Jonathan O. Davis

Jonathan Ogden Davis (JOD) was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 15, 1948 to E. Mott Davis (EMD) and Beth Odgen Davis. The family moved to Austin, Texas, in 1956 where E. Mott Davis became a professor of anthropology at the University of Texas, Austin. Jonathan Davis received a B.A. cum laude in anthropology and geological sciences from the University of Texas, Austin in 1969; an M.S. in geology from the University of Idaho in 1974; and a Ph.D. in geology, also from the University of Idaho, in 1977. His dissertation topic was "Quaternary Tephrochronology of Lake Lahontan, Nevada and California."

Davis was a geoarchaeologist and a research professor of geology at the Quaternary Sciences Center of the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Reno, Nevada. Over the course of his career, Davis was also a taught geology at the University of Nevada, Reno; and was a geological/archaeological consultant for the United States Geological Survey, private research companies and several universities. He was a co-founder of the Nevada Archeological Survey, a collaborative organization of archaeologists who contracted to evaluate cultural sites. He published extensively and frequently presented professional papers on archaeological and geological investigations, tephrostratigraphy and tephrochronology, and other aspects of environmental history of the Great Basin region. He was one of the first researchers allowed into the Mount St. Helens area after that volcano erupted in May, 1980.

Davis was a member and officer in many professional organizations, including the Geological Society of America, American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Friends of the Pleistocene, Nevada Archaeological Association, Nevada Am-Arcs, Northwest Scientific Association, Society for American Archaeology, and the Society of Professional Archaeologists.

When Davis was a student at the University of Texas, Austin, he was a member of the U.T. Students for a Democratic Society and participated in the Vietnam March on Washington, D.C., in November, 1965. He was a member of the University Speleological Society and continued his interest in cave exploration in later years, doing considerable caving in Mexico.

Davis was a pilot of both small craft and gliders. He lived in Silver City, Nevada, with his second wife, Sandra L. Powers and served on the Lyon County Mining Ordinance panel, the Silver City Town Advisory Board, and the Silver City Junior Ski Program.

Davis was killed in an automobile accident on December 14, 1990 which was caused by a drunken driver. He was survived by his wife Sandra Powers, father and mother, and brother Hugh Davis.

Scope and Content

The records of Jonathan O. Davis were donated to the Special Collections Department by Dave Rhode of the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in October, 1998. The collection consists of both professional records and Davis' personal papers and amounts to thirteen cubic feet, dating from 1908-1990; bulk dates, 1961-1990.

The collection documents Davis' professional career through materials related to his research projects, articles and other writings, professional associations, field notes and research data, and professional correspondence. Davis' personal life is represented by personal correspondence both to and from Davis and an interesting group of materials related to his involvement as a student in the anti-Vietnam War movement and the Students for a Democratic Society organization. There are legal documents such as his birth certificate; diplomas; and marriage, divorce, and annulment papers which provide a encapsulated view of marriage and divorce in the early 1970s. His career and personal interests can be followed through Davis' resumes and vitae, pilot's flight logs, files for Silver City civic organizations, genealogical materials, and personal journals and calendars.

The bulk of the professional portion of the collection consists of Davis' project files for work undertaken in the Great Basin of the American west, both as a private consultant and as a researcher for the DRI. Many of these projects resulted in professional publications, some of which are represented in this collection in Series II, Articles (both published and unpublished). Many of Davis' works can also be found cataloged as individual monographs in the University of Nevada, Reno, library catalog. Davis' vita (found in Series VII) lists those publications to 1985.

Davis, in addition to being a researcher at DRI, taught classes at the University of Nevada, Reno. The bulk of the documentation for this area of his career consisted of student exams, research papers, and final grade forms. Final grade forms were discarded because student grades are considered confidential. The student exams were also discarded; research papers were retained.

Davis' professional materials also contained correspondence, most of which dealt with administrative topics. Davis served on a number of DRI academic committees which are documented through this correspondence.

The materials reflecting Davis' personal life contains significant correspondence from his parents, E. Mott and Beth Ogden Davis, and from friends representing several phases of Davis' life. The correspondence from friends is interesting because it reflects many attitudes of the 1960s and 1970s on the topics of the Vietnam War, drugs, drinking, and rejections of traditional political authority. Likewise, documents connected with Davis' brief, first marriage and subsequent divorce and annulment reflect changing attitudes of the 1970s toward those institutions.

The collection included several cubic feet of photographs, most of which were transferred to the photographic archives of the Special Collections Department. In addition, photographs were occasionally found in folders in several series; they have been left within the folders.

The records of Jonathan O. Davis have been divided into the following series and subseries:

1. Professional Activities
   • Subseries 1.   Projects - General
   • Subseries 2.   Volcanic Ash Research
   • Subseries 3.   Caltech Microprobe
   • Subseries 4.   Soil
   • Subseries 5.   Sedimentation
   • Subseries 6.   Core
2. JOD Articles and Writings
   • Subseries 1.   Published Articles
   • Subseries 2.   Unpublished Articles
   • Subseries 3.   Professional Papers
   • Subseries 4.   Drafts
3. Professional Organizations
4. Student Papers
5. Field Notes and Research Data
   • Subseries 1.   Field Notes
   • Subseries 2.   Research Data
6. Professional Correspondence
   • Subseries 1.   From JO
   • Subseries 2.   To JOD
7. Personal Materials
   • Subseries 1.   Correspondence
   • Subseries 2.   General Materials

98-36/1   Series 1. Professional. 1971-1990.   6.5 cu. ft.

