Davis, Edward W. (Edward Wilson), 1888-1973

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E. W. Davis was a member of the University of Minnesota faculty (1912-1955), and a Superintendent (1918-1938) and Director (1938-1951) of the Mines Experiment Station of the University.

From the description of E. W. Davis papers, 1924-1954. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 63301024

Edward Wilson Davis, B.A. (1911), Electrical Engineering degree (1918), Purdue University. Joined the staff of the school of mines (1912) at the University of Minnesota; served as superintendent (1918-1937), and director (1938-1951) of mines experiment station at the University of Minnesota. Considered the father of the taconite industry by pioneering modern processing of lower grade ore. E. W. "Bud" Davis, "Mr. Taconite" was born on May 8, 1888 in Cambridge, Indiana. He received a BA in 1911 and an electrical engineering degree in 1918 from Purdue University. He began working at the University of Minnesota as an instructor in mathematics in the School of Mines from 1912-1915. He became superintendent-professor of the Mines Experiment Station in 1919 and was director-professor from 1938 until 1951. He was appointed as professor in 1951 retiring from the University as professor emeritus in 1955. He was awarded honorary doctorates from Purdue University (1955) and the University of Minnesota (1956). Davis is most noted for a process he developed that could easily produce a pig-iron ingot from taconite ore, greatly increasing efficiency and making the mining of taconite economically feasible. After retiring from the University in 1955, Davis was a consultant for the Reserve Mining Company in Silver Bay, Minnesota, and chairman of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Committee on Mining. Throughout his career, he wrote over 30 mining related articles, such as Pioneering With Taconite published in October of 196, and held 15 patents. Edward Wilson Davis died in Duluth, Minnesota December 3, 1973.

From the description of Edward Wilson Davis papers 1924-1967. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 436026994

Edward Wilson Davis, B.A. (1911), Electrical Engineering degree (1918), Purdue University. Joined the staff of the school of mines (1912) at the University of Minnesota; served as superintendent (1918-1937), and director (1938-1951) of mines experiment station at the University of Minnesota. Considered the father of the taconite industry by pioneering modern processing of lower grade ore.

E. W. "Bud" Davis, "Mr. Taconite" was born on May 8, 1888 in Cambridge, Indiana. He received a BA in 1911 and an electrical engineering degree in 1918 from Purdue University. He began working at the University of Minnesota as an instructor in mathematics in the School of Mines from 1912-1915. He became superintendent-professor of the Mines Experiment Station in 1919 and was director-professor from 1938 until 1951. He was appointed as professor in 1951 retiring from the University as professor emeritus in 1955. He was awarded honorary doctorates from Purdue University (1955) and the University of Minnesota (1956).

Davis is most noted for a process he developed that could easily produce a pig-iron ingot from taconite ore, greatly increasing efficiency and making the mining of taconite economically feasible. After retiring from the University in 1955, Davis was a consultant for the Reserve Mining Company in Silver Bay, Minnesota, and chairman of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Committee on Mining. Throughout his career, he wrote over 30 mining related articles, such as Pioneering With Taconite published in October of 196, and held 15 patents. Edward Wilson Davis died in Duluth, Minnesota December 3, 1973.

From the guide to the Edward Wilson Davis papers, 1924-1967, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])

Edward Wilson Davis was born May 8, 1888 in Cambridge City, Indiana, the son of Walter and Delphina (Wilson) Davis. He and his brother Royden attended public schools in Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University with a degree in electrical engineering in 1911 and received an EE degree from the University of Minnesota in 1914. In 1912 he joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota School of Mines as a mathematics instructor. The next year he began his pioneering work to perfect a commercially useful process for extracting magnetic iron ore from taconite. From 1918 to 1939 he served as superintendent of the University of Minnesota Mines Experiment Station, and was its director from 1939 to 1955, when he retired and became a consultant for Reserve Mining Company. The company named its taconite plant at Silver Bay the E. W. Davis Works in his honor.

Dr. Davis was the holder of 15 patents relating to the iron ore industry, the author of more than 30 technical articles in professional journals, and the author of a book, Pioneering With Taconite, published by the Minnesota Historical Society in 1964.

Among his other interests was the history of the voyageurs and their canoe routes. This led to his interest in Underwater Archaeology and his participation with the Minnesota Historical Society in discovering artifacts lost in canoe accidents during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Dr. Davis was a member of the American Mining Congress; American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers; Board of Directors of the Minnesota Historical Society; Engineers Club of Minneapolis; Newcomen Society of North America; American Society for State and Local History; and other professional organizations.

He married Jessie Campbell of Yorktown, Indiana on June 4, 1914. They had three daughters: Jane, Martha, and Ruth. Dr. Davis died December 3, 1973.

