In honor of our colleague and friend
the Institute of Historical Survey Foundation (IHSF)
will remain open during our regular operating hours
M-F 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
The collections will continue to be preserved and protected.
The Board of Directors is actively directing the transition.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns at 575-525-3035
or by email at admin@ihsf.org

A memorial service for Evan
was held at 10:00 am
Saturday, Aug 26, 2023
at St. James Episcopal Church.

The Rt. Rev. Michael Hunn
presided

A replay of the service is available on St. James Episcopal Church YouTube channel.
Click here

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, in which 40+ staff members and volunteers process and restore all manner of paper, film and sound. The 10,000 square foot structure, complete with high security and climate control, houses extensive collections including more than two million photographic images and 50,000 each of books and audio recordings from nearly every continent. 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. Evan was a resident of New Mexico for 60 years.

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 was held Aug. 26, 2023 at St. James Episcopal Church in Mesilla Park, NM (see above). It is suggested that donations can be made to the Archive at: IHSF, P.O. Box 36, Mesilla Park, NM 88047.