James G. Davis; Librarian at UCLA’s Powell Library

James G. Davis, 64, veteran librarian for UCLA’s Powell Library and an expert on rare books. Educated at Willamette University and the University of Washington, Davis worked briefly in publishing in New York City. But he spent virtually his entire career--38 years--at UCLA after he was hired in 1959 by library Director Lawrence Clark Powell. In 1983, Davis became rare books librarian in the university’s Department of Special Collections, a position he held until his retirement in 1997. Working with former UCLA chancellor and Times Mirror Co. Board Chairman Franklin D. Murphy, who was a trustee of the Ahmanson Foundation, Davis developed the Ahmanson-Murphy Collections of early Italian imprints. Davis was also credited with strengthening UCLA collections in three other principal areas: historical children’s books, Victorian fiction and Californiana. When Davis retired, UCLA established an endowed fund for rare books acquisition in his honor. Since 1986, Davis had taught and helped direct the summer Rare Book School, a national continuing education program for librarians. He was a member of several book clubs, including the Zamarano and Rounce & Coffin Clubs of Los Angeles and the Grolier Club of New York City. On Thursday in Los Angeles of complications following heart surgery.