This series contains files for specific research projects in which Davis participated and research on the following topics: volcanic ash, the Caltech Microprobe, soil, sedimentation, and core [testing]; those topics represent separate subseries within Series 1. The contents of the project files, Subseries 1, vary but may include unit level records, catalog records for found objects, site maps, summaries of faunal remains, reports, photographs, notes and charts, correspondence, proposals, prospectus, agreements, and field notes. The sites investigated are identified either by Bureau of Land Management or Nevada State Museum site number, or by specific site name. Files with site numbers are arranged chronologically and are filed in the first part of the subseries; files for sites with names are arranged alphabetically and follow those which are identified by number.

All sites but one are located within the Great Basin region of Nevada, southern Idaho, and southeastern Oregon. Significant projects include 26 PE 670 (Rye Patch), the Black Rock Desert, Borealis Mine, Cariguela Cave (Spain), Gatecliff Shelter, Hidden Cave, Lahontan Lake and Basin, Last Supper Site, the Nevada Test Site, Pebble Mounds, Pyramid Lake, Railroad Valley, Summer Lake, Lake Tahoe, Valmy, Walker Lake and River, and Yucca Mountain.

The contents of Subseries 2-6 vary, but in general consist of research materials, some correspondence, and notes.

98-36/I/1

Subseries 1. Projects - General.

Box 1

I/1/1	26 PE 118. Black Rock Desert.
I/1/2	B.O.D. map.
I/1/3	26 PE 670. Rye Patch Reservoir. Budget.
I/1/4	Daily log & field, September 21, 1980; Unit Level Record, 1979 & 1980; reference number & log.
I/1/5	Data, 1980-1982.
I/1/6	Data, 1983.
I/1/7	Data, 1984.
I/1/8	Drafts & references, draft pp.8-17.
I/1/9	Logs, profiles, September 24 - October 2, 1983.
I/1/10	Maps.
I/1/11	PE 670 (also PE 360 & PE 450). Notes & charts, 1979-1980.
I/1/12	Photos & specimen.
I/1/13	Proposal & notes.
I/1/14	Reference numbers 3001-3052. 1983.
I/1/15	Reference numbers 3053-3098. 1983 season; surface & level records, profiles.
I/1/16	Report - draft. 1983 Excavations.
I/l/17	Correspondence.
I/1/18	PE 670a. Transit readings, 1980.
I/1/19-22	Abiquiu:
I/1/19	Computer commands.
I/1/20	Computer printouts.
I/1/21	Correspondence & notes.
I/1/22	Providence data codes; Debitage, 1984.
I/1/23-24	Albert Lake:
I/1/23	Correspondence, 1982, 1984; Projected budget.
I/1/24	Notes, prospectus, proposals. 1981, 1983.
I/1/25	AMAX-Alum - correspondence.
I/1/26	[Black Mtn] - TM Research proposal[?], pp.6-23.
I/1/27-29	Black Rock Desert:
I/1/27	Landset prints
l/1/28	Maps & charts.
I/1/29	Report.
I/1/30-31	Black Rock Mapping Project (26 HU 629):
I/1/30	Correspondence.
I/1/31	Notes, proposal, estimated budget.
I/1/32-37	Borealis Mine:
I/1/32	Climate data. Nevada, California, Oregon.
I/1/33	Copy of field notes
I/1/34	Graphics.
I/1/35	Proposal, agreement
I/l /36	Reports.
I/1/37	Soil profile, tephra lists, notes
1/1/38	Burnt Cabin Lake Site - notes. n.d.
1/1/39	Burnt Cabin Valley - Report draft.

Box 2

I/1/40-43	Cariguela Cave, Spain:
I/1/40	Correspondence.
I/l /41	Map.
I/1/42	News clipping.
I/1/43	Proposal.
I/1/44	Carson City Report NDOT-260 R1.
I/1/45-46	Carson Desert:
I/1/45	Proposal.
I/1/46	Report. SAR Request.
I/1/47	Carson River Study - Sample list, map, bibliography.
I/1/48	Chamokane Delta.
I/1/49	Churchill Co. Project, 1990-1991.
I/1/50	Crater Lake - Notes. 1982.
I/1/51	Crouise Lake - Correspondence, Report/draft. 1989.
I/1/52	Dames & Moore Coso 87 - Correspondence, field notes, map.
I/1/53	Dunes project - Notes.
I/1/54	Eagle Lake - Report, profiles, reference.
I/1/55	Earth Power - Correspondence/report; Site survey records; expense list.
I/1/56	EOS - Proposal, meeting notes, bibliography, maps, budget.
I/1/57	Eolian.
I/1/58-60	EPSCoR:
I/1/58	Correspondence.
I/1/59	Notes, meeting minutes.
I/1/60	Program solicitation.
I/1/61	Non-EPSCoR budgets.
I/1/62	Fallon Leaf notes.
I/1/63	Fallon NAS Geothermal - Project description, budget, meeting notes, comments on report.
I/1/64	Field Notes - Covey C.K.
I/1/65	702 N [Dating?]
I/1/66-75	Gatecliff:
I/l/66	Administration.
I/1/67	Correspondence.
I/1/68	Data report, 1978.
I/1/69	Data, notes, unused draft.
I/1/70	Field notes for pub. article. v.59 chap.4.
I/1/71	Old draft.
I/1/72	Proposal to the National Science Foundation: Thomas, David Hurst. The Paleoecology and Paleoethnography of Gatecliff Shelter. Nevada. The American Museum of Natural History.
I/1/73	Gatecliff. Report by Sanders & Stroh.
I/1/74	Gatecliff 1. Nevada Archaeological Survey 26 NY 301.
I/1/75	Gatecliff 2.

