unlv.1987.37 Guide to the Cynthia Cunningham Collection Finding aid written by Marie Imus Special Collections, UNLV Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.May 1995 Finding aid encoded by Dana Miller,March 2007. Descriptive Summary Cynthia Cunningham Collection,1970-1979 (bulk) MS 87-37 Cunningham, Cynthia, 1929-1988. 4 boxes (approx. 1.5 linear feet) University of Nevada, Las Vegas. UNLV Libraries. Special Collections. Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-7010.The colection documents the career of Cynthia Cunningham, an English instructor at UNLV from 1968-1971, and member of the Nevada State of Board of Education from 1971-1979 English Preferred Citation:

Cynthia Cunningham Collection, MS 87-37, Special Collections, UNLV Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

 Acquisition Information:

Donated by Cynthia Cunningham in 1979.

 Processed by:

Marie Imus, May 1995.

 Access:

This collection is open for research.

Publication Rights:

For permission to reproduce or publish from this collection, please contact the Director of Special Collections.

 Biographical Sketch

Cynthia Cunningham was born January 21, 1929 in El Paso, Texas. She received her B.A. in English from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces in 1949 and her M.A. in English from U.N.L.V in 1968. She was an English instructor at U.N.L.V. from 1968-1971.

Cunningham served on the Nevada State of Board of Education from 1971-1979, and ran (unsuccessfully) as a Democrat for the Nevada Assembly District 8 in 1976. She was active in numerous organizations including the American Association of University Women, Nevadans for the E.R.A., Planned Parenthood of Southern Nevada, a Red Cross volunteer, and a sustaining member of Junior League of Las Vegas. Cunningham was a founder of Young Audiences, Inc. of Las Vegas and served as this organization’s president from 1962-1964. She was also a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Her husband Harold Cunningham retired as president from Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Company. After living in Las Vegas for thirty-four years, the Cunninghams relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1986. Cynthia Cunningham passed away in Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 13, 1988. She was survived by her husband, three children and four grandchildren. Her daughter, Catherine, resided in Las Vegas, while her sons Frank and David lived in Portland, Oregon and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

(See also Cynthia Cunningham’s biographical folder, which contains several clippings about the 1976 campaign, a letter, photograph, campaign materials and her obituary.)

Scope and Content

The major topics in this collection are the Equal Rights Amendment, sexism in schools, and the Health Systems Agency of Clark County. ERA materials include audio tapes, films, posters and newsclippings, while newsclippings, survey results, and reports explore the issue of sexism in schools. Materials on the Health Systems Agency contain organization by-laws, memberships, agendas, minutes, correspondences, and publications. Harold Cunningham’s business cards and a ticket to a 1966 Service League of Las Vegas event make up the miscellaneous items. The materials in this collection are primarily from the 1970s.

The collection does not reflect Cunningham’s personal life or the diversity of her involvement in the community.

Arrangement of the Records

The collection remains in a single series and is separated into boxes primarily by material format.

One strip of negatives, apparently concerning the ERA, was removed to the photo collection. When the preliminary inventory was done, ten items were removed from the collection. A list of these items was found in the donor file. This collection was accessioned under #79-190.

Related Collections:

For related topics and further information see the following collections:

Governor's Commission on Status of People Collection, T-176

Erma Cunningham Collection, T-065

Eileen Brookman Collection, MS 95-14

Ardis Kearns Collection, MS 95-12

National Organization for Women Collection, MS 95-30

Subject Headings Individuals:Cunningham, Cynthia, 1929-1988. Organizations:Clark County (Nev.). Health Systems Agency -- Records and correspondence Subjects: Equal rights amendments -- United States Sex discrimination in education -- Nevada Public health -- Nevada -- Clark County Women -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- United States Women's rights -- United States Sex discrimination against women -- Law and legislation -- United States College teachers -- Nevada -- Las Vegas -- Biography Women -- Nevada -- Las Vegas -- Societies and clubs Inventory: BoxFolderContents 11Health Systems Agency of Clark County By-laws, Governing Body, Non-Governing Members, etc. 2Health Systems Agency Minutes (June 29, 1976 – September 15, 1976) 3Health System Agency Reports, Memorandums, Reviews and Recommendations (1970s)4Health Care Correspondence (Feb. 4, 1976- July 13, 1976)5Proposed Contents Outline for Health Systems Plan and HSA Volunteers Manual6Health Systems Agency of Clark County Publications7Health Systems Agency Planning Grants (1976-1977)8Health Systems Agency Related Materials-Studies, Issues, Notes, and Map (1975-1978)21 E.R.A. Campaign Posters-Male/Female Discrepancies – Produced by BPW of U.S.A 31Reports and Memorandums on Sexism in Clark County Schools (1974-1975) 2Report to Nevada Board of Education to Consider Sexism in Schools3Results of Sex Discrimination Survey in Nevada Public Schools and Memo from J.R. Gamble, Superintendent (1976)4 Papers for Committee Work- Nevada Dept. of Education5National Foundation for the Improvement of Education Publications 6Newsclippings- Sexism, E.R.A., Discrimination, Corporate Executives (1974-1976)7Booklet- “Affirmative Action Program for Equal Employment Opportunities” (1974-1975)8Misc. Items-Business Card, Charity Event Ticket41E.R.A. UC 100 : Go Jack Sawyer (1/19/77) - film2E.R.A. UC 93, : Go Jack (1/19/77) - film3E.R.A. Mater Tag - film4E.R.A. UC 12, (1/19/77) - film5Bailey Deardorff E.R.A. (3/10/76) - multi-reel film6Bailey Deardorff E.R.A. (3/10/76) - multi-reel film7E.R.A. Spot Package 2 (09/76) - film8E.R.A. Spot Package 2(09/76) - film911 News Broadcasts, (11/21/77-11/23/77) - reel to reel audiotapes10“Women in Nevada” - reel to reel 11Lloyd Mann Statement- reel to reel audiotape12Barbara Smith with Donohue - cassette13Phyllis Schlafly - cassette14Dr. Bruce Thielemann-Three Talks on the Bible and the Status of Women - cassette15Liz and Ely on ERA - cassette16E.R.A. Debate on Las Vegas Christian Radio - cassette17“Virgo Rising- the Once and Future Women” - cassette18Misc. Tape 1 (Labeled BPW) - cassette19Misc. Tape 3(Labeled BPW) - cassette20Misc. Tape 4 (Labeled BPW) - cassetteEND OF INVENTORY