George S. Tanner papers, 1912-1992

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Tanner, George S.
Title
George S. Tanner papers
Dates
1912-1992 (inclusive)
Quantity
21.25 linear feet
Collection Number
ACCN 1361
Summary
The George S. Tanner papers (1912-1992) contain personal and family materials related to George Tanner, a teacher and historian. Included are correspondence, arranged chronologically and alphabetically; biographies and autobiographies; journals and family histories; financial and medical records; writings and speeches; newsletters and news clippings; programs and brochures; and materials relating to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

George Shepherd Tanner (1897-1992) was well-known for his activities within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' ( LDS Church ) seminary and institute programs, as well as for his research efforts regarding the history of Mormon settlements in Arizona. Tanner's ancestors played a major role in the settling of Arizona. Aside from research, most of Tanner's adult life was dedicated to teaching religion courses for the LDS Church. He taught throughout Utah and Idaho and spent two years in Hawaii as instructor of the Church College. Tanner earned his B.S. degree from the University of Utah in 1923 and his M.S. from the University of Chicago in 1931. He has written numerous articles and histories, including those of his forebearers, Henry Martin Tanner and John Tanner.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The George S. Tanner papers (1912-1992) contain personal and family materials related to George Tanner, a teacher and historian. Included are correspondence, arranged chronologically and alphabetically; biographies and autobiographies; journals and family histories; financial and medical records; writings and speeches; newsletters and news clippings; programs and brochures; and materials relating to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Original folder titles have been used whenever possible. Boxes 22-35 hold materials such as correspondence, reports, news articles and newsletters, writings, and biographical and genealogical information relating to the individuals or families listed. Maiden names have been used for several of the women listed. Dates are included when available. Writings by Tanner have been separated from those writings he collected and are located in boxes 18 and 45-46, respectively. A large portion of the materials in this collection are photocopies of original documents dating from the 19th century.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by George S. Tanner and George Tanner in 1988 and 1998.

Processing Note

Processed by Lisa Townsend in 1999.

Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.

Separated Materials

Photographs (P0034) and audio-visual materials (A0516) have been transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Correspondence, Chronological
 1913-1974
2
Correspondence, Chronological
 1974-1979
3
Correspondence, Chronological
 1980-1986
4
Correspondence, Chronological
 1986-1989
5
Correspondence, Chronological
 1990-1992
6
Correspondence, Alphabetical, Ab-Cl
7
Correspondence, Alphabetical, Da-Gr
8
Correspondence, Alphabetical, Ha-Ne
9
Correspondence, Alphabetical, Ni-Ri
10
Correspondence, Alphabetical, Ro-Ta
11
Correspondence, Alphabetical, Ta-Wo
12
Christmas and Greeting Cards
 1960s-1980s
13
Christmas and Greeting Cards
 1980s-1990s

PersonalReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
14 1
Biographies and Autobiography
 1979
14 2
Certificates
Includes education and ecclesiastical certificates for Tanner and his family.
1919-1966
14 3
Patriarchal Blessing
 1919
14 4
School Records
 1924
14 5-7
Teaching Materials
Correspondence, contracts, exams, outlines, and financial reports are included.
1925-1963
14 8
Oral History Interview
 1972
14 9
Missionary Journal
This journal contains records of Tanner's experiences while serving as an LDS missionary in the Eastern States Mission.
1919-1921
14 10
Journal
 1960-1969
15
Journals
 1970-1991
Folder
16 1-2
Rental Agreement
These folders also contains correspondence, notes, and check receipts pertaining to this rental agreement between Tanner and J. Howard Maughan.
1960s
16 3
Tax Information
 1965-1980s
16 4-6
Bill Statements and Receipts
 1960s-1990s
16 7
Bank Statements and Deposit Slips
 1971-1991
16 8
Home Ownership Documents
 1964
16 9
Home and Car Insurance
 1960s-1970s
16 10
Beneficial Life Insurance
 1960s
16 11
List of Government Bonds
16 12
Stock and Securities Information
 1960s-1980s
16 13
Social Security
 1965-1967
16 14
Application for Federal Employment
16 15
Unemployment Compensation
 1960s
17
Medical Records
Correspondence, statements, and pamphlets are included in this box.
1960s-1980s

