Last updated: October 2, 2024
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Payne-Dunnigan House (Russellville, Kentucky)
African American Civil Rights Network
Alice Allison Dunnigan was a noted African American journalist and author who became the first African American woman to receive credentials to attend news briefings at the White House and report on the United States president and White House events. Dunnigan was born and raised in Russellville, Kentucky. After high school she attended Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute (now Kentucky State University), where she trained to be a teacher. Upon completing coursework, for several years she taught in local schools. Dunnigan began writing at an early age and as a teacher authored educational materials for students and published articles in the Louisville Defender and other local newspapers.
During World War II, Dunnigan moved to Washington, D.C. and began work for the U.S. Department of Labor. After the war, she also began writing for the Associated Negro Press (ANP) and in 1947 she assumed leadership of the organization’s Washington, D.C. office. Dunnigan led ANP’s Washington office for 14 years. In that role, she broke several barriers including becoming the first African American woman to receive credentials to report on the White House, Congress, the State Department, and the Supreme Court, and to join a presidential tour. As a reporter, Dunnigan asked tough questions of government officials on issues concerning African Americans. Dunnigan left the ANP in the early 1960s. She went on to work on Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1960 campaign for the presidential nomination and hold roles in John F. Kennedy's and Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential administrations.
The Payne-Dunnigan House was built for Ruby Payne, a domestic servant and sister-in-law of Alice Dunnigan during the 1940s. Dunnigan lived in the home during her visits to Russellville between 1942 and her death in 1983.
The Payne-Dunnigan House was added to the African American Civil Rights Network in 2023.
The African American Civil Rights Network recognizes the African American Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the sacrifices made by those who fought against discrimination and segregation. Created by the African American Civil Rights Act of 2017, and coordinated by the National Park Service, the Network tells the stories of the people, places, and events of the U.S. African American Civil Rights Movement through a collection of public and private resources to include properties, facilities, and programs.
Alice Allison Dunnigan was a noted African American journalist and author who became the first African American woman to receive credentials to attend news briefings at the White House and report on the United States president and White House events. Dunnigan was born and raised in Russellville, Kentucky. After high school she attended Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute (now Kentucky State University), where she trained to be a teacher. Upon completing coursework, for several years she taught in local schools. Dunnigan began writing at an early age and as a teacher authored educational materials for students and published articles in the Louisville Defender and other local newspapers.
During World War II, Dunnigan moved to Washington, D.C. and began work for the U.S. Department of Labor. After the war, she also began writing for the Associated Negro Press (ANP) and in 1947 she assumed leadership of the organization’s Washington, D.C. office. Dunnigan led ANP’s Washington office for 14 years. In that role, she broke several barriers including becoming the first African American woman to receive credentials to report on the White House, Congress, the State Department, and the Supreme Court, and to join a presidential tour. As a reporter, Dunnigan asked tough questions of government officials on issues concerning African Americans. Dunnigan left the ANP in the early 1960s. She went on to work on Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1960 campaign for the presidential nomination and hold roles in John F. Kennedy's and Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential administrations.
The Payne-Dunnigan House was built for Ruby Payne, a domestic servant and sister-in-law of Alice Dunnigan during the 1940s. Dunnigan lived in the home during her visits to Russellville between 1942 and her death in 1983.
The Payne-Dunnigan House was added to the African American Civil Rights Network in 2023.
The African American Civil Rights Network recognizes the African American Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the sacrifices made by those who fought against discrimination and segregation. Created by the African American Civil Rights Act of 2017, and coordinated by the National Park Service, the Network tells the stories of the people, places, and events of the U.S. African American Civil Rights Movement through a collection of public and private resources to include properties, facilities, and programs.