Skip to main content

Nicholas Darnell Davis collection

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/RCMS 259

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates

  • Creation: 1752 - 1915

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Biographical / Historical

Nicholas Darnell Davis (1846-1915) was born in Grenada, and spent brief periods in Mauritius and Sierra Leone, but his main public career was in British Guiana [Guyana], where he served as Postmaster General (1876-1881), Comptroller of Customs (1881-1895), and Auditor-General (1895-1908).

Extent

15 archive box(es) (15 boxes) : paper/photograph

Language of Materials

English

Dutch; Flemish

Former / Other Reference

MSS 7

Other Finding Aids

Donald H. Simpson, ed., 'The manuscript catalogue of the library of the Royal Commonwealth Society' (London, 1975), p. 139-40.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Presented by Nicholas Darnell Davis around 1915.

Bibliography

Davis wrote 'Cavaliers and roundheads of Barbados' (Demerara, 1883) which drew upon sources within the collection.

General

This collection level description was created by NE and MJC.

Originator(s)

Davis, Nicholas Darnell, 1846-1915, historian

Includes index.
Date
2007-02-09 09:11:11+00:00
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom