Marion Catherine Hannah (nee Elliott) was born on August 19, 1904 in Boissevain, MB. She moved to Brandon in 1923, to study nursing at Brandon General Hospital (BGH), graduating in 1926. During the 1930s, Marion served as the first president of the Junior Hospital Aid. During the Second World War she assisted in setting up programs through the YWCA for wives of servicemen and organizing in the serviceman's canteen. In 1942, she opened the first Red Cross blood donor clinic in Brandon and supervised the work for three years. From 1947-1956, Marion was the evening supervisor at Brandon College; she also taught health classes to the first teacher training students (TTC) at Brandon College. Marion joined the Provincial Department in 1958, working in general health programs and later specializing in geriatric programs, where she set up the Brandon Civic Senior Citizens Inc. Drop-in Centre and the Christmas Cheer Bureau. She retired in 1970.
Throughout her life Marion served as president of a number of organizations: The Brandon Council of Women; Brandon General Hospital alumni; the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses (District 2); the Brandon Civic Senior Citizens Inc.; and Hobbs Manor Resident's Council. She was a life member of St. John's Ambulance Society, the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses, Brandon Civic Senior Citizens Inc. and the Baptist Women's Organization. In 1967, Marion was chosen Brandon's "Woman of the Year" for her long record of community service. In retirement Marion was heavily involved in the planning and building of Hobbs Manor. She was also a member of First Baptist Church for more than 70 years. Marion married Howard Eldon Hannah (1894-1977) in 1928. The couple had two daughters, Jean and Katherine. Marion Hannah died on November 12, 1997 in Calgary, AB. She is buried at the Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Marion Hannah about the origin of Park Community Centre, 1935-1946. The recording is a copy of an earlier interview conducted in the fall of 1976. The interviewer is Jack Senchuk.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Hannah's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy made 2021 (R. Hess)
Audio Tracks
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