Box 3

I/1/76-77	Geomagnetic National Science Foundation grant:
I/1/76	Proposal & grant awarded. 0-1-331-5120-825.
I/1/77	Notes, correspondence, publ. report, brief for meeting.
I/1/78-80	Great Basin Climate Change Group:
I/1/78	Correspondence, proposal.
I/1/79	Draft.
I/1/80	Climate notes. n.d.
I/1/81-82	Gund Ranch:
I/1/81	Correspondence.
I/1/82	Reports, 1980, 1982; brief, n.d.
I/1/83-85	Hawkins:
I/1/83	Data, maps, photos.
I/1/84	Microfiche scam; budget.
I/1/85	Notes, reports.
I/1/86-91	Hidden Cave:
I/1/86	Ambrose cells, correspondence.
I/1/87	Field notes.
I/1/88	News clipping.
I/1/89	Notes, sediment analysis, map.
I/1/90	Photos.
I/1/91	Report/draft.
I/1/92	Hi Rock Lake - Brandon Curry.
I/1/93	Humboldt.
I/1/94	Katzer-Bell ID Project.
I/1/95	Lahontan Basin - References.
I/1/96-98	Lahontan, Lake:
I/1/96	Climate, correspondence.
I/1/97	Proposal, notes, maps.
I/1/98	Report: Davis, J.0. Paleoecology of Lake Lahontan. May 13, 1975.
I/1/99	Lake Tahoe - Review draft. See also "Tahoe."
I/1/100-105	Last Supper:
I/1/100	Correspondence.
I/1/101	Graphics & maps.
I/1/102	Field book, data; letter with 2 photos; photos list.
I/1/103	Layton Ms.
I/1/104	Notes; High school field work plan.
I/1/105	Reports.
I/1/106	LULK [unable to identify acronym].
I/1/107	Mohawk Valley.
I/1/108	Mono Craters - Proposal, correspondence, site records, research.
I/1/109-110	Mormon Mountains:
I/1/109	Correspondence.
I/1/110	Report, notes, revisions, draft final report.
I/1/111-112	Mount Jefferson.
I/1/113	Muddy Creek - Plan, budget, proposal.
I/1/114	Nellis Fault Study.
I/1/115-118	Nevada Test Site:
I/1/115	Security instructions, two brochures.
I/1/116	Lead study.
I/1/117	Radionuclide transport.
I/1/118	Soil pits.
I/1/119-120	Nevada Test Site, Mercury Hazardous Waste Dump:
I/1/119	Bibliography, references.
I/1/120	Correspondence, budget.

Box 4

I/1/121-126	Nevada Test Site, Mercury Hazardous Waste Dump:
I/1/121	Data.
I/1/122	Maps & graphics.
I/1/123	Notes/meetings, briefing report.
I/1/124	Regulations & OSHA report.
I/1/125	Report by Jay Quade.
I/1/126	Reports/drafts.
I/1/127-128	Pebble Mounds:
I/1/127	Proposal, invoice, report, references.
I/1/128	Photos.
I/1/129-132	Pebble Mounds, Water Harvesting:
I/1/129	Data, charts. 1984-1985.
I/1/130	Proposal, plans, notes. 1984-1985.
I/1/131	Proposal, report, budget. 1987-1989.
I/1/132	Pebble Mounds, con't. Reports. 1984-1985.
I/1/133	Pedoturbation.
I/1/134	Pinon-Juniper.
I/1/135	Pollen.
I/1/136	Proposal 8306165/Rejected: "220,000 Years of Climatic Change and Magna Evolution in Southern Oregon". Jan/Feb 1983.
I/1/137-139	Pyramid Lake:
I/1/137	Coring.
1/1/138	Davis-Dansic Project - correspondence; spectra of fossils.
1/1/139	General.
I/1/140-147	Railroad Valley:
I/1/140	26   NY 1908.
I/1/141	Administration.
I/1/142	Correspondence, contract numbers, proposal.
I/1/143	Field sheets.
I/1/144	Mohawk.
I/1/145	Old draft.
I/1/146-147	Notebooks.

Box 5

I/1/148	Red Smoke Grant.
I/1/149-150	Ruby Lake. 1985, n.d.
I/1/151-153	Ruby Valley:
I/1/151-152	General.
I/1/153	5 gravel pits, 1 fishery expansion. June 11-12, 1985.
I/1/154-159	Rye Patch:
I/1/154	General.
I/1/155	Data, samples, legends for maps.
I/1/156	Maps.
I/1/157	Proposals: addendum & budgets.
I/1/158	Reports.
I/1/159	Tectonics article, proposal.
I/1/160	Salmon Run.
I/1/161	Saval.
I/1/162	Smith Creek Project - Cave Tephra.
1/1/163-165	Southwest Division, Corps of Engineers:
I/1/163	Bibliography.
I/1/164	Figures & maps.
I/1/165	Ironmetal studies; notes, agenda.
I/1/166-167	Southwest Div., C.O.E., Paleoenvironmental:
I/1/166	Arkansas Archaeological Survey Database.
I/1/167	Proposal, correspondence.
I/1/168	Spectral end-member mixing.
I/1/169	Speleogenesis.
1/1/170	Squaw Creek Ash Loc. Project.
I/1/171	Steamboat - correspondence.
I/1/172	Stillwater.
I/1/173-184	Summer Lake:
I/1/173-174	General.
I/1/175	1987.
I/1/176	Correlation article.
I/1/177	Notes.
I/1/178	NSF.
I/1/179	NSF funded property.
I/1/181	Proposal.
I/1/182	Proposal EAR 8313225/Acceptance. May 1983
I/1/183	Tephra.
I/1/184	Tephra GSA paper.

