Judge Ronald N. Davies Papers, 1905-2001

Collection Overview

Abstract

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Little Rock Integration Case

The primary focus of the Judge Ronald N. Davies Papers regards the Little Rock racial integration case of 1957. This case, legally known as Aaron vs. Cooper, constitutes the first series. It includes transcripts, briefs, depositions and other legal documents concerning the case as well as individual testimonies and investigative reports produced under the direction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This series also contains correspondence that reflects, in large measure, the temper of the nation in the fall of 1957. Much of the correspondence, primarily letters and telegrams received, is critical of Judge Davies' decision in favor of immediate integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Yet, the files also hold a number of congratulatory notes and letters of support.

Box 1

Folder 1: Little Rock US District Court - Eastern District of Arkansas, Western Division Court Calendar, Fall 1957

Folder 2: Little Rock- Aaron v. Cooper, Civil Case 3113, Judge Ronald N. Davies, August- September 1957

Folder 3: Little Rock- Smith v. Faubus, Civil Case 3415, Judges Davies, Miller and Oosterhout, August- September 1957

Folder 4: Little Rock- Jackson v. Kuhn and Walker, Civil Case 3445, Judge Ronald N. Davies, October - November 1957

Folder 5: Little Rock- Aaron v. Cooper, Civil Case 3113, Judge Harry J. Lemley, February 1958

Folder 6: Little Rock- Transcript of Proceedings and Related Papers, September 1957

Folder 7: Little Rock- Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Justice - Affidavits and Statements, Index., September 1957

Folder 8: Little Rock- Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Justice - Affidavits and Statements, #1-10, September 1957

Folder 9: Little Rock- Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Justice - Affidavits and Statements, #11-20, September 1957

Folder 10: Little Rock- Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Justice - Affidavits and Statements, #21-30, September 1957

Folder 11: Little Rock- Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Justice - Affidavits and Statements, #31-40, September 1957

Folder 12: Little Rock- Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Justice - Affidavits and Statements, #41-50, September 1957

Folder 13: Little Rock- Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Justice - Affidavits and Statements, #51-59, September 1957

Folder 14: Little Rock- Federal Bureau of Investigation-Reports, Section One, Investigative Period - pp. 1-144, September 4-9, 1957,

Folder 15: Little Rock- Federal Bureau of Investigation-Reports, Section Two, Investigative Period - pp. 145-348, September 4-9, 1957

Folder 16: Little Rock- Federal Bureau of Investigation-Reports, Section Three, Investigative Period - pp. 349-501, September 4-9, 1957

Folder 17: Little Rock- Federal Bureau of Investigation-Reports, Miscellaneous, Investigative Period - pp. 1-33, September 4-9, 1957

Folder 18: Little Rock Correspondence - "Critical", 1957-1959

Folder 19: Little Rock Correspondence - Replies Sent, September 4-6, 1957

Folder 20: Little Rock Correspondence - Replies Sent, September 7-9, 1957

Folder 21: Correspondence - Replies Sent, September 10-12, 1957

Folder 22: Little Rock Correspondence - Replies Sent, September 12-20, 1957

Folder 23: Little Rock Correspondence - Replies Sent, September 21-30, 1957

Folder 24: Little Rock Correspondence - Replies Sent, October 1-15, 1957

Folder 25: Little Rock Correspondence - Replies Sent, October 16-31, 1957

Folder 26: Little Rock Correspondence - Replies Sent, November-December 1957

Folder 27: Little Rock Correspondence - Replies Sent, 1958

Folder 28: Little Rock Correspondence - Replies Sent, 1959-1960

Folder 29: Little Rock Correspondence - Answered in Person, September 4-October 10, 1957

Folder 30: Little Rock Correspondence - Unanswered, 1957-1962

Box 2

Folder 1: Little Rock Correspondence - Awards, Honors, Speaking Engagements, 1957

Folder 2: Little Rock Correspondence - Awards, Honors, Speaking Engagements, 1958-1960

