Processed in April of 2010.
The Francis R. Martin papers were donated to Special Collections and Archives by Francis R. Martin in 1996. In addition to the papers, his donation also included his personal collection of jazz records, which was subsequently transferred to the recording collection at the Utah Festival Opera.
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
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Permission to publish material from the Francis R. Martin papers must be obtained from the
Francis R. Martin was born November 14, 1922 in Watervliet, New York. Enlisting in the Army Air Corp in November 1942, he was stationed in Logan, Utah, where he met his future wife, Rachael Colleen Edwards. While serving as a crew member in Europe, on November 30, 1944 his B-17 plane was shot down, and he was a prisoner of war for six months. Returning to Logan after the war, he worked in the auto parts business until his retirement. For twelve years, he disc jockeyed an evening public radio program on station KUSU; he was known as "Fran, the Old Fashioned Music Man." Active in many Cache Valley organizations, his memberships included the Elks Lodge, the Logan Country Club, and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church until his death at Sunshine Terrace in Logan, March 20, 2000.
The papers include the playlists for Martin's radio show, in addition to various personal, family, professional, and religious documents. Multiple family members are represented throughout the collection. "School Papers 1961", Box 1, Folder 2, belonged to Francis R. Martin, Jr., son of Francis Martin and Rachael Edwards. "Photographs 1959-1961" contains four photographs: Mrs. Knight's third grade class at Hillcrest Elementary, Logan, Utah, 1959-1960; Mrs. Lowder's fourth grade class, Adams Elementary, Logan, Utah, 1960-1961; John Olsen's unknown class, undated; and an unidentified elementary class, Logan, Utah, undated. Box 2, Folder 2 is the funeral booklet for Rachael Colleen Edwards, the late wife of Francis Martin. The second funeral booklet, Box 2, Folder 3, is for William D. Martin, who appears to be the brother of Francis Martin, but the relationship is unknown.
Various family artifacts accompanied this collection but have been removed. Extra blank paper and bindings have been removed from the folders "School Papers 1961" and "Funeral Booklet – Rachael Colleen Edwards Martin." The "Legal and Financial Documents" folders, Box 1, Folders 5 and 6, were divided for preservation concerns, not to maintain original order.
This collection is arranged by topic.