Hampton Dunn collection of Florida postcards

Henry Hampton Dunn and his twin sister Hazel were born in Floral City, Florida on December 14, 1916. Dunn published his first article in 1932 as a Boy Scout correspondent for the Citrus County Chronicle. During his high school years, which he completed in Tampa, he wrote sports reviews for the Tampa Tribune and Florida Times Union. He attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, University of Tampa in Florida and served as a public relations officer and war correspondent with the 12^th Air Force during World War II. He left the service in November 1945 at the rank of major and with a Bronze Star. Dunn joined the Tampa Daily Times as a full-time journalist in 1936. In 1946 he received the “Best News Story Award” from the Associated Press Association of Florida for his coverage of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings invasion of privacy trial.For two years Dunn served as a political commentator and news analyst for station WCKT-TV in Miami.  When he returned to Tampa, he joined the Peninsula Motor Club, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, as an executive officer and later vice president. Dunn edited AAA’s monthly magazine, Florida Explorer, and several other journals and newsletters including the Sunland Tribune (Tampa Historical Society) and The Hub (Rotary Club of Tampa).  His syndicated columns included “Photouring Florida” (began in 1966), “Floridana,” and “Palm Tree Politics.”  During his later years, he presented “Hampton Dunn’s Yesterdays” – little histories of Florida events – on WTVT, Channel 13. Hampton belonged to many organizations, including the Tampa Historical Society, Florida Historical Society, and Historical Association of Southern Florida.  His talks to many historical and genealogical groups around the state earned him the affectionate title, “Mr. Florida.” Hampton and his wife Charlotte Ruth Rawls Dunn were the parents of three children.  He died February 3, 2002. Sources: Berube, Rich.  “Hampton Dunn Gift Brings Florida’s History to Life.”  Sunland Tribune  7 (November 1982): 65-67. Camp, Paul.  Collecting Florida: The Hampton Dunn Collection and other Floridiana. Tampa, FL: University of South Florida Libraries, 2006.