Arthur M. Shinn was born 24 April 1907 at Oskaloosa, Kansas to Willis and Nancy Shinn. The family moved to Topeka, Kansas in 1917, where he attended the Topeka Public Schools. On 10 August 1926, Shinn married Lillie May Mitchell in Lawrence, Kansas. The couple had three children, Arthur M. Shinn, Jr., Jack P. Shinn, and Michael G. Shinn. Arthur Shinn, Sr. worked as a mechanic for the Santa Fe Railroad until his retirement. He died 20 April 1991 at Topeka. Lillie (Mitchell) Shinn died 25 April 1982.

Arthur and Lillie Shinn's son Michael was born 28 February 1943 at Topeka, Kansas. He graduated from Topeka High School and then attended the University of Kansas, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1966. While at KU, Shinn was an Academic All-American end and co-captain of the football team. In 1972, Shinn received an MBA from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Shinn held various positions at both the Ford Motor Company and General Electric before retiring from his position as regional manager of corporate recruiting and university development at GE in 1998. After leaving GE, Shinn worked as a certified financial planner for Financial Network Investment Corporation and was a personal finance columnist for African American newspapers.

Michael Shinn was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi and the Board of Corporate Affiliates of the National Society of Black Engineers, where he founded a fellowship program. Shinn was also active as a University of Kansas Alumni. He served as a co-chair of the Black Alumni Steering Committee, as a member of the Kansas Alumni Association National Board of Advisors (from 1979-1983), and on the School of Engineering Advisory Board. Shinn also developed a scholarship for minority students at the University of Kansas School of Engineering. He married Joyce (Costello) Shinn in 1965. They had two children, Colynn and Stephen.