Personal, WritingsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
18 1
Leonard J. Arrington, "George S. Tanner: Practical-Minded Intellectual"
18 2
"Henry Martin Tanner, Joseph City Pioneer"
 1964
18 3
"The Lion's Share, the Settlement of the Sunset Arizona United Order"
18 4
"Crisis in the Early Church"
18 5
"Joseph City's Places of Worship"
18 6
"Come When Called, Go Where Sent"
18 7
"Moments Remembered"
 1987
18 8
"As It Was?"
 1987
18 9
Master's Thesis, "The Religious Environment in Which Mormonism Arose"
 1931
18 10-18
Colonization of the Little Colorado, the Joseph City Region
These folders contain drafts for this publication.
18 19
Article Draft on Mormon Anti-Intellectualism
18 20
Critique of P. T. Reilly's Lee's Ferry: Mormon Years

PersonalReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
19 1
Editorials
 1953
19 2-3
Address Cards
19 4
Miscellaneous

Family RecordsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
20 1-2
Family History Group Record Sheets
20 3-8
Family History Notebooks
20 9
Tanner Family Reunions and Sidney Tanner Book
Includes announcements, name lists, notes, and receipts.
1970-1980
21 1-3
Tanner Family Reunions and Sidney Tanner Book
 1970-1980
21 4-5
Missionary Reunions, Announcements and Receipts
 1950-1970
21 6
Tanner vs. Daines
This court case concerned a disagreement over the ownership of a first edition Book of Mormon.
1981

