Résumé

Partner, Davis and [Walter S.] Davis, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1916-. The Davis Brothers' names appeared for the first time in the architects' classified listings of the Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1910, (p. 2145). In 09/1918, Davis and Davis had an office in Room #621 of the Exchange Building in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com. Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Los Angeles; Roll: 1530895; Draft Board: 10, accessed 03/29/2018.)

Assistant to the Chief Architect, Pentagon Project, Washington, D.C., c. 1941.

Davis maintained an architectural office at 3215 West 6th Street in Los Angeles,from at least 1937 until 04/1942. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1937, p. 529.)

Professional Activities

Member, Los Angeles City Art Commission, for 15 years. In 1940, he was the Vice-President of the Los Angeles Art Commission. He would go on to serve as president of the group.

Archives

Papers of Davis and Davis are located at the Architecture & Design Collection, University Art Museum, University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).

Relocation

From all appearances, Francis Pierpont Davis lived a comfortable and ordered life, with little moving or disruption of routine.

Born in Maryland, the Davis Family lived at 802 North Carroll Avenue in Baltimore in 1900. There were five in the family, with an African-American servant, Martha Davis, (born c. 05/1881 in VA). (See Ancestry.com. Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Baltimore Ward 18, Baltimore City (Independent City), Maryland; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0239, accessed 03/29/2018.)

Francis Pierpont Davis came to Los Angeles in 1907, according to his obituary in the Los Angeles Times. (See "F.P. Davis, noted architect, dies," Los Angeles Times, 07/17/1953, p. 11.) He lived at 2201 South Figueroa Street just after he was married in 11/17/1909.

Francis, his wife and their two daughters lived at 2114 Estrella Avenue in Los Angeles, according to the US Census of 1920. They maintained two servants, a nurse, Amanda Detjen, (born c. 1882 in WI) and a cook, Marie Schmidt, (born c. 1881 in Germany). (See Ancestry.com. Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 75, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_115; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 443, accessed 04/02/2018.)

From at least 1921 until 1953, Davis and his wife lived at the large house he designed at 500 South Rossmore Avenue in Los Angeles. According to the US Census of 1930, there were five people living in the Davis Household, Francis, Gertrude, their daughter Gabrielle, and two servants, a maid, Aili Sofia Laitenen, (born 02/28/1905 in Chicago, IL, of Finnish parents, Kasper Laitinen and Amanda Matson) and a cook, Elizabeth Rae, (born c. 1890 in Finland, who was widowed in 1930).

Francis Pierpont Davis worked in Washington, D.C., in 1941.

Davis died in Los Angeles, CA, at his home, 500 South Rossmore Avenue, at the age of 68.

Parents

His father was Frank Earlougher Davis (1839–1921), a Baltimore architect; his mother was Annie Legate Swindell (1853–1946); Frank and Annie had five children together, all of whom were still alive according to the US Census of 1900. Francis P. Davis's siblings were William Emmett Swindell Davis (born 02/28/1886 in Baltimore, MD-d. 1967), Walter Swindell Davis (born 11/02/1887 in Baltimore, MD-d. 1973), Henry Rutter Davis (born 11/27/1891 in Baltimore, MD-d. 1976), and Dorothy Emmett Davis (born 10/14/1891 in Baltimore, MD).

Spouse

He married Gertrude Alberta Churchill (born 08/21/1890 in Baltimore, MD-d. 09/22/1963 in Los Angeles, CA) on 11/17/1909 in Santa Monica, CA. (See Ancestry.com. Source Citation California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 03/29/2018.)

Gertrude Churchill came from a wealthy Philadelphia family. Emmett Davis, Francis's brother, was the best man.

Children

One daughter, Gabrielle (Gay) Churchill Davis (born c. 1915 in CA), was married to William James Kuehn, 11/17/1941, on the same anniversary as that of her parents. Another daughter, Althea Davis Lucic, (07/06/1916-10/31/1994), lived for most of her life in La Jolla, CA, the wife of the physician, Dr. Lucas Hugo Lucic.

Biographical Notes

Professionally, he went by the name "Pierpont Davis."

In 1924-1925, Davis embarked on a "travel and study" tour of Europe and North Aftica. According to US Passport documents, he intended to travel to the British Isles, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 2668; Volume #: Roll 2668 - Certificates: 491350-491849, 17 Nov 1924-18 Nov 1924, accessed 04/02/2018.) Francis and Gertrude Davis returned to New York, NY, from Le Havre, France aboard the S.S. Paris, between 04/15/1925 and 04/21/1925. (See Ancestry.com. Source Citation Year: 1925; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 3639; Line: 5; Page Number: 145, accessed 03/29/2018.)

According to this passport document, Davis, at age 39, stood 5-feet, 11 1/2-inches tall, and had a highforehead, straight mouth, oval chin, dark complexion, oval face and aquiline nose, with brown eyes and black hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 2668; Volume #: Roll 2668 - Certificates: 491350-491849, 17 Nov 1924-18 Nov 1924, accessed 04/02/2018.) According to his 1942 World War II draft registration card, Davis had a scar over his left eye.

Davis competed at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles in sailing events.

Davis willed his library to his daughters with the provision that it be made available to any grandchild interested in the profession of architecture.

SSN: 568-07-9061.

• Los Angeles, CA (Architect's Death)
  Los Angeles, CA

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  Davis died at his house at 500 South Rossmore Avenue.

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• Baltimore, MD (Architect's Birth)
  Baltimore, MD

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