James Wheeler Davidson scrapbook
PDF
James Wheeler Davidson scrapbook 
Manchurian notes - book 1
PDF
Manchurian notes - book 1 
Manchurian notes - book 2
PDF
Manchurian notes - book 2 
Co-partnership agreement – Davidson and Martinson
PDF
Co-partnership agreement – Davidson and Martinson 
Clan Dhai
PDF
Clan Dhai 
Military commission
PDF
Military commission 
Northwestern Military Academy certificate
PDF
Northwestern Military Academy certificate 
New York Amusement Emporium brochure
PDF
New York Amusement Emporium brochure 
Handwritten postcard
PDF
Handwritten postcard 
The Journal of the Second Peary expedition and log of the “Falcon”
PDF
The Journal of the Second Peary expedition and log of the “Falcon” 
Peary expedition: outline and journal transcript
PDF
Peary expedition: outline and journal transcript 
Illustration of waiter
Illustration of waiter 
Illustration of Greenland settlement with ship in harbour
Illustration of Greenland settlement with ship in harbour 
F. W. Stokes illustration
F. W. Stokes illustration 
Expedition illustration continued
Expedition illustration continued 
Jack Swain illustration
Jack Swain illustration 
Illustration of Dr. Vincent in an office
Illustration of Dr. Vincent in an office 
Illustration of Carr and Doc
Illustration of Carr and Doc 
Illustration of George Carr, Colonel Sparrow
Illustration of George Carr, Colonel Sparrow 
Illustration for introduction to the members of the second Peary Greenland Expedition, 1893-1894
Illustration for introduction to the members of the second Peary Greenland Expedition, 1893-1894 
Illustration of George Clark at a homemade podium
Illustration of George Clark at a homemade podium 
Illustration of Baldwin
Illustration of Baldwin 
Entrikin in his yachting costume illustration
Entrikin in his yachting costume illustration 
Expedition illustration
Expedition illustration 
Hugh Lee illustration
Hugh Lee illustration 
Deer hunt illustration
Deer hunt illustration 
Dusty Rhodes illustration
Dusty Rhodes illustration 
Illustration of conductor
Illustration of conductor 
Illustration of cook awaker
Illustration of cook awaker 
Illustration of building
Illustration of building 
Illustration of Jimmie
Illustration of Jimmie 
Sam and Jack
Sam and Jack 
Arctic settlement
Arctic settlement 
Men on boat
Men on boat 
Unknown bust
Unknown bust 
Polar bear hunt
Polar bear hunt 
Christmas card
Christmas card 
Robert Peary portrait
Robert Peary portrait 
Newsclippings and articles regarding the Peary expedition and Arctic exploration
PDF
Newsclippings and articles regarding the Peary expedition and Arctic exploration 
Passport – Formosa
PDF
Passport – Formosa 
JWD correspondence
PDF
JWD correspondence 
Formosa war diary
PDF
Formosa war diary 
Postage stamps of the Republic of Formosa
PDF
Postage stamps of the Republic of Formosa 
Formosa, Manchuria newsclippings, correspondence and related documents
PDF
Formosa, Manchuria newsclippings, correspondence and related documents 
Order of the Rising Sun
PDF
Order of the Rising Sun 
Japanese document recognizing JWD as US Consular Agent at Tamsui
PDF
Japanese document recognizing JWD as US Consular Agent at Tamsui 
“Through Eastern Seas, Formosa Bound”
PDF
“Through Eastern Seas, Formosa Bound” 
“Formosa Under Japanese Rule”
PDF
“Formosa Under Japanese Rule” 
“The Island of Formosa Past and Present”
PDF
“The Island of Formosa Past and Present” 
Formosa book review
PDF
Formosa book review 
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James Wheeler Davidson
This collection contains a selection of textual records and images from the James Wheeler Davidson Family fonds housed in Archives and Special Collections.

Please note that the language, terminology or visual content in our historical collections reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation, and may include culturally sensitive information. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology.

The information within the collection does not reflect the views of the University of Calgary, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.

James Wheeler Davidson has been described as a modern Marco Polo and a renaissance man.  Born in the United States in 1872 but later becoming a naturalized Canadian, Davidson was an Arctic explorer, war correspondent, author, US consul agent in the Far East and recipient of the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun.

Davidson was involved in a number of successful business ventures, including the Calgary Colonization Company, the Crown Lumber Company, and the Royalite Oil Company, and was also actively involved in a number of initiatives in Calgary, including the construction of the Lougheed Building, the founding of the Calgary Symphony Orchestra, the Alberta Motor Association, and the Calgary-Banff Tourist Development Association.

Davidson dedicated the last years of his life to the international expansion of the Rotary Club and traveled first to Australia and New Zealand and later embarked on a thirty-two month trip with his wife and daughter to Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Jerusalem, India and the Far East. His efforts resulted in 23 Rotary clubs chartered in 12 different countries.

In 1933, at the age of 61, James passed away.  Tributes poured in from all over the world after his passing, as he had met and touched so many lives.  A lasting tribute to James -- proposed by the Alberta Motor Association and the Rotary Club of Calgary -- was the dedication of Mount Davidson, near Banff, Alberta.  

Lillian and Marjory continued their involvement with Rotary for the remainder of their lives, speaking at Rotary events about James and the family’s international travels promoting the organization. 

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