The Davis Center for Historical Studies is named after Shelby Cullom Davis '30, who provided a generous gift to assure the continuance of excellence in scholarship and the teaching of history at Princeton University.

Since its inception, the Davis Center's chief function has been to foster research on chosen themes through a weekly seminar, conferences and workshops. Emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary approaches and subjects that span different geographical areas and periods.

For 2007-2008, the theme is Fear