BiblioBios: Phil Cunningham settling in as KU Libraries new Kansas Collections Curator

As new Kansas Collections Curator Phil Cunningham has familiarized himself with the holdings in Spencer Research Library, his discoveries have ranged from the lighthearted: Brown County awarding a high school diploma to a pony named Pansy in 1931; to the slightly more serious: the Agnes T. Frog Collection which highlights original concerns with the South Lawrence Trafficway and a county commission write-in campaign for a frog in 1986; to the deeply personal: collections related to the African American experience in the state. Collectively, they provide one of the early highlights of his new post, “The joy of learning something new every day." 

Cunningham, who was born in Tacoma, Washington, to a military family, has roots that wind through Fort Riley and Manhattan in Kansas’ Flint Hills – making the return to the Sunflower State a homecoming of sorts and his position even more meaningful. Cunningham’s interest in Kansas Black history led him to study history as an undergraduate at Kansas State University. In his role as curator, he’ll be able to expand studies related to the African American experience in Kansas, as well as contribute to collection development, preservation, instruction and outreach efforts for the entire collection.  

“I have a personal passion for Kansas history,” Cunningham said. “As a Kansan and as someone who studied Kansas history during my undergraduate studies, I’m very excited to continue that path.  

“The Kansas Collection documents the history and culture of Kansas and its peoples; it is one of the largest regional history collections in the Great Plains," Cunningham added recently on the Kenneth Spencer Research Library Blog. “In my role as curator, I lead collection development, instruction, and outreach efforts for that collection. That means I work to support preservation and access to the collections held at the Spencer, team up with instructors to connect students to the multitude of resources available here, and work with donors to help the Kansas Collection grow.” 

In addition to the variety, one of Cunningham’s favorite things about his new job is the physical space, particularly his office window on the side of Spencer Research Library which affords a view of the grove and a tree with squirrel residents that provide periodic comic relief from his work. While the bulk of the collection resides within the walls of the library, Cunningham hopes to engage K-12 and college students from across Kansas with the collection. 

“I want to take these materials that reference history and put them in front of other people: KU students, K-12 students or even beyond,” Cunningham said. “I want to help make those materials more publicly available and digestible so they’re not siloed in the university at the top of the hill.”

Before joining the Libraries, Phil pursued his master's in library and information science from the Pratt Institute in New York while he also interned at the Schomburg Center, a research library in the New York Public Library system. Most recently, Cunningham served the last seven years as the head of research services at the Amistad Research Center, an independent community-based archive in partnership with Tulane University in New Orleans. 

“It was exciting to kind of get out of my comfort zone and move to New York. “There were definitely a lot of opportunities there for me,” Cunningham said. “Likewise, the time I spent in New Orleans was also an interesting change compared to both Kansas and New York. Ultimately, it is nice to return to my home state and have the chance to work in the Kansas Collection here at KU.”  

Cunningham is already working with external researchers on papers and exhibits and hopes to continue to make meaningful connections throughout the community while serving as a resource at KU. He’s eager to connect individuals with materials they’re looking for when they reach out or visit Spencer Research Library.  

“I think research libraries and archival research can be daunting for the uninitiated as it requires prior preparation before one even steps foot into the library. But in fact, the opposite is true," Cunningham said. “If anyone wants to drop in, they are more than welcome to do so. The permanent displays in the library’s North Gallery are fun and interactive, and they give an idea of the variety of collections here. The rotating exhibitions mean there’s always something new to see and learn about with each visit.”  

Outside of work, Cunningham enjoys cycling and attending concerts. He can also frequently be found wearing a unique belt buckle from his growing collection.  

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