Collection Title: Records, 1913-1929

Record Group Number: 2-1.11

Volume: 18 boxes

Restrictions none

Biographical Note: William Joseph Martin, 1868-1943 was the tenth president of Davidson College. He was born in Columbia, Tennessee but his family moved to Davidson in 1870. His father, Col. William J. Martin was a professor of Natural Sciences at Davidson College and also served as acting president in 1887-1888. William Martin was graduated from Davidson in 1888 and earned an M.A. the following year. In 1890, he earned his M.D. degree from the University of Viriginia and in 1894 received a Ph.D. He returned to Davidson in 1896 as Chambers Professor of Chemistry, as position he held until 1912, when he became president of the college.
During his tenure as president the college experienced two major fires resulting in the loss of the Old Chambers Building and Watts dormitory. Martin also saw student enrollment double from 300 to over 600 students and expanded the faculty by fifteen additional positions despite the changes caused by World War I. In 1929, he retired from the presidency of Davidson and became the president of the Assembly Training School in Richmond, Virginia. Martin also served as moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U.S. and was active in the Laymen's Missionary Movement.

Scope Note: The collection consists primarily of correspondence including both incoming and copies of outgoing letters. As president, Martin corresponded with parents of students, students, and alumni. The correspondence with parents and students generally concerns academic preparation, discipline, and student activities. These letters also discuss conditions at the college during World War I and the Student's Army Training Corps. Correspondence with alumni frequently concerns references for jobs and graduate schools. In addition, there is extensive correspondence with college agents responsible for recruiting students and raising funds; with the presidents of other colleges, particularly Wake Forest, Hampton-Sidney, Trinity, William and Lee, and Hangchow Christian College, concerning such issues as hazing, debates, entrance requirements, and examinations; and with faculty about housing, hiring, and departmental needs. Specific departments mentioned in the collection include English, German, Theater, and Spanish. There are also letters from professional associations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, the Association of Southern Schools and Colleges, and the Southern Association of College Women and with various departments of the Presbyterian Church. There is also information concerning the establishing of a Phi Beta Kappa Chapter at Davidson, the activities of national and local chapters of the YMCA, and the founding of the Single Standard of Morals League of America by Edward B. Smith. Individuals represented in the collection include college personnel Cornelia Shaw, Walter Lingle, Mark Sentelle, and F.L. Jackson; former presidents John Bunyan Shearer and Henry Louis Smith; alumni and architect Robert F. Smallwood; Presbyterian Church officer Henry Hayes Sweets; and evangelist Billy Sunday.
In Box 1, folder A contains correspondence with C. B. Alexander, a blind student and accounts of the formation of the first Alumni Association chapter in Atlanta, Georgia. The folder Architects contains information about faculty homes and campus buildings.
In Box 2, Folder Ba-Bl has information on international students, limits on the college's baseball team games, the Roger Babson controversy within the Laymen's Missionary movement in 1921 correspondence with William Jennings Bryan, and teaching the Bible in public schools. Folder Ca-Can has correspondence related to Camp Sapphire in western North Carolina.
In Box 3, Folder Cas-Caz has correspondence concerning a discussion of the Catholic Church at the Presbyterian Conference in 1912. The Ch folder contains information related to the Presbyterian Christian Education and Ministerial Relief Committee and church attendance.
In Box 4, Folder Ci-Cl has information on class reunions, Coa-Col contains references to coal companies and the price of coal in 1914 and the Com-Cor has correspondence from the Commission on Interchurch Relations (1918-1919) and the Commission on Interchurch Relations. C. B. Craig was one of the recruiting agents for the college.
In Box 5, Folder Da has correspondence relating the transition of the Danville Military institute into a Presbyterian high school and a letter from J. W. Davis, a missionary in Soochow, China (1912). The Davidson College-General file has a typescript of "Laws Governing Internal Administration, 1912-13." These are student regulations described by Martin as?Almost none are new, but have been enacted from time to time for years past and never heretofore collected together.? There are also reports from the Sanitation committee and correspondence with other colleges, particularly concerning enrollment issues. The Davidson League folder concerns fund raising, while the Davidson's Water supply folder concerns both sanitation and fire protection. The correspondence with J. M. Douglas addresses some athletic issues while the letters from John L. Douglas concern college finances. The Dramatics folder contains correspondence with Edwin Shewmake on reestablishing drama on campus.
In Box 6, the EV folder has letters concerning evangelism within the Presbyterian Church and early concerns over the teaching of Evolution. The Fezter folder contains additional references to Camp Sapphire, while the Few folder has correspondence with the President of Trinity College. The Fi folder includes letters on college finances and firearms on campus. The Football folder has letters reflecting changes brought by WWI , particularly the issue of students playing on SATC teams and then going back to high school. The GE folder has correspondence with General Electric company.