From the guide to the Edward W. Davis papers., 1883-1973., (Minnesota Historical Society)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Edward Wilson Davis papers, 1924-1967 University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc]
referencedIn Minnesota. State Auditor. Land Department. Clippings relating to state mines and mineral lands, 1903, 1910-1928. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Davis, Edward W. (Edward Wilson), 1888-1973. E. W. Davis papers, 1924-1954. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Wade, Henry H., 1894-1992. Henry Wade papers, 1911-1992 (bulk 1962-1969). Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Mesabi Iron Company (New York City, N.Y.). Company records, 1914-1953. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn University of Minnesota. Mines Experiment Station. Mines Experiment Station records, 1912-1976. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Edward W. Davis papers., 1883-1973. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Minnesota. Dept. of Conservation. Hearings on taconite permits for Reserve Mining Company, 1947, 1960. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Mines Experiment Station records, 1912-1976 University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc]
creatorOf Davis, Edward W. (Edward Wilson), 1888-1973. Edward W. Davis papers, 1883-1973. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Davis, Edward W. (Edward Wilson), 1888-1973. Edward Wilson Davis papers 1924-1967. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Gillett, Arthur D. (Arthur Dudley). The marvelous Mesabi will win the war, [ca. 1943]. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Barrow family. family
associatedWith Barrow family. family
associatedWith Blatnik, John A., 1911-1991 person
associatedWith Blatnik, John A. (John Anton), 1911- person
associatedWith Chamberlain family. family
associatedWith Chamberlain family. family
associatedWith Citizens Committee for the Taconite Amendment. corporateBody
associatedWith Crawford family. family
associatedWith Crawford family. family
associatedWith Davis family. family
associatedWith Davis family. family
associatedWith Drake, Rollin E. (Rollin Edwards), b. 1868. person
associatedWith Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway. corporateBody
associatedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969. person
associatedWith Freeman, Orville L. person
associatedWith Freeman, Orville L. person
associatedWith Gillett, Arthur D. (Arthur Dudley). person
associatedWith Goodwin family. family
associatedWith Goodwin family. family
associatedWith Haley, Kenneth M. person
associatedWith Haley, Kenneth M. person
associatedWith Hoffman, Arnold David, 1903- person
associatedWith Holmquist, June Drenning, 1924- person
associatedWith Jackling, Daniel Cowan, 1869-1956. person
associatedWith Lakela, Olga, 1890- person
associatedWith La Vérendrye, Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de, 1685-1749. person
associatedWith La V�rendrye, Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, 1685-1749 person
associatedWith Linney, Robert J. person
associatedWith Linney, Robert J. person
associatedWith Longyear, Edmund J. (Edmund Joseph), 1864-1954. person
associatedWith Mayo, Charles W. (Charles William), 1898-1968. person
associatedWith McComb, James B. person
associatedWith Mesabi Iron Company (Babbitt, Minn.). corporateBody
associatedWith Mesabi Iron Company (New York City, N.Y.). corporateBody
associatedWith Minnesota. corporateBody
associatedWith Minnesota. Dept. of Conservation. corporateBody
associatedWith Minnesota. Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. corporateBody
associatedWith Minnesota. Legislature. corporateBody
associatedWith Minnesota. State Auditor. Land Department. corporateBody
associatedWith Mitchell, Peter, 1828-1918. person
associatedWith Montague, William K., 1892- person
associatedWith Newcomen Society in North America. corporateBody
associatedWith North Star Research and Development Institute (Minneapolis, Minn.). corporateBody
associatedWith Ontonagon Syndicate. corporateBody
associatedWith Ontonagon Syndicate. corporateBody
associatedWith Reserve Mining Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Shemesh, Rita F. person
associatedWith Shemesh, Rita F. person
associatedWith Straub, Lorenz G. (Lorenz George), 1901- person
associatedWith Swart, Walter G. person
associatedWith Swart, Walter G. (Walter Goodwin), 1868-1946 person
associatedWith Talmadge family. family
associatedWith Talmadge family. family
associatedWith Tower, Charlemagne, 1809-1889. person
associatedWith University of Minnesota. Mines Experiment Station. corporateBody
associatedWith Wade, Henry H., 1894-1992. person
associatedWith Wheeler, Robert C., 1913- person
associatedWith Wieland family. family
associatedWith Wieland family. family
associatedWith Woodbridge, Dwight E. (Dwight Edwards), 1865-1944. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Silver Bay (Minn.)
Minnesota
Superior, Lake
Beaver Bay (Minn.)
Minnesota
Minnesota
Babbitt (Minn.).
Superior, Lake.
Duluth (Minn.)
Mountain Iron (Minn.)
Duluth (Minn.).
Silver Bay (Minn.).
Babbitt (Minn.)
Mesabi Range (Minn.)
Grand Portage (Minn.).
Mesabi Range (Minn.).
Grand Portage (Minn.)
Mountain Iron (Minn.).
Beaver Bay (Minn.).
Subject
Fur trade
Fur trade
Indians of North America
Iron industry and trade
Iron mines and mining
Iron mines and mining
Iron ores
Patents
Taconite
Taconite
Taconite industry
Tailings (Metallurgy)
Underwater archaeology
Water
Water
Water quality
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1888-05-08

Death 1973-12-03

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