A. Kennard Davis Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection includes materials used or received by Arthur Kennard Davis in relation to the creation of his books, Breakers on the Reef (n.d.) and The Three Yard Ensign (1963). It includes carbon manuscripts and a proof copy, as well as letters from the author to de Grummond personnel. The collection is organized into two series by type of material, and it is contained in one box.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1963; undated
Conditions Governing Access
Noncirculating; Available for research
Conditions Governing Use
The collection is protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). Reproductions can be made only if they are to be used for "private study, scholarship, or research." It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials.
Biographical / Historical
Arthur Kennard Davis (1910- ) published his first book, The Gentle Captain, in 1954. Following this, Davis wrote at least four other books: The Three Yard Ensign (1963), Breakers on the Reef (n.d.), Isle of Adventure (n.d.), and A Farm in Cedar Valley (1947). Very little is known about Davis’s personal life. However, materials in the collection indicate that he and his wife Margaret spent most of their years at his office in Kenya and holidays in the U.K. At the age of 63, he started teaching at a primary school near Port Elizabeth but shortly afterwards, he moved into writing again when he lost this job. According to him, he always found the writing of children’s books far easier than getting them published. One difficulty he faced in writing in South Africa, was that the reading public was very small. Though he had intended on retirement from his work in Kenya in 1973 to settle in England, due to heath reasons he was advised to make South Africa his home and stay there. Despite his disability (Parkinson’s disease), which made it difficult for him to write, he continued writing at least till 1978.
Source: Collection materials.
Extent
.30 Cubic Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Arthur Kennard Davis
- Title
- A. Kennard Davis Papers
- Date
- 2019-07
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the de Grummond Childrens Literature Collection Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345
