A Guide to the Curtis Tunnell Collection, circa 1950, 1979-1982

Biographical Note

Curtis Dale Tunnell, from Turkey, Texas, was an archaeologist, historical preservationist, oral historian and folklorist. Tunnell attended West Texas State College and the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a master’s degree in anthropology. He completed fieldwork throughout Texas, Kansas, and Arizona. Tunnell enjoyed a varied career and served in the Navy following college and worked for the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the Texas Memorial Museum, and in 1965, Tunnell became State Archaeologist, the first person to ever hold this position. Tunnell became the Executive Director for the Texas Historical Commission in 1981. Curtis Tunnell died on April 13, 2001.

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Scope and Contents

Collection contains the bi-weekly Turkey, Texas community newsletter, called Turkey Trails, and three binders of classic square dances and calls issued by Northern California Dance Association during the 1950s.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted access.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Curtis Tunnell Collection, circa 1950s, 1979-1982, Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

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Detailed Description of the Papers

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