Folder 3: Little Rock Correspondence - Georgetown University "Outstanding Alumnus" Award, February-August, 1958

Folder 4: Little Rock Correspondence - Miscellaneous, 1957-1963

Folder 5: Little Rock Davies Scrapbook (photocopy), 1957

Folder 6: Olney, Warren, "A Government Lawyer Looks at Little Rock", October 3, 1957

Folder 7: Silverman, Corinne, "The Little Rock Story", February 1958

Folder 8: Little Rock - Miscellaneous, undated

Box 5

Folder 8: Program for "The Road to Little Rock" at Bismarck State College, September 20, 2013

Folder 9: "The Road to Little Rock" Educational Curriculum, created by Video Arts Studios and Fargo Public Schools

Chester Fritz Auditorium program, September 23, 2013

Elementary viewers guide, 2013

Secondary viewers guide, 2013

Folder 10: Correspondence, 1957-1958, 1971-1977

Series 2: United States District Court for North Dakota

The second series contains the legal records of some of the cases heard before Judge Davies in the United States District Court for North Dakota dating from 1956 to 1978. Each case file generally contains transcripts, memorandums, orders, briefs, depositions, correspondence, notes and other related papers. This series includes the documents of the 1966 civil suit -- Stromsodt vs. Parke-Davis and Company; a case in which Judge Davies rendered a landmark decision in terms of damages awarded.

Box 2

Folder 9: U. S. District Court- Southeastern Division, Blanche Dick v. New York Life Insurance Company, Civil Case 3187, 1956

Folder 10: U. S. District Court- Southeastern Division - Jackson v. United States of America, Civil Case 3530, February 1958

Folder 11: U. S. District Court- Northeastern Division - Robertson Lumber Company v. Wilshire Contractors, et al, Civil Case 3883, 1961-1968

Folder 12: U. S. District Court- Northeastern Division - Western Mutual Insurance Company v. Harlan Gregerson, et al, Civil Case 4121, 1965

Folder 13: U. S District- Northeastern Division- U.S. v. Henry E. Gourneau, Criminal Case 9140, 1965

Folder 14: U. S District- Northeastern Division- Stromsodt v. Parke-Davis and Company, Civil Case 3992, 1967-1969

Folder 15: U. S. District Court- Southeastern Division- U.S. v. Fay Heasley, et al, Civil Case 3602, 1966

Folder 16: U. S. District Court- Southeastern Division - George Howard Hall and Ruth Hall v. U. S., Civil Case 4214, 1966-1967

Folder 17: U. S. District Court- Southeastern Division, U.S. v. Lee A. Tarvestad and George A. Wyum, Criminal Case 9171, 1966-1967

Folder 18: U.S. District Court- Southeastern Division, U.S. v. Lee A. Tarvestad and George A. Wyum, Criminal Case 9171,, 1967-1969

Folder 19: U. S. District Court- Southeastern Division, Tennefos Construction Co. v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, Civil Case 4166, 1967

Folder 20: U. S. District Court- Northeastern Division, Thordarson v. International Harvester Company, Civil Case 4272, 1968

Folder 21: U. S. District- Southeastern Division, U.S. v. Larry Spencer Wilson, Criminal Case 9197, 1968

Folder 22: U. S. District Court- Southeastern Division, State Farm Mutual v. Northwest Leasing Corporation, et al, Civil Case 4265, 1968-1969

Folder 23: U. S. District Court- Southeastern Division, Timothy C. Jochim v. Major John P. McAnaw, et al, Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, 1969

Folder 24: U. S. District Court- Southeastern Division, U.S. v. -Michael A. Bearghost and Inard Jackson, Criminal Case 9335, 1969

Folder 25: U. S. District Court- Southeastern Division -Harriet Schmitz, et al v. St. Luke's Hospital, Inc., et al, Civil Case 4217, 1970

Folder 26: U. S. District Court- Northeastern Division -Kim Marie Spicer, et al v. Parke-Davis and Company, Civil Case 4244, 1970

