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Speeches of Lowell E. Davis, 1986-1989

 

Summary

Creator:
Davis, Lowell E. , 1931-1989
Williamson, Pearl
Abstract:
A representative collection of speeches delivered by Dr. Lowell E. Davis, Dean of USF St. Petersburg from 1986-1989.
Extent:
1 boxes
0.23 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Speeches of Dr. Lowell E. Davis, USF Libraries – Nelson Poynter Memorial Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL.

Background

Scope and content:

The Speeches of Lowell E. Davis collection includes transcripts of a representative sampling of speeches delivered by Dr. Davis during his outreach activities as Dean of USF St. Petersburg between 1986-1989. The speeches were delivered at USF St. Petersburg, other academic institutions, and various organizations in the St. Petersburg community and beyond. The major themes covered within the speeches include the importance higher education, civil rights, and the evolution of USF's St. Petersburg campus.

Biographical / historical:

"Lowell's legacy is that he taught us to dream great things about the future of this campus." –Paul Getting, then executive vice president of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, at the September 1990 dedication of "Davis Memorial Hall."

A native of Jamaica, Lowell Davis came to the United States in the mid-1950s to pursue his dream of getting a college education. He earned his undergraduate degree at Howard University and completed his doctorate in biology at Case Western Reserve University. Davis became USF's first African-American dean. He immediately set in motion plans to expand the physical size of the campus, as well as enhance its course offerings and resources. During his tenure, the endowment for the campus grew from $600,000 to $2.2 million. He moved ahead plans for the Campus Activities Center and expanded student scholarship opportunities. A popular administrator, he cultivated a collegial atmosphere at USF St. Petersburg. Students, staff, and faculty became members of a large and extended family with a shared sense of academic purpose and zeal. Just as he planned to move forward with an aggressive agenda to increase autonomy and set a new tone for the campus, he suffered a debilitating stroke on August 23, 1989. Five weeks later, on September 30, he passed away. Those who knew Lowell realize that he made an "everlasting" impression on the campus.

Dr. Lowell E. Davis served as Dean during an important phase of USF St. Petersburg's history. He arrived in August 1986 and promptly set into motion an agenda that supported the expansion of course offerings and academic majors at USF St. Petersburg. Davis took a strong position in advocating greater autonomy and independence for the growing campus at a time when many Tampa-based administrators hoped to limit curricular initiatives at the University's "branch" campuses. His untimely death in the fall of 1989 slowed the process but did not extinguish the dreams of greater autonomy. Subsequent administrators at USF St. Petersburg have benefited from the university and community leadership that defined Lowell Davis's tenure as dean. Pearl Williamson provided the Poynter Library with a notebook containing a representative collection of Dr. Davis's speeches at USF St. Petersburg, other academic institutions, and various organizations. These transcripts illustrate his strong concern for ensuring academic excellence for all students, as well as his special concern for increasing opportunities for African American students.

Acquisition information:
Pearl Williamson
Processing information:

This collection was originally processed in 2007 and updated in 2024.

Arrangement:

folder

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Terms of access:

None. The contents of the collection may be subject to copyright. Visit the United States Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/ for more information.

Preferred citation:

Speeches of Dr. Lowell E. Davis, USF Libraries – Nelson Poynter Memorial Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL.

Location of this collection:
140 7th Avenue South
St. Petersburg
FL
33701
USA