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Cunnington (Merle H.) Collection
URB.MHC
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Merle H. Cunnington Collection
Creator:
Cunnington, Merle H., 1931-2013
Identifier/Call Number: URB.MHC
Physical Description:
7.81 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1964-2012
Date (bulk): 1964-1983
Abstract: Merle Howard Cunnington (1931-2013) was
an editorial cartoonist, both freelance and on staff at the
Van Nuys
News & Green Sheet
from 1964-1978. The collection consists primarily of
preliminary drawings and tear sheets, as well as a handwritten autobiography (through 1979),
correspondence, lists, and other materials. Topics of interest include the Vietnam conflict,
the energy crisis, school busing, the environment, social security, and Right-to-Work
legislation.
Language of Material:
English.
Merle Howard Cunnington (1931-2013) was born near Sun Valley, Idaho in 1931. He studied
history and political science at Utah State University, graduating in 1953. He met his
future wife, Elsie Mae, in 1956 at friend's wedding in the San Fernando Valley. They married
in 1957 and had three children.
Cunnington worked at the Chevy plant in Van Nuys, California prior to his hiring as a
teacher at Pacoima Jr. High School, where he worked from 1957-1960. In 1961, he transferred
to Columbus Jr. High School, where he taught history and art until his retirement. He also
taught art and cartooning classes at Pierce College, the California State University,
Northridge Extension, and Ventura College.
His interest in art led his to study at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. Cunnington
used the pen name McHoward for the first years of his cartooning career. He began working as
a free-lance cartoonist for the
Valley News in 1964 and was
doing five cartoons a week when he left in May of 1978, just a few years after the paper was
bought by the Chicago Tribune Co. In 1975 he illustrated
The San
Fernando Valley
by Jackson Mayers.
The
Merle H. Cunnington Collection consists primarily of
preliminary drawings and tear sheets, as well as a handwritten autobiography (through 1979),
correspondence, lists, and other materials. The collection documents such topics as the
Vietnam conflict, the energy crisis, school busing, the environment, social security, and
Right-to-Work legislation. Also of interest are a small number of illustrations from the
Jackson Mayer book
The San Fernando Valley (1976). The
collection has been divided into two series:
General Files
(1964-2012) and
Drawings (1964-1978).
Series I,
General Files, documents the business and professional
development aspects of Cunnington's artistic career. The series includes accounting and
payment information, professional journals and correspondence, and ideas for future
drawings. This series consists of correspondence, lists, and other similar materials, and is
arranged alphabetically.
Series II,
Drawings, consists entirely of Cunnington's
preliminary drawings and published tear sheets. Topics of interest include the Vietnam
conflict, energy crisis, school busing, the environment, social security, and Right-to-Work
legislation. Also of interest are a small number of illustrations from the Jackson Mayer
book
The San Fernando Valley (1976). The series has been
further divided into two subseries. Subseries A,
Preliminary
Drawings
(1964-1978), consists of hand-drawn ink sketches of many of Cunnington's
editorial cartoons. There are also a small number of copies or transparencies when no
original drawing was present. Additionally there are two printing plates from the
Valley News. Subseries B,
Tear Sheets
(1964-1978), consists of editorial cartoons as they appeared in publications, primarily the
Valley News & Green Sheet. Materials are arranged
chronologically.
Series I: General Files, 1964-2012
Series II: Drawings, 1964-1978
Subseries A: Preliminary Drawings, 1964-1978
Subseries B: Tear Sheets, 1964-1978
The collection is open for research use.
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright
status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected
by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the
written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Merle Howard Cunnington. 2012.
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual,
or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
April Feldman, 2013
Other Information:
This collection was processed with generous support from the Tom W. Reilly estate.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents