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Daphne Cunningham Diaries

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-0385

Scope and Contents note

The collection includes two engagement books that document the daily activities of this coed, providing an interesting view of college life and dating culture in the early twentieth century. Short entries show that Cunningham was an active young woman who dated often while living at home with her parents. She described a variety of activities including studying, attending sorority and fraternity and other school functions, going to see movies, and dating. Some entries reveal that the popular Miss Cunningham often had dates with several eligible young men in a single day, enjoying respectable outings such as church, bridge gatherings, the picture show, and chaperoned dances. She later married Merrill Smith, one of the young men discussed in these diaries.

Dates

  • 1913 - 1914

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections. For more information about copyright policy, please visit: https://www.ua.edu/copyright/. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.

Biographical/Historical note

Born 5 October 1894, Daphne Cunningham lived in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and was a student at the University of Alabama. A member of Kappa Delta social sorority, she received an A.B. degree in 1916. Cunningham later married Merrill Smith. She died on 28 January 1986, in Tuscaloosa.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (2 items)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Diaries whose short entries provide information on the daily activities of this coed from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, member of Kappa Delta sorority, and 1916 University of Alabama graduate.

Provenance

Purchased from Pat Cather, 1998

Processed by

Donnelly Walton, 2008; updated by Martha Bace, 2013

Source

Creator

Title
Guide to the Daphne Cunningham Diaries
Status
Completed
Date
April 2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0266
205.348.0513