Brian Davis research papers on Faculty of Law history.

Collection

Identifier: MSS-Archives-2014/08

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

A small collection donated to Special Collections by Brian Reeve Davis, Emeritus Professor Chemistry and son of Dr. Arthur Geoffrey Davis, former Dean of Auckland Law School.This collection includes Brian Davis' research papers relating to his father's appointment as Dean in 1942. It also contains a folder of research papers relating to A.G. Davis' predecessor, Professor Julius Stone and his appointment to the Law Chair at the University of Sydney.

Dates

1980s-2009

Creator

Davis, B.R. (Brian Reeve) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Not restricted.

Biographical / Historical

Davis, A.G., (Arthur Geoffrey), b. 1899 - d. 1966 Arthur Geoffrey Davis (1899-1966) was Dean of Auckland Law School from 1942, until his retirement in 1965. A New Zealander who received schooling in Auckland he completed an LLB in 1921 at Auckland Law School and was admitted to the bar in February 1922.

During 1932 he was admitted as a solicitor in England and practised in London until 1935. In 1938 he applied for the position of Dean for Auckland Law School and although he was a strong candidate, the position was awarded to Professor Julius Stone. When Professor Stone left the University for Sydney in 1942 A. G. Davis was offered the position and he arrived in Auckland to take up the role in May 1942.

On his retirement in January 1965 he was made Professor Emeritus and the degree of LLD (honoris causa) was conferred on him by the University of Auckland. The A. G. Davis Scholarship was also founded in his honour.

A. G. Davis was married to Phyllis and had two sons, Brian and Jim. He died in 1966 whilst on a visit to England.

References

Coote, B. (1997). How Dr Davis became Dean of the Auckland Law School. Eden Crescent : Faculty of Law annual 1996-7, 12-15.

Coote, B. (2009). Learned in the law : the Auckland Law School, 1883-2008. Auckland, N.Z. : Legal Research Foundation, 19, 21, 28 & 50.

Sinclair, K. (1983) A history of the University of Auckland, 1883-1983. Auckland, N.Z. : Auckland University Press : Oxford University Press, 177-178.