M.J. Davis papers
Collection
Identifier: 2018-12-05
Scope and Content
Collection contains correspondence, diaries, portfolios, scrapbooks, sketches, illustrations, books, booklets, and NM tourist pamphlets and maps. Also contains: clipping of "New Mexicana" editorial column by M.J. Davis and a bound set of "The Hilltop News," Albuquerque Heights newspaper, 1946-47.
Dates
- 1948-1960
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
Collection is available for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of print and photographic material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws.
Biography / History
Milford Justin (also known as MJ) Davis was born on December 24, 1913, in New York City. He spent his childhood in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he attended high school. After graduating from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, he became a writer/artist/cartoonist. While in Florida, he worked as a script writer/animator for Fleischer Studios, mostly contributing to the studio’s creation of Popeye cartoons. During WWII he worked as a censor for the US government translating text written in French and Spanish. During this period, he began his career as a cartoonist/columnist.
In 1948, his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he continued his career. His cartoons were published in Collier’s Magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, the national Elks Magazine, Promenade, Judge, Jest, Wit, Western Stockman, New Mexico Stockman, Rockefeller Center Weekly, and Gayety among others. He became a political cartoonist and columnist contributing regularly to the Carlsbad Argus and the Albuquerque Tribune and Journal. His column, New Mexicana, was read throughout New Mexico.
While in New Mexico, he worked at Sandia National Laboratories as a technical writer, taught cartooning part-time at UNM and wrote and illustrated several books published by the UNM Press. He also published a soft-cover history of Carlsbad Caverns, Nobody Here But Us Bats, which was sold for many years at the Caverns and throughout New Mexico.
He died on June 12, 1960.
(Source: Michael A. Wartell, Dec. 2018)
In 1948, his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he continued his career. His cartoons were published in Collier’s Magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, the national Elks Magazine, Promenade, Judge, Jest, Wit, Western Stockman, New Mexico Stockman, Rockefeller Center Weekly, and Gayety among others. He became a political cartoonist and columnist contributing regularly to the Carlsbad Argus and the Albuquerque Tribune and Journal. His column, New Mexicana, was read throughout New Mexico.
While in New Mexico, he worked at Sandia National Laboratories as a technical writer, taught cartooning part-time at UNM and wrote and illustrated several books published by the UNM Press. He also published a soft-cover history of Carlsbad Caverns, Nobody Here But Us Bats, which was sold for many years at the Caverns and throughout New Mexico.
He died on June 12, 1960.
(Source: Michael A. Wartell, Dec. 2018)
Extent
5 boxes, 4 large flats
Abstract
Collection contains material related to the career of M. J. Davis as a New Mexico cartoonist and writer.
Physical Location
B3-3A
Processing Information
Collection is unprocessed. Materials may be unorganized. No further description is available at this time. Researcher must sign unprocessed collection use form. Ask reference staff for additional information.
- Title
- Guide to the M.J. Davis papers, 1948-1960
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Samuel Sisneros
- Date
- © 2018
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu