Gene Tunney Family Letters Collection

Collection

Identifier: MSSP_2001

Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

This small collection of letters were mostly written by Gene Tunney to his friend Robert R. Gros. The collection also includes three letters written by Tunney to other correspondents, notably Hamilton Fish III, one telegram from Gros to Tunney, and five letters/postcards from Tunney’s wife, Mary Lauder "Polly" Tunney, to Gros written mostly after Tunney had died. The letters primarily involved family matters, coordinating visits, and sharing family news, with some mentions of politics, business, international affairs, and sports.

Dates

Creation: 1938-1980
Creation: Majority of material found within 1955-1961

Creator

Tunney, Gene (James Joseph), 1897-1978 (Person)
Tunney, Polly, 1907-2008 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Biographical / Historical

James Joseph “Gene” Tunney (1897-1978) was the undefeated professional heavyweight boxing champion from 1926 to 1928. He is best remembered for his dual victories over Jack Dempsey. After his retirement from boxing in 1928, he married Connecticut socialite, Mary “Polly” Lauder, a Carnegie heiress, and philanthropist. In the 1930s and after, Tunney became active in politics, especially anti-Communist causes, and he also embarked on a successful business career, serving on the boards of several companies. Gene Tunney died at the Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut at the age of 81, and Polly Tunney died in 2008.

Biographical / Historical

Robert R. Gros (1915-1997), a California businessman and political advisor, was a long-time friend of Gene Tunney and his wife Mary Lauder "Polly" Tunney. Gros was an executive at Pacific Gas and Electric Co, rising to the position of Vice President. A student of international affairs, he traveled widely and advised Presidents and politicians about global politics.