Summary |
|
| Creator: | Davis, Ernie, 1939-1963. |
| Title: | Ernie Davis Collection |
| Dates: | 1953-2009 |
| Size: | 11.5 linear feet and 1 film reel |
| Abstract: | Personal items, photographs, printed material, and memorabilia related to Ernie Davis |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: |
University Archives, Special Collections Research Center Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600 Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/university-archives |
Biography
Ernie Davis (1939-1963) was a 1962 graduate of Syracuse University and the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy.
Born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Davis and his mother moved to Elmira, New York when he was 12. He attended high school at Elmira Free Academy, where he earned a total of 11 varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball and was named All-Conference, All-State, All Eastern, and All-American. Davis was offered scholarships from a number of universities. Former Syracuse University football star Jim Brown and football Coach Ben Schwartzwalder visited him and urged him to choose Syracuse, but it was the guidance of his family and good friend Tony Defilippo that swayed his decision.
While at Syracuse University, Davis majored in economics and finance and became a brother of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. After playing on the freshman football team, he joined the varsity football team as a sophomore in 1959, donning the famous number "44." The team went undefeated that season and earned its only national championship at the 1960 Cotton Bowl Classic. Davis was named the Most Valuable Player for the championship game, and he earned the nickname "The Elmira Express."
During his junior year, Davis earned All-American honors in football, played a season of basketball and was named one of the two senior class marshals. In his senior year, Davis was named to the All-East football squad by the Associated Press, earned All-American honors, and broke Jim Brown's records for total yardage, rushing, scoring, and touchdowns. In November 1961, he became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. While in New York City accepting the award, Davis also met with President Kennedy.
Davis was the number-one pick in the 1962 National Football League (NFL) draft and was initially selected by the Washington Redskins. He was ultimately traded to the Cleveland Browns, joining his Syracuse predecessor Jim Brown. In December of 1961, Davis signed a three-year contract with the Browns for $80,000. It was the highest contract ever announced for an NFL rookie at the time.
After graduation, Davis was diagnosed with leukemia. He attended Cleveland Browns practice but trained separately from the team and ultimately did not play in the 1962 NFL season. Despite his illness, in December 1962 Davis helped to recruit future number "44" Floyd Little for the Syracuse University football team.
Ernie Davis died in May 1963 at the age of 23. In January 1979 he was named to the National Football Foundation's College Hall of Fame. Davis has also been memorialized through various organizations, foundations, scholarships, games, and a residence hall on the Syracuse University campus.
Scope and Content
The Ernie Davis Collection comprises personal belongings, printed materials, photographs, memorabilia, and awards that document the life and athletic accomplishments of Davis. The collection is arranged into six series:
The Correspondence series consists of letters to Ernie Davis and to his mother, Marie Fleming, including correspondence with the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame about Davis’ posthumous induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. There is also a Mother’s Day card from Davis to his mother.
The Media and printed materials series includes clippings, biographies of Davis, programs, pamphlets, and audiovisual materials documenting his life and achievements.
The Memorabilia series consists of collectors’ items and other souvenirs relating to Ernie Davis, such as items from the Ernie Davis Football Club, a football recruitment organization once affiliated with the Syracuse University football program.
The Memorials and recognition series largely comprises awards and other accolades given to Ernie Davis during his life and posthumously. These include induction certificates for the Syracuse University Varsity Club, Elmira Basketball Hall of Fame, and College Football Hall of Fame as well as a 1961 Outstanding Player trophy for a Syracuse-Colgate football game and Most Outstanding Back plaque from the 1960 Cotton Bowl.
Making up the bulk of the collection, the Personal materials series consists of a wide variety of items owned by Ernie Davis. This includes ordinary objects like his wallet and his high school yearbook signed by his girlfriend and friends. Many items document his life as a student-athlete at Syracuse University, including his signed #44 jersey and signed footballs.
The Visual works series comprises photographs, football cartoons, and a drawing of Ernie Davis. The photographs are primarily of Davis but also include other images, including the Syracuse University football team.
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.
Access to audiovisual material requires advance notice to produce a use copy.
Use Restrictions
Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Related Material
The Syracuse University Archives holds additional information about Ernie Davis in its clipping files, Syracuse University Photograph Collection, Syracuse University Portrait Collection, Syracuse University Slide Collection, and in the 1959 Championship Football Team Collection.
Selected Search Terms
Names
Subjects
Types of material
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Ernie Davis Collection,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
A Halo for a Helmet: The Life of Ernie Davis, The Elmira Express purchased in 2011. Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express, The Story of a Heisman Trophy Winner gift of Amy Doherty sometime before 2016. Jersey transferred from the Syracuse University Athletics Office in 2016. Bulk of collection acquired in 2020. Acquisition information unknown for remaining materials.
Processing Information
Items have been rehoused in archival boxes. Newspaper clippings have been photocopied for preservation.
Finding Aid Information
Created by: Maggie Teschler
Date: 2016
Revision history: 2019 - Materials added and finding aid rearranged and style updated (NP);
Dec 2021 - box numbering corrected (MAM);
Feb 2024 - 6.5 linear ft. and 1 film reel added (MAM)
Inventory
| Correspondence | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Davis, Ernie 1960-1962 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Fleming, Marie 1963, 1970, 1980-1988, 1996 | ||||||||||