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Cherry Burns Collection

 Collection
Identifier: M597

Scope and Contents

This collection contains travel journals, photographs, slides, Cherry’s personal writings such as articles and manuscripts and research materials. The materials document Cherry’s travels as well as her time in New Mexico. The photographs contain a diverse selection of images ranging from landscapes, people, buildings, and landmarks.

Dates

  • Creation: 1926- circa 2005

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Noncirculating; available for research.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, US Code)

Biographical / Historical

Cherry Lou Burns (formerly Fellner) was born on February 22, 1926 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Frank and Elsie Fellner. Cherry and her family moved to Denver when Cherry was a year old and lived there for the next 25 years. While Cherry was a sophomore at Denver University she went to work for the United Press News Agency, where she was only one of two women and the youngest employee. Just before the end of the Second World War, Cherry left her job at United Press Agency and traveled all across the United States. During this time, Cherry drove to Omaha, Chicago, Detroit, New England and Canada. After she returned to Denver, she found a job as an assistant to columnist Frankie Foster (aka “Molly Mayfield”) at RM News. During this time, Cherry also worked with the International News Service. In the spring of 1949 Cherry bought a round trip boat passage and set off to Europe on her own. Cherry’s travels took her throughout post-WWII Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East. During her travels, Cherry kept journals that detail her experiences in each country. Cherry also worked for the State Department’s Foreign Service and the United States Information Service (USIS) from 1951-1954. In addition to traveling the world, Cherry also worked for the Sandia Corporation in Albuquerque from 1956 until 1973 and kept a number of materials related to her time at the nuclear facility.

Extent

38 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Materials from Cherry Burns’ world travels.

Arrangement

The contents of the collection have been arranged alphabetically by subject headings, and in Cherry’s original order.

Provenance

Donated by Rene Serpe, neice of Cherry Burns, on November 20, 2016.

Related Materials

M643- Ernest I. Watson Autobiography

M445- Mary Ann Wells Photographs and Papers

Sources

Biographical information obtained from the collection and case file.

Title
Cherry Burns Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Collection processed and finding aid written by Amanda Abulawi. Slides were processed by Kimberly Rayborn.
Date
5/10/2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository

Contact:
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601.266.4345