With more than 45 years as Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, Reverend France Davis (now retired) had penned over 1,100 sermons. During the fall of 2022, Rev. Davis contributed these sermons to the Marriott Library’s Special Collections. Rev. Davis’ sermons have been digitized and are now freely accessible through the Digital Library. This is the first contemporary Baptist sermon collection to be digitized in Utah.

“We are delighted to be the holding institution for Rev. Davis’ collection and it’s so exciting to see these papers now available online,” comments Alberta Comer, dean of libraries. “When I peruse these many papers, I think about the immeasurable good Rev. Davis has brought not only to his congregation, but to our community and to our state.”

In relation to Rev. Davis’ donation of papers, on October 4, 2022, the Marriott Library celebrated the naming of the France Davis Utah Black Archive, which brings together oral histories, photographs, community records, scrapbooks and other documents pertaining to Utah’s Black community, both present and past. Those wishing to submit materials to this archive, should use the submission form.

Oral history interviews can be recorded at the Marriott Library. Contact Allyson Mower if you’re interested in telling your story.