The Robert F. Davis Papers includes correspondence, high school summer workshop and North Carolina State University course materials, and a large series of article reprints that relate to the processing of glass and ceramics. The material dates from 1932 to 1992, and bulks in the two decades of his career as educator and researcher. Topics include his academic life and materials science engineering research and education.
Robert F. Davis is a native of Liberty, North Carolina. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Engineering (1964) from North Carolina State University, Masters of Science in Ceramic Engineering (1966) from Pennsylvania State University and his Doctorate in Ceramic Engineering (1970) from University of California - Berkeley. After graduating, Davis worked as a research scientist at Corning Glass Works in Corning, New York and in 1972 joined the faculty of North Carolina State University.
Davis' honors and awards for teaching include: the Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor, (1995) and the Distinguished Lecturer of the Troisieme Cycle de la Physique en Suisse Romande (1995). His honors and awards for research include: the ALCOA Award for Research Performance in a Given Year (1983), American Ceramic Society Fellow (1984), ALCOA Distinguished Research Award (1987), NC State University Alumni sponsored Outstanding Research Award (1990), Kobe Steel Ltd. Distinguished University Professor (1993), ORNL Excellence in Publications Award (1993), Richard M. Fulrath Memorial Award - American Ceramic Society (1997), Collegiate Inventor of the Year (1999), R.J. Reynolds Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Outreach (1999) and Davis was a fellow of the North Carolina Japan Center. One of Davis' most recognized achievements was being elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in the 2000-01 year for contributions in the development of silicon carbide and group III-nitrides as practical electronic materials for devices. An election to the academy remains one of the highest professional honors bestowed in the engineering disciplines. He was among 74 engineers and 8 foreign associates awarded NAE memberships that year. The award recognizes significant contributions to engineering theory and practice, and for pioneering advances in new and developing technologies.
Davis is internationally known with over 200 national and international publications ranging from articles to edited books. He has written in publications in Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, People's Republic of China, Portugal, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia/Slovenia. He also has over (50) fifty patents, patent applications and invention disclosures related to his field of Ceramic Engineering. His extensive research has led to collaborative efforts with a variety of departments, corporations and government agencies.
His research interests include the growth and characterization of semiconductors, ceramic thin films and ceramic coatings (for severe environments), kinetics and mechanisms of creep in ceramic materials, growth of unique pseudomorphic films, atomic layer epitaxy, metal-ceramic interface chemistry and adhesion science of metal, metal and ceramics and the mechanisms of plastic deformation in high technology ceramic materials. Davis' research teams have worked on projects that focus device-related research, the actual fabrication, characterization and control of working electronic, optoelectronic and electrical equipment and research involving coatings for employment as storage capacitors for next generation electrical vehicles, thermal and erosion barriers on selected components of turbine engines and for containing radioactive wastes.
The Robert F. Davis Papers was initially in binders with labeled dividers. This collection is arranged according to subject and/or type of document. This collection is divided into four series, mostly arranged according to subject. Included in the collection are professional correspondence (approx. 1973-1992) relating to Davis' responsibilities as professor and researcher, research notes and course materials for high school summer workshops and materials engineering classes taught by Davis (approx. 1971-1984) and numerous related articles (approx. 1932-1980). The Correspondence and High School Summer Workshop are arranged chronologically. The Course Material is arranged according to subject and the Articles are in original order according to subject.
The Correspondence series is a significant amount of letters that contains personal and professional correspondence. The second series, High School Summer Workshop includes paperwork, slides and photographs relating to this annual event. The third series, Course Materials encompasses educational lectures, research notes, exams and articles. The final series, Articles is the largest part of the collection that includes scientific articles and reports related to a variety of courses, some which are unidentified. The collection is divided among several topics pertaining to Material Engineering, specifically the technology concerning glass and ceramic processing, metal and alloys.
This collection is organized into four series: Correspondence, High School Summer Workshop, Course Materials, and Articles.
North Carolina State University does not own copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center are responsible for using the works in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.
[Identification of item], Robert F. Davis Papers, MC 00211, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Acquisitions not known, but the assumption is that Davis himself gave the collection. Accessions record shows that it was a gift and was received from Davis. Sheet is dated 4-6-93. Inventory worksheet notes "Donor: not known - self probably"
Gift of Robert F. Davis, 1993.
The collection is organized into four principal series:
The Correspondence series (1973-1992) includes several letters to other students, academicians, researchers, corporations and agencies. The correspondence is global. The content of the correspondence refers to reimbursements, conference information, courses, faculty input, potential faculty, visiting scholars, resumes, recommendations, referrals, grant and award information, potential research collaboration, relationships with corporations and government agencies, abstracts, journal and proposal submissions and questionnaires.
6 archival Boxes
Included with undated correspondence.
Included with undated correspondence.
Included with May, 1975 correspondence.
Included with May, 1975 correspondence.
Included with May, 1975 correspondence.
Included with May, 1975 correspondence.
Included with May, 1975 correspondence.
Included with May, 1975 correspondence.
Included with June, 1978 correspondence.
Included with June, 1978 correspondence.
Included with June, 1978 correspondence.
Included with June, 1978 correspondence.
Included with June, 1978 correspondence.
Included with June, 1978 correspondence.
Included with June, 1978 correspondence.
Included with June, 1978 correspondence.
Included with June, 1978 correspondence.
Included with June, 1978 correspondence.
Included with June, 1987 correspondence.
Included with June, 1987 correspondence.
Included with June, 1987 correspondence.
Included with June, 1987 correspondence.
Includes related correspondence from November 1987.
Includes related correspondence from December 1989.
The High School Summer Workshop series (1971-1976) includes curriculum information, brochures, forty-seven (47) slides and ten (10) photographs.
1 archival Box
slides
photographic prints
The Course Materials series (1971-1984) includes materials from six courses, primarily from 1971-1973 and 1978-1984. Most of the collection contains exams, assignments, course notes and related articles. The bulk is from MAT 540. The following course descriptions are from the 1972-73 North Carolina State University catalog. The descriptions appear to be the same past the date of the material in this collection.
MAT 201 Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials I An introduction to the fundamental physical principles governing the structure and constitution of metallic and nonmetallic materials of construction, and the relation of these principles to the control of properties.
MAT 310 Physical Examination of Materials (prerequisite 201) Experiments designed to demonstrate basic techniques in crystallography, X-ray diffraction, optical and electron microscopy (and thermal analysis - added in 1980).
MAT 311 Ceramic Processing I (prerequisite 201) A detailed study covering the basic chemical and physical laws underlying the processes and behavior of diverse ceramic composition in the sequential manufacturing operations required to produce ceramic materials with controlled properties. Included are such topics as size reduction, separation and analysis; particle packing, mixing, agglomeration, surface chemistry, rheology of liquid-solid and solid-polymer systems; and behavior of ceramics in a wide variety of forming processes.
MAT 435, 436 Physical Ceramics I, IIA project oriented course in which starting materials of various types of ceramic products are characterized including analysis of reactions, selection of processing parameters, processing measurement and properties appropriate to the ceramic analysis; and correlation of all materials and processing parameters with properties and microstructures. Projects are selected to exemplify characteristic types of ceramics. In 1980, the description is as follows: 435 - The physiochemical nature of classical and newly discovered ceramic materials. Emphasis on thermodynamics, crystal structure, structural imperfections and non-stoichiometry of ceramic compounds coupled with binary and multiple phase equilibria. Effects of these parameters on properties. 436 -Emphasis on thermal, mechanical, electrical and electronic properties of ceramic materials.
MAT 540 Glass Technology (Prerequisite 437) For graduates and advanced undergraduates.Fundamentals of glass manufacture including compositions, properties and application of the principal types of commercial glasses.
5 archival Boxes
Unit 7, Manufacture of Glass and Glass Articles (missing)
The Articles series (1932-1980) includes several articles, reports, speeches, research material, and agendas relating to science, technology and education in the United States. Some of them contain multiple languages, with English translation. They consist primarily of articles used in the development and teaching of his Glass Technology (MAT 540) Course. These articles were initially stored in binders and have been maintained in original order.
6 archival boxes
This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to digital files may require additional advanced notice.
For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.
Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111
Phone: (919) 515-2273
[Identification of item], Robert F. Davis Papers, MC 00211, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
North Carolina State University does not own copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center are responsible for using the works in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.