Museum Collection of Steve Cunningham
Steve’s fascination with fans began around 1960 when his sister left for college, and he moved into her room. Without air conditioning to combat the summer heat, his dad brought home an old GE table fan. Steve placed it on a chair next to his bed, running it on high speed as a makeshift air conditioner. One night, as he rolled over, his hand accidentally went into the fan blade. He rushed to the bathroom and ran cold water over his fingers. Once the pain subsided, he wrapped his hand in a washcloth and returned to bed. This moment marked the beginning of his enduring passion for antique fans. By the 1980’s Steve had already collected 85 fans.
In 1990, Steve was encouraged by friends to attend the inaugural meeting of a new fan collector group that was just beginning to take shape. It was an exciting and pivotal moment, as the group came together to establish the American Fan Collectors Association (AFCA), now known as Antique Fan Collectors Association. Officers were elected, a name was chosen, and plans for the first convention were set for 1991. Beyond the formalities, this meeting marked the start of lifelong friendships and the creation of a passionate community that would share knowledge, stories, and a deep love for fans for years to come.
In 1993, Steve was asked to organize the first ever “Timeline” presentation which focused on oscillators. He successfully rallied members to bring in 43 examples, many of which were rare and significant, making the presentation a success. The following year, he was nominated to the Board of Directors, a key role during the association's formative years. His commitment and dedication quickly earned him the position of Vice President. Mike Breedlove, who had served as President since the group’s founding, was ready to step down, and in 1997, Steve took on the role of President.
To accommodate the growing fan community, in 1997 the club decided to relocate Fan Fair from DeSoto, TX, to Wichita, KS. During Fan Fair in 1997, the Fan Museum was opened in the foyer of the Vornado Fan Company. Mike Coupe, the CEO, graciously offered space for the museum. Over several days, members set up 300 fans in the museum and established a Museum Board of Directors, at which time Steve was named President of the museum.
After Steve’s term as president of AFCA ended he continued as president of the museum – the position he held for 12 years. Steve fondly recalls organizing meetings at the museum, where around 25 members would gather to clean and maintain the display cases, dusting fans, doors, and shelves. In addition to maintenance, they would enjoy as swap meet.
When Vornado Fan Company changed hands Tom Frampton so graciously agreed to house the museum at Fanimation, in Carmel Indiana. In 2008, Steve stepped down as Museum President, passing the torch to Tom and his new board.
Steve has been instrumental in the growth and success of the AFCA and the Fan Museum. He remains a dedicated member, supporting the fan community through leadership, mentorship, and friendship. We are grateful for his invaluable contributions to the fan-collecting world!
Join us for a special live event hosted by Antique Fan Supply Company on Facebook and Instagram on September 26 @ 8pm EDT, where several of Steve’s most cherished museum fans will be available for sale. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to own a piece of fan history! One of these fans holds the distinction of being the very first piece added to the museum in 1997.