Cunningham family papers

 Collection – Multiple Containers
Identifier: MS-1000

Collection Organization

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.

Harriet (McKnight) Cunningham Personal Papers

 Series

Harriet McKnight calendar diary (scattered entries), January-December 1930

 File – Box 1, Folder: 1
Dates
Creation: January-December 1930

Harriet McKnight five year diary (scattered entries), January 1933-February 1934

 File – Box 1, Folder: 2
Dates
Creation: January 1933-February 1934

Harriet McKnight journal, March 22-August 5, 1934, October 31-November 5, 1934

 File – Box 1, Folder: 3
Dates
Creation: March 22-August 5, 1934, October 31-November 5, 1934

Harriet McKnight journal, August 16-18, 1934

 File – Box 1, Folder: 4
Dates
Creation: August 16-18, 1934

Harriet McKnight journal, September 13-October 30, 1934

 File – Box 1, Folder: 4
Dates
Creation: September 13-October 30, 1934

Harriet McKnight journal, October 31, 1934-February 20, 1936

 File – Box 1, Folder: 5-8
Dates
Creation: October 31, 1934-February 20, 1936

Harriet McKnight journal, November 20-December 3, 1936

 File – Box 1, Folder: 9
Dates
Creation: November 20-December 3, 1936

Harriet McKnight calendar diary, November 27, 1936-July 29, 1937

 File – Box 1, Folder: 9
Dates
Creation: November 27, 1936-July 29, 1937

Harriet McKnight Scribble Book (creative writings), 1930-1939

 File – Box 1, Folder: 10
Dates
Creation: 1930-1939

The Grey Griffin, February 1935

 File – Box 1, Folder: 11

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.

Dates
Creation: February 1935

Harriet McKnight High School Scrapbook, August 1933-June 1937

 Item – Box 2, Item: 1
Dates
Creation: August 1933-June 1937

Harriet McKnight BGSU Scrapbook, September 1937-June 1941

 Item – Box 2, Item: 2
Dates
Creation: September 1937-June 1941

Harriet McKnight Engagement/Wedding Scrapbook, June-September 1943

 Item – Box 2, Item: 3
Dates
Creation: June-September 1943

Harriet McKnight Cunningham family scrapbook, January 1944-June 1946

 Item – Box 2, Item: 4
Dates
Creation: January 1944-June 1946

Wrapped volume: Harriet McKnight Cunningham scrapbook (compiled by Scott Cunningham/Cheryl Windisch)

 Item – Volume 1

Don Cunningham Personal Papers

 Series

Don Cunningham World War II scrapbook, 1944-1946

 Item – Box 2, Item: 5
Dates
Creation: 1944-1946

Wrapped volume: Don A. Cunningham scrapbook, with Cunningham homes (compiled by Scott Cunningham/Cheryl Windisch)

 Item – Volume 2

Wrapped volume: Don Cunningham World War II scrapbook (compiled by Scott Cunningham/Cheryl Windisch)

 Item – Volume 3

World War II Correspondence, 1941-1946

 Series

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.

Dates
Creation: 1941-1946

Letters from Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, 1941-1946

 Sub-Series

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.

Dates
Creation: 1941-1946

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, June - December 1941

 File – Box 3, Folder: 1-2
Dates
Creation: June - December 1941

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, January - December, 1942

 File – Box 3, Folder: 3-5
Dates
Creation: January - December, 1942

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, January - May 1943

 File – Box 3, Folder: 6
Dates
Creation: January - May 1943

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, June 1943

 File – Box 4, Folder: 1
Dates
Creation: June 1943

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, July 1943

 File – Box 4, Folder: 2
Dates
Creation: July 1943

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, August 1943

 File – Box 4, Folder: 3
Dates
Creation: August 1943

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, September 1943

 File – Box 4, Folder: 4
Dates
Creation: September 1943

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, April 17- May 17, 1944

 File – Box 5, Folder: 1
Dates
Creation: April 17- May 17, 1944

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, May 18 - May 29, 1944

 File – Box 5, Folder: 2
Dates
Creation: May 18 - May 29, 1944

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, May 30 - June 13, 1944

 File – Box 5, Folder: 3
Dates
Creation: May 30 - June 13, 1944

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, June 14 - July 2, 1944

 File – Box 5, Folder: 4
Dates
Creation: June 14 - July 2, 1944

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, July 2 - July 17, 1944

 File – Box 5, Folder: 5
Dates
Creation: July 2 - July 17, 1944

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, July 18 - August 11, 1944

 File – Box 5, Folder: 6
Dates
Creation: July 18 - August 11, 1944

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, August 11 - August 22, 1944

 File – Box 5, Folder: 7
Dates
Creation: August 11 - August 22, 1944

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, September 1 - September 11, 1944

 File – Box 5, Folder: 8
Dates
Creation: September 1 - September 11, 1944

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, September 18 - October 5, 1944

 File – Box 5, Folder: 9
Dates
Creation: September 18 - October 5, 1944

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, October 7 - October 25, 1944

 File – Box 6, Folder: 1
Dates
Creation: October 7 - October 25, 1944

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, October 27 - November 10, 1944

 File – Box 6, Folder: 2
Dates
Creation: October 27 - November 10, 1944

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, November 11 - December 6

 File – Box 6, Folder: 3
Dates
Creation: November 11 - December 6

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, December 8 - December 31, 1944

 File – Box 6, Folder: 4
Dates
Creation: December 8 - December 31, 1944

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, January 1945

 File – Box 7, Folder: 1
Dates
Creation: January 1945

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, February 1945

 File – Box 7, Folder: 2
Dates
Creation: February 1945

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, March 6- April 10, 1945

 File – Box 7, Folder: 3
Dates
Creation: March 6- April 10, 1945

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, April 14-21, 1945

 File – Box 7, Folder: 4
Dates
Creation: April 14-21, 1945

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, May 3 - June 3, 1945

 File – Box 7, Folder: 5
Dates
Creation: May 3 - June 3, 1945

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, June 3 - June 11, 1945

 File – Box 8, Folder: 1
Dates
Creation: June 3 - June 11, 1945

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, June 13-24, 1945

 File – Box 8, Folder: 2
Dates
Creation: June 13-24, 1945

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, June 27 - July 10, 1945

 File – Box 8, Folder: 3
Dates
Creation: June 27 - July 10, 1945

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, July 15 - September 19, 1945

 File – Box 8, Folder: 4
Dates
Creation: July 15 - September 19, 1945

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, November 16-30, 1945

 File – Box 9, Folder: 1
Dates
Creation: November 16-30, 1945

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, December 1945

 File – Box 9, Folder: 2
Dates
Creation: December 1945

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, January 1946

 File – Box 9, Folder: 3
Dates
Creation: January 1946

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, March 1946

 File – Box 9, Folder: 4
Dates
Creation: March 1946

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, April 1946

 File – Box 9, Folder: 5
Dates
Creation: April 1946

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, May 1946

 File – Box 9, Folder: 6
Dates
Creation: May 1946

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, June 1946

 File – Box 9, Folder: 7
Dates
Creation: June 1946

From Don Cunningham to Harriet Cunningham, July 1946

 File – Box 9, Folder: 8
Dates
Creation: July 1946

Letters from Harriet Cunningham to Don Cunningham, 1941 - 1946

 Sub-Series

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

Dates
Creation: 1941 - 1946

From Don Cunningham to his Parents, 1944-1945

 Sub-Series
Dates
Creation: 1944-1945

From Don Cunningham to his Parents, 1944

 File – Box 10, Folder: 1-2
Dates
Creation: 1944

From Don Cunningham to his Parents, 1945

 File – Box 10, Folder: 3-4
Dates
Creation: 1945

From Don Cunningham to his Parents, undated

 File – Box 10, Folder: 5
Dates
Creation: undated