In Box 7, the Gl-Go has correspondence with the glee club and the Gr folder has information on grading policies. The Ha-Ham folder has letters from W. C. Hammer, US Attorney discussing Davidson's status as a military program. The letters in the Hangchow Christian College folder discuss an advisory committee and finding teachers for the college. The Har folder has correspondence from J. M. Harden, a recruiting agent for school in 1912 and from J. C. Harper regarding plans for incorporating SATC training to the college programs.. The Houses folder has information on faculty housing and rentals of local homes.
In Box 8, the Hu folder has correspondence about fraternities on campus as of December 1918 and the qualifications required for joining. Folder I has letters concerning the Interchurch World Movement and the influenza epidemic of 1918. The Industrial Relations folder has correspondence relating to strikes and education. The Invitations folder contains requests to President Martin for speaking engagements and activities at other institutions .
In Box 9, the Ju folder has letters concerning Junior speaking. The Landscape Architecture folder has correspondence with John Nolen. The Laymen's Missionary Movement folder has general correspondence along with executive committee minutes. The LE folder has letters concerning the League of Nations and the League of Peace. The T. W. Lingle folder has letters from the professor while in Europe. The W. L. Lingle correspondence relates to Board of Trustee business, including decisions about SATC, filling vacant faculty positions, closing of fraternities and the future of the college.
In Box 11, the Colonel Martin folder contains testimonials to Martin's father. The Martin-Addresses Folder contains a typescript of "A Fundamental Factor in the Work of the church," while the Martin, Pres. WJ- Deeds refers to personal deeds to his family lots. The Finances file is strictly family accounts. The Family letters primarily concern his daughters' educations. The Letters -Cottages folder concerns private properties at Montreat and Blowing Rock and reflect family vacation patterns and practices. The Letters - General folder has correspondence with Cornelia Shaw concerning college and church matters. The Letters to Faculty contains references to opening of Laundry in 1920 and space issues.
The Personal letters folders contains additional correspondence with Cornelia Shaw on college business, insurance, and cottages. The Martin, W. J. Jr folders has letters to and from his son referring primarily to his college education. Harold Marvin was another college recruiter.
In Box12, the Mor-Moz folder contains correspondence with his sister Mrs. Sloop. The No folder has information on the North Carolina Medical College.
In Box 13, the Pe folder contains several student petitions to the college and to the Southern Railroad. The Pr folder has correspondence from various Presbyterian organizations and committees. The Re folder has letters relating to the establishment of Grey Road through the Reynolds property.
In Box 14, the Reports to Trustee file has a draft of the Nine Year Program proposal and Trustee correspondence in the Roddey file. The Capen Report on colleges in North Carolina contains a chart comparing various colleges in the state.
In Box 15, the S.A.T.C. folder contains information on the establishment of the program as well as letters concerning R.O.T.C and the hiring of military science professors. The Shewmake folder has correspondence discusses his hiring and English department. There are no theatre references in this folder. The Si folder has letters from the Single Standard of Morals League of America, while the Sl folder has correspondence with Louise Sloan (1914). The Egbert Smith correspondence relates to Executive Committee of Fforeign Missions of Presbyterian church in the US. The Henry L. Smith file has information on the presidential transition between Smith and Martin and SATC issues at Davidson and Washington and Lee.
In Box 16, the So folder has correspondence with Southern Railroad. The Student body, size of folder has letters from other colleges in response to Martin?s query about the best size for small college. The Su folder has Billy Sunday correspondence. The Sweets folder has letters concerning Presbyterian church committees, especially the Christian Education and Ministerial Relief Committee. The Synods folder has correspondence with the various synods supporting the college usually concerning the election of trustees. The Sw-Sz folder has letters from the Systematic Beneficence Committee.
In Box 17, the Trustees folder is mostly about appointments, with some letters on the condition of college, Annuity bonds and fund raising. The Tufts folder has correspondence from both the father and son. Tufts senior is president of Lees-McRae Institute, his son attended Davidson class of 1922. The U folder has letters concerning the United Missionary Campaign and the YMCA?s United War Work Campaign. The Vardell folder contains family correspondence concerning vacations and also some letters discussing issues at private colleges while Vardell was president of Flora McDonald College. F. P. Venable was president of UNC Chapel Hill and Wagner is a new professor of Public Speaking.
In Box 18, the Webb folder contains correspondence with the Congressional representative for district, the Whaling folder has correspondence with the president of Columbia Theological Seminary and the Wilson folder has more about college admissions and recruitment efforts. The Woodrow Wilson file contains letters discussing college plans related to the president inauguration. There is no correspondence from him The W. W.Wood file relates to the hiring of a professor of astronomy and the acquisition of equipment.

Subjects:
1. Davidson College - History
2. Shearer, John Bunyan, 1831-1918
3. Chambers Building (Old Chambers)
4. Fraternities - Academic
5. Phi Beta Kappa
6. Students
7. Watts Dormitory
8. World War I
9. Theatre Department
10. YMCA
11. Faculty
12. President's Office

Folders:

1. Ab- Ai
2. Alb-Ale
3. All-Ann
4. Ap-Au
5. Advertisements, 1912-1922
6. Alcohol, 1913
7. Annuities, 1920-1923
8. Arbuckler, H. B., 1912-1919
9. Architects, 1912-1923
10. Athletics, 1913-1922
11. Athletic Trophies, 1919
12. Automobiles on Campus, 1922-1923

Box 2
13. Ba
14. Bachelor's Club, 1920
15. Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, 1913-1923
16. Be
17. Bi-Bl
18. Boarding and Rooming Houses, 1912, 1920
19. Bo
20. Bra-Broo
21. Brow-Bry
22. Bu-By
23. Ca-Cand
24. Campaign Prospectus, undated
25. Campaigns: Greater Davidson Campaign, Dec. 1921 - March 1922
26. Campaigns: Greater Davidson Campaign, April 1 - August 1922
27. Campaigns: Greater Davidson Campaign, Sept. 1922 - Dec. 1922
28. Campaigns: Greater Davidson Campaign, Jan. 1923 - Feb. 1924
29. Campaigns: Million and a Half Campaign, 1912 - 1914

BOX 3
30. Campaigns: Million Dollar Campaign, 1919-1922
31. Campaigns: Twelve Million Dollar Campaign, 1919 - 1922
32. Ca - Can
33. Car - Carw
34. Cas - Caz
35. Ce
36. Cemetery, 12913-1914
37. Ch
38. Chalmers, D. M., 1920-1921 (YMCA)
39. Chambers Building Fire - Sympathy Letters, 1921
40. Chambers Building Fire - Sympathy Letters, 1921-1926
41. Chambers Building New, Correspondence 1922-1923
42. Chambers Building New, Correspondence, Hibbs, July - December, 1923
43. Chambers Building New, January - March, 1924
44. Chambers Building New, April - December, 1924

