In December 1993, Dr. Hugh W. Cunningham, a former
Professor of Journalism at the University of Florida, donated two distinct
newspaper collections to the Special Collections and Archives Department
of the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library. The bulk of the newspapers
document events following the November 1963 assassination of President
John F. Kennedy. A second collection of newspapers examines the reaction
to President Richard M. Nixon's resignation in August 1974.
Restrictions/Preservation Note
The acidic paper often used on printing presses
has promoted the rapid physical deterioration found in some titles of this
collection. To prevent further damage to materials in the Kennedy
Assassination Newspaper Collection, refrain from placing any additional
stress on the paper fibers by folding or creasing newspapers, or by exposing
them to light for an extended period of time. Please report any tears
or other damage so library staff may take appropriate preservation or conservation
measures. While no restrictions limit access to the newspapers, library
staff will evaluate photocopying requests on an individual basis to ensure
the long-term preservation of this unique collection.
Scope and Contents
The 409 individual issues represented in this
collection occupy 13 storage boxes and 27.08 linear feet of shelf space.
They represent a broad geographic diversity of newspapers from 45 states.
Duplicate copies bring the total number of single issues to 418.
This collection serves as an excellent primary source for a "slice-of-life"
analysis. By examining these newspapers as cultural artifacts, the
researcher may study journalistic reactions to Kennedy's assassination
(i.e., compare the amount of space different newspapers devoted to news
of this pivotal event), as well as evaluate the relationship between this
"headline" story and other articles that appeared in the papers.
Newspapers fall into three distinct series, based
upon their date of publication. The first series includes titles
from Friday, 22 November 1963, the second from Saturday, 23 November 1963,
the third from Sunday, 24 November 1963, and the fourth from Monday, 25
November 1963.
The researcher may also wish to consult:
Robert Emerson Thomas, "A Descriptive Analysis
of 187 U.S. Newspapers Dated
the Day After President
Kennedy Was Assassinated." (M.A. Thesis, University
of Florida, 1965). A
copy is located in Special Collections
Related Collections
See also Nixon
Resignation Newspaper Collection
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