People Files, Ad-YoReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
22 1
D. E. Adams
 1934
22 2
W. C. Allen
 1967
22 3
Andrew Amundsen
 1967
22 4
Elijah Averett, ca.
 1972
22 5
Jesse O. Ballinger
 1970
22 6
Emma Batchelor
 1990
22 7
Nelson E. Beebe
22 8
Allen Benedict
 1950-1960
22 9
William E. Berrett
 1960
22 10
Elizabeth Beswick
 1984
22 11
James J. Bleak
 1972
22 12
John A. Blythe
22 13-14
John Law Blythe
 1971
22 15
George Boyd
 1960
22 16
Lydia Nelson Brinkerhoff
22 17
Fawn M. Brodie
 1970
23 1-4
T. W. Brookbank
 1970-1971
23 5
Juanita Brooks
 1973
23 6-8
James S. Brown
 1927-1980
23 9
Lydia Burke
 1961
23 10-11
John Bushman
 1968
23 12
Lois Angeline Smith Bushman
 1940
24 1
Preston Bushman
24 2
Royal K. Buttars
 1977
24 3
Sarah L. Tanner Buttars
24 4
Israel Call
 ca. 1971
24 5
Jared Carter
24 6
Elsie Elizabeth Chase
 1961
24 7
C. Lingo Christiansen
24 8-9
Evans Colman
 1930
24 10
Hazel Cooper
 1964
24 11
Frances Morley Cox
 1966
24 12
Mary Louisa Crismon
 1943-1961
24 13
Henry C. Eddington
 1969
24 14
Francis Michael Darter
 1969
24 15
Thomas David Evans
 1977
24 16
Joseph Fish
 1971
24 17
Lucy Hannah White Flake
24 18
S. Eugene Flake
 1967-1971
24 19-20
Donette Fuller
 1946-1985
25 1
Robert Gardner
 1934
25 2-3
Joseph A. Geddes
 1964-1977
25 4
Andrew S. Gibbons
25 5
Horton D. Haight
25 6
Isaac C. Haight
25 7-8
Jacob Hamblin
 1967-1968
25 9-12
Alice and Delbert Hansen
 1965-1975
25 13
Andrew Hansen
 1951 and 1973
25 14
Thanksful Loretta Tanner Harmon
25 15
Higbee Family
 1937
25 16
Arza E. Hinckley
25 17
Henry Holmes
25 18
Lydia Holmgren
26 1
Ida and May Hunt
 1968
26 2
William Huntington
26 3
William Hyde
 1950
26 4
Benjamin F. Johnson
26 5
Lucy Ann Johnson
26 6-7
William Decator Kartchner
 1974
26 8
John F. Kennedy
 1962-1963
26 9
Spencer W. Kimball
 1978
26 10
Barton Kirkham
 1986
26 11
Samuel G. Ladd
 1894
26 12-13
George Lake
 1971
26 14
Gustive O. Larson
 1970s
26 15
May Hunt Larson
 1968
26 16
Leslie David Lash
 1985
26 17
George P. Lee
 1989-1991
26 18
Rilla Hamblin Lee
 1976
26 19
Eliza Partridge Lyman
26 20
Francis Marion Lyman
27 1-2
Maria Louisa Tanner Lyman
 1971
27 3
T. Edgar Lyon
 1957-1963
27 4-5
Daniel McAllister
 1946
27 6-7
Charles R. McBride
 1971
27 8
Virginia McBride
27 9
Peter McIntyre
27 10
David O. McKay
 1962
27 11
McLaws Family
 1960-1970
27 12
Sterling M. McMurrin
 1954-1968
27 13-15
Dove Menkes
 1939-1980
27 16
Jacob Miller
27 17
Mary Jane Mount
27 18
James Myers
 1976
28 1-4
Price W. Nelson
 1937
28 5
Nelson Family
 1940
28 6
William Newman
 1960-1961
28 7
F. G. Nielson
28 8
L. John Nuttall
 1945 and 1959
28 9
Oakden Family
 1979
28 10
Wesley Palmer
 1961
28 11
Diane Parkinson
 1985-1986
28 12-13
Eliza Ellen Parkinson
 1985
28 14
James Parkinson Family
 1987
28 15
John T. Parkinson Family
 1987
28 16
Reuben Parkinson
28 17
Thomas James Parkinson
28 18
Thomas S. Parkinson
29 1
Niels and Mary Peterson
29 2
Mary Pickett
 1929; 1963
29 3
Ken Porter
 1981
29 4
Mary Emma Bond Porter
29 5-6
Rulon E. Porter
 circa 1916
29 7
Samuel U. Porter
29 8
Olive Andelin Potter
 1932
29 9
Harvey Randall
 1969-1973
29 10
Matilda Randall
 1972
29 11
Joseph H. Richards
 1971
29 12-16
Andrew Locy Rogers
 1930-1969
30 1
Ida Tanner Rogers
 1933-1965
30 2
Martin Rogers
 1966-1970
30 3
Rebecca Smith Rogers
 1960
30 4
Junius Romney
 1966
30 5
Lorenzo W. Roundy
30 6
Levi M. Savage
30 7
Shelley Family
30 8
Julia Ann Shepherd
 1985
30 9
George Warren Sirrine
30 10
Janet Mauretta Johnson Smith
30 11
Jesse N. Smith
30 12
Joseph Fielding Smith
 1960
30 13
Joseph W. Smith
30 14
Lot Smith
 1972
30 15-17
William Henry Solomon
 1969-1971
30 18
John H. Standifird
30 19
Emma Ellen Stapley
 1980s
30 20
Levi Stewart
30 21
Brigham Stowell
 1966
30 22
Swarthout Family
31 1
Albert Tanner
 1971
31 2
Arthur Tanner
31 3-4
Byron F. Tanner
 1974
31 5
David Dan Tanner
 1972-1973
31 6-10
Earl Pingree Tanner
 1972-1978
31 11
Eva Tanner
 1940s-1960
31 12
Freeman E. Tanner
 1972
31 13
George T. Tanner
 1975
31 14
Henry Tanner
 1965-1973
31 15
Henry O. Tanner
 1937
31 16
Herbert B. Tanner
32 1
Howard H. Tanner
 1981
32 2
John Joshua Tanner
 1965-1978
32 3-7
John M. Tanner
 1970-1986
32 8
Joseph Marion Tanner
32 9-10
Joseph Smith Tanner
 1974
32 11
Louetta Brown Tanner
 1990
32 12
Marion Tanner
 1940-1960
32 13
Martin Henry Tanner
33 1-3
Mary Jane Mount Tanner
33 4
Morgan Tanner
33 5-6
Myron Tanner
 1970
33 7-9
Nathan Tanner
 1949-1975
33 10
Nathan Tanner, Jr.
 1972
34 1
O. C. Tanner
 1991
34 2
Roberta Turley Tanner
 1972
34 3-4
Rollin Ray Tanner
 1945-1965
34 5
Seth Tanner
 1969-1973
34 6-7
Sidney Tanner
 1969-1975
34 8
Thomas Tanner
 1965
34 9
Vasco M. Tanner
 1970
34 10
Wallace Tanner
 1937-1967
34 11
John W. Tate
 1952
34 12
Ammon M. Tenney
34 13
Moses Thatcher
34 14
Julia Ann Taylor
 1961
34 15
Westover Family
 1967
35 1
John A. Widtsoe
 1952
35 2
Willard Whipple
35 3
Raymond Woodward
 1950-1983
35 4
Brigham Young
35 5
John R. Young

Subject Files, Ae-ViReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
36 1
Aeronautics, Newsletter and Accident Report
 1965
36 2-3
African-Americans
Correspondence, newsletters, and writings are included in these folders.
1940s-1950s
36 4
Arizona Historical Society, Correspondence and Pamphlets
 1974
36 5-7
Aztec Land and Cattle Co.
Correspondence, township maps, and news articles are included.
1986-1987
36 8-9
Bolton, New York
These folders hold correspondence, news articles, and pamphlets.
1970s
36 10
Brigham Young University Planetarium, Information Sheet
36 11
Carlsbad Caverns, Pamphlets
36 12
Catholicism
37 1-2
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church Educational System
Included are committee rosters, correspondence, and financial information.
1975-1981
37 3
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Come, Come, Ye Saints," Correspondence and Background Information
 1972
37 4
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Concept of God, Lecture Typescript
37 5
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Converts, Statistics
37 6
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Council of Fifty, Name List and Information Sheets
37 7
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Divorce Statistics
37 8
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, History of the LDS Church
37 9
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Holladay Ward, Dedication Program
 1980
37 10-14
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Institutes of Religion
Correspondence, announcements, newsletters, programs, notes, name lists, and Moscow Institute dormitory surveys are included in these folders.
1959-1960
37 15-17
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph City Ward
Correspondence, reports, and notes on the ward's history are included.
1930s-1940s
38 1-8
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph City Ward, Cash Reports
 1912-1938
38 9
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Little Colorado Stake, Copy of the 1878 Quarterly Conference Minutes
38 10
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Church Records Vault, Pamphlet
38 11
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mormon History Association, Brochure
38 12
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Priesthood, Pamphlet
38 13
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Seer Stones, News Articles and Quotations
38 14
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Seventies
This folder consists of materials describing the duties of this LDS priesthood quorum.
39 1
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Snowflake Stake, Booklet of Historical Stories
39 2
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Solemn Assembly, Background Information
39 3
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ten Tribes
39 4
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Theology
39 5
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United Order
This folder holds a letter, a book excerpt, and a speech.
1990
39 6
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph F. Smith's Statement, White Horse Revelation
39 7
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Winslow Ward, Dedicatory Services Programs
 1951-1971
40 1
Constitution, Quotations
40 2-5
Counseling
40 6
Courtship and Marriage, Outline and News Articles
40 7
Evolution
40 8
Fundamentalists, Speech Excerpts and Writings
40 9
Glenn Canyon Dam, Brochure
40 10
Hebgen Lake, Earthquake Pamphlet
40 11
Hungry Horse Dam, Brochure
40 12
India, Brochure
40 13
Indians, Pamphlets and Letter
40 14-16
Joseph City, Arizona
Historical information, township maps, and correspondence. Also gives historical accounts of surrounding areas.
1960-1970
40 17
Journal Histories
40 18
Juvenile Delinquency, Writings and News Articles
40 19
Kirtland Safety Society Notes, Reproductions
40 20
Lee's Ferry
Correspondence, historical information, and news articles.
1960
41 1
Little Colorado River, Historical Information
41 2
Little Cottonwood Canyon, Letter and Historical Information
 1973
41 3
Marriage
41 4
Maturity
41 5-6
Mesa Verde, Brochures and Pamphlets
41 7
Name Lists
41 8
New Testament, Scripture List
41 9-13
News Clippings
 1960-1990
41 14
Newsletters
 1957-1990
42 1-2
Northern Arizona University
Correspondence, articles, receipts, and lists are included.
1967-1975
42 3
Old Testament, Scripture Quotations
42 4
Oxen
Contained in this folder is a paper considering animal hardships on treks taken across the United States by various groups of pioneers.
1972
42 5-7
Parks and Monuments
Included are brochures, pamphlets, and news articles.
1960-1970
42 8
Pearce's Ferry, Correspondence and Historical Accounts
 1969-1971
42 9
Poetry
42 10
Polygamy, Correspondence and Writings
 1950-1990
42 11
Priesthood, Speech Typescript
 1949
42 12
Programs
These programs are for various events and memorial services.
1931-1980
42 13
Propaganda, Article Reprint
42 14
Psychiana
A pamphlet and flier regarding this religious practice are included.
43 1
Railroads, Letter and Brochures
 1960
43 2
Religion, Typescript
43 3-5
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Pamphlets and Writings
43 6
Repairmen, Letter and Magazine Article
 1941-1974
43 7
San Bernadino
Historical information presented in notes and articles.
43 8
Science vs. Religion, Writings
 1961-1962
43 9-10
Smoking
These folders consist of reports, correspondence, and television scripts regarding Proposition 5, the "clean indoor act."
1978-1979
43 11
Spiritualism, Correspondence and News Article
 1941-1988
43 12
Tobacco, Penal Code Excerpt
44 1-3
Tuba City, Arizona
Included are correspondence and reports concerning early Mormon settlements and Indian rights.
44 4
University of Idaho, Brochure and Historical Information
 1939; 1988
44 5
Utah State Penitentiary, Statistics
 1960-1970
44 6
Virginia City, Montana, Brochures and Postcard

