Guide to the Davidson Family papers
Finding aid prepared by Ashley Toutain
University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections
Copley Library
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110
Telephone: 619-260-2730
Email: spcoll@sandiego.edu
© 2018
Overview of the Collection
Title:
Davidson Family papers
Date (inclusive): 1903-2018
Date (bulk): 1908-1978
Collection number: USDSC_2018_001; USDSC_2018_002
Creator:
Davidson, Ethel Helena, 1885-1906
Davidson, Frederick Arthur, 1906-1968
Wagner, Mary Davidson
Extent:
1 box plus 3 oversize boxes, (3.5 linear feet)
Repository:
University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections
Copley Library
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110
Abstract:
The Davidson Family papers include photographs taken and correspondence written during Ethel Helena Davidson's time as
an American Expeditionary Force nurse in France during World War I and Frederick Arthur Davidson's time in the United States
Army between the 1920s and 1950s. Also includes a scrapbook of Ethel's war experience and army records for each of them.
Languages:
English
Biographical Note
Ethel Helena Davidson born January 9, 1885 in Belleville, Hastings, Ontario, Canada. She moved to the United States in 1900,
and in 1906 earned her Registered Nurse Certificate from the University of the State of New York, Albany. She then worked
as a nurse in a hospital and lived with her mother and six siblings in Rochester, New York. In 1917, Ethel began serving in
the US Army Nurse Corps. She was assigned to the Base Hospital, Unit 36, American Expeditionary Force in France. She was relieved
of active service in April 1919. Ethel died on April 28, 1950 in La Jolla, California.
Frederick Arthur Davidson was born on January 17, 1906 in Rochester, New York. He joined the US Army at the age of 17. He
was stationed in Panama in the 1930s with the US Army Signal Corps. While in Panama, he built a boat he named Gulliver. In
1942 he was assigned as an Ordnance Officer in the US Eighth Air Force in Bushy Park, Widewing, England in charge of the ammunition
section. While there he met Joan Hale, with whom he married in 1943. Joan and Frederick had two children, Mary and Dale. Frederick
was reassigned to the United States in 1947. He was stationed at Muroc Army Base in the Mojave Desert to clear unexploded
bombs used for bombing practice during World War II. He then served in the Korean War between 1951 and 1953. He retired from
the Army in 1955.
After serving in the Army, Joan and Frederick purchased a house in San Clemente, California. Frederick built a 24 foot fishing
boat which he named "Mary Kathleen." Joan and Frederick's son Dale attended the University of San Diego and married 1967 USD
Associated Students President Joylee Loftis. Frederick died April 28, 1968 in San Diego, California. Joan died July 8, 1978.
Scope and Content Note
This collection consists most prominently of the materials of Frederick Arthur Davidson and Ethel Helena Davidson. Frederick
Davidson was the nephew of Ethel Davidson. Mary Davidson Wagner, daughter of Frederick Arthur Davidson, compiled the collection.
Among Ethel Davidson's materials are records pertaining to her time working as an Army nurse in France during World War I.
These include photographs, letters, poetry, war records, and her discharge papers. Also included is a photograph album of
family, friends, and fellow nurses, as well as a scrapbook of her time in France during the war. The scrapbook includes newspaper
clippings, photographs, letters, drawings, and poetry. Records of Ethel's fight to receive a pension for her service in the
War are also included.
The materials of Frederick Davidson consist primarily of correspondence and photographs documenting his time in the US Army
from the 1930s into the 1950s. These photographs and letters pertain to Frederick's service in World War II and the Korean
War. The bulk of the correspondence is with Frederick's sister, Bernice, though not exclusively. Correspondence with friends
and other family members is also included. Stationed in England during the 1940s with wife Joan, topics include what life
was like in England during the war, impending air raids, life with their new-born son, Dale, and Frederick's desire to build
a boat. Photographs and correspondence reveal Frederick's nicknames: to his army comrades, he was known as Dave, and to his
family he was Fritz. This collection also includes correspondence and photographs of Joan Hale Davidson.
Arrangement
Records remain in original order.
Access
This collection is open for research.
Preferred citation
[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, Davidson Family papers, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Mary Davidson Wagner in June 2018. Additional materials donated by Mary Wagner in July 2018.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Ashley Toutain in 2018.
Materials have been rehoused in alkaline folders. Folder titles have been transcribed exactly from the original. When no folder
title was given, brackets [] have been used to describe included items.
Removed or Separated Material
Oversize materials have been separated from their original folder location and stored in oversize (Box 2) for preservation
purposes. Record has been made of the original location.