Box 6

I/1/185	Sunshine Well.
1/1/186-190	Tahoe [see also "Lake Tahoe]:
I/1/186	Cores.
I/1/187	Dam Cores.
I/1/188	Shorelines Papers.
I/1/189	Treaty Hill.
I/1/190	Tuledad.
I/1/191-194	Valmy Project:
I/1/191-192	General.
I/1/193	Proposal.
I/1/194	Tephra.
I/1/195-196	Walker Lake:
I/1/195	Cores.
I/1/196	Landset prints.
I/1/197	Walker River.
I/1/198	Walla Walla Mammoth.
I/1/199	Warner Valley.
I/1/200	Yucca Flats - photos.
I/1/201-206	Yucca Mountain:
I/1/201	Packrats.
I/1/202	Plots.
I/1/203	Proposals - generic.
I/1/204-206	Trench 14, 1988, n.d.
98-36/I/2	Subseries 2. Volcanic Ash Research.
I/2/1-6	Tephra:
I/2/1	General.
I/2/2	Analysis.
I/2/3	Computer printout.
I/2/4	Correlation matrices.
I/2/5-6	Data.

Box 7

I/2/7-10	Tephra:
I/2/7	Hydration.
I/2/8	Maps.
I/2/9	Miscellaneous.
I/2/10	Volcanix.
I/2/11	TL Dating.
98-36/I/3	Subseries 3. Cal-Tech Microprobe.
I/3/1	Probe book.
I/3/2-4	Probe data:
I/3/2	Federman.
I/3/3	General.
I/3/4	December 1984.
I/3/5	Probe Mount 88-1 A-A.
I/3/6	Weber Reservoir - geomagnetic samples. 1984.
98-36/I/4	Subseries 4. Soil.
I/4/1	Armargosa Desert Soil Profiles. Fall 1971.
I/4/2	Soil survey - Tahoe Basin. Rogers, John. "Soil Survey of the Tahoe Basin Area." Selected Xerox copies.
I/4/3	Soil test report.
98-36/I/5	Subseries 5. Sedimentation.
I/5/1	Sedimentation data.
I/5/2	Sedimentation procedures and notes.
98-36/I/6	Subseries 6. Core.
I/6/1	Core. 1972.
I/6/2	Data.

98-36/II   Series II. Jonathan O. Davis Articles. 1972-1990.   1 cu. ft.

Davis was a prolific author, publishing articles under his name and in conjunction with other investigators and colleagues in local, state and national professional journals; and authoring professional papers for contractors and professional organizations (conferences, meetings, etc.). This series contains his published works, unpublished articles, professional papers, and drafts of works in progress. These drafts may have later been published but no attempt has been made by the manuscript curator to research those materials. The topics of these materials include archaeological investigations of specific sites, tephra (volcanic ash), Quaternary climatic change, dating Late Pleistocene pluvial events, digital modeling, human adaption to environmental change in arid regions, and thermoluminescence dating of tephra.

The University of Nevada, Reno, Library also holds a number of Davis' published works which are available through a catalog search. In addition, Davis attached a list of his publications to a vita, compiled in about 1985.

This series has been subdivided into four subseries: published articles, unpublished articles, professional papers, and drafts. The contents of each remain in Davis' original order.