Writings and SpeechesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
45 1
Hugh B. Brown, "Purity is Power"
 1962
45 2
Alma P. Burton, "Joseph Smith, Prophet of God"
45 3
Joe J. Christensen, "Counseling Students in a Religious Setting"
 1962
45 4
Dale Tingey, "The Gospel of Love"
 1962
45 5
Dennis L. Thompson, "Religion and the Idaho Constitution"
 1967
45 6
M. Wilford Poulson, "Personality in Religion"
45 7
Peter Crawley and Richard L. Anderson, "The Political and Social Realities of Zion's Camp"
45 8
Carlton Culmsee, "A Modern Moses at West Tintic"
45 9
Brigham D. Madsen, "City of Corinne"
45 10
Sterling W. Sill, "Moving Messages of the Gospel"
45 11
Gay Taylor, "Why Am I Here?"
45 12
Charles Kelly and Hoffman Birney, "Killer for the Saints"
45 13
S. H. Allen, "The Grand Canyon of the Colorado"
45 14
B. H. Roberts, "The Gospel and Man's Relationship to Deity"
45 15
Ezra Taft Benson, "Let Us Live to Keep Men Free"
45 16
John Franklin Tolton, "From the Halls of Memory"
45 17
Mark E. Petersen, "Avoiding Sectarianism"
 1962
45 18
Richard D. Poll, "This Trumpet Gives an Uncertain Sound"
 1962
45 19
Dix Price, "Joseph Smith Ph.D."
 1955
45 20
Chauncey C. Riddle, "The Key to Religious Knowledge"
 1962
45 21
Marion G. Romney, "Man in a Universe of Law"
 1962
45 22
Gaylen Reese, "Wisdom and Devotional Literature of the Old Testament"
 1964
45 23
Alvin R. Dyer, "For What Purpose?"
 1961
45 24
Truman G. Madsen, "Joseph Smith and the Problems of Ethics"
 1962
45 25
Pilar Rich, Saints of Snowville
This is a photocopy of the publication.
1970
45 26
John Taylor, "Origin and Destiny of Woman"
45 27
A. Theodore Tuttle, "Missionary Work"
 1960
45 28
Marion G. Romney, "Revelation"
 1960
46 1
"In Search for Truth in Science and Religion"
 1961
46 2
Adam S. Bennion, "What is Distinctive about Mormonism?"
 1957
46 3
Albert Payne, "Order of Aaron"
46 4
"The Negro Problem"
Statements by various individuals are included.
1950
46 5
"Schismatic Groups: Reorganized Church"
46 6
Bruce R. McConkie, "Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times"
46 7
"Schismatic Groups"
46 8
Mervin B. Hogan, "Underground Presidential Address"
46 9
Laura Shepherd, "San Bernadino: Outpost of Mormon Colonization"
46 10
Norman C. Pierce, "Dream Mine Story"
46 11
"Introduction to an Understanding of the Events Preceding the Second Coming"
46 12
Leonard W. Rice, "Teaching in the Church"
46 13
James H. McClintock, "The Mormons as Wilderness Breakers"
46 14
Wilson K. Andersen, "Compilation of Statements Relative to the Holy Endowment"
 1962
46 15
Excerpt from History of Kane County
46 16
Lowell L. Bennion Addresses
 1956
46 17
Harold B. Lee Addresses
 1954-1960
46 18
Spencer W. Kimball Addresses
 1954-1961
46 19
Boyd K. Packer Addresses
 1962-1963
46 20
Henry D. Moyle Addresses
 1962
46 21
J. Reuben Clark Jr. Writings
 1938-1954
46 22
Leonard J. Arrington Writings
 1961-1963

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Latter Day Saint churches--Religious Education
  • Latter Day Saints--Diaries

Family Names

  • Tanner family

Geographical Names

  • Arizona--Colonization--History--Sources

Form or Genre Terms

  • Articles
  • Autobiographies
  • Biographies
  • Correspondence
  • Diaries
  • Reports
  • Speeches (documents)

Finding aid prepared by Lisa Townsend.
1999 (last modified: 2020)

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