Archie Royal Davis Papers 1926-1980

Archie Royal Davis (1907-1980) was born in Morehead City, North Carolina, and attended Morehead City Schools until 1926. He earned an architecture degree in 1930 from North Carolina State College and an engineering degree from the University of North Carolina in 1934. In 1936, Davis married Frances Carlton. The couple had two daughters, Frances and Charlotte. Three years later, Davis established his own architectural firm in Durham, North Carolina. His projects and designs included private residences, businesses, and churches throughout Durham, Orange, Wake, and Carteret counties in North Carolina. Beginning in 1948, Davis also served for many years as the Orange County School Architect. Davis joined the American Institute of Architects in 1944. He later served as secretary and treasurer of the North Carolina Chapter of the organization and as president of the local society. Davis also served on the North Carolina Board of Architecture from the mid-1960s until 1979. He served as executive director of the Southern Conference of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and was an active member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the North Carolina Society of Engineers, the Durham Council of Architects, and the Durham Engineers Club. Davis served on the Durham Planning and Zoning Commission and Durham County Stadium Authority, and was a member of the Durham Chamber of Commerce, the Committee of 100 of Durham, the Allied Arts of Durham, the Parents and Teachers Association, and The Greater Morehead City Chamber of Commerce. He was affiliated with the Trinity Methodist Church as well as a variety of social organizations and fraternal orders, professional and educational foundations, and the Occoneechee Council of the Boys Club of America. Archie Royal Davis died in October 1980.

The Archie Royal Davis Papers chiefly comprise architectural drawings and office records representing about 550 projects of Durham, North Carolina, architect and engineer, Archie Royal Davis (1907-1980). Most projects were in North Carolina and many involved schools, churches, and public buildings. Also included are correspondence and other material from professional and civic organizations in which Davis was active, particularly the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its North Carolina Chapter, the North Carolina Board of Architecture, and the Planning and Zoning Commission of Durham.

The collection is organized into three series:

• Office Records and Drawings
• Professional Association and Civic Organization Files
• Photographic Materials

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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], Archie Royal Davis Papers, MC 00241, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Gift of Mrs. Archie Royal Davis of Durham, North Carolina, received 23 January 1981.

Processed by Cilia Golas, 1999 April;

Encoded by Kellie Strickland, 2008 June

This collection was processed with support from the Council on Library and Information Resources Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives program.