MsC
107
Manuscript Register
PAPERS OF PAUL
HARVEY CUNNINGHAM
Collection
Dates: 1940 -- 1961
1 linear ft.
This document describes a collection of materials held
by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu
Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.
Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but
does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this
collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections
Department.
Copyright: Please read
The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished
Materials"
Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.
Biographical
Note
Lawyer; born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, son of Robert Harvey and Sarah Jane Cunningham; graduated from the State Normal School, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and from the literary and law departments of the University of Michigan; L.L.D., Sterling College, Kansas, 1954; Fort Sheridan Training Camp, 1917; discharged 1919, first lieutenant, Infantry; former captain, Iowa National Guard; former State representative, Polk County, Iowa; member Westminster U.P. Church, American Legion, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Masonic bodies, Odd Fellows, Elks, and various civic organizations; married Gail Fry; three children, Paul Harvey, Jr., Edward Plummer (killed in action on Saipan, 1944) and Sarah Jane; elected to the 77th, 78th, 79th, 80th, 81st, 82nd, 83rd, 84th, and 85th Congresses.
When Cunningham first came to Congress he served on the Veterans Committee, the Territories Committee, and the Roads Committee. Under the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 he elected to go on the Public Works Committee where he was Chairman of the Subcommittee on Roads. It was under his leadership that the 1948 Federal Highway Act became law. During Cunningham's service on the Veterans Committee, he assisted in drafting the G. I. Bill of Rights and the National Service Life Insurance Act. He was commended by President Roosevelt for his leadership and, in recognition, the President gave him the first pen he used in signing the G. I. Bill into law.
While a member of the State Legislature during the years 1933 -- 1936 inclusive, Mr. Cunningham obtained the enactment into law of pension systems for teachers, police, and firemen of the City of Des Moines. When he came to Congress, he became interested in Social Security and other retirement systems here and introduced legislation to liberalize them. He was in the forefront in expanding Social Security coverage to approximately 10 million persons during the 83rd Congress.
Chronology:
1890: Born on a farm in Indiana County, near Kent, Pennsylvania, the son of Robert Harvey and Sarah Jane Cunningham, June 15, 1890
1911: Graduated from the State Teachers College, Indiana, Pennsylvania
1914: Graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. B.A. degree
1915: Graduated LL.B. from the University of Michigan, Law School, Ann Arbor. Admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan
1917: First Lieutenant of Infantry, Fort Sheridan Training Camp, Fort Sheridan, Illinois, during W.W.I Honorably discharged, 1919
1918: Married Harriet French Plummer, December, 1918
1919: Began law practice in Des Moines, Iowa
1920: Served in the rank of. Captain, Iowa National Guard, 1920--1923
1922: His first wife, Harriet Plummer of Chicago, died
1926: Married Gail Fry, December 26, 1926
1933: Elected a member of the Iowa House of Representatives, 1933 -- 1937
1941: Elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa, 77th through 85th Congresses, 1941 -- 1959
1944: His son, Edward Plummer Cunningham, was killed in action with the Marine Corps on Saipan, WWII
1954: Received LL.D., Sterling College, Kansas
1958: Unsuccessful candidate for re-election to the 86th Congress; resumed his law practice
1961: Died July
16, 1961, at his summer home on Gull Lake, Brainerd, Minnesota
Scope
and Contents
Box
List
|
Folder
|
Item
Number
|
Description
|
| 1 | 1 -- 41 | Correspondence: Letters, envelopes, regulations, petition, programs, cards, 1941 -- 1961. Index of Correspondent Names |
