NUNN, SAM.
Sam Nunn papers (bulk 1973-1996) > Family and childhood papers

Biographical Note

Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr. was born on September 8, 1938, in Macon, Georgia, to Samuel Augustus Nunn, Sr. (1888-1965) and Mary Elizabeth Cannon Nunn (1903-2000). Samuel A. Nunn, Sr. practiced law in Perry, Georgia, where he also owned a farm, and served in World War I. He served one term in the Georgia House of Representatives (1915-1917) and was active in Democratic party politics. He was mayor of Perry from 1938-1945.

Sam Nunn, Jr. was a member of the Boy Scouts, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in 1951. He attended Perry High School from 1952-1956. Sam Nunn, Jr. is the grand-nephew of Carl Vinson, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly 50 years, including as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of Sam Nunn's family and childhood papers from 1861-1996. The papers of Elizabeth Cannon Nunn, Sam Nunn's mother, were compiled by her to document Sam Nunn’s life and career. Her scrapbooks document Sam Nunn’s childhood through Senate career; they primarily contain clippings but also include photographs, speeches, printed material, and other memorabilia. Other materials collected by Elizabeth Cannon Nunn, most of which pertain to Sam Nunn, include personal papers, correspondence, photographs, event programs, and loose clippings. The series also contains other materials relating to Sam Nunn's childhood, his father Samuel A. Nunn, Sr., and other family members. Correspondents include Carl Vinson, Elizabeth Cannon Nunn, Samuel A. Nunn, Sr., and various Vinson and Parker relatives. Of particular interest is correspondence between Sam Nunn and Carl Vinson from the early 1970s.

Arrangement Note

Arranged in alphabetical order.

Appraisal Note

Archivists removed and shredded loose clippings not related to Nunn or his family, as well as press releases and newsletters from Nunn's Senate office.

Restrictions on Access

Special restrictions apply: Due to preservation concerns, Wilbur Vinson's Masonic certificate is closed to researchers.

Processing

Archivists kept materials compiled by Elizabeth Cannon Nunn together and arranged them separately from the more general family and biographical materials found elsewhere in the collection. Archivists left loose items found in scrapbooks inserted between the scrapbook pages when possible. The Elizabeth Cannon Nunn papers also include other materials that were loose, and the relationship between loose items and the scrapbooks was not clear to the archivists. Archivists foldered and titled the loose items.