Don Cunningham papers

Collection – Multiple Containers

Identifier: MS-1193

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The Don Cunningham papers contain materials spanning from 1951 to 1979. The types of documents include minutes from various meetings, incoming and outgoing correspondence, game reports, contracts, financial reports, budget information, game attendance reports, newsletters, brochures, photographs, and old game tickets. The correspondence and the minutes are the most complete records within the collection.

Dates

Creation: 1951-1979

Extent

1.84 Cubic Feet (4 legal manuscript boxes)

Creator

Cunningham, Don (Person)
Perry, Doyt, 1910-1992 (Person)
Bowling Green State University. Athletics Department (Organization)

Scope and Contents

The materials of the Don Cunningham papers span from 1951 to 1979. It features minutes (1954-1975) from various University meetings, councils, and committees in which he and his associates participated. These include, but are not limited to, athletic department staff meetings, homecoming committee meetings, athletic committee meetings, the President’s advisory council, the faculty senate, and the university relations council. Next to the minutes, the incoming and outgoing correspondence (1951-1978) is the second largest record group within this collection. The outgoing correspondence is divided according to the sender and includes letters by Richard Young, Doyt Perry, Harold Anderson, and Don Cunningham.

Game reports (1940-1952) show the results of several sporting events, including cross country, wrestling, and basketball.

The BGSU athletic association known as the Falcon Club (1965-1977) is present along with Sigma Alpha Epsilon (1956-1977), for which Cunningham served as an advisor.

Attendance reports (1952-1976) provide details on the number of people attending BGSU sporting events. Athletic association contracts (1959-1966) were agreements made between BGSU and other universities to participate in competitive sports with each other.

Sports financial information (1969-1979) contains reports on the income and expenses incurred by sporting events.

Biographical Sketch

Don A. Cunningham was born in Lima, Ohio, on October 16, 1921 to Charles M. and Billie Lewis Cunningham. He graduated from Lima South High School in 1939 and started his college career at Bowling Green State University in the Fall of the same year. Cunningham enlisted for a tour of duty during the Second World War after earning his baccalaureate degree in 1943. His return to civilian life in 1946 would see him placed in the position of sports information director at his alma mater, giving him the distinction of being the first person to hold this position at BGSU. During his tenure as an employee of the university, Cunningham went on to serve as the athletic ticket manager, varsity golf coach, treasurer of the BGSU Alumni Association, and the assistant athletic director. In 1992, Cunningham received official recognition from the university when the press box of the Doyt Perry Stadium was named after him. Don Cunningham passed away sometime after 2006.

Personal information related to the family of Harriet McKnight Cunningham and Don A. Cunningham can be found in MS-1000, the Cunningham Family Papers.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.