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DavidsonLearns (2023): An Exploration of Davidson History

This research guide includes readings, resources, and other notes related to the four week Davidson Learns course taught by Archives staff in Spring 2023. Information is primarily about the town of Davidson.

Week 2: 1880-1940

Session Date: March 7, 2023

Instructors: Jon Hill and Sara Swanson

About this Session: This week, we will discuss what it was like to live in Davidson during the period of 1880 to 1940. How did the town government ensure law and order? What did they do to develop infrastructure? We will also explore what kind of work people did during this period and what their social life was like.

Before this session, please browse the following newspapers and make note of what questions emerge about this period:

  • The Davidson College Enterprise (January 18, 1884)
    This newspaper was created by Robert Sparrow, a young man who lived in the Town of Davidson and later attended Davidson College.
  • The Davidson Leader (January 29, 1938)
    This newspaper was created by students at Davidson High School.

The social life primary source activity packets we will discuss in class are:

Sepia Photo of White Drug Co. with old cars parked in front (1927)

Photo of White Drug Co. with old cars parked in front (1927)

Black and white photo of a crowd of people looking toward a train coming towards a depot.

Crowd of people standing near railroad tracks, looking south toward a train coming towards depot. Smoke stack of asbestos plant in background.

Black and white photo of window of Jetton Drug Co. with wrapped boxes of chocolates on display

Photo of window of Jetton Drug Co. with wrapped boxes of chocolates on display (1914)

Black and white photo of Post Office and College Pharmacy

Photo of Post Office and College Pharmacy with old car and snow drifts in front (1933)

Sepia photo of a horse standing in front of a building that is on a dirt road; a sign says

Horse stands on a dirt road, in front of a building with a sign that says "Delicious and Refreshing"; this is a photograph of a postcard that was produced during the 1800's.

Slides

Davidson College Library Research Guides are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Mailing Address: Davidson College - E.H. Little Library, 209 Ridge Road, Box 5000, Davidson, NC 28035