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The Charles R. Underhill, Jr. collection consists of approximately 103 photographs, 3 letters, and 10 items of miscellaneous documentation and ephemera related to Charles R. Underhill, Jr.’s employment with RCA Photophone, which saw him travel around the country installing motion picture theater projector equipment.

The Charles R. Underhill, Jr. collection consists of approximately 103 photographs, 3 letters, and 10 items of miscellaneous documentation and ephemera related to Charles R. Underhill, Jr.’s employment with RCA Photophone, which saw him travel around the country installing motion picture theater projector equipment.

Many of the photographs present in this collection appear to have once been part of an album or scrapbook which may have been compiled and captioned by Underhill, Jr.’s sister, Marguerite Allare Underhill Goetz (1895-1970). Images of interest include views of numerous movie theaters, street scenes, and landscapes in various locations in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C; photos of P-2 projector equipment manufactured for RCA by General Electric; snapshots of Underhill, Jr. and family members including his parents, wife, and daughter taken in various locations during work-related travels; photos of movie theater managers John M. Bernardi (Roxy Theatre, Williamsport, Pennsylvania) and Paul O. Klingler (Rialto Theatre, Lewiston, Pennsylvania); a portrait of Harold Graffius, projectionist for the Rowland Theatre in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania; and pictures of several theatre organists.

Additional items include Underhill, Jr.’s projected service schedule beginning June 1, 1935; his service schedule for the month of July 1931; a list of films reviewed by Box Office for the year 1933; an undated letter from Rialto Theatre manager Paul O. Klingler regarding an unknown article that had originally been attached; a letter from Ike Benny of Pastime Theatre in Lewiston requesting Underhill, Jr.’s help regarding equipment issues dated October 9 1930; a letter from W. K. Glodfelter regarding an upcoming local meeting of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees dated November 9 1931; and a broadside advertising the Rivoli Theatre of Johnstown, Pennsylvania ; posters advertising the McVeytown Theatre in McVeytown, Pennsylvania; an issue of the Charleroi Mail advertising the opening of the 1935 fall film season at the Menlo Theatre in Charleroi, Pennsylvania.

Professor of English at the University of Michigan. Correspondence, course materials, and writings; also collected materials of father, Lexington, Kentucky journalist, R. Lee Davis, and of brother T.O. Davis, a motion picture theater manager and author.

The papers of Joe Lee Davis total 8 linear feet of correspondence, course materials, manuscripts of writings, and personal materials documenting his scholarly interests and skills as a teacher. Of added significance are collected family materials: journals and other papers of his father, Lexington, Kentucky journalist R. Lee Davis, his aunt Kate Davis, and his brother T. O. Davis, a motion picture theater manager and unpublished novelist.

Joe Lee Davis was a literary man who loved books and literary discussions. As a young man in Kentucky, he wrote poetry, articles for his father's newspapers, and essays on literary topics. The letters he wrote and received in the 1920s contain exchanges about books read and attempts at descriptive narrative. Davis and his correspondents in this period were honing their skills as writers through the medium of the letter. These letters are always interesting discussions of contemporary life, albeit somewhat pretentious in tone.

The largest portion of the collection are Davis' course materials consisting of files of notes and lectures on various authors, as well as other materials used in his specialized English classes. Of note, too, are manuscripts of Davis' writings, his master's and doctoral theses, and copies and manuscripts of his other writings (journal articles and newspaper book reviews).

The collected family materials are of interest for his father's journals covering family activities and his newspaper career in Lexington, and photographs of motion picture theaters in Kentucky and Ohio managed by his brother, Thomas O. Davis.