Box 4
45. Chambers Building New, January, 1925
46. Chambers Building New, February 1925
47. Chambers Building New, March - April 1925
48. Chambers Building New, May - December 1925
49. Chambers Building New, 1927 - 1929
50. Charter of D. C., 1912
51. Chase, H. W., Pres. Univ. of N. C., 1920-1923
52. Choi, Y. O., 1923
53. Civil War Years, 1913
54. Ci -Cl
55. Coa - Col
56. Cobb, J. O., 1912-1923
57. College Church, 1922
58. Com - Cor
59. Commencement, 1913-1923
60. Cook, W. T., 1912-1913
61. Cos - Cox
62. Craig, C. B.
63. Cra - Cray
64. Cri - Cru
65. Cu
66. Cumming, W. P., 1920-1921
67. Curriculum, 1913, 1922-1923

Box 5
68. Currie, A. L., 1920-1921
69. Currie, L. M., 1913-1923
70. Da
71. Dancing, 1921-1922
72. Davidson, Robert F., 1920-1923
73. Davidson, (Town and College), 1913, 1922
74. Davidson College - General, 1912-1913, 1918-1927
75. Davidson League, 1913-1914
76. Davidson - Water-supply, 1912 -1914, 1922-1923
77. Dawson, Edgar, 1912-1914
78. De
79. Debates and Debating, 1913-1921
80. Debating Cup, 1913
81. Diamond Club, 1920
82. Di
83. Do
84. Donaldson Military School, 1912-1913
85. Dormitory
86. Douglas, Dr. James M., 1912-1922
87. Douglas, Prof. John L., 1912-1921
88. Dramatics, 1920
89. Du - Dz
90. Dubose, W. H., 1912-1922
91. Duke Endowment, 1924-1929
92. Dunn, R. A., 1913, 1920-1923

Box 6
93. Ea
94. Ed
95. Eggleston, J. D., 1921-1923
96. Ei
97. El
98. Elm Trees, 1912
99. Endowments, 1912-1914
100. Entrance Requirements, 1912-1923
101. Er
102. Erwin, Prof. E. J. & Erwin, Mrs. E. J., 1914-1922
103. Ev - Ex
104. Examinations - Policies, Samples, Etc., 1912-1920 and undated
105. Fa
106. Fe
107. Fetzer, R. A., 1912-1914, 1922
108. Few, W. P., 1913-1922
109. Fi
110. Fl
111. Fleagle, Fred K., 1921
112. Fo
113. Football, 1913, 1919
114. Foreman, Kenneth J., 1912-1923
115. Forms, undated
116. Fr
117. Fraternities (General), 1912-1913
118. Fraternity Houses, 1913, 1921-1923
119. Fu
120. Fulton, M. G., 1912-1918
121. Ga
122. Ge
123. General Education Board, 1913, 1926-1928
124. Gi

Box 7
125. Gifts: Library, 1913-1928
126. Gifts: Miscellaneous
127. Gl - Go [Glee Club]
128. Gra
129. Gre - Gro
130. Gu
131. Gymnasium Tablet, 1923
132. Ha - Ham
133. Hangchow Christian College, 1918-1922
134. Har
135. Has - Haz
136. Hazing, 1912, 1918-1923
137. He
138. Heating System, 1912-1914, 1918-1923
139. Hi

Box 8
140. Hibbs, Henry C., 1922-1925
141. Ho - Hom
142. Hon - Hoy
143. Honor System, 1912-1913, 1920-1923
144. Honorary Degrees, 1910-1921
145. Houses, 1912-1920
146. Hu - Hug
147. Hui - Hy
148. I
149. Industrial Relations, 1914
150. Invitations, 1912 - 1913
151. Invitations, 1914-1923
152. Ja
153. Jackson, F. L., 1912-1913
154. Je
155. Jo -Joh

Box 9
156. Jon - Ju
157. Ka Ke
158. Kappa Alpha Fraternity, 1913, 1921
159. Kappa Sigma Fraternity, 1912, 1920
160. Ki
161. Kl - Kr
162. Lac - Lan
163. Land (College), 1912-1914
164. Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, 1922
165. Landscape Architecture, 1913-1920
166. Landscape Gardening, 1912-1923
167. Lap - Law
168. Laymen's Missionary Movement, 1912-1923
169. Le
170. Li
171. Library, 1919-1928
172. Library Expenditures (from other libraries), 1929
173. Library Reports, 1927-1928
174. Lingle, Thomas W., 1912-1919
175. Lingle, Walter Lee, 1912-1914
176. Lingle, Walter Lee, 1918-1920
177. Loan Funds, 1913
178. Lo - Lor

BOX 10
179. Lov - Ly
180. Ma - McCan
181. McCas - McCow
182. McCr - McCu
183. McConnell, J. Moore, 1912-1928
184. McConnell, J. Wilson, MD, 1912-1921
185. McDuffie - J. H., Jr., 1912
186. McKay, W. J., 1912-1913
187. McD - McDu
188. McE - McGil
189. McGir - McH
190. McI
191. McK
192. McL
193. McM - McN
194. McP - McW

BOX 11
195. Mab - Mall
196. Man - Mars
197. Mart - Mary
198. Martin, H. F., 1912-1913
199. Martin, Colonel William J., 1922
200. Martin, Pres. William J. - Addresses, undated
201. Martin, Pres. William J. - Articles for Davidsonian, 1919-1922 and undated
202. Martin, Pres. William J. - Deeds to Cemetery Lots, 1914-1929
203. Martin, Pres. William J. - Finances, 1914-1920
204. Martin, Pres. William J. - Family Letters (except Wlm. J. Jr.), 1920-1922
205. Martin, Pres. Willam J. - Honorary Degrees, 1913
206. Martin, Pres. William J. - Inauguration, 1913
207. Martin, Pres. William J. - Letters - Cottages, 1912-1914
208. Martin, Pres. William J. - General, 1910-1923
209. Martin, Pres. William J. - Letters of Congradulations,1912-1913
210. Martin, Pres. William J. - Letters to Faculty, 1920-1923
211. Martin, Pres. William J. - Personal Letters, 1912-1923
212. Martin, Pres. William J. - Trustee minutes (June 3-4, 1929) dealing with President's Retirement
213. Martin, William J., Jr. (son), 1920-1923
214. Marvin, Harold Myers, 1911-1921
215. Mas - Matth
216. Matti - Mau
217. Max - May
218. Mea-Mel
219. Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, undated

BOX 12
220. Memorial Services (WWI) and Memorials
221. Men-Met
222. Men-Met
223. Mic- Mills
224. Miln- Mis
225. Mitchell
226. Moc-Moon
227. Men-Met
228. Moore, A.C - Moore. J. P.
229. Moore, J. s. - Moore, W. W.
230. Mor- Mori
231. Morris - Mos
232. Mount Pleasant Collegiate Institute, 1914-1920
233. Mov-Mur
234. Na
235. Ne
236. Ni
237. No
238. N. C. University, Medical School, 1919-1923
239. Nu

Box 13
240. Oa-Orm
241. Orr-Ow
242. Pa
243. Patrons of Davidson College - Reports, undated
244. Pe
245. Pettengill, R. W., 1921-1922
246. Ph
247. Phi Beta Kappa, 1914-1923
248. Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, 1920
249. Pi
250. Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, 1913
251. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, 1913
252. Po
253. Porter, W. L., 1920-1921
254. Poteat,W. L., Pres. of Wake Forest, 1921-1922
255. Pr
256. Presbyterian Orphans' Home, 1912-1914
257. Presbyteries- Reports to, 1923-1928
258. Price
259. Professorships, Endowed, 1914-1921
260. Pu
261. Q
262. Ra
263. Re
264. Recruitment, Policies and Expenses, 1912-1913

