Obert Clark Tanner (1904-1993) was born September 20 in Farmington, Utah. His mother, Annie Clark Tanner, was a wife of polygamist Joseph M. Tanner. After serving a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) mission in Germany, O.C. Tanner attended the University of Utah and eventually earned B.A., L.L.B. and J.D. degrees from that institution, in addition to an M.A. from Stanford University and many honorary degrees from other Utah schools. He married Grace Adams of Parowan, Utah on 5 August 1931.
In 1927, while still an undergraduate at the University of Utah, Tanner founded an business in the basement of his mother's home and began selling commemorative class rings and pins to graduates throughout Northern Utah and eventually manufactured his own products. In the 1940s, Tanner's business expanded to include employee recognition awards for corporations, and, in 1976, O.C. Tanner opened a retail jewelry store in downtown Salt Lake City. Ever successful, the O.C. Tanner Company provided medals for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as commemorative rings for athletes in the 2004 Athens and 2006 Torino Games.
As a philanthropist, Obert C. Tanner donated his time and money to myriad organizations for the arts and higher education. An instructor of Religious Studies at Stanford University from 1939-1944, Tanner also authored numerous books including
The O.C. Tanner Company video collection (1988-1993) consists of video tributes to Utah businessman and philanthropist Obert C. Tanner and his O.C. Tanner Company.
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Audio-visual materials can be fragile and require specialized equipment to play back. For this reason, access to audio-visual materials is provided through digital copies, and it might take longer to provide access to items that are not yet digitized. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.
1) "Celebrating 60 Years": A look at the history and people of the O.C. Tanner Company on the occasion of its sixtieth anniversary.
2) "September 17, 1987": A celebration of the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution.
3) "An Evening of Music": The Utah Symphony, Utah Opera Company, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir honor Obert C. Tanner and his company.
4) "O.C. Tanner: An Uncommon Man": A film biography of the O.C. Tanner Company founder and chairman.
A separate copy of a biography of Obert C. Tanner, founder of the O.C. Tanner Company.
1) Memorial Service for Obert C. Tanner, Abravanel Hall.
2) Tribute to Obert C. Tanner as presented at a special company meeting.