Kathryn S. Davis family papers
Collection
Identifier: L382
Scope and Contents
This collection includes photographs, personal diaries, account books, and cassette tapes from Kathryn S. Davis and her husband, Neal P. Davis, in Terre Haute, Indiana, ranging from 1900 to 1976 and undated, regarding her daily life, daily expenses, and family. Her diaries record her everyday life, including her relationships with family members, illnesses, household chores, and her attempts to bring in additional income through boarders and other jobs. The account books are detailed records of the family's expenses. Notable items include a compact mirror with a family photo on the back and numerous photographs of family members, but also a train crash in Terre Haute.
There is also a marriage license for Neal P. Davis and Kathryn S. Fetcher in Terre Haute on December 29, 1926, issued by Vigo County, Indiana (OB037).
There is also a marriage license for Neal P. Davis and Kathryn S. Fetcher in Terre Haute on December 29, 1926, issued by Vigo County, Indiana (OB037).
Dates
- circa 1900-1976
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Kathryn S. Whitcomb was born on June 20, 1901, to Horace Virgil (1867-1949) and Jessie (Lester) Whitcomb in Terre Haute, Indiana. She had an older brother, Elmer Ivan (), attended St. Ann's Parochial School. Davis married Edwin Louis Fetcher (1899-1942) on June 1, 1923 in Vigo County and they had a daughter, Catherine Charlotte (1924-). The Fetchers lived in Angola, Indiana when their daughter was born. The couple divorced and Edwin Fetcher appears to have had custody of their daughter, as she lived with him in Toledo, Ohio, in 1930 and Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1940. Kathryn Fetcher converted to Catholicism and married Neal Patrick Davis (1901-1976), son of Harry and Margaret (Nunley) Davis, on December 12, 1926, in Terre Haute. She mostly kept house, but worked as a clerk for a magazine publishing company at some point. Her husband Neal worked in a variety of jobs including meter inspector for the water company, a deputy, and a security guard supervisor for Stran Steel. He had a half-brother named Abner N. Piper (1913-1969). Neal P. Davis died in 1976 in Terre Haute and was buried in Calvary Cemetery. Kathryn S. Davis died on July 31, 1982, and was buried with her second husband.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Ancestry.com. "Catherine Fetcher." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Catherine Fetcher." 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Catherine Charlotte Fetcher." Indiana, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1907-1944. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn S. Whicomb." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn Davis." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn Davis." 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn Davis." 1950 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn S. Davis." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn S. Fetcher." Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn S. Whitcomb." Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn S. Whitcomb." Indiana, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1748-1993. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Neal P. Davis." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Neal Patrick Davis." U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Findagrave.com. "Edwin L. Fetcher." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed April 9, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113968316/edwin-l-fetcher.
Findagrave.com. "Elmer Ivan Whitcomb." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed April 9, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119630528/elmer-ivan-whitcomb.
Findagrave.com. "Horace Virgil Whitcomb." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed April 9, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19764323/horace-virgil-whitcomb.
Findagrave.com. "Kathryn S. Fetcher Davis." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed April 9, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31339020/kathryn-s-davis.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Ancestry.com. "Catherine Fetcher." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Catherine Fetcher." 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Catherine Charlotte Fetcher." Indiana, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1907-1944. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn S. Whicomb." 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn Davis." 1930 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn Davis." 1940 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn Davis." 1950 United States Federal Census. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn S. Davis." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn S. Fetcher." Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn S. Whitcomb." Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Kathryn S. Whitcomb." Indiana, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1748-1993. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Neal P. Davis." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "Neal Patrick Davis." U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Accessed April 9, 2025. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Findagrave.com. "Edwin L. Fetcher." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed April 9, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113968316/edwin-l-fetcher.
Findagrave.com. "Elmer Ivan Whitcomb." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed April 9, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119630528/elmer-ivan-whitcomb.
Findagrave.com. "Horace Virgil Whitcomb." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed April 9, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19764323/horace-virgil-whitcomb.
Findagrave.com. "Kathryn S. Fetcher Davis." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed April 9, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31339020/kathryn-s-davis.
Extent
1.3 Cubic Feet (4 manuscript boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Eugene V. Muench on 1987/10/17.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2016/09/28 by Kori Nell. EAD finding aid created 2016/09/28 by Kori Nell. EAD finding aid revised 2016/10/14 by Lauren Patton. Collection reprocessing completed 2025/04/09 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid revised 2025/04/09 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- Title
- Kathryn S. Davis family papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
