Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Francis Victor Tanner fonds |
| Reference code: | 0364 |
| Date: | 1920-1986 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 2.5 cm of textual records
24 photographs 10 negatives 2 cards |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed August 2009 Added to new database February 2023 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Francis Victor Tanner (known as Fran) was born in 1921 in Mazanod, Saskatchewan. In the late 1920s the family moved to Grande Prairie where his father prepared ice for the Grande Prairie Curling Club in the Wapiti Arena. This was his introduction to the world of sports. During the Depression, Fran and the local boys played hockey wherever a patch of ice could be found and cleared of snow. When World War II began, Fran enlisted in the South Alberta Regiment and served his country in A Squadron 29th Canadian Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment in NW Europe as a radio operator. He returned to Grande Prairie in 1945 and picked up his interest in sports again. During his first winter home, he was hired by Bill Bessent to help make ice and operate the arena. For a brief time Fran played hockey in the South Peace Hockey League, but he is remembered more as the sports broadcaster on CFGP. His career there began in 1952 as a transmitter operator but soon developed into almost 20 years of announcing hockey games’ play-by-play and providing game analysis and conducting interviews. The South Peace Hockey League recognized his popularity and contribution to hockey by awarding him The Most Valuable Player, and later he became the first media person to be recognized as a Grande Prairie Hockey Legend. Fran died in Grande Prairie March 27, 1984. Fran was a brother to Don and to Vera, wife of Jack Soars, who also became a CFGP radio personality.
Custodial history
These records were donated to the South Peace Regional Archives in 2007 and 2009 by Fran’s niece, Gail Frey.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of records of Fran’s service in WWII including 2 ration books, a public school leaving diploma in 1936 and high school examination results for 1939-1940 as well as one for his brother Donald in 1930, a confirmation certificate in 1936, his career with CFGP and the sports world, and personal papers and photographs. Also included are a Grande Prairie track meet first place pin and ribbon, a Sutton R.E.A. third prize ribbon, and a photograph of Fran as a young boy soldier mounted and cut from wood.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Family and personal life* (subject)
- Military (subject)
- Sports, recreation and leisure* (subject)
Table of contents
0364.01, World War II, 1943-1945
0364.02, CFGP and Sports Interests, 1920-1986
0364.03, Personal Papers and Photographs, 1929 -1984
Series descriptions
| Series 0364.01: World War II
Date: 1943-1945 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series includes Fran’s Soldier’s Pay Books (1943-1945), 2 ration booklets, a Bank of Montreal receipt for transfer of funds and a hand written letter from a Mr. Bromley (1943-1945), 4 photographs, a comical card booklet from Brussels and miscellaneous documents. Physical description: 0.5 cm of textual records 4 photographs Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form) |
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| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0364.01.01 | Item – Fran Tanner the Soldier | 1943 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
Fran Tanner in his uniform of the South Alberta Regiment. |
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| 0364.01.02 | Item – Fran Tanner and Three Other Soldiers | 1943 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Fran Tanner (front left) of the South Alberta Regiment walks along a Vancouver street with three other soldiers. |
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| 0364.01.03 | Item – Don and Fran Tanner | 1943 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Don and Fran Tanner in military uniform. |
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| 0364.01.04 | Item – Fran Tanner in Vancouver for Training Photocraft, Vancouver, BC |
1943 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Fran Tanner, in military training group in Vancouver, is third from the right in front row. |
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| Series 0364.02: CFGP and Sports Interests
Date: 1920-1986 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series includes schedules for the CFGP broadcasts of baseball, football and hockey games, photographs of Fran as transmitter operator at CFGP, of the Grande Prairie Baseball Team, the Richmond Hill Golf Club and the presentation of the first Fran Tanner MVP Award of the South Peace Hockey League. Physical description: 0.5 cm of textual records 8 photographs 1 negative Access points: • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form) • Textual record (documentary form) |
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| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0364.02.01 | Item – Fran Tanner at the Driving Range | [1960] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in.1 negative |
| Scope and content:
Fran Tanner stands ready to practice his drive at the the Richmond Hill Driving Range. |
