Charles Evan Davies

Charles Evan Davies Charles Evan Davies was born April 27, 1937 in Manhattan, Kansas, to the Rev. Charles and Mildred Davies. He died July 2, 2023 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Evan spent his early years in Manhattan, Kansas where his father was the Episcopal priest at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. In 1952, when Evan was a teenager, his family moved to Roswell, New Mexico where his father was called to serve at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Upon graduation from Roswell High School, Evan returned to Kansas to attend Kansas State University. He held a bachelor's in Greek from Kansas State, a Master's of Divinity from Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, California, and a Master's and Doctorate from Oxford University, England. While at Oxford, he was ordained at Christ Church Cathedral, made Associate Chaplain of Pembroke College, and served as President of Oxford University Society of Bibliophiles. Upon his return to the states in 1966, Evan was assigned to serve in twelve Episcopal Texas missions in the Big Bend area. In 1969, he transferred to New Mexico as Rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Las Cruces. Later he completed a 20-year stint with the American Red Cross as Executive Director of the Southwest New Mexico Chapter and served as a member of the Red Cross President's Advisory Council in Washington, D.C. Evan pursued his love of history and scholarship and founded the Institute of Historical Survey Foundation (IHSF), which in 1982 became a non-profit, 501(c)(3) archive, library and museum complex with multifaceted interests and disciplines. In the 1990's he raised funds to create a state-of-the-art facility in Mesilla Park, New Mexico to preserve the Foundations extensive collections. He served as the President of the Foundation and the Director from its beginning until his death. He also served as the Archivist for the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande. With broad scholarly interests, and a love for the Episcopal Church, Evan gathered an extraordinary collection for the Archive. His love of collecting and preserving historical materials was an inspiration to many. The dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters of the Institute will greatly miss him. Dr. Davies is survived by his cousins Dr. Leigh Stamets of Carmichael, California and Bradley Stamets of Durango, Colorado. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on August 26, 2023 at St. James Episcopal Church. Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home, Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is suggested that donations can be made to the Archive at: IHSF, P.O. Box 36, Mesilla Park, NM 88047.