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Jim Fain Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-468

Scope and Content

The Jim Fain Collection is a collection of material documenting the life and publications of Jim Fain as an employee of Cox News Media.

Series I, General Information, includes biographical material related to Fain's Air Force and Cox News Media careers. It also features programs, awards, and speeches Fain gave to a variety of institutions. A unique area of interest in this section is the FBI surveillance file created on Jim Fain.

Series II, Publications, is separated in two subseries. Subseries IIA, Dayton Daily News & Other Newspapers, features columns authored by Jim Fain from 1957 to 1990. Subseries IIB, Austin-American Statesmen, features editorials authored by Fain from 1978 to 1982.

Series III, Correspondence, includes favorable and unfavorable letters from notable local and national readers as well as readers from across the country.

Series IV, Scrapbooks & Photographs, consists of photographs and exhibit materials. Features images of Jim Fain, Vietnam, and activities in Dayton, Ohio.

Dates

  • Creation: 1929-2009

Creator

Restrictions on Access

There are no restrictions on accessing materials in this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Biography of Jim Fain

Jim Fain was born September 12, 1920 in Norman Park, GA. He attended Fitzgerald High School in Fitzgerald, Georgia, and earned a journalism degree from Emory University in 1941. He worked on the editorial staff of the Albany Herald (Albany, GA) until December, when he joined the Army Air Corps and fought in the Pacific during WWII. He entered into the Air Force Reserves where he attained the grade of Brigadier General and retired from the USAF in 1980. He remained at the Albany Herald until he became editor and managing editor of the Columbus Ledger (Columbus, GA) in 1946. In 1948, he moved to the positions of editor and editorial writer at the Atlanta Journal of Atlanta, GA. He then became editor of the Dayton Daily News in Dayton, Ohio, in December of 1953. Fain went on to become editor of Miami News and the Austin American-Statesmen in 1976. He moved to Washington, D.C. in 1983 to become a national correspondent for Cox Media and News Company and retired in 1991. Jim was a passionate editor and writer whose columns were read across the nation. He passed away in Savannah, Georgia, in April of 2012.

Extent

4.7 linear feet (6 Boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Jim Fain Collection consists of materials related to the illustrious career of Jim Fain, a nationally recognized newspaper editor and columnist. The collection includes biographical material, speeches, news articles, correspondence and photographs.

Statement of Arrangement

The Jim Fain Collection is arranged into four series (and two subseries).

  1. Series I: General Information
  2. Series II: Publications
  3. Subseries IIA: Dayton Daily News & Other Newspapers
  4. Subseries IIB: Austin-American Statesman
  5. Series III: Correspondence
  6. Series IV: Scrapbooks & Photographs

Acquisition Information

The Jim Fain Collection was donated to Wright State University Special Collections and Archives by Cathy Newman in February 2013.

Related Material

MS-458, Dayton Daily News Archive

Processing Information

Fragile newspaper articles were copied. A large amount remain and will need future evaluation.

Subject

Title
Guide to the Jim Fain Collection (MS-468)
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Noel Rihm
Date
2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Wright State University Libraries
Special Collections and Archives
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy
Dayton OH 45435-0001 USA
937-775-2092