| 2 | 42 -- 57 | Death
of Paul Harvey Cunningham Letters, envelopes, memorial, clippings, 1944 -- 1961 |
|
|
58 -- 69 | The
White House and Presidential Inaugurations Invitations, cards, 1941 -- 1959 |
|
4 |
70 -- 121 | Paul
Harvey Cunningham. Miscellany. Photographs, identification cards, organizational affiliations citations, campaign literature, programs, certificates, announcements, luncheon menus, 1940 -- 1960 |
| 5 | 122 -- 135 | Voting Records and Speeches. Miscellany. Order of Memorial Exercises in the House of Representatives, May 23, 1945. Report of the Board of Visitors to the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, April 30, 1953. Speech notes. Speech concerning House File #204 and Senate File #209 |
|
|
136 -- 163 | Newspaper clippings, 1940 |
|
|
164 -- 230 | Newspaper clippings, 1941 |
|
|
231 -- 258 | Newspaper clippings, 1942 -- 1943 |
|
|
259 -- 284 | Newspaper clippings, 1944 |
|
|
285 -- 307 | Newspaper clippings , 1945 |
Box 2
|
Folder
|
Item
Number
|
Description
|
|
308
-- 340
|
Newspaper
clippings, 1946
|
|
|
|
341 -- 367 | Newspaper clippings, 1947 |
|
|
368 -- 402 | Newspaper clippings, 1948 |
|
|
403 -- 443 | Newspaper clippings, 1949 |
|
|
444 -- 467 | Newspaper clippings, 1950 |
| 16 | 468 -- 500 | Newspaper clippings, 1951 |
|
|
501 -- 526 | Newspaper clippings 1952 |
| 18 |
527 -- 559 |
Newspaper clippings, 1953 |
|
|
560 -- 590 | Newspaper clippings, 1954 |
| 20 |
591 -- 609 |
Newspaper clippings, 1955 |
|
|
610 -- 680 | Newspaper clippings, 1956 |
| 22 |
681 -- 701 |
Newspaper clippings, 1957 |
|
|
702 -- 744 | Newspaper clippings, 1958, 1961 |
|
24 |
745 | Speech delivered before the Friends of the Fifth Congressional District on the eve of the biennial election, no date |
| 746 | Radio speech delivered to the Friends of the Fifth Congressional District. No date | |
| 747 | Speech on "The question of civilian morale." Eight pages. No place given. No date | |
| 748 | Speech delivered in "Memory of Dr. Morehouse, President of Drake University." Five pages. No place given, no date | |
| 749 | Comments received by radio station WHO concerning the special broadcast by Iowa Congressmen, Sunday afternoon, November 9, 1941, on the subject of "Neutrality." Twelve pages | |
| 750 | "Who is Paul Cunningham." Editorial from Story City Herald, Thursday, October 25, 1956. Typescript carbon copy. Four pages | |
| 751 | The Advergram. Des Moines, Iowa. Volume 39, no. 22. December 3, 1946. "Congress and Little Known Facts About Congressmen." by Paul Cunningham | |
| 752 -- 756 | Third Annual Registration Day. December 2, 1954. Safety Award for Knoxville Veterans Hospital. Program and newspaper clippings | |
| 757 | News Release. Des Moines, Iowa. March 12, 1946. "In the Thick of the Fight" | |
| 758 | News Release. To the Editor of Any Paper. September 26, 1942. "Explanation of the Anti-Inflation Bill which passed the House this week" | |
| 759 | Cunningham, Paul. '"The Great Discoveror," in The American Citizen, XXX, no. 15 (October 12, 1951), 1 -- 2 | |
| 760 -- 761 | Two letters. Correspondence between Paul Cunningham, Paul M. Elliott, and Charles Upham | |
| 25 | 762 | Certificate of Election. December 14, 1956. Issued to Paul Cunningham. Signed by Iowa Governor Leo A. Hoegh and Iowa Sec'y of State Melvin D. Synhorst |
| 763 | Certificate of Election, December 11, 1950. Issued to Paul Cunningham. Signed by Iowa Governor William S. Beardsley and Iowa Sec'y of State Melvin D. Synhorst | |
| 764 | Certificate of Election, November 22, 1948. Issued to Paul Cunningham. Signed by Iowa Governor Robert D. Iowa Sec'y of State Rollo H. Bergeson | |
| 765 | Certificate of Election, November 25, 1946. Issued to Paul Cunningham. Signed by Iowa Governor Robert D. Iowa Sec'y of State Wayne M. Ropes | |
| 766 | Certificate of Election, November 13, 1944. Issued to Paul Cunningham. Signed by Iowa Governor Bourke B. Hickenlooper and Iowa Sec'y of State Wayne M. Ropes | |
| 767 | Scrapbook of newspaper clippings, 1933 | |
| 26 | 768 | Scrapbook of newspaper clippings, 1940 -- 1961 |
