The papers of painter, photographer, and filmmaker James Edward Davis measure 3.8 linear feet and date from circa 1917-1970. They highlight Davis's career through biographical material, correspondence, writings, personal business records, printed and photographic material, and artwork.
Scope and Contents:
The James Edward Davis papers measure 3.8 linear feet and date from circa 1917-1970. Biographical materials consist of a resume, an interview with Davis, and certificates related to his career and schooling. Correspondence consists of letters between himself and his agent Rosalind Kossoff, Frank Lloyd Wright, John Marin Jr., and others. Writings includes notebooks pertaining to his many projects and personal business records are composed of documents relating to his career and his time spent in Princeton, New Jersey, as well as artwork appraisals. Printed material is made up of exhibition announcements and catalogs, news clippings, press releases, and other documents. Photographic materials include photographs from various film projects and exhibits, as well as personal photographs. Artwork consists of a group of sketches showing a figure in motion.
Arrangement:
This collection consists of seven series.
Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1954-1966 (.1 Linear feet: Box 1)
Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1940-1969 (.6 Linear feet: Box 1)
Series 3: Writings, circa 1920-1960 (.8 Linear feet: Boxes 1 and 2)
Series 4: Personal Business Records, circa 1956-1967 (.1 Linear feet: Box 2)
Series 5: Printed Material, circa 1945-1969 (.2 Linear feet: Box 2)
Series 6: Photographic Material, circa 1919-1970 1(.9 Linear feet: Boxes 2-5)
Series 7: Artwork, circa 1946 (.1 Linear feet: Box 5)
Biographical / Historical:
James Edward Davis (1901-1974) was a painter, photographer, and filmmaker who worked primarily in New Jersey. Born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Davis specialized in the abstract and surrealist styles and his artwork was heavily inspired by the zeitgeist of the 1920s. He graduated from Princeton University in 1923 and studied painting and sculpture in France with Andre Lhote for three years. Davis taught at multiple places during his career including Lawrenceville School (1933-1936), Princeton (1936-1942), and the Moholy-Nagy Institute of Design (1947). Davis is also known for his experimental abstract films that use mobile designs of transparent plastics and controlled illumination. His paintings have been shown at the Museum of Modern Art, the Addison gallery, and the Princeton and Yale University Art Museums. He died in Princeton, New Jersey at the Princeton Medical Center at the age of 73 on September 20, 1974.
Related Materials:
The Archives of American Art also hold an oral history interview with James Edward Davis conducted 1971, August 10 by Paul Cummings.
Separated Materials:
The Archives of American Art holds microfilm of material lent for microfilming (reels N172, N68-86A, and N738) including sketches, designs, working papers related to Davis's art films, the John Marin letters, and drawings. Loaned materials were returned to the lender.
Provenance:
Sketches, designs, working papers related to Davis's art films, the John Marin letters, and drawings were lent for microfilming by James E. Davis in 1967 and 1968. Papers were donated in 1969 by James E. Davis and Rosalind Kossoff.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Photographers -- New Jersey -- Princeton Search this
James Edward Davis papers, circa 1917-1970 Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Half Century of Service! General Electric laboratory and research. General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY.
Printing Trades Show Stuff! The Sixth International Graphics Arts Exposition. International Amphitheater, Chicago, IL.
Boats Pressed While U Wait! Manufacturing fiberglass and plastic boats (molding).
Sidewalk Supers Move Indoors! Open house at Westinghouse Plant showing manufacturing of parts.
The Caddie's Delight! A golf club with an interchangeable head. Miami, FL.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Caterers to Combat Men! C-rations for military; food industry. Flotill Products Co., Stockton, CA.
Surface for Service! Manufacturing Textolite (plastic). General Electric Plant, Coshocton, OH.
Machine Age Underground! Manufacturing rock shovels. Eimco Manufacturing Co., Salt Lake City, UT.
Top Speed Turnaround! The "Queen of Bermuda" in port. Fast turnaround of cruise ship passengers and cargo. New York, NY.
Reference video, Box 3
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Aluminum-American Style! Manufacturing aluminum for industry. Harvey Machine Co., Torrance, CA.
Squeeze Play! Manufacturing plastic bottles. Plax Corp., West Hartford, CT.
New Life for the Land! Putting farmland back into production. Missouri Valley.
The Picture Age! Manufacturing photographic film and cameras. Ansco Manufacturing Co., Binghamton, NY.
Reference video, Box 3
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Jets For the Navy! Making the F-9-F Panther, the Navy carrier jet fighter. Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp., Bethpage, NY.
Scale Story! Using plastic and aluminum to make scales. Pelouze Manufacturing Co., Evanston, IL.
Twentieth Century Apprentices! Local industries, labor unions, and educators cooperate in apprenticeship program. Vocational Trade High School, Springfield, MA.
Beyond the Water Main! Manufacturing water pumps. F. E. Myers and Brothers Co., Ashland, OH.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Clearing the Air! Electronic air purifying unit cleaning the air at Children's Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. Museums and libraries use air purifiers. Trion, Inc., McKees Rock, PA.
Plastic Age Anniversary! Manufacturing and fabricating polyethylene and polyestyrene house wares. Injection molding. Rogers Plastic Corp., West Warren, MA.
