Historic Buildings

Founded in 1837, Davidson College would one day become “the Princeton of the South.” Known for its timeless red brick buildings and spacious courts, the architecture and landscape of Davidson’s structure parallels the earnest and diligent nature of its students and faculty. The values of the college stand strong the tests of time, aging not with the buildings, but keep bringing people back. While the President’s House, the Carolina Inn, the Martin Science Building, and the Chambers Building did require renovations and, in the case of the Chambers and Martin, complete replacement, the historic foundations on which they stand remain intact.

These historic buildings contribute to the everlasting fortitude of Davidson College. Regardless of the tragedies that befell the buildings, the great spirit of Davidson continues to live. What some might deem archaic, Davidsonians regard as essential: honesty, hard-work, history; it is up from these cornerstones that these buildings became. While their exteriors may be reminiscent of time past and traditions kept, their interiors are indubitably progressive. So, it is here that students get the best of both worlds: morals from the past, and an education of the present. A person cannot truly understand the character behind Davidson without stepping into one of these historic monuments and feeling the presence of ancestors past.


Historic Buildings, Chambers Building, Martin Chemical Library,
President’s House, Carolina Inn – Works Cited

Anonymous. A Tribute: William
Joseph Martin, Junior, Flyer. Martin Science Davidsoniana file. Davidson college Archives, Davidson, NC.

Anonymous. A Tribute: William Joseph Martin, Senior, Flyer. Martin Science Davidsoniana file. Davidson college Archives, Davidson, NC.

Anonymous. “History of Martin Chemical Laboratory,” Fact sheet. Martin
Science Davidsoniana file. Davidson college Archives, Davidson, NC.

Anonymous. “Martin Chemical Laboratory (1899-1941),” Flyer, Martin
Science Davidsoniana file. Davidson college Archives, Davidson, NC.

Anonymous. “Martin Science Building to Be Dedicated April 14,” Newsclipping.
Martin Science Davidsoniana file. Davidson college Archives, Davidson, NC.

Anonymous. Newsclipping, Martin Science Davidsoniana file. Davidson college Archives, Davidson, NC.

Beaty, Mary. The History of Davidson College. Briarpatch: North Carolina, 1988.

Beaty, Mary. A History of the Town from 1835 until 1937. Briarpatch: North Carolina, 1979.

Boyte, Jack. “Survey and Research on the Helper Hotel.” Architectural report. 1976. Carolina Inn Davidsoniana file. Davidson College Archives, Davidson,
NC.

Burnett, Lee. “The Evolution of Chambers.” Davidson Journal Spring
(1987) : 12-13.

“Chambers’ Gift: The Legal History” Davidson Journal Spring (1999) : pg.3

Davidson, Chalmers. “Lives of a Wayside Inn.” The State 15 November 1971: 8-10.

Davidson, Chalmers Gaston. The Plantation World Around Davidson. Davidson: Briarpatch Press, 1982.

“Davidson Has Undertaken Vast Improvement Program.” The Charlotte
Observer Newsclipping. Chambers Building- Davidsoniana file. Davidson College Archives., Davidson, NC.

Flyer, Davidson College. “The President’s Home.” President’s
House Davidsoniana File. Davidson College Archives, Davidson, NC.

Hamrick, Jason. The President’s House at Davidson College: a brief pictorial
history compiled from the Davidson College Archives. Davidson: Davidson College, 1999.

Herran, Kathy Neill. They Married Confederate Officers. Davidson: Warren Publishing,
1997.

Invitation from President’s House Davidsoniana file. 15 Dec 1976. Davidson
College Archives, Davidson, NC.

Kuykendall, Missy. “Notes on the President’s House, Davidson College.”
Davidson ollege, NC. 1996.

McLeod, R.A. Letter to Dr. Martin. 30 November 1921. RG211.11. Davidson College

Archives, Davidson College, NC

“Old Chambers Building.” Data Sheet. Old Chambers Building-Davidsoniana
file. Davidson College Archives., Davidson, NC.

Park, Leland. Memo from Alumni Weekend, Davidson College. 22 May 1971.

Photograph of Louisiana. Photograph Collection, number 9-0885. Davidson College Archives, Davidson, NC.

Photograph of President’s House. Photograph Collection, number 9-1007.
Davidson College Archives, Davidson, NC.

Photograph of Robert Hall Morrison. Photograph Collection, number 19-0698.
Davidson College Archives, Davidson, NC.

President’s House Davidsoniana file. Davidson College Archives, Davidson,
NC.

Published essay. “The President’s House.” President’s
House Davidsoniana file. Davidson College Archives, Davidson, NC.

Rumple, Jethro. “Davidson College in the Forties,” Quips and Cranks.
Vol. I. Davidson
College, 1895.

Author: Julienne Alexander,
Natalie Dennis, Jennifer Fernandez, Jessica Lahre
Date: October 2003

Cite as: Alexander, Julienne, Natalie Dennis, Jennifer Fernandez, and Jessica Lahre.
“Historic Buildings” Davidson Encyclopedia October 2003 <https://davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org/archives/encyclopedia/historic-buildings/>

Related Entries: Carolina Inn, Chambers Building, Martin Chemical Laboratory, Morrison Hall – The Old YMCA, President’s House

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