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

 

 

Acquisitions Note: The papers of Congressman Paul. Harvey Cunningham were obtained for the library as a result of the efforts, interests, and correspondence, initiated by Ronald L. Fingerson, March -- May, 1965.

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 Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

 

Use of Collections:  The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections.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

Although the correspondence is small in quantity and of a nonpolitical nature, the letters provide insight into Paul Harvey Cunningham's personality, family life, and personal friendships. The newspaper clippings and scrapbooks trace Cunningham's public and political life. Mrs. Cunningham stated that her husband destroyed the major portion of his papers before he left Washington, D.C. This collection, then, constitutes the major portion of what remains of Paul Cunningham's papers.

Processed by : Ronald L. Fingerson, 1965

Box List

 

Box 1

For a more detailed listing of materials in each folder, click on the folder number.

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
3	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
6	136 -- 163	Newspaper clippings, 1940
7	164 -- 230	Newspaper clippings, 1941
8	231 -- 258	Newspaper clippings, 1942 -- 1943
9	259 -- 284	Newspaper clippings, 1944
10	285 -- 307	Newspaper clippings , 1945

Box 2

Folder	Item Number	Description
11	308 -- 340	Newspaper clippings, 1946
12	341 -- 367	Newspaper clippings, 1947
13	368 -- 402	Newspaper clippings, 1948
14	403 -- 443	Newspaper clippings, 1949
15	444 -- 467	Newspaper clippings, 1950
16	468 -- 500	Newspaper clippings, 1951
17	501 -- 526	Newspaper clippings 1952
18	527 -- 559	Newspaper clippings, 1953
19	560 -- 590	Newspaper clippings, 1954
20	591 -- 609	Newspaper clippings, 1955
21	610 -- 680	Newspaper clippings, 1956
22	681 -- 701	Newspaper clippings, 1957
23	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