98-36/II/1	Sub-series 1. Published Articles.
II/1/1	Davis, J.O. and Elston, Robert. "An Archaeological Investigation of the Steamboat Springs Locality, Washoe County, Nevada". Nevada Archaeological Survey. Reporter, vol. 6, no. 1. n.d.
II/1/2	Thomas, D.A. (ed and contrb.). "The Archaeology of Hidden Cave, Nevada". Anthropological Papers of the Museum of Natural History, vol. 61, part 1. June 20, 1985. [Jonathan Davis is a contributor]
II/1/3	Davis, J.O.; Sarna Wojcicki, A.M.; Shipley, S.; Waitt, R.B.; Dzurisin, D.; Hays, W.H.; Wood, S.H.; and Bateridge, T. "Areal Distribution, Thickness, and Volume of Downwind Ash From the May 18, 1980 Eruption of Mount St. Helens". U.S.G.S. Open Field Report, no. 80-1078. [1980?]
II/1/4	Davis, J.O. "Correlation of Late Quaternary Tephra Layers in a Long Pluvial Sequence near Summer Lake, Oregon". Quaternary Research,vol. 23, pp. 38-53. 1985.
II/1/5	Davis, J.O. "Geology of Gatecliff Shelter: Sedimentary Facies and Holocene Climate". Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History, vol. 59. 1983.
II/1/6	Davis, J.O. "Level of Lake Lahontan during Deposition of the Trego Hot Springs Tephra about 23,400 Years Ago". Quaternary Research, vol. 19, pp. 312-324. 1983.
II/1/7	Davis, J.O.; Negrini, R.M.; and Verosub, K.L. "Mono Lake Geomagnetic Excursion Found at Summer Lake, Oregon". Geology,vol. 12, pp. 643-646. November 1984.
II/1/8	Davis, J.O. and Elston, R. "New Stratigraphic Evidence of Late Quaternary Climatic Change in Northwestern Nevada". Reprinted from: Fowler, Don D. (ed), Great Basin Cultural Ecology. A Symposium. Desert Research Institute Publications in the Social Sciences, no. 8. 1972.
II/1/9	Davis, J.O.; Wharton, R.A.; Wigand, P.E.; Rose, M.R.; Reinhardt, R.L.; Mouat, D.A.; Klieforth, H.E.; Ingraham, N.L; Fox, C.A.; and Ball, T.J. "The North American Great Basin: A Sensitive Indicator of Climatic Change". Plant Biology of the Basin and Ran 2e Ecological Studies,vol. 80. 1990.
II/1/10	Davis, J.O.; Verosub, K.L.; and Valastro, S. Jr. "A Paleomagnetic Record from Pyramid Lake, Nevada, and Its Implications for Proposed Geomagnetic Excursions". Earth and Planetary Science Letters,vol. 49, pp. 141-148. 1980.
II/1/11	Davis, J.O. and Morrison, R.B. "Quaternary Stratigraphy and Archaeology of the Lake Lahontan Area: A Re-Assessment (Field Trip 13)". Western Geological Excursion,vol. 1. 1984 Annual Meetings of the Geological Society of America and Affiliated Societies at Reno.
II/1/12	Davis, J.O. and Morrison, R.B. Supplementary Guidebook for Field Trip 13: "Quaternary Stratigraphy and Archaeology of the Lake Lahontan Area: A Re­Assessment". 1984 Annual Meeting, Geological Survey of America, Reno, Nevada. Second edition, November 1984.
II/1/13	Davis, J.O. "Quaternary Tephrochronology of the Lake Lahontan Area, Nevada and California". Nevada Archaeological Survey,Research Paper No.7. 1978.
II/1/14	Davis, J.O. and Chadwick, O.A. "Soil-Forming Intervals Caused by Eolian Sediment Pulses in the Lahontan Basin, Northwestern Nevada". Geology,v. 18, pp. 243-246. March 1990.
II/1/15	Davis, J.O. "Geology of Maps - Rye Patch Reservoir, Nevada." 1982.
II/1/16	Davis, J.O. Map 76 - "Geological map of the Rye Patch Reservoir, South Quadrangle, Nevada." 1983.
II/1/17	Davis, William Morris. Sheetfloods and Streamfloods.The Geological Society of America. 1938.
II/1/18	Davis, J.D. “The 18 May 1980 Mount St. Helens Ash Layer.” Nevada Weather Watch, Vol. V, no. 3-4. July-Dec. 1980.
98-36/II/2	Subseries 2. Unpublished Articles.
II/2/1	MS in preparation.
II/2/2	Davis, J.O. Field report: "Stratigraphy of a Talus Slope North of Wenatchee, Washington". December 24, 1969. [graded paper]
II/2/3	Report - "On the Meaning of the Word `Geomorphology"'. August 7, 1985.
II/2/4	Davis and Dykeman. Report: "Research Questions, UNR Fallon Reservation Survey". June 10, 1986.
98-36/II/3	Subseries 3. Professional Papers.
II/3/1	Davis. "Chronologic Implications of Tephrostratigraphy of Lake Lahontan". 1978.
II/3/2	Davis. "Geology of Archaeological Sites at Steamboat Springs, Washoe County, Nevada". Paper presented at the Southwestern Anthropological Society Meetings, March 30, 1972.
II/3/3	Davis. "Geologic and Pedologic Chronology of Archaeological Sites in Northwestern Nevada". n.d.
II/3/4	Davis. "Giant Meander Scars on the Humboldt River, Nevada: Chronology and Paleohydrologic Significance". n.d.
II/3/5	Davis, J.O.; Negrini, R.M.; and Verosub, K.L. "Long-term Non-Geocentric Axial Dipole Directions and a Geomagnetic Excursion from the Middle Pleistocene Sediments of the Humboldt River Canyon, Pershing County, Nevada, U.S.A." n.d.
II/3/6	Davis. Abstract: "Tephrochronology of the Sehoo Formation, Lake Lahontan". n.d.
II/3/7	Davis, J.O.; Fryxell, R.; Mack, R.N.; and Smiley, C.J. "Tertiary Plant Fossils in a Late Pleistocene Kame Terrace Near Fruitland,  Washington". n.d.
II/3/8	Davis. "Taxonomy of Soils of Known Age in Eastern Washington". n.d.
II/3/9	Davis, J.O.; Bonnichsen, R.; Sorg, M.H.; Rusco, M.K.; and Tuohy, D. "A Possible Association Between Evidence for Humans and Rancholabrean Fauna in North Western Nevada: A Preliminary Taphonomic Analysis". n.d.
II/3/10	Davis. "Pyroclastic Deposits: Volcanic Ash, Breccias, and Lahars". April 30, 1975.
II/3/11	Davis, J.O.; Irwin-Williams, C.; Dansie, A.; and Jacobson, R. "Prehistoric Water Harvesting Techniques in the Northern Great Basin". October 11, 1986.
II/3/12	Davis, J.O. and Negrini, R.M. "Dating Late Pleistocene Pluvial Events and Tephras By Correlating Paleomagnetic Secular Variation Records from the Western Great Basin, U.S.A." n.d.

