author

John Francis Davis

1859–1930

A California lawyer and historical writer, he helped document the state’s records and wrote with a strong sense of the value of local history. His books reflect an early-20th-century effort to preserve the stories, archives, and civic memory of the Pacific Coast.

1 Audiobook

California Romantic and Resourceful A plea for the Collection, Preservation and Diffusion of Information Relating to Pacific Coast History

California Romantic and Resourceful A plea for the Collection, Preservation and Diffusion of Information Relating to Pacific Coast History

by John Francis Davis

About the author

Born in 1859 and dying in 1930, John Francis Davis was an American lawyer and author whose surviving works show a deep interest in California’s public life and historical record.

He wrote California Romantic and Resourceful in 1914, a book centered on collecting, preserving, and sharing information about Pacific Coast history. Library records also connect him with archival projects including Guide to the County Archives of California and The Care and Use of the County Archives of California, showing his role in efforts to organize and protect local historical sources.

Although not widely known today, his work points to a practical, civic-minded writer: someone interested not just in history as a story, but in the records that make history possible.