Cunningham family papers

The collection of materials related to both Harriet McKnight Cunningham and Don A. Cunningham spans from 1930 through to just after World War II in the form of journals and scrapbooks, some compiled later by their children, as well as a significant number of letters between the two.

The diaries and journals in the collection start when Harriet was just starting Junior High School and include a typical view of adolescent life in Bowling Green in sporadic entries about school, sports, and boys.

The scrapbooks in the collection that were compiled by Harriet serve as a counterpoint to her journals during the same years, with an array of ticket stubs, programs, clippings, ribbons, and other memorabilia. The scrapbook from the war period highlights through photographs what it was like as the married couple moved to various posts and bases.

The collection also includes several contemporary compiled scrapbooks created by Scott Cunningham and Cheryl Windisch with clippings, photographs, correspondence and documents highlighting and honoring the lives and careers of their parents.

The letters exchanged between Don and Harriet L. Knight Cunningham between 1941 and 1946 give a comprehensive view of Don’s service in the U.S. military during the Second World War. In them, he details his deployment to Sofia, Bulgaria with the Signal Corps, as well as his general thoughts on military service.

A journal of creative writing published by the English Department of the Senior High School in Bowling Green, Ohio. Included is the story "Three Deep," written by Harriet McKnight.

Correspondence sent between Don Cunningham and others during World War 2. The majority of the letters are between Don and his fiance and later wife Harriet (McKnight) Cunningham. Additional individuals included in the letters are his parents Charles "Chuck" and Billie "Bill" Cunningham; his sister Regina Bietry; various aunts and uncles; his in-laws from the McKnight family; friends; fellow servicemen; and members of the general public.

In most cases, only the letters received by Don are present in the collection. Letters sent by Don are present only for those sent to his wife and parents.

Correspondence sent by Don Cunningham to Harriet. For Harriet's replies, see the "Letters from Harriet Cunningham to Don Cunningham" sub-series.

While many letters were addressed and written on the same day, Don will occasionally address his letters with two dates: the date the events he's written about occurred on, and the date when he wrote the letter. Unless otherwise noted, all dates recorded are the date the letters were written on.

Correspondence sent by Harriet Cunningham to Don. For Don's replies, see the "Letters from Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham" sub-series.