TheEarl Cunningham Collection 1949  - 1977   In 1949 Earl Cunningham moved to 51-55 St. George Street, St. Augustine, Florida and established the Over Fork Gallery.  His landlady, close friend, and patron was Theresia (Tese) Paffe.  The Gallery/antique store had bottles, hardware, old greeting cards, and assorted odds and ends for sale.  From time-to-time he allowed selected visitors to view his paintings which were housed in his large workroom. In 1961 he sent his painting "The Everglades" to Jacqueline Kennedy at the White House and received a thank you letter through her secretary, Lelitla Baldridge.  The painting is at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, Boston, Ma. On his business card of 1968 he identified himself as a "Primitive Artist".  In 1969 Marilyn Logsdon Wilson (now Mennello) and her friend Jane Dart discovered Cunningham's work, and he reluctantly allowed each of them to purchase one of his paintings. As a result of Marilyn Mennello's enthusiasm for Cunningham's work, he had his first one-man exhibition in the summer of 1970, at the Loch Haven Art Center in Orlando (now the Orlando Museum of Art).  More than 200 of his paintings were included in a show at the Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach, Florida in August 1974. On August 15, 1975 Cunningham counted in his possession 330 pictures, "all in frames," and on June 3, 1976, he noted that 405 paintings were "on hand now". Despite increasing recognition and prolific production, Cunningham shot himself to death on December 29, 1977.        Written by Earl Cunningham on the back of this photograph: "I built this boat in  1949 by me."    An Indian artifact that was found by Earl Cunningham in Georgia in 1950.  The  text written by Cunningham around the photo is difficult to read.  Written on the  bottom of the photograph: "Found in Georgia by me"    A photograph of Earl Cunningham taken April 1959.    Written by Earl Cunningham on the back of this photograph: "My store at 49 St  George St Earl Cunningham 1958"    Earl Cunningham standing in front of his workshop December 1960.  Written by  Earl Cunningham on the back of this photograph: "My work shop Earl  Cunningham St Augustine FLA St George St 49 1/2"    An Over Fork Studio business card dated 1960.    A study for Widow's Walk dated October 1965.    A photograph of Earl Cunningham's dragon and babies sculpture.   This sculpture  was created in 1974.    A photograph of Earl Cunningham's horse sculpture.    Theresia (Tese) Paffe.   Written by Earl Cunningham on the back of this  photograph: "My land lady for many years."    A photograph taken of Earl Cunningham in his store October 15, 1976.    The last entry in a notebook belonging to Earl Cunningham was written in March  1977.  It said, "And now I have 450 paintings in hand."    Earl Cunningham standing in front of his shop with his brother(not named) in  1952.  Written on the back of the photograph: "A Mr Cunningham and Earl  Cunningham   St George St   1952"    Earl Cunningham standing in front of his shop with his sister-in-law(not named) in  1952.  Written on the back of the photograph: "A Mrs. Cunningham and Earl  Cunningham   St George St   1952"    Written on the back of the photograph: "My store   Earl Cunningham   1956"