Index Terms
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Davidson, Ethel Helena, 1885-1906
Davidson, Frederick Arthur, 1906-1968
Wagner, Mary Davidson
Davidson, Joan Hale, 1919-1978
Matteson, Bernice (Davidson), 1898-1964
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Davidson family
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Vittel (France)
Rochester (N.Y.)
Bushy Park (London, England)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1914-1918.
World War, 1914-1918--Women.
Military nursing--Europe, Western--History--20th century.
Nursing--United States--History.
World War, 1939-1945.
Korean War, 1950-1953.
United States. Army.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Nursing.
Military
Subjects and Indexing Terms
scrapbooks
photograph albums
Box 1, Folder 1
[Ethel and Frederick Davidson biographies. Compiled by Mary Wagner],
2018 June
Box 1, Folder 2
Frederick Davidson (Joan),
1908-1968
Scope and Content Note
[Materials include photographs of Fred and other soldiers dating from the 1920s to the 1950s. These include photographs taken
while in the Army in Panama and Korea. Includes letters between Arthur Davidson, Ethel's father, and Ethel, letters written
to Bernice, and other family members, as well as a childhood photograph of Frederick. Also includes a 1960 letter from William
Wharton, Jr. about working at Comboni College Khartoum in Khartoum, Sudan. A friend of Frederick, this is a rather extensive
letter documenting Sudan and the College.]
Box 1, Folder 3
Frederick Davidson,
1942-1944
Scope and Content Note
[Includes correspondence from Joan and Frederick to Bernice and family documenting life in England, air raids, and life with
their new child, Dale.]
Box 1, Folder 4
Correspondence (Citizenship-Mrs. Davidson) (Personal),
1903,
1935-1968,
2004
Scope and Content Note
[Primarily consists of army and citizenship records for Frederick.]
Box 1, Folder 5
[Letters from Fred and Joan],
1941-1944
Scope and Content Note
[Includes correspondence from Joan and Frederick to Bernice and family.]
Box 1, Folder 6
Joan Davidson,
1922-1978
Scope and Content Note
[Includes photographs of the Hale and Davidson families, photographs taken at Frederick's funeral, and Joan's death and funeral
records.]
Box 1, Folder 7
Joan Hale Davidson,
1944 May,
1971
Scope and Content Note
[Includes letter from Joan to Bernice and photograph of Joan.]
Box 1, Folder 8
Arthur Davidson,
1945-1946
Scope and Content Note
[Includes correspondence between Ethel and Arthur as well as family photographs.]
Box 1, Folder 9-11
[Ethel Davidson],
1917-1951
Scope and Content Note
[Includes photographs of family, friends, and fellow nurses, correspondence and records pertaining to Ethel’s time as a nurse
during World War I, Ethel's Army Discharge papers, and requests for pension. Also includes Ethel's army bracelet, and collected
poetry.]
Box 2, Item 2
Photograph Album,
circa 1917-1919
Box 2, Item 4
Charcoal portrait of Frederick Davidson,
undated
Box 2, Item 5
Ethel Davidson Registered Nurse Certificate,
1906 March 12
Box 2, Item 6
Photograph Album,
1920s
Scope and Content Note
[Photograph album belonging to friend of Frederick Davidson from Davidson's first enlistment in the Army. The album includes
photographs of soldiers during their free time and aerial photographs of the US Capitol building, Mt. Vernon and Grant's Tomb.
Accompanied by a description and history of the album from donor Mary Davidson Wagner.]
Box 3, Item 1
Wood paneling piece, Benedictine Monastery, Worchester England,
Carved into the wood is the date AD 1261
Scope and Content Note
[Paneling from the Friars chamber, brought from Worcester, England by Thomas Hale when he came to the United States in 1947.
Accompanied by a description and history of the album from donor Mary Davidson Wagner.]
Box 3, Item 2
Plaque for Percy Elgin Davidson. Shaped like a ship wheel and reads "He Died for Freedom and Honor",
undated
Box 4, Item 1
Metal box which contained Frederick's Army records,
undated
Scope and Content Note
[Accompanied by a biography of Frederick Davidson from Mary Davidson Wagner.]
Box 4, Item 2
Mary Kathleen Hale Certificate of Citizenship,
1919 July 25
Box 4, Item 3-4
Frederick Davidson Army Records,
1937-1970
Scope and Content Note
[Includes Joan and Frederick's Marriage Certificate and Joan's Passport.]
