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James H. Cummings Papers

Dates

1882-1979 (Bulk 1967-1972)

Creator

Cummings, James H.

Summary/Abstract

The James H. Cummings Papers consist of materials created or acquired by James H. Cummings over the course of his career as a Representative in the Tennessee General Assembly or as Secretary of State of Tennessee. The papers span the years 1882 through 1979, with the period 1967-1972 most prominently represented. Significant gaps exist, most notably during the years 1930-1966, when Cummings was developing his reputation as a powerful legislator. These papers are divided into ten series: Correspondence, Legislative Files, Legislative Documents, Legal Documents, Printed Material, Literary Productions, Newspaper Clippings, Audio Recordings, Tennessee Monument at the Gettysburg National Battlefield, and Ephemera.

Quantity/Physical Description

Language(s)

English

Repository

Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, (615) 898-2632

Restrictions on Access

None

Copyright

Copies of official public documents are likely in the public domain. It is presumed that corporate and individual copyrights in manuscripts, photographs, and other materials have been retained by the copyright owners. Copyright restrictions apply. Users o

Preferred Citation

(Box Number, Folder Number), James H. Cummings Papers, Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Acquisition

Donated to Middle Tennessee State University by Tennessee State Representative John Bragg in 1980 and transferred to the Albert Gore Research Center in 1993. Miriam Hawkins donated additional materials in 1995.

Processed By

Original processor undetermined

Arrangement

These papers are divided into ten series: Correspondence, Legislative Files, Legislative Documents, Legal Documents, Printed Material, Literary Productions, Newspaper Clippings, Audio Recordings, Tennessee Monument at the Gettysburg National Battlefield,

Biographical Note

James H. Cummings, the son of John Morgan and Lula Land Cummings, was born on November 8, 1890, in Cannon County, Tennessee. He attended Cannon County public schools and later matriculated at Woodbury Academy and Chattanooga Business College. In 1910, at the age of 20, while working as a clerk in the State Comptroller’s Office in Nashville, Cummings enrolled in night classes at the YMCA Law School. He eventually earned his LL.B. degree in 1923 from Cumberland College.

Cummings left Tennessee in 1925 and worked in Florida for two years as a land developer. In 1927, her returned to Tennessee and launched a campaign for state legislature. Cummings won the 1928 election and served in the Tennessee General Assembly from 1929 to1948. In 1949, Governor Gordon Browning appointed Cummings Secretary of State, a position that he held through1952. In 1953, Cummings returned to the General Assembly and continued to serve until his retirement in 1972. During the years 1967-1969, Cummings served as Speaker of the House.

After his retirement, the Tennessee General Assembly honored him with “Jim Cummings Day” held on November 20, 1972. Among other honors bestowed upon Cummings, the executive wing of Nashville’s War Memorial Building was named for him, as was a stretch of highway in Cannon County. In 1973, Middle Tennessee State University dedicated Cummings Hall, a dormitory named in his honor. James H. Cummings died on November 2, 1979, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Scope and Content

The James H. Cummings Papers consist of materials created or acquired by James H. Cummings over the course of his career as a Representative in the Tennessee General Assembly or as Secretary of State of Tennessee. The papers span the years 1882 through 1979, with the period 1967-1972 most prominently represented. Significant gaps exist, most notably during the years 1930-1966, when Cummings was developing his reputation as a powerful legislator. These papers are divided into ten series:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1882-1977, bulk 1953-1973 (43 folders) Correspondence comprises the largest series in the collection. Most of it relates directly to Cummings’s legislative activities. Materials in this series include requests for political support from fellow legislators and from figures of national prominence such as Estes Kefauver, Albert Gore, Sr., and John F. Kennedy. Researchers should note that information in the correspondence files may often be cross-referenced chronologically and/or by topic with information in the legislative files. This series is divided into eight types of correspondence, each arranged chronologically. Requests (1933-77, 12 folders) include employment requests and appeals for professional or political support. Constituent Mail(1955-72, 7 folders) is comprised of letters from individuals or organizations offering opinions on matters pending before the General Assembly or on current events. Informational/Research (1953-76, 5 folders) correspondence provided Cummings with information on issues and events of possible interest or importance. The remaining subjects are Acknowledgments (1932-73, 9 folders), Congratulatory/Salutation (1945-73, 3 folders), Invitations (1953-77, 4 folders), Miscellaneous (unidentified, 1882 and undated, 2 folders), and Postcards (1908-73, 1 folders).

