Papers of Fannie Cunningham

Collection

Identifier: WCUN

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Papers of Fannie Cunningham consists of documents dated 1892 to 1965, with the bulk falling from 1892 to 1927. The collection documents her college studies, along with some of her later writing on topics including westward expansion, local pioneers, and the western landscape. In addition to family, friends, and travels, Fannie also photographed landscapes, rivers, canyons, and ditches in northern Colorado, especially the Michigan Ditch and camp above the Poudre Canyon. Materials include photographs, essays and other writing, newspaper clippings (primarily political and military cartoons from World War I), her college diploma, and one artifact.

Dates

1892-1965
Majority of material found within 1892-1927

Creator

Cunningham, Frances Schelt (Person)

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for addressing copyright issues.

Biography

Fannie Cunningham spent most of her long life in the Fort Collins area. She was born Frances Schelt in Loveland, Colorado, in 1872. The family eventually moved to the south side of Fort Collins. Schelt attended the Colorado Agricultural College (now Colorado State University) and graduated in 1895. She was very active in college and highly regarded for her oratory and writing skills, winning several competitions in Fort Collins.

After graduation, Schelt taught for about eight years in Fort Collins and Loveland public schools. In 1903, Schelt married Frank Cunningham, a Fort Collins resident whose family had a homestead on South Shields Street, quite well known as Cunningham Corner. The couple had one son, Francis, who had developmental disabilities and lived with his parents his whole life.

Mrs. Cunningham was a member of the Pioneer Association, the Columbian Club, other clubs, and the Catholic church. She died in 1967 and is buried in Grandview Cemetery.

Extent

2 linear feet (2 document boxes, 1 flat box, 1 flat file)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Frances "Fannie" Schelt Cunningham (1872-1967) graduated from Colorado Agricultural College (now Colorado State University) in 1895. Following college, she taught in local public schools until she married Frank Cunningham in 1903. The collection documents her college studies, along with some of her later writing on topics including westward expansion, local pioneers, and the western landscape. Cunningham also photographed landscapes, rivers, canyons, and ditches in northern Colorado, especially the Michigan Ditch and camp in the Poudre Canyon. Materials include photographs, essays and other writings, newspaper clippings, her college diploma, and an artifact.

Arrangement

The collection consists of 2 series in 3 boxes and 1 oversize folder:

Series 1: Papers, 1892-1965 and undated

Series 2: Photographs, 1893-1955 and undated

Acquisition

The Papers of Fannie Cunningham was donated by Danny Rogers, whose family was close to the Cunninghams when he was young, to the Water Resources Archive in May 2018.

Related Collections

Information about the early days of constructing and operating Michigan Ditch can be found in the Records of the North Poudre Irrigation Company.

Processing

Processing was completed in May 2018. All materials were rehoused in archival boxes and folders. Loose photographs were sleeved. Metal fasteners were removed. The diploma was flattened for oversize storage.