Diaries, photographs, and miscellaneous materials about Elwood L. Davis and his medical missionary work in Kenya for the Africa Inland Mission (AIM). Topics covered include brief descriptions of daily life in Africa, of his army medical service during World War I, places visited, colleagues entertained, services held, birth of his sons, death of his wife, etc.; diaries cover, with a few gaps, the years 1902 until his death in 1961; includes information on his father, various licenses and passports.

[NOTE: In the Scope and Content description, the notation "folder 1-1" means box 1, folder 1.]

The diaries contain brief entries which include the place where they were written, weather, and summary of activities, e.g., "(Machakos) Sunday [December 13, 1914]. Hot day. Usual services & good attendance, 98 A.M. Our service P.M." (folder 1-2). The first diary (folder 1-1) covers 1904 and 1905 and many of the notations have to do with his classes and work in medical school. The diary in folder 1-2 covers years 1910 to 1914, describing the Davis's marriage, departure for Africa, and the birth of his first son. The years 1915 to 1919 are covered in the diary in folder 1-3, in which entries record his work in Africa, his first furlough, the birth of his second son, and his army medical service during World War I (Camp Greenleaf, Camp Sevier, and Camp Pike). The diaries mention contacts with the following AIM workers: Erik Barnett, Dr. Helen Blakeslee, Austin Paul, John Stauffacher, and Theodore Westervelt, among others. Subsequent diaries contain entries on places visited, people entertained, services held, etc. In the diary in folder 2-3, Davis writes about leaving Africa in 1949 and the death of his wife, Bernice, in 1950, among many other topics.

The collection also contains 320 photographs which depict Davis, his family, missionary colleagues, and AIM activities.

Further information on Davis is available in Collection 81, folder 19-25.