Box 8

II/3/13	Davis, J.O. and Craig, R.G. "On the Potential of Digital Elevation Modela in Quantitative Geomorphology". November 1989.
II/3/14	Davis. "Archaeological Implications of Eolian Process in the Western Great Basin of North America". 1989.
II/3/15	Davis, J.O. and Negrini, R.M. "Correlation of Two Paleomagnetic Secular Variation Records from Western North America and its Application as a High­Resolution Chronological Tool for Late Pleistocene, Non-Marine Sedimentary Sequences". n.d.
II/3/16	Davis. Draft - "Pluvial Lake in Burnt Cabin Valley, Nye County, Nevada". May 29, 1990.
II/3/17	Davis, J.O.; Fowler, D.D.; and Warren, C.N. "EPSCoR Component Cluster: Human Adaptation to Environmental Change in Arid Regions". May 15, 1990.
II/3/18	Davis, J.O. and Berger, G.W. "Dating Volcanic Ash by Thermoluminescence: Test and Application". October 8, 1990.
II/3/19	Maps, charts, and graphs.
II/3/20	Grayson, D.K. "Discrepancies in the Reconstructed History of Walker Lake". n.d.
II/3/21	Davis, J.O.; Berger, G.W.; and Negrini, R.M. "Thermoluminescence Dating of Tephra from Oregon and Nevada". n.d.
II/3/22	Curry, B.B. and Melhorn, W.N. "Summit Lake Landslide and Geomorphic History of Summit Lake Basin, Northwestern Nevada". 1990.
II/3/23	Summit Lake Project.
II/3/24	Davis, J.O. and Wigand, P.E. "Climate Links Project: Paleoclimate and Man". Final Report. n.d.
II/3/25	Davis, J.O.; Nials, F.; Livingston, S.; Amick, D.; Wallmann, S.; Judy, B.; and Maher, B. "Report of Investigations - DRI-QSC Test Excavations at the Delong Mammoth Site". August 13-19 and September 21-23, 1990.
II/3/26	Davis. "Quarternary Tephrochronology". n.d.
98-36/II/4	Subseries 4. Drafts.
II/4/1	Davis, J.O.; Elston, R.; and Townsend, G. "A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of Fallen Leaf Lake". n.d.
II/4/2	Davis, J.O. and Rusco, M. "Archaeological Reconnaissance of Sites Proposed for Gas Storage Facilities and Inventory of Known Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological Sites Within 10 Mile Radius". [1974?]
II/4/3	Davis. "Archaeological Paleoenvironments of the Southwestern Division U.S. Army Corps of Engineers". September 1, 1987.
II/4/4	Davis, J.O.; Ingraham, N.; Jacobson, R. Deuterium Ms. July 4, 1985.
II/4/5	Friedman Flap - Davis, Ingraham and Jacobson. "Does Hydrated Tephra Glass Contain Fossil Water?". 1989.
II/4/6	Davis. "Terrain Conductivity Measurements with the Geonics EM-31: Potential Archaeological Applications". June 1986.
II/4/7	Davis, J.O. and Chadwick, O.A. For submission to Geology:"Relation Between Eolian Silt Flux and Quaternary Climatic Variation". December 1988.
II/4/8	Davis. "Chronologic Implications of Tephrostratigraphy in Lake Lahontan". n.d.
II/4/9	Davis, J.O.; Townsend, G.; and Elston, R. "Lake Tahoe and the Altithermal".
II/4/10	Davis, J.O.; Bonnichsen, R.; Sorg, M.; Rusco, M.; and Tuohy, D. "A Possible Association Between Evidence for Humans and Rancholabrean Fauna in Northwestern Nevada: A Preliminary Taphonomic Analysis". n.d.
II/4/11	Davis. "Pleistocene and Holocene D/H Ratios from Tephra Glass Water of Hydration". March 26, 1985.
II/4/12	Davis, J.O. and Sarna-Wojcicki, A.M. "Quaternary Tephrochronology". 1990.
II/4/13	Davis. "Quaternary Tephrochronology". n.d.
II/4/14	Wyemaha Formation - Abstract.
II/4/15	[Test for photographic slides used in J.O.D. presentation.]

98-36/III   Series III. Professional Organizations. 1971-1990.   .5 cu. ft.

Davis belonged to many professional organizations and was active in most of them. At the time of his death, he was scheduled to become chairman of the archaeological geology division of the Geological Society of America in 1992. He was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Nevada Archaeological Association, Society for American Archaeology, American Society for Conservation Archaeology, Geological Society of America, Nevada Archaeological Survey, Society of Sigman Xi, Society of Professional Archaeologists, the Geological Society of Nevada, and the Society for Archaeological Sciences.

The files in this series vary in content but typically contain correspondence, printed conference programs, and in some cases, records of meetings. The files are arranged alphabetically by name of organization.

III/1	American Society of Photograrnmetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS).
III/2	Archaeological Geology Penrose. December 1986.
III/3	Friends of the Pleistocene.
III/4	Fryxell Award Committee.
III/5-6	Geological Society of America (GSA):
III/5	Symposium. 1989.
III/6	Archaeological/geological division. 1990-1991.
III/7-9	Great Basin Anthropological Conference. 1976; 1988; various dates.
III/10	Large Lake Penrose. 1990.
III/11	Nevada Archaeological Association.
III/12	Northwest Scientific Association. 1971.
III/13-14	Penrose Conference. September and October, 1990.
III/15	Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) meeting. May 27-29, 1987.
III/16	Seattle Climate meeting. 1988.
III/17	Society for American Archaeology. 1990.
III/18-21	Society of Professional Archaeologists (SOPA):
III/18	General.
III/19	SOPA Board.
III/20	Correspondence. 1988.
III/21	Grievance Board.

98-36/IV   Series IV. Student Papers. 1982-1989.   .25 cu. ft.

Davis was an instructor for classes in geology, geology/geography, geomorphology, Quaternary geology, and geology/anthropology for archaeologists at the University of Nevada, Reno, between 1976-1988. His records originally included copies of exams he administered and grade sheets for his classes. Those materials have been discarded. Davis also saved some of the papers written by his students; they are arranged in alphabetical order by student name.

