commission, see our Anchorage charter commissions topic guide.
Acquisition note: The bulk of the collection was donated to Archives & Special Collections in 2020 by Don Davis, who also signed a deed of gift at that time. Additional material was donated in 2022.
Processing information: This collection was described by Gwen Higgins in 2023.
Container list:
| Box | Description |
| 1 | Edward and DeEtte Davis 1939 trip to Alaska materials; financial documents; programs; travel memorabilia; photographs; DeEtte Davis teaching career; day books; Anchorage Charter Commission materials; Don Davis school papers and memorabilia; Edward Davis military cards; Anchorage Chamber of Commerce materials; legal career; U.S. Congress guest passes; correspondence, Edward Davis certificates; Alaska Constitutional Convention materials |
| 2 | Alaska Constitutional Convention materials |
| 3 | Oversize materials: scrapbook; Alaska first state legislature signature sheet; 1955 sample election ballot; Anchorage High School hockey posters; posters and artwork |
| 4 | Anchorage Lions Club jacket; judicial or graduation robe; hockey trophies; DeEtte Davis personalized pen; Edward Davis Alaska Founders medal; Anchorage tie tack; Alaska Steamship Company plate |
| Oversize folder | Maps: Anchorage and Palmer |