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Oral history interview with Vasco M. Tanner

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA OH 135

Scope and Contents

Interview by Mark K. Allen with Vasco M. Tanner, who recounts his childhood in Idaho, his interest in Zoology, his education at Stanford, and teaching experiences while at Brigham Young University. Also speaks about several BYU presidents, academic freedom issues, and family accomplishments.

Dates

  • 1981

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from Oral history interview with Vasco M. Tanner must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical / Historical

Vasco M. Tanner (1892-1989) was a professor of zoology and entomology at Brigham Young University.

Vasco Myron Tanner was born on October 29, 1892 in Payson, Utah to Myron and Lois Ann Tanner. Tanner graduated from Brigham Young University in 1915 with a B.A. in biology. After teaching for a year at the high school in Moroni, Utah and two years at Dixie Junior College, he left to earn an M.S. degree at the University of Utah, which he completed in 1920. During this time he met Annie Atkin, whom he married on June 5, 1917. They later had five children: Carol, Marilyn, Carmela, Gloria, and Jordan. Tanner then returned to his teaching position at Dixie Junior College, where he remained until 1924. However, he left this post once again to study at Stanford University. He later became a professor of zoology and entomology at Brigham Young University. Tanner passed away on April 25, 1989 in Utah.

Biographical History

Mark K. Allen (1905-1996) was a psychology professor and psychologist in Utah.

Mark Knight Allen was born on October 22, 1905 in Provo, Utah to Robert Eugene Allen and Amanda Inez Knight. He was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was baptized in 1913. Allen earned his bachelor's degree at Brigham Young University, and later completed a master's degree and Ph.D. at Stanford University. In 1934 he married Phyllis Sloan and began work as a psychologist and assistant superintendent at the Utah State Training School in American Fork, Utah. He remained there until 1946, when he joined the psychology faculty at Brigham Young University. Allen remained at the university until his retirement in 1975, during that time serving as department chair for ten years. He also received a Fulbright scholarship, spending a year teaching psychology at the University of Ankara, Turkey and Middle East Technical University. He died on January 30, 1996 in Provo, Utah.

Extent

19 pages

1 sound tape reel (60 min.)

1 sound cassette (60 min.)

Language of Materials

English

Appraisal

University history (University Archives collecting policy, February 2010).

General

Recorded in Provo, Utah.

General

Includes related transcription material.

General

Recorded as part of the BYU Joint Oral History Project.

Title
Register of Oral history interview with Vasco M. Tanner
Status
Completed
Author
Jennifer Kim
Date
2011 August 18
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo UT 84602 US