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| 0364.02.02 | Item – Fran Tanner, Transmitter Engineer, CFGP | 1952 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Fran Tanner at his new job as transmitter operator for CFGP seen here at the transmitter towers north of Grande Prairie. |
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| 0364.02.03-.04 | Item – Golfers at Richmond Hill Golf Course Paquin Photographs Ltd. |
[1960] | 2 photographs : b&w ; 6 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Golfers practice at the Richmond Hill Golf Course driving range. |
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| 0364.02.05 | Item – Four Golfers at Richmond Hill Golf Course | [1960] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
Four golfers, including Fran Tanner (with white pants) at the Richmond Hill Golf Course. |
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| 0364.02.06 | Item – Grande Prairie Legion Baseball Team | 1950 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Matted photograph of Grande Prairie Legion Baseball Team: Back L-R: John Lynn (manager), Marv Johnson, Russ Bowen, Deb Crough, Hal Johnston, Max Henning, Bill Dunbeck, Les Burrows (coach). Front L-R: Art Williams (captain), Irv Berg, Jack Light, Fran Tanner, Mike Malarchuk, Fred Dobbyn, Dennis Johnson (mascot). |
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| 0364.02.07 | Item – Fran Tanner MVP Award | 1985 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
The Fran Tanner Most Valuable Player Award for the South Peace Hockey League was created the year after Fran Tanner passed away. The recipient here is ____ Adams who won the scoring title with 103 points and the MVP best defenseman and first team all star defense award. |
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| 0364.02.08 | Item – GPHS Grad Reunion | 1979 | 1 photograph : colour ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
A unidentified group assembled in the gymnasium of a school for a convention of some sort in 1979. Back Row L-R: Don Boyd, Harry Laye, ? , Rosamond Wilson, Bill Lowe, ? , ? , ? , Walter Kujath, ? . Middle L-R: Pete Wright, ? , ? , ? , ? , Cass Remple, ? , ? , ? , ? .Front Row L-R: Roger Ireland, Marie Agnes Wright, ? , ? , ? , Edna Whitlock, Fran Tanner, ?. |
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| Series 0364.03: Personal Papers and Photographs
Date: 1929 -1984 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series includes 1 professional portrait of the 1929 Grande Prairie Curling Team, 1 photograph of Fran and his parents, wage statements from Yellowknife Transportation Co., (1948), a life insurance policy, a trapline registration certificate (1956), 2 greeting cards, a public school leaving diploma and high school examinations results for both Fran and his brother Don, a certificate of confirmation, 8 photographs of a trip up the newly built Alaska Highway (including 7 negatives) , 1 negative of an airplane landing and 1negative of an elevator being worked on, 2 invoices and an “In Remembrance” card from his funeral. Also included is a copy of newspaper articles related to the deaths of Victor Tanner, and wife Dorothy Tanner. Physical description: 0.5 cm of textual records 12 photographs 9 negatives 2 cards Access points: • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form) • Textual record (documentary form) |
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| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0364.03.01 | Item – Men’s Champion Curling Team | 1929 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Grande Prairie Men’s Champion Curling Team, winner of the Delmar Pratt trophy. Victor Tanner is seated on the right. |
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| 0364.03.02-.09 | Item – Trip Up the Alaska Highway | [1947] | 8 photographs : b&w ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
A collection of 8 photographs with 7 negatives of the photographs taken on a trip up the newly built Alaska Highway showing the car and a friend who travelled with Fran Tanner. |
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| 0364.03.10 | Item – Watching a Small Aircraft Land | [1945] | 1 negative : b&w ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
A man is seen watching a small aircraft (UAB-73) land. |
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| 0364.03.11 | Item – Working on an Elevator | [1945] | 1 negative : b&w ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
Three men are seen standing in front of an elevator that is being worked on. |
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| 0364.03.12 | Item – Fran Tanner | [1980] | 1 photograph : colour ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Fran Tanner in his later years. |
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| 0364.03.13 | Item – Mr. and Mrs. Tanner and son Frances | ca. 1930 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Fran Tanner with his parents in front of their house in Grande Prairie. |
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| 0364.03.14 | Item – Fran Tanner and Roy Wright in Hawaii | 1983 | 1 photograph : colour ; 6 x 8 in. |
| Scope and content:
Fran Tanner and Roy Wright in Hawaii in 1983 on a cruise ship. |
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