The papers mostly relate to the period after Cunningham's retirement. There are seven copies of the 'Tenedos Times' newspaper, 1914 to 1915, notes and drafts of speeches, and papers relating to the many honours bestowed on Cunningham and to his membership of various societies and institutions. The bulk of Cunningham's papers went to the British Museum (now the British Library).

Administrative / biographical background
Cunningham entered the Navy in 1898. He became a lieutenant in 1904, a commander in 1915, captain in 1919, rear-admiral in 1934, vice-admiral in 1936, admiral in 1941 and Admiral of the Fleet in 1943. He was Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, 1938 to 1939, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, 1939 to 1942 and 1943, naval Commander-in-Chief, Expeditionary Force, North Africa, 1942, and First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, 1943 to 1946. He was created a viscount in 1946. See Cunningham's autobiography, 'A Sailor's Odyssey', (London, 1951) and Oliver Warner, 'Cunningham of Hyndhope, Admiral of the Fleet', (London, 1967).