Box 9

IV/1	Miller, Donald. "Air Photo Interpretation of Rock Glacier in Toiyabe National Forest". May 7, 1986.
IV/2	Mount, Carol. "Alluvial Terraces of the Ruby - East Humboldt Range, Eastern Nevada". May 8, 1984.
IV/3	Sabine, Charles. Dissertation - "Correlation of Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) Spectra and Granitoid Compositions in the Desolation Valley Area, Sierra Nevada, California". 1989.
IV/4	Erlich, Robert. "Diversion of Furnace Creek Wash into Gower Gulch, Death Valley, California". May 1982.
IV/5	Morgan, D.C. "The Hypothetical Southward Expansion of Lake Lahontan to Death Valley". May 1986.
IV/6	Johnson, Richard J. "Influences of Vegetation, Physical Factors and Climate on the Hydraulic Geometry of Streams". May 16, 1984.
IV/7	Lechler, Paul. "On the Usefulness of Geomorphology in the Early Stages of Geochemical Exploration for Metallic Mineral Deposits". August 18, 1986.
IV/8	Smith, J. LaRue. "Radar Imagery for Geomorphology Applications". n.d.
IV/9	Crompton, Rene. "Slope Stability: Problems and Solutions in Forest Management". April 28, 1986.

98-36/V   Series V. Field Notes and Research Data. 1971-1990.   1.25 cu. ft.

Davis maintained separate files of field notes and research data for projects which were otherwise documented in what is now Series I. The field notes are organized alphabetically by project name or area. The research data files are also organized alphabetically by topic. Topics include Craig modeling, dust traps, radiocarbon dating, and tephra, as well as some project names.

98-36/V/1	Sub-series 1. Field Notes.
V/1/1	Davis, J.O. Terrace Sequence. [notebook]
V/1/2	Bob Clerico. June 25, 1979 - September 28, 1980; n.d. [notebook]
V/1/3	Bob Cerico August 6 - September, 1979. [notebook]
V/1/4	August 14, 1979 - June 23, 1981; n.d. [notebooks]
V/1/5	Davis, J.O. September 11- November 27, 1979 [notebook], and miscellaneous notes.
V/1/6	September 6 - December 9, 1984.   [notebook]
V/1/7	Davis, J.O. April 11-15, 1979 and May 22, 1976 [notebooks]; loose page [Oct. 9, 1971].
V/1/8	1988-1989 Field notes.
V/1/9	Excavation 26 HU 631.
V/1/10	Field Trip - George Donner Camp. UNR Field School. July 11, 1990.
V/1/11	Hereford Parish Field Trip. 1987.
V/1/12	Field Notes (dups), profiles (dups). 26 HU 629.
V/1/13	Lake Tahoe Field Trip.
V/1/14	Miscellaneous field notes.
V/1/15	Steamboat field sheets.
98-36/V/2	Subseries 2. Research Data.
V/2/1-2	Craig modeling.
V/2/3	Dust traps.
V/2/4	HP25 Programs.
V/2/5	Radiocarbon dates.
V/2/6	Radiocarbon dating analysis.
V/2/7	Simulating Mixing.
V/2/8	SL XRD.
V/2/9	Specimen Inventory.
V/2/10-11	Tephra:
V/2/10	General.
V/2/11	Saline Valley Excursion.
V/2/12-16	[Data runs]:
V/2/12	Meyer Analysis.
V/2/13	Regressions, stds, known layers.
V/2/14	20 PPe 23.
V/2/15	Hi-K or old layers.
V/2/16	Humboldt River below Rye Patch.

Box 10

V/2/17-24	[Data Runs]:
V/2/17	"Weird stuff."
V/2/18	Sehoo.
V/2/19	Smoke Creek Desert.
V/2/20	Summer Lake.
V/2/21	Crater Lake.
V/2/22	Mazama & Tsoyawata.
V/2/23	Southern Nevada.
V/2/24	Miscellaneous.
V/2/25-26	Sample Log #2 - Pyramid Island and post-dissertation samples.
V/2/27-28	[Tephra Analyses - various Nevada sites.]

98-36/VI   Series VI. Professional Correspondence. 1968-1990.   1 cu. ft.

This series was divided into two subseries: correspondence from Jonathan Davis and correspondence to Davis.

The correspondence from Davis was directed to colleagues with whom he worked on projects and at the Desert Research Institute, students just beginning their career in geology/archaeology, editors of professional journals and magazines, applications for or letters of interest in employment, responses to published reviews of his papers, short reports on specific project questions, and matters of administration at either DRI or UNR.

Correspondence to Davis parallels that written by him and in some cases, was in response to letters sent by him. The contents of the subseries includes letters of appointment, comments on projects and professional papers, administrative matters related to Davis' employment, and lab test results. There is also one folder related to Davis' request for a sabbatical leave of absence.

Both subseries are arranged chronologically.

98-36/VI/1	Subseries 1. Professional Correspondence from Jonathan O. Davis.
VI/1/1	n.d.
VI/1/2	1969.
VI/1/3	1975.
VI/1/4	1976.
VI/1/5	1977.
VI/1/6	1978.
VI/1/7	1979.
VI/1/8	1980.
VI/1/9	1981.
VI/l/10	1982.
VI/l/11	1983.
VI/1/12	1984.
VI/1/13	1985.
VI/1/14	1986.
VI/1/15	1987.
VI/1/16	1988.
VI/1/17	1989.
VI/1/18	1990.
98-36/VI/2	Subseries 2. Professional Correspondence to Jonathan O. Davis.
VI/2/1	1968-1975.
VI/2/2	1976.
VI/2/3	1977.
VI/2/4	1978.
VI/2/5	1979.
VI/2/6	1980.

