Harlow Morrell Davis

Harlow Morrell Davis (March 9, 1885 – January 1, 1938) was an American lawyer. He served as manager of patent division of United Shoe Machinery Corporation from 1935 and chairman of the United States Patent Office advisory board from 1936, until his death in 1938. He was the father of actress Bette Davis.

Davis was born on March 9, 1885 in Augusta, Maine, as the only child of Edward Ellwood Davis (1854–1905) and Eliza Jane Morrell (1856–1906).^[1][2][3] He graduated from Bates College in 1907 and went to Harvard Law School, where he graduated in 1910.^[2]

Davis worked at United Shoe Machinery Corporation for 25 years and as its patent division manager from 1935 until his death in 1938.^[2] He served in World War I.^[1] Davis later became a member of the patent law of the American Bar Association revision committee and a member of the Boston Patent Law Association executive committee.^[2] In 1934, he was appointed by Daniel C. Roper as a member of the United States Patent Office advisory board and then served as its chairman from 1936 again until his death in 1938.^[2]

Davis married Ruth Augusta Favor in Lowell, Middlesex County, on July 1, 1907.^[3] They had two daughters, actress Bette (1908–1989), and author Barbara Harriet Davis (1909–1979).^[2] His second marriage was to Minnie Stewart Davis, which lasted until his death in January 1938.^[2]

Davis died at his residence in Belmont, Massachusetts, on January 1, 1938, due to a heart attack at age 52.^[2]