Series 2: Legislative files, 1925-1930, 1955-1972, bulk 1967-1972 (19 folders) Materials collected by Cummings during his tenure as a state legislator. The materials consist of conference announcements, brochures, programs, agendas, memos, reports, maps, studies, election materials, petitions, directories, biographical sketches, and other items.

Series 3: Legislative Documents, 1930-1977 (4 folders) Compilations of acts, bills, resolutions, memoranda, proclamations, official minutes of various committee meetings, agendas, petitions, and sponsorship listings

Series 4: Legal Documents, 1940-1972 (3 folders) Materials related to Cummings's career as an attorney. The items consist of correspondence, court orders, documents, notarized papers, notes, briefings, petitions, certificates, loan agreements, and receipts.

Series 5: Printed Material, 1943-1977 (15 folders) Pamphlets, directories, newsletters, programs, and one poster. Arranged by type of publication and chronologically. NOTE: Books have been incorporated into the Gore Center's reference collection. A listing of titles originally in the Cummings Collection is available.

Series 6: Literary Productions, 1945-1972 (4 folders) Speeches and other writings by Cummings and others. Arranged chronologically.

Series 7: Newspaper Clippings, 1933-1979 (6 folders) Newspaper clippings and pages collected by Cummings or sent to him by friends, constituents, and fellow legislators. Most of the clippings either mention Cummings or pertain to issues of interest to him. In some instances, the clippings include brief correspondence from the sender.

Series 8: Audio Recordings, 1932, 1972-1973 (3 cassette tapes) Cassette #1 records the ceremony dedicating Cummings Hall at Middle Tennessee State University in 1973. Cassette #2 records the proceedings of the Tennessee Legislature on “Jim Cummings Day,” November 20, 1972. Cassette #3 contains a recorded message for delegates to the Democratic National Convention from Franklin D. Roosevelt during his 1932 Presidential campaign. Roosevelt issued the paper record from which the recording was made. The original paper record and accompanying correspondence are also located in this collection.

Series 9: Tennessee Monument at the Gettysburg National Battlefield, 1970-1972, 1977 (7 folders) Correspondence, newspaper clippings, reports, constituent mail, and research notes related to the erection of a Tennessee Monument at the site of the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg.

Series 10: Ephemera (2 boxes) Plaques, wall hangings, ornaments, and other mementos collected by Cummings during his legislative career.

Associated Materials

The photographs associated with this collection are stored with the Albert Gore Research Center photograhic image materials. All books in the Cummings Collection have been incorporated into the Gore Research Center Books and Publications Collections.

Related Collections

John Bragg Papers, Buford Ellington Papers. Albert Gore Sr., Papers

Subject Terms

Persons/Families

James H. Cumming, Estes Kefauver, Albert Gore Sr., John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt

Organizations/Corporate Names

Middle Tennessee State University, Democratic Party (U.S.), Tennessee General Assembly

Places

Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Rutherford County, Tennessee; Cannon County, Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Subjects (General)

Democratic Party, Politics, Tennessee legislature, Middle Tennessee State University, Cummings Hall, Battle of Gettysburg-Tennessee Monument

Occupations

Material Types

Correspondence, Newspaper clippings, conference announcements, research notes, brochures, programs, agendas, memos, reports, maps, studies, election materials, petitions, directories, biographical sketches, audio cassettes, bills, resolutions, memoranda,