Box 14
265. Report on the Colleges of North Carolina - Samuel Capen, 1915
266. Reports: to the Alumni, 1927
267. Reports: to the Board of Trustees, 1923-1928
268. Reports: to the Executive Committee, 1920-1927
269. Rh
270. Rhodes Scholarships, 1913-1922
271. Ri
272. Richards, C. M., 1913-1923
273. Richards, J. McD., 1920-1923
274. R. O. T. C. (Reserved Officers Traning Corps), 1918-1926
275. Robe-Robi
276. Robs-Row
277. Roads (Highways in and around Davidson), 1912-1923
278. Roddey, W. J. (Trustee of D. C.), 1912-1919
279. Ru

BOX 15
280. Sa
281. S. A. T. C. (Student's Army Training Corps), 1918-1921
282. S. A. T. C. Casualties
283. Sc - Se
284. Scholarships, 1912-1923
285. Sentelle, M. E., 1913-1923
286. Sha
287. Shaw, Cornelia, 1911-1929
288. She
289. Shearer, John Bunyan (Pres. 1888 - 1901), 1918
290. Shi - Shu
291. Shewmake, E. F., 1919-1923
292. Si
293. Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, 1921
294. Sl
295. Sloop, Mr. & Mrs. E. H., 1913-1923
296. Sm
297. Smallwood, R. H. (Architect), 1918-1923
298. Smith, C. A. (1884), 1912-1922
299. Smith, Egbert Watson (1882), 1912-1921
300. Smith, Henry Louis (1881), 1912-1913, 1918-1923

BOX 16
301. Sn - So
302. Societas Fratrum, 1914
303. Southern Student Conference, 1912-1923
304. Sp
305. Sprunt, Alexander (1875), 1912-1914
306. Sprunt, D. H., 1918
307. Sprunt, James, 1912-1923
308. Sprunt, James, Jr. (1922), 1918-1922
309. Sprunt, W. H. (Trustee), 1912-1913, 1920-1923
310. St
311. Stationery (Letterheads of Local and Business Organizations)
312. Student Body, Size of, 1922-1923
313. Su
314. Summey, George, Jr., 1920
315. Sweets, Henry H., 1912-1918
316. Sweets, Henry H., 1918-
317. Synods, 1912-1921
318. Sw - Sz
319. Ta
320. Te
321. Teachers Insurance & Annuity Assoc. (TIAA), 1921
322. Teachers, Training Of, 1921-1923
323. Teachers, Request For, 1912-1923

BOX 17
324. Th
325. Thomas, Lavens M., Jr., 1918
326. Ti
327. To
328. Tr
329. Trustees of Davidson College
330. Tu - Ty
331. Tufts - Rev. Edgar, 1912-1922
332. U
333. V
334. Vardell, C. G., 1912-1923
335. Venable, F. P., 1912-1914
336. Venable, J. G., 1921
337. Wa - Was
338. Wagner, R. H., 1922-1923
339. Wat - Waz
340. Watts, Mr. and Mrs. George W., 1912-1923
341. Watts Dormitory (1906) - Burned Feb 25, 1923 - New Watts, 1923
342. Wea- Wel
343. Wells, John D., 1912-1923
344. Webb, E. Y., 1918-1921
345. Wer-Wet

BOX 18
346. Wha - Whil
347. Whaling, Thornton, 1912-1923
348. White
349. Whitehead - Wig
350. Will
351. Williams, John P., 1912-1923
352. Wilb - Wilk
353. Wilcox, C. R., 1912-1922
354. Wilson
355. Wim - Wiz
356. Wilson, Woodrow, 1912-1914, 1918-1922
357. Wo - Wood
358. Wood, W. W., 1918-1922
359. Woodrow Wilson Foundation, 1921-1922
360. Wooda - Woodz
361. Wool - Woz
362. Wra - Wz
363. Wunder, C. N. (faculty)
364. Y

Oversize
365. Full page Advertisement, 19 September 1923