Idaho State University Department of Global Studies inherits more than 500 books from former adjunct professor Ted C. Davis

POCATELLO – The Department of Global Studies at Idaho State University received more than 500 books from Ted C. Davis, former adjunct professor in Asian history and languages. The collection will be called “The Ted C. Davis Asian Studies Collection” and compliments the Asian studies section in the Oboler Library.

The collection has books about China, Japan and Taiwan. The books are from a range of study including history, politics, languages and poetry. It also includes dictionaries that he helped write and obtain funding for.

There are also rare books including the earliest Chinese and Japanese dictionaries, which are found in only a few libraries.

“This collection will help facilitate language studies like Chinese and Japanese for our students,” said Raphael Njoku, Department of Global Studies Chair. “We try to expand our teachings and knowledge across the world. China and Japan are two very interesting topics of study, not just the language but the history, politics and culture. This collection will be very useful in a diversity of ways.”

The books will be housed on the second floor of Gravely Hall in the Department of Global Studies library. Students and faculty members from all disciplines will be able to use and enjoy the books from the collection.

Davis was born and raised in Pocatello, and retired here once his career was over. He served in the U.S. Army and as a linguist for the Defense Language Institute. He was sent to Japan and Korea and studied Japanese History in Japan. He worked as a linguist for the Department of Defense and was recognized as a certified language analyst and special research analyst. Davis also worked for an adjunct professor teaching Asian history and languages at ISU.

“It was a dream of his to donate his collection to ISU,” said Davis’s wife Mary. “It was his life’s work and very important to him.”