Davis had a life-long interest in the history of the West Indies and more specifically of Barbados, and this collection comprises a vast body of material gathered by him from archives in Britain, the Caribbean and Europe. He contributed many historical articles to newspapers and periodicals in British Guiana [Guyana], Barbados and the United States. His intention to compose a comprehensive history of the West Indies was frustrated by ill health. Titles and captions, including the names of institutions, have been recorded as found and may include language which is offensive, inaccurate or inappropriate. They have been retained to reflect the context of the collection's creation.