Folder 27: U. S. District Court- Southeastern Division- U.S. v. William G. Lyons, Criminal Case 9395, 1971

Folder 28: U. S. District Court- Northeastern Division - U.S. v. Maureen Rose Littlewind and Patricia Marie Johnson, Criminal Case 9401, 1971

Box 3

Folder 1: U. S. District Court- U.S. v. John F. Trudel, Criminal Case 77-3007-01, April - December 1977

Folder 2: U. S. District Court- Southeastern Division - Merchants National Bank and Trust Company of Forgo v. U.S. (Newgard Case), Civil Case 4185, November - December 1978

Folder 3: U. S. District Court- Court Orders, 1966

Folder 4: U. S. District Court- Court Orders, 1967

Folder 5: U. S. District Court- Court Orders, 1968

Folder 6: U. S. District Court- Court Orders, 1969

Folder 7: U. S. District Court- Court Orders, 1970

Folder 8: U. S. District Court- Court Orders, 1971

Folder 9: U. S. District Court- Jury Instructions, 1955-1956

Folder 10: U. S. District Court- Jury Instructions, 1957

Folder 11: U. S. District Court- Jury Instructions, 1958

Folder 12: U. S. District Court- Jury Instructions, 1959-1965

Folder 13: U. S. District Court- Jury Instructions, 1966-1970

Folder 14: U. S. District Court- Memoranda for Criminal Trials, 1956-1960

Folder 15: U. S. District Court- Opinions, 1966-1967

Folder 16: U. S. District Court- Civil-Miscellaneous, 1957-1969

Folder 17: U. S. District Court- Criminal-Miscellaneous, 1959-1964

Folder 18: U. S. District Court- Criminal-Miscellaneous, 1965-1967

Folder 19: U. S. District Court- Criminal-Miscellaneous, 1968-1971

Folder 20: U. S. District Court- Criminal-Miscellaneous, 1972-1980

Folder 21: U. S. District Court- Grand Jury and William R. Mills, 1961

Folder 22: U. S. District Court- Miscellaneous, Undated

Folder 23: U. S. District Court- District of Arizona-Warren v. Cardwell, Civil Case 78-85, February 10, 1978

Folder 24: U. S. District Court- Professional Correspondence - Chief Judge Edward J. Devitt, 1980-1981

Folder 25: U. S. District Court- Professional Correspondence - Miscellaneous, 1958-1982

Folder 26: U. S. District Court- Judicial -Miscellaneous, Undated

Folder 27: U. S. District Court- News Clippings -Miscellaneous, Undated

Folder 28: U. S. District Court- North Dakota Federal Judges -Biographical Information, Undated

Series 3: Day Books

The third series consists of Judge Davies' personal "Day Books." The daily entries are usually brief and recount the day's activities, weather conditions, important events in Davies' family life, and world affairs. The day books date intermittently from 1942 to 1983.

Box 4

Folder 1: Day Book, 1942

Folder 2: Day Book, 1943

Folder 3: Day Book, 1944

Folder 4: Day Book, 1945

Folder 5: Day Book, 1954

Folder 6: Day Book, 1957

Folder 7: Day Book, 1976

Folder 8: Day Book, 1977

Folder 9: Day Book, 1978

Folder 10: Day Book, 1979

Folder 11: Day Book, 1980

Folder 12: Day Book, 1981

Box 5

Folder 1: Day Book, 1982

Folder 2: Day Book, 1983

Series 4: Correspondence

The fourth series consists of the Davies's correspondence, both personal and professional.

