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Learn from Yesterday, Preserve for Tomorrow: An Introduction to Local History (DavidsonLearns 2024)

A course guide for the Fall 2024 DavidsonLearns term

In this course, the Davidson College Archives and Special Collections team will introduce you to local history using materials housed in the college archives. Together, we will explore primary sources - including photographs, manuscripts, and artifacts - to share the past and preserve for the future.

Scenes from Davidson's History

Sepia photo of Davidson Main Street (1875)

Davidson Main Street (1875)

Grayscale photo of Davidson Main Street with Horses (1800s)

Davidson Main Street (1800s)

Sepia photo of Lake Wiley in Davidson (1890s)

Lake Wiley in Davidson (1890s)

Black and white photo of Davidson Railroad Depot with Two Men Standing in Front of It (1917)

Davidson Railroad Depot (1917)

Sepia photo of Davidson Main Street (1923)

Davidson Main Street (1923)

Black and white photo of Davidson Main Street (1940s)

Davidson Main Street (1940s)

Black and white photo of Davidson Main Street (1962)

Davidson Main Street (1962)

Black and white photo of Davidson Unity Church and Lingle Hut (undated)

Davidson Unity Church and Lingle Hut (undated)

Black and white photo of Davidson M&M Soda Shop (undated)

Davidson M&M Soda Shop (undated)

Davidson Postcard Featuring Lake Norman; the surrounding land is depicted as yellow (c. 1970)

Davidson Postcard Featuring Lake Norman (c. 1970)

Aerial View Lake Norman and the surrounding area (1974)

Aerial View of Davidson and Lake Norman (1974)

Advisory Statement

Advisory Statement

This site contains materials originally published in yearbooks, newspapers, and other Davidson College publications. You may encounter upsetting racist, oppressive, and outdated representations in these documents. They are included for historical accuracy and do not represent the views of the current Davidson College community, which honors the dignity of all persons and commits itself to a quest for truth and the building of a more just and humane future. The Archives, Special Collections, & Community staff acknowledges the need to provide additional context and continually strives in its work to use terms and representations that reflect the ways communities describes themselves today.

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