Vertical File Biographies

This is an individual biography from the vertical file of biographical information, primarily newspaper clippings, created by the Kansas State Histocial Society Library and Archives division. This is a concise version--there may be more information in this or other sources.

Edward W. Tanner

Edward Tanner graduated in the first class of the University of Kansas School of Architecture in 1916. After service in World War I, he became the principal designer for the J.C. Nickols Company in 1919. It was the beginning of a life-long relationship with that firm lasting until his retirement in 1964. During that time, Tanner designed most of the major buildings on Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza and was responsible for much of it’s appearance including the selection of the Spanish motif for it’s structures. He also designed more than 2000 houses in the Country Club District and in Johnson County, Kansas as well as The Landing and Prairie Village Shopping Centers.

Mr. Tanner was born in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, but spent most of his early life in Lawrence. He made his home in the Kansas City area during the rest of his life.
In 1933, Tanner designed the entire City of Fort Peck, Montana. The city with a population of 5000 was built ahead of the construction of the big Fort Peck dam. The plans included virtually everything from homes to stores to utilities and hotels. Even a jail!

During World War II Tanner and his company, Tanner & Mitchell converted to wartime production. They designed the buildings at Whiteman Air Base in Knob Noster, Missouri and the O’Reilly government hospital in Springfield, Missouri. During the Korean War, Tanner was involved in the development of the Sunflower ordnance plant near DeSoto, Kansas.

He also designed the Danforth Chapel at his alma mater, the University of Kansas. He received a distinguished service award in 1950 from the K.U. Alumni Association and was to receive a special award from the K.U. School of Architecture the night following his death in 1974.

Sources:
“Leaders In Our Town,” Kansas City Star, 6 January 1952.
“E.W. Tanner, Plaza Architect, Dies,” 26 April 1974.

The vertical file is on forty-three microfilm reels arranged alphabetically by name. These reels are available through interlibrary loan, or you may contact the reference staff . Please note that many of the clippings had yellowed and it may be impossible to produce a readable photocopy.

Completion of this biography was made possible by volunteer Frank Sotrines.