Box 5

Folder 11: General Correspondence, 1916, 1929

Folder 12: General Correspondence, 1953-1959

Folder 13: General Correspondence, 1960-1963

Folder 14: General Correspondence, 1964-1966

Folder 15: General Correspondence, 1967-1969

Folder 16: General Correspondence, 1970-1972

Folder 17: General Correspondence, 1973-1976

Folder 18: General Correspondence, 1977-1979

Folder 19: General Correspondence, 1980

Folder 20: General Correspondence, 1981-1985, 1995

Folder 21: General Correspondence, undated

Folder 22: Invitations, 1957-1965

Folder 23: Invitations, 1966-1979

Folder 24: Correspondence with Marance and Thomas Brunn, 1967-1974

Davies' niece; daughter of Beryl Davies and William O'Connor

Folder 25: Correspondence with Maya Cooley, 1972-1983

Folder 26: Correspondence with Minnie Davies, 1959-1974

Davies' mother

Folder 27: Correspondence with Meredith Ewens, 1967-1970

Davies' niece; daughter of Beryl Davies and William O'Connor

Folder 28: Correspondence with Lois Glessner, 1967-1972

Davies' sister

Box 6

Folder 1: Correspondence with Beryl (Davies) O'Connor, 1958, 1967-1972

Davies' sister

Folder 2: Correspondence with Beryl (Davies) O'Connor, 1973-1980

Davies' sister

Folder 3: Correspondence with Beryl (Davies) O'Connor, undated

Davies' sister

Folder 4: Correspondence with Jean (Davies) and Martin O'Connor, 1968-1972

Davies' daughter

Folder 5: Correspondence regarding Joseph L. Reilly, 1943, 1979

Davies served with him in the Second World War

Folder 6: Correspondence with Louise Willingham, 1978-1979, 1984

Davies' friend from Lakehurst, New Jersey

Series 5: Biographical Materials

This series consists of various biographical materials regarding Judge Davies.

Box 5

Folder 3: "North Dakota U. S. District Court Judges" by Ardell Tharaldson, 2000

Folder 4: Grand Forks Herald Clippings, 2000

Folder 5: Photocopied Scrapbook, 1957-1958

Folder 6: Newspaper Clippings, 1955-1957

Folder 7: Newspaper Clippings, 1971-1997, undated

Box 6

Folder 7: Genealogical Materials regarding the Davies Family

Folder 8: Baptismal Certificate, 1905

Folder 9: Military Service, 1929-1965, 1973

Folder 10: Induction as a Federal Judge, 1955

Folder 11: UND Commencement Speech and Honorary Degree, June 1961

Folder contains a letter from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to Davies dated 21 June 1961; during his commencement speech, Davies spoke favorably of Hoover for his anti-Communist views and actions

Folder 12: Retirement/Senior Judge Status, 1969-1971

Folder 13: UND Sioux Award, 1979

Folder contains a letter to Davies from Era Bell Thompson, UND Alum and editor of Ebony magazine. The letter is from July 1979 and praises Davies for being given the Sioux Award. Thompson writes: "Congratulations! You deserve every bit of it. And although you treat the 1957 desegration decision as casual, it still stands out in the minds of every black person in America."

Folder 14: UND Athletic Hall of Fame, 1980

Folder 15: Georgetown University Honorary Degree, 1982

Folder 16: Death and Funeral, 1996

Folder 17: "Judge Ronald N. and Mildred Davies Memorial Endowment" at the University of North Dakota Foundation (pamphlet)

Folder 18: Ronald N. Davies Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Grand Forks, 2001

Dedication program and newspaper clippings

Series 6: Miscellaneous

Box 6

Folder 19: Text of Speech Delivered at Elks Memorial Service, December 1966

Folder 20: Plaque Presented to Davies from Richard Held, Special Agent in Charge, Minneapolis F.B.I., June 26, 1971

"In Appreciation for the Loyal Support He Has Given to Law Enforcement"

Folder 21: Sertoma Freedom Award Plaque Presented to Davies by the Fargo-Moorhead Sertoma Club, 1973

Folder 22: Text of Speech Delivered at the Silver Anniversary Celebration for Father Tim Noah, Roseau, Minnesota, June 1975

Folder 23: Pembina Trail Award Plaque Presented to Davies by the Red River Valley Heritage Society, 1988

Folder 24: Certificates

Item 1: Order of the Coif, 1953

Item 2: Sigma Nu Fraternity, 1969

Item 3: Federal Bar Association, 1977

Series 7: Photographs

Box 6

Folder 25: Dated Photographs of Davies (1-10)

Photograph 1: Davies while a Student at UND, circa 1926

Black and white group photograph, 3x5 inches; Davies is in the front row, second from the left

Photograph 2: Davies from the Second World War, circa 1945

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches; Davies in the front row on the far right

Photograph 3: Unknown group photograph, March 22, 1954

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches; Davies is standing on the right, immediately behind the first row

Photograph 4: Davies and family returning home from Little Rock, October 1957

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches; Davies, Jean Davies (daughter), Mildred Davies (wife) and lawyer Norman G. Tennyson disembark from a train

Photograph 5: Portrait of Davies, circa 1955

Black and white photograph; 8x10 inches

Photograph 6: Davies at unidentified luncheon, May 29, 1959

Black and white photograph; 8x10 inches

Photograph 7: Davies at unidentified luncheon, May 29, 1959

Black and white photograph; 8x10 inches

Photograph 8: Davies with his sons Timothy and Thomas, 1963

Black and white photograph; 8x10 inches

Photograph 9: Davies in courtroom, December 1966

Color photograph; 3x3 inches

Photograph 10: Davies in chambers, December 1966

Color photograph; 3x3 inches

Folder 26: Dated Photographs of Davies (11-20)

Photograph 11: Unidentified group of judges, August 16, 1968

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches; the photograph includes Davies, who is seated in the back row on the far right. The photograph was given to Davies by Federal Circuit Court Judge Myron Bright

Photograph 12: Davies at the grave of Michael Thomas Noah, August 1969

Color photograph, 3x3 inches

Photograph 13: Davies at Davies family grave plot, August 1969

Color photograph, 3x3 inches

Photograph 14: Davies at a memorial sculpture in cemetery, August 1969

Color photograph, 3x3 inches

Photograph 15: Davies at a memorial sculpture in cemetery, August 1969

Color photograph, 3x3 inches

Photograph 16: Davies and unidentified man, August 1969

Color photograph, 3x3 inches

Photograph 17: Davies and unidentified woman, August 1969

Color photograph, 3x3 inches

Photograph 18: Davies and unidentified woman in the living room of a house, Summer 1970

Color photograph, 3x4 inches

Photograph 19: Davies at a church service, September 30, 1970

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches; many clergy members are in the photograph, including bishops and priests

Photograph 20: Davies and unidentified man, October 1971

Color photograph, 3x4.5 inches

Folder 27: Dated Photographs of Davies (21-30)

Photograph 21: Davies, circa 1971

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches

Photograph 22: Davies in chambers, circa 1971

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches

Photograph 23: Davies, circa 1971

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches

Photograph 24: Davies in chambers, circa 1971

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches

Photograph 25: Unidentified group photograph, October 23, 1972

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches. Davies is in the first row, on the far left, while North Dakota Governor Bill Guy and United States Senator Quentin Burdick are in the second row. The other people in the group are identified on the back of the photograph.

Photograph 26: Davies visiting Oliver Urness (Mahnomen, Minnesota) in a hospital, 1972

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches

Photograph 27: Davies at a luncheon, October 1973

Color photograph, 3.5 x 3.5 inches

Photograph 28: Unidentified group visiting a Veterans Administration hospital in Fargo, November 1973

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches; Davies is in the middle of the first row, while United States Senator Quentin Burdick is on the far left in the first row

Photograph 29: Davies visiting with a patient at the Veterans Administration hospital in Fargo, November 1973

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches

Photograph 30: Davies at a dinner party, October 1973

Color photograph, 3.5 x 3.5 inches

Folder 28: Dated Photographs of Davies (31-40)

Photograph 31: Davies, his mother Minnie, and unidentified man, July 1, 1979

Color photograph, 3x3 inches

Photograph 32: Davies in chambers, September 1979

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches; the photographer was Robin Selvig of the UND Office of University Relations

