Glenn and Ruth Cunningham letters to Robert and Elaine Keller

Restrictions: None.

Biographical sketch: Philanthropists; of rural Augusta, Kan.; Plainview, Ark.

Abstract: Six letters and one newsletter from Glenn and Ruth Cunningham to Robert and Elaine Keller, Reeds Spring and Springfield, Missouri. Five of the letters and the newsletter are written from Plainview, Arkansas, and one letter from Augusta, Kansas. Cunningham had youth ranches for troubled teenagers in both of these locations. In the letters, Cunningham talks about the youth ranches and thanks the Kellers for monetary and clothing donations. The collection also includes an article, "The Glenn Cunningham Story: Never Say Die" by Jesse Owens, published in The Saturday Evening Post, April 1976. Cunningham was most famous for his skill as a miler. For three years, from 1932 thru 1934, he won the Big Six indoor titles, and he competed at the Olympics in 1932 and 1936. Then in 1938 Cunningham became the world's fastest miler when he set a new record at Dartmouth College. That same year he also received a doctorate degree from New York University.

Summary: Six letters and one newsletter from Glenn and Ruth Cunningham to Robert and Elaine Keller, Reeds Spring and Springfield, Missouri. Five of the letters and the newsletter are written from Plainview, Arkansas, and one letter from Augusta, Kansas. Cunningham had youth ranches for troubled teenagers in both of these locations. In the letters, Cunningham talks about the youth ranches and thanks the Kellers for monetary and clothing donations. Cunningham was most famous for his skill as a miler. For three years, from 1932 thru 1934, he won the Big Six indoor titles, and he competed at the Olympics in 1932 and 1936. Then in 1938 Cunningham became the world's fastest miler when he set a new record at Dartmouth College. That same year he also received a doctorate degree from New York University.

Language note: Text is in English.

Biog. Sketch (Full):

GLENN CUNNINGHAM:

Glenn Cunningham (August 4, 1909 – March 10, 1988) was born in Atlanta, Kansas, but grew up in Elkhart, Kansas, to Henry Clinton Cunningham and Rosa Agnes Cunningham. Glenn Cunningham's legs were severely burned in an explosion at his schoolhouse when he was eight and his brother Floyd was thirteen. Floyd died in the fire. When the doctors recommended amputating Glenn's legs, he was so distressed his parents would not allow it. The doctors predicted he might never walk normally again. However, his great determination, coupled with hours upon hours of a new type of therapy, enabled him to gradually regain the ability to walk and to proceed to run. It was in the early summer of 1919 when he first tried to walk again, roughly two years after the accident. He overcame this adversity by running and winning races in high school. After high school, he attended the University of Kansas where is received a B. A. in 1933. During this time, he competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics. In 1936 he received a M. A. from the University of Iowa and competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. Cunningham later attended New York University where is received a Ph.D. Cunningham taught physical education at Cornell College from 1940 to 1944 and then served in the navy for two years. In 1947 he established the Glenn Cunningham Youth Ranch, at which he helped troubled youths over a period of more than 30 years.

A few of his accomplishments:
Cunningham won the Sullivan medal in 1933 for his various running achievements in middle distance.
In the 1932 Olympics he took 4th place in the 1500 meters, and in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he took silver in the 1500 meters.
In 1934, he set the world record for the mile run at 4:06.8, which stood for three years.
In 1936, he set the world record in the 800 meter run.
In 1938, he set a world record in the indoor mile run of 4:04.4.

He retired from competition in 1940.

A full chronology of his life may be found in the detailed description of his papers, Ms. Collection 904, Section 1, at http://www.kshs.org/archives/312681


RUTH CUNNINGHAM:

Ruth Maxine Sheffield was born 11 June 1923 in Storm Lake, Iowa. She studied music and graduated from high school in 1940. She attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, graduating in 1944 with a bachelors degree in physical education. After college, she taught physical education. Wanting more musical training, she moved to Emporia, Kansas, where her uncle was a college teacher.

While there she became reacquainted with Glenn Cunningham (1909-1988), who had been a faculty member at Cornell. They married 29 June 1947 at Storm Lake, Iowa. They had ten children.

They first lived outside Emporia, then moved to his ranch in Chase County, Kansas, in 1950. There they began working with troubled children. They moved to Butler County, Kansas, in 1960; to Perry County, Arkansas, in 1973; and to Conway, Arkansas, in 1976. As well as helping Glenn with children, she was an avid genealogist.

Glenn died 10 March 1988. After his death, she did missionary work in Germany, compiled genealogical information, organized Glenn's papers, and collaborated on a biography of him. She lived in Conway; Hot Springs, Arkansas; and Tuscon, Arizona.

She died in Tucson on 7 January 2008 and was buried with Glenn in Crestlake Memorial Park in Conway.

Additional biographical information may be found in the detailed description of her papers, Ms. Collection 904, Section 2, at http://www.kshs.org/archives/312704

Related materials:

Cunningham, Glenn, 1909-1988. Glenn Cunnningham collection, 1888-2007 (bulk 1932-1988); 6 ft.; Ms. Collection 904; http://www.kshs.org/archives/309360

Cunningham, Glenn, 1909-1988. Letter : ALS, Olympic Village, Berlin, Germany, to Leslie M. Heath, Emporia, Kan., 1936 Aug. 9; 1 leaf; Allen Heath misc. collection: http://www.kshs.org/archives/207958

Restrictions: None.

Use and reproduction: Notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). The user is cautioned that the publication of the contents of this collection may be construed as constituting a violation of literary property rights. These rights derive from the principle of common law, affirmed in the copyright law of 1976 as amended, that the writer of an unpublished letter or other manuscript has the sole right to publish the contents thereof unless he or she affirmatively parts with that right; the right descends to his or her legal heirs regardless of the ownership of the physical manuscript itself. It is the responsibility of a user or his or her publisher to secure the permission of the owner of literary property rights in unpublished writing.

Cite as: Cunningham, Glenn & Ruth. Glenn and Ruth Cunningham letters to Robert and Elaine Keller, 1973-1975, Robert E. & Elaine Keller misc. ms. collection, Kansas Historical Society.

Holder of originals: Kansas Historical Society (Topeka).