Davis was a Clarksburg lawyer and a prominent West Virginia Democratic politician who served in the House of Delegates, 1873-1877.

The collection includes Davis' correspondence while a student at Judge John W. Brookenbaugh's law school in Lexington, Va.; letters from his aunt, Margaret Steen, a Mississippi school, 1848-1861 (these letters are a revealing social commentary on the Old South); letters of Emma Davis to her mother, Mrs. John J., 1871-1904; correspondence from Davis' brother Rezin C., a Louisville lawyer and judge, 1871-1910; and letters from Julia T. McDonald to Davis' son, John W., 1897-1900.

Other papers are the records of the Clarksburg and Philippi Turnpike, 1850-1860; account books and estate papers of Davis' father, John, a Clarksburg saddle-maker; Davis' school and legal account books; clipping scrapbooks, 1861-1896; family photographs; Davis' manuscript essays and addresses; broadsides, newspapers, and printed speeches; and the writings of Julia Davis (daughter of John W.), including a manuscript of a published novel.

Subjects covered include: Know-Nothings in Clarksburg, 1855; the Virginia Legislature, 1860; John S. Carlile's financial affairs, 1869; the Virginia Springs in the 1850's; Woodburn Seminary; secession sentiment in Morgantown, 1861; Presbyterian Church in Clarksburg; Bourbon politics in W. Va.; and Kentucky and the Presidential elections, 1896-1908.

Correspondents include: John Taylor Bird, John S. Hoffman, John W. Davis, George W. Atkinson, Daniel B. Lucas, Francis J. Brooke, Granville D. Hall, Jacob B. Blair, John J. Jacobs, and O. G. Schefield.

This collection also contains several artifacts, including three leather billfolds, two of which belonged to John J. Davis and a school slate (or book slate) that belonged to John J. Davis. Davis carved his name into the slate in several places and also carved the name of his hometown of Clarksburg, W. Va. into the frame of the slate.