Photograph 33: Mildred Davies, UND Athletic Director Carl Miller and Davies at the UND Athletic Hall of Fame Induction, September 1980

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches

Photograph 34: Davies and H.C. Warren, May 1, 1981

Color photograph, 3.5x5 inches

Photograph 35: Davies and H.C. Warren, May 1, 1981

Color photograph, 3.5x5 inches

Photograph 36: Davies in chambers, July 21, 1981

Color photograph, 3x3 inches

Photograph 37: Judge Edward Devitt, Davies, and Judge George MacKinnon, 1981

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches

Photograph 38: Davies reclining in his living room, March 5, 1983

Color photograph, 3x3 inches

Photograph 39: Lillian Witmer and Davies cut a cake at 75th Anniversary reception for Synergoi (UND student group), October 12, 1985

Color photograph, 4x6 inches

Photograph 40: Portrait of Davies, circa 1985

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches

Folder 29: Undated Photographs of Davies (41-50)

Black and white photograph, 5x7 inches

Photograph 41: Unidentified man and woman with Davies at a meeting of an Elks Lodge

Black and white photograph, 5x7 inches

Photograph 42: Davies administering the oath of office to Postmaster G.F. Paul

Black and white photograph, 3x3 inches

Photograph 43: Davies and United States Senator Quentin Burdick visiting a patient in the hospital

Black and white photograph, 3.5x5 inches

Photograph 44: Davies, wearing a tuxedo, and an unidentified woman

Black and white photograph, 3x5 inches

Photograph 45: Davies relaxing in a chair by a fireplace

Color photograph, 3.5x4 inches

Photograph 46: Davies and Hal Davies (uncle) share a laugh

Color photograph, 3.5x5 inches

Photograph 47: Davies with an unidentified young woman

Black and white photograph, 4x4 inches

Photograph 48: Davies shaking hands with an unidentified man wearing a UND medal

Black and white photograph, 3.5x5 inches

Photograph 49: Two unidentified men with Davies at an event at the Fargo Holiday Inn

Color photograph, 3.5x5 inches

Photograph 50: Davies in chambers

Color photograph, 3x4 inches

Folder 30: Undated Photographs of Davies (51-57)

Photograph 51: Unidentified man with Davies

Black and white photograph, 2x2.5 inches; photograph possibly taken when Davies was a student at UND

Photograph 52: Davies at an unidentified gathering

Color photograph, 3.5x5 inches

Photograph 53: Davies relaxing in front of a Christmas tree

Color photograph, 3x3.5 inches

Photograph 54: Davies with three unidentified men

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches

Photograph 55: Davies with four unidentified men

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches; the person in the middle might be Dean Olaf Thormodsgard of the UND Law School. The back of the photograph has a stamp indicating "Lee-Evanson Studio, Grand Forks, N. Dak."

Photograph 56: Davies with a group of unidentified men at a luncheon

Black and white photograph, 8x10 inches

Photograph 57: Unidentified man, US Supreme Court Judge Harry Blackmun and Davies

Color photograph, 8x10 inches; the photograph was signed by Justice Blackmun, although the writing is somewhat faded

Folder 31: Other Photographs (58-64)

Photograph 58: Minnie Davies (mother), Christmas 1983

Color photograph, 3.5x5 inches

Photograph 59: Minnie Davies (mother), November 21, 1983

Color photograph, 3.5x5 inches

Photograph 60: Minnie Davies (mother), November 21, 1983

Color photograph, 3.5x5 inches

Photograph 61: Minnie Davies (mother), Davies, and two unidentified women

Color photograph, 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Photograph 62: Lisa Noah, 1981

Color photograph, 5x7 inches; Noah is the niece of John Noah, who served as Davies's law clerk at Little Rock

Photograph 63: Matt, Chris and Erick Jones (Pat Jones family), Christmas, no year listed

Color photograph, 3x5 inches

Photograph 64: John Deutch

Color photograph, 3.5 x 4.5 inches