The Super-Cementers! Oil well cementing for more productive oil wells. The Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Co., Duncan, OK.
Horns Aplenty! Manufacturing automobile horns. Women assemblers. Cattle calling horn. Jubilee Manufacturing Co., Omaha, NE.
Reference video, Box 4
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Scooters Come of Age! Manufacturing motor scooters. Cushman Motor Works, Lincoln, NE.
Doctors of Design! Design firm designed and furnished a house completely in plastic. Designing for synthetic materials. Lippincott and Margulies, Scarsdale, NY.
Landmarks for Lawyers! Shepherd's citations. Guides to laws and past legal cases. Colorado Springs, CO.
Artists in Glass! Stained glass. Jacoby Art Glass Works, St. Louis.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Chemicals from Corncobs! Manufacturing chemicals from corncobs. Quaker Oats, Omaha, NE.
A New Way of Living! New approach to city and community planning. Park Forest, IL.
Air Conditioned Motoring! Automobile air conditioning. Frigikar, Dallas, TX.
In the Bag! Manufacturing paper, textile and plastic bags. Bemis Bag Co., St. Louis, MO.
Harold Pratt's Travels! Ice cream salesman commutes to MA daily; food industry. Haddonfield, NJ.
Reference video, Box 5
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Emblem of Integrity! Manufacturing emblems. American Emblem Co., Utica, NY.
Window Dressing! Display and window dressing. Walter E. Zemitzsch Co., St. Louis.
Leather with Allure! Manufacturing leather for upholstery. NJ.
Woman on Her Way! Inventing by a housewife. Industrial Plastics, Inc., Cleveland, OH.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Prospecting With a Vacuum Cleaner! Recycling waste gold and making fountain pens. Schaeffer Pen Co., Fort Madison, IA.
Truckers Retreat! Retreat for truck drivers; transportation. Mason and Dixon Trucking Co., New Market, VA.
Reference video, Box 6
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Advancing with the Atom! Radioactive isotope laboratory and plant mutation project. University of Michigan Radiation Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI.
Versatile Plastic! Manufacturing cast plastic materials, including marbelized colored plants. Marblette Corp., Long Island, NY.
More Power to the Householder! Manufacturing snow shovels and power lawn mowers for small yards. Jacobsen Manufacturing Co., Racine, WI.
Taking Stock! Shareholders' meeting for Matson Lines held on board flagship Lurline.
Reference video, Box 8
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Man-made Plasma! Manufacturing synthetic plasma; blood supply. General Aniline & Film Corp., Grasselli, NJ.
Trailers on the Trail! Manufacturing trailers; transportation.
Marvelous Mildred! Plastic coating to protect tools and instruments during shipping. Female inventor and businesswoman.
Molding Men of Tomorrow! Orphaned children at work and school. Milton Hershey Industrial School, Hershey, PA.
Digital reference copy in Smithsonian Institiution DAMS
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
California Supplying pure water through private industry. San Jose Water Works Co., San Jose, CA.
Missouri Manufacturing safety equipment for power companies. A.B. Chance Co., Centralia, MO.
Ohio Laminating plastic and Formica for do-it-yourselfers. Formica Co., Cincinnati, OH.
New York Home baked beans processed in New York; food industry. Grandma Brown's Baked Beans, Mexico, NY.
Reference video, Box 10
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Pennsylvania John Stamy's electrified dairy farm. Newville, PA.
Oklahoma Petroleum industry campaigns against air pollution. John Zink Co., Tulsa, OK.
Missouri Manufacturing polyethylene plastic containers for food products; storage. Central States Paper and Bag Co. and Hunter Packing Co., St. Louis, MO.
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Missouri Manufacturing vending machines designed to handle perishable foods. Vendo Company, Kansas City, MO.
Massachusetts Manufacturing DevCon plastic-steel mixture. Chemical Development Co., Danvers, MA.
Kentucky Marketing research by Stewart Dougall and Associates, New York. General Electric, Louisville, KY.
Hawaii Growing, marketing, and processing Macadamia nuts; food industry. Honokaa, HI.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Oregon Combination boat and auto trailer invented by Dwight Johnson. Medford, OR.
Reference video, Box 10
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Florida Extracting tung oil from tung nuts. Nutmeg separated from the shell and refined. Spices; food industry. Southern Oil & Chemical Co., Brooker, FL.
Ohio Painting ashtrays and tumblers with company logos; house wares. Kemper-Thomas-Osborne Co., Cincinnati, OH.
New Jersey Manufacturing spinning reels for fishing rods. Lionel Corp., Irvington, NJ.
Reference Video, Box 11
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Michigan Company employs people who also work at other places. Shows versatility of Americans. Yale Rubber Manufacturing Co., Sandusky, MI.
New Jersey Uses of plastics. See-through plastic used for signs. Gooden Products Corp., Englewood, NJ.
Alabama Worker camaraderie at company retreat at Lake Mitchell; recreation. Alabama-Georgia Syrup Co., Montgomery, AL.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made directly with the Archives Center staff to view episodes for which no reference copy exists. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees will be charged for reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Industry on Parade Film Collection, 1950-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
