Judge Ronald N. Davies Papers, 1905-2001

Judge Ronald N. Davies Papers

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Collection Overview

Title: Judge Ronald N. Davies Papers, 1905-2001

Predominant Dates:1955-1996

ID: OGLMC1087

Primary Creator: Davies, Ronald N. (1904-1996)

Extent: 7.5 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 01/27/1987. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Civil Rights, Legal, University of North Dakota - Alumni

Languages: English

Abstract

1904-1996; Handed down the 1957 decision in Aaron v. Cooper which forced integration of schools in Little Rock, Arkansas

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Judge Ronald N. Davies Papers have been divided into seven series:

Series 1: Little Rock Integration Case

Series 2: United States District Court for North Dakota

Series 3: Day Books

Series 4: Correspondence

Series 5: Biographical Materials

Series 6: Miscellaneous

Series 7: Photographs

Collection Historical Note

Ronald Norwood Davies was born December 11, 1904, in Crookston, Minnesota, the son of Norwood S. and Minnie M. (Quigley) Davies. He completed his elementary education at Crookston, as well as Fargo, North Dakota. In 1922 he graduated from Central High School in Grand Forks. Davies continued his education at the University of North Dakota where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Liberal Arts in 1927. Three years later, he received a law degree from Georgetown University, Washington DC.

Davies launched his long legal-judicial career in 1932 with his election as judge of the municipal court for Grand Forks, a position he held for eight years. The following year he was appointed to the North Dakota State Board of Pardons. In 1940, Davies went into partnership with lawyer Charles F. Peterson of Grand Forks.

The bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 interrupted Davies' career. He was called into military service in the United States Army on January 15, 1942 and entered as a first lieutenant. He was discharged from active duty October 7, 1946 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Following the war, Davies returned to private practice until June of 1955 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed him United States District Court Judge for North Dakota. Two years later, on August 26, 1957, Davies was temporarily assigned to the Eastern District of Arkansas where he handed down the now-famous decision, Aaron v Cooper, which ordered the racial integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The following year, Georgetown University honored Judge Davies for his "courageous decision" at Little Rock.

In 1966, Davies rendered another decision in what he termed "one of my most important cases," that of Stromsodt v. Parke-Davis and Company. The case, which was tried in Grand Forks, involved a damage suit against Parke-Davis, one of the nation's largest drug manufacturers, for an unsafe vaccine administered to Shane Stromsodt in 1959 at the age of five months. The child, who suffered irreparable brain damage, was represented by prominent torts attorney, Melvin Belli. On September 29, 1966, Davies awarded $500,000 to the seven year old Stromsodt.

On August 27, 1971, Davies achieved the status of Senior Judge. Some of the most significant opinions rendered by Judge Davies during his tenure include:

(1) Aaron v. Cooper, (Little Rock racial integration case), 156 F. Supp,. 220, Sept. 21, 1957, affirmed sub non Faubus v. United States 254 F. 2d 797, April 28, 1958, cert. denied. 79 S. Ct. 49 358 U.S. 829, 3 L. Ed. 2d. 68, Oct. 13, 1958.

(2) New York Life Insurance Company v. Dick, 252 F.2d 43, Feb. 7, 1958 reversed 79 S.Ct. 921, 359 U.S. 437, 3 L.Ed.2d 935, May 18, 1959.

(3) Stromsodt v. Parke-Davis and Company, 257 F.Supp. 991, Sept. 29, 1966, affirmed 411 F.2d 1390, June 9, 1969.

(4) Merchants National Bank and Trust Co. of Fargo v. United States, 272 F. Supp. 409, Sept. 11, 1967.

In civic affairs and professional organizations, Davies was quite prominent. In 1933-1934 he served as president of the Grand Forks Cavaliers, (forerunner of the Junior Chamber of Commerce). Also during the 1930s he served as president to the North Dakota Young Men's Business Association. In 1947 he became Executive Director of the North Dakota State Bar Association and in 1953 he was elected president of the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce. During the early 1950s Davies was a member of the faculty of the School of Law at the University of North Dakota.

Beginning in the 1930s, Davies has held membership in the following organizations: the Grand Forks Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, the Elks, the American Red Cross, Sigma Nu (social fraternity), the Order of the Coif (honorary society for attorneys), the Grand Forks County Bar Association, the North Dakota State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

On October 10, 1933, Davies married Mildred M. Doran. They had five children: Timothy, Thomas, Mary Jo, Catharine, and Jean. In 1961 the Davies Family attended graduation ceremonies at the University of North Dakota for three particularly rewarding reasons: Timothy received a Juris Doctor degree from the School of Law; Thomas earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Judge Davies delivered the commencement address and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree from the School of Law.

Judge Davies was honored with the Sioux Award by the UND Alumni Association in 1979 and was elected into the UND Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980. He received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Award from the North Dakota Peace Coalition in 1986, and, in 1987, he received the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, North Dakota’s highest honor.

Mildred Davies died April 17, 1994, while Judge Davies died April 18, 1996 in Fargo. On August 6, 2001, the Grand Forks Federal Building was renamed and dedicated in his honor.

Subject/Index Terms

Civil Rights
Legal
University of North Dakota - Alumni

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals:

Additional materials were donated by:

Sandy Slater, Department of Special Collections, in 1998 (99-2310), August 2001 (2001-2528), and January 2003 (2003-2590)

Ardell Tharaldson, United States District Court, Bismarck, North Dakota, in August 2001 (2004-2703)

Connie Nelson, Fargo Public Schools, on June 25, 2013 (2013-3236)

Rosi Kloberdanz, North Dakota University System, in November 2013 (2013-3236)

Katie Davies Mark, West Fargo, North Dakota, on December 22, 2017 (2017-3369)

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Ronald N. Davies, Fargo, North Dakota

Acquisition Method: Donation; 87-1500

Separated Materials: The Road to Little Rock, One Judge. Nine Students: The Courage and Conviction of Judge Ronald Davies. VideoArts Studio: Fargo, 2013. (DVD)

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Judge Ronald N. Davies Papers. OGLMC 1087, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Processing Information: Additional materials were processed by Sonya Hegel, Special Collections Student Assistant, in February 2017, and by Curt Hanson, Department Head, in May 2018.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in June 2014.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Little Rock Integration Case],
[Series 2: United States District Court for North Dakota],
[Series 3: Day Books],
[Series 4: Correspondence],
[Series 5: Biographical Materials],
[Series 6: Miscellaneous],
[Series 7: Photographs],
[All]

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

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Digital Finding Aids