From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)

Davis, Edward Benjamin and Bettie Webb

Both Edward B. Davis (1875-1934) and Bettie W. Davis (1878-1956) were born in Scott County, Kentucky. Ed was the son of Katie Davis, and he and Betty lived at 133 Bourbon Street, according to Ed's death certificate. Betty and Ed Davis were teachers at the Georgetown Colored School, Ed was also the school principal, they are listed in the 1910 and the 1920 U. S. Federal Census. In 1923, Bettie established the first African American library in Georgetown; it was within the school. The library was later named the Charles Steele Library, serving as the Colored branch of the Georgetown Public Library. In 1934 Davis replaced her deceased husband as principal of the school, serving in that capacity until 1940; the school name had been changed from the Chambers Avenue School to the Ed Davis School in 1934, it was named after her husband [source: "K.N.E.A. Kullings," Kentucky Negro Educational Association Journal, v.4, no.2, p.25]. She also established the Betty Webb Davis Scholarship Loan Fund within the Ed Davis Alumni Association. Bettie Webb Davis was the daughter of Robert and Mary Webb [source: 1880 U.S. Federal Census].

For more see Who's Who in Colored America, 1941-44, Library Service to African Americans in Kentucky, by R. F. Jones; "Former principal of Ed Davis School buried here Tuesday," The Georgetown Times, 05/09/1956, p.2. See also the NKAA entry African American Schools in Scott County, KY.

Kentucky County & Region

Read about Scott County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Kentucky Place (Town or City)

Read about Georgetown, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

References

Cited in this Entry

NKAA Source: Kentucky Negro educational association journal (periodical)
NKAA Source: Who's who in colored America a biographical dictionary of notable living persons of African descent in America : 1941-to-1944
NKAA Source: Library service to African Americans in Kentucky, from the Reconstruction Era to the 1960s
NKAA Source: The Georgetown times (newspaper)

Related Entries Citing this Entry

NKAA Entry:  Zion Hill (Scott County, KY)
NKAA Entry:  Georgetown Colored Branch Library (Scott County, KY)
NKAA Entry:  African American Schools in Scott County, KY

Cite This NKAA Entry:

“Davis, Edward Benjamin and Bettie Webb,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed March 29, 2023, https://ukscrc001.net/nkaa/items/show/761.

Last modified: 2022-09-29 20:29:24