Box 11

VI/2/7	1981.
VI/2/8	1982.
VI/2/9	1983.
VI/2/10	1984.
VI/2/11	1985.
VI/2/12	1986.
VI/2/13	1987.
VI/2/14	1988.
VI/2/15	1989.
VI/2/16	1990.
VI/2/17	Jonathan O. Davis sabbatical flap. 1990.

98-36/VII   Series VII. Personal Materials. 1908-1990. Bulk dates, 1961-1990. 2.5 cu. ft.

This series of Davis' personal materials contains correspondence, legal documents, resumes, pilot's flight logs, certificates, reports and correspondence related to Davis' involvement in his Silver City community, Vietnam War-related clippings and other materials, personal journals, family genealogy, a report on the Hazen-Davis barn, and the journal of his grandfather, Edmund W. Ogden.

Davis' correspondence has been divided into three sub-sub series: letters from his parents, J. Mott Davis and Beth Ogden Davis; letters from non-family friends and acquaintances, and letters written by Davis.

Davis maintained extensive correspondence from his parents, especially from his father, E. Mott Davis, with whom he also shared professional interests in archaeology. The elder Davis was head of the radiocarbon testing laboratory in the Anthropology Department of the University of Texas, Austin; Jonathan regularly used that lab for testing with the result that EMD's letters appear in both the professional correspondence series (Series VI/2) and in JOD's personal correspondence (VII/1/1). EMD's weekly letters are valuable for his reports on events at the University of Texas, Austin, and in the Mott family; and for his opinions on events in the larger world, including the war in Vietnan and the U.S. government. The last letters of December, 1990, were written to Sandy Powers, widow of Jonathan, enclosing a copy of the letter that the EMDs sent to friends about Jonathan's death.

Other letters to JOD consist mostly of those from friends and colleagues, bringing Jonathan up to date with news of their lives. There are also a few letters from JOD, both originals and copies. All seem to relate to his relationship with former wife Gail, and his employers at Nevada Archaeological Services.

The other materials in Series VIII include a variety of items: legal documents, including marriage, divorce and annulment papers, resumes, genealogical materials, and Vietnam War materials. Like materials are grouped together; otherwise, they are in particular order.

98-36/VII/l/1	Subseries 1. Correspondence. Sub-subseries 1. From Parents.
VII/1/1/1	n.d.
VII/1/1/2	1961.
VII/1/1/3	1967.
VII/1/1/4	1968.
VII/1/1/5	1969.
VII/1/1/6a-c	1970.
VII/1/1/7a-b	1971.

Box 12

VII/1/1/8a-b	1972.
VII/1/1/9	1973.
VII/1/1/10	1974.
VII/1/1/11	1975-1976.
VII/1/1/12	1978.
VII/1/1/13	1979.
VII/1/1/14a-b	1980.
VII/1/1/15	1981-1982.
VII/1/1/16	1983.
VII/1/1/17	1984.
VII/1/1/18	1985.
VII/1/1/19	1986.
VII/1/1/20	1987.
VII/l/1/21	1988.
VII/1/1/22	1989.
VII/l/1/23	1990.
98-36/VII/1/2	Sub-subseries 2. Correspondence from Non-Family to Jonathan O. Davis.
VII/1/2/1	n.d.
VII/l/2/2	1965-1966.
VII/1/2/3	1967.
VII/1/2/4	1968.
VII/1/2/5	1969.
VII/1/2/6	1970.
VII/1/2/7	1971.
VII/1/2/8	1972-1973.
VII/1/2/9	1974.
VII/ I/2/10	1975-1976.
VII/1/2/11	1977.
VII/1/2/12	1978.
VII/1/2/13	1979.
VII/1/2/14	1982-1987.
98-36/VII/1/3	Sub-subseries 3. Correspondence From Jonathan O. Davis.
VII/1/3/1	1968, 1975, n.d.
98-36/VII/2	Sub-series 2. Personal - General.

Box 13

VII/2/1	Birth certificate.
VII/2/2	Diplomas.
VII/2/3	Marriage certificate. 1971.
VII/2/4	Divorce. 1974.
VII/2/5	Annulment. St. Augustine's Catholic Center. 1974.
VII/2/6	Selective Service System.
VII/2/7	Resumes. 1969, 1975, 1985.
VII/2/8	Department of Energy clearance. 1982.
VII/2/9	Pilot's flight logs.
VII/2/10	Certificates.
VII/2/11	Black book - addresses and notes.
VII/2/12	Pocket  calendar and address books. 1978-79, 1981-1983.
VII/2/13	Memberships.
VII/2/14	Civic organizations.
VII/2/15	Silver City Park Survey.
VII/2/16	HIMCO.
VII/2/17	Houston Oil & Minerals Corporation (HO&M) Affair.
VII/2/18	Nevex Affair. 1986.
VII/2/19	Racing.
VII/2/20-21	Vietnam Era:
VII/2/20	General.
VII/2/21	News clips and newsprints.
VII/2/22-23	Peace Movement.
VII/2/24	News clippings.
VII/2/25	Rippeteau, Bruce (ed.). Megafauna Punchers' Review, vol. 1, no. 1. 1979.
VII/2/26	Personal Journals.
VII/2/27	Poems and journal (personal).
VII/2/28	General stuff (personal).
VII/2/29	Copyright.
VII/2/30	Artwork.
VII/2/31	Geneology.
VII/2/32	Hazen-Davis Barn.
VII/2/33	Edmund W. Ogden - Journal, 1908-1914.

Manuscripts | Special Collections

Please direct questions to Jacquelyn Sundstrand
Updated October 27, 2008