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Celebrating Mary Grannan:

Fredericton's Famous Storyteller

Celebrating Mary Grannan Committee:
Catherine Hoyt, Don Roberts, Frances Giberson, Sherry Rose, and Pam Whitty

Introduction

This publication is a collective tribute to Mary Grannan, perhaps Fredericton's most famous storyteller. In the year 2000, 100 years after Mary's birth, local writer Ted jones published an article about Mary in "The Daily Gleaner". That article instigated this remembrance of Mary.

Under the auspices of the Eileen wallance Children's Literature Collection Advisory Committe, a group of us formed the Celebrating Mary Grannan Committee. Frances Giberson read through a selection of Mary's stories and chose A Strange Valentine for publication, in part, be Valentine's Day is so close to Mary's birth date, February 11. Thomas Allen Co. allowed us to reprint the story which was first published in 1955. Don Roberts, a long time friend of Mary's and keeper of many Mary treasures wrote the biography andprovided photographs. The City of Fredericton agreed to declare February 11th, Mary Grannan Day and Her Honour Marilyn Trenholme Counsell consented to host a Celebrating Mary grannan Party at Old Government House. Children at Keswick Ridge School did the illustrations on the activities pages, and have prepared a dramatized version of A Strange Valentine. They worked under the direction of Sherry Rose and Charles Fellini. Emily Mosher, an education student from the University of New Brunswick developed the activities and related book suggestions for A Strange Valentine. Catherine Hoyt coordinated the invitations, guest list and the public lecture. The ideas, photographs and information in this book are intended to serve as one way to celebrate the legacy of Mary Grannan.

Pam Whitty

Mary Grannan - Historical Background

by Don Roberts

Mary Evelyn Grannan was born February 11, 1900 in Fredericton, N.B. to William Peter Grannan and Catherine Teresa Haney Grannan. She had two sisters, Ann born in 1897 and Helen who came along in 1903. She attended St. Dunstan's School , Fredericton High School and the Provincial Normal School in 1917-1918. She taught school in various New Brunswick locations including Minto and Devon. She delighted the children with stories she had written. Many grown up locals can still recall some of the wonderful stories Mary created.

She attended summer school courses in Boston's Vesper George School of Art, and Columbia University in new York. She also taught summer school classes in Saint John.

In 1935, Mary was hired by J. Stewart Neill owner of radio station CFNB in Fredericton. Soon she began broadcasting programmes such as "Musical Scrapbook", and "Aggravatin' Agatha" a very successful comedy sponsored by Valley Motors, the local Hudson Car Dealership. The cast starred Mary Grannan, Carl Hap Watson, and Gertrude Davis. Mary wrote and produced the entire programme. Mr. Neill made sure the programme was heard by Gladstone Murray of the CBC. Mary's talent was noted and she was offered the position of children's programmes for CBC Radio Canada. She left for Toronto in July 1939 and soon proved herself to be a very great talent.

Her busy schedule from 1939 to 1962 included among her many productions: "The Children's Scrapbook", "The Land of Supposing", "Sonnie and Susie", "Kim and Katy", "Jubilee Road", "Digger Jones", "Summer days with Don and Debbie", "Karen Discovers America", "Just Mary", and "Maggies Muggins".

Mary brought "Maggie Muggins" radio show to television from radio in 1954. The two starring characters, Maggie Muggins and Mr McGarrity, became household names. The Maggie Muggins sign off at the end of each programme "I don't know what will happen tomorrow" was repeated by Canadians coast to coast.

Her books were published in Canada, the United States and England. She travelled across Canada and the United States on speaking engagements, and in 1949 she travelled to England and Ireland. During Fredericton's centennial year she broadcast her "Just Mary" stories from CFNB.

Mary Grannan's death on January 3, 1975 at age 74 ended a long career in writing and broadcasting. She was well known or her silver jewellery, her large earings, and her very expensive designer hats. She left a legacy of some thirty books. Many of her TV programmes on film and writing are in the provincial archives in Fredericton. A large quantity of books, photos, publicity and personal effects were left to Don Roberts an old family friend.

To find out how you can get involved in
supporting Mary Grannan Celebrations,
or for the complete Celebrating Mary Grannan booklet,
please contact:

Catherine Hoyt, Curator
Eileen Wallace Children's Literature Collection
P.O. Box 7500
Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5H5

Telephone: (506) 452-6044
Fax: (506) 453-4831
E-mail: hoytc@unb.ca

Special Thanks to:

Don Roberts
Helen Grannan
Sherry Rose
Frances Giberson
Catherine Hoyt
Margaret Hume
Adrienne Purbhoo
Emily Mosher
Charles Fellini
The City of Fredericton
Eileen Wallace
Eileen Wallace Children's Literature Collection Advisory Committee,
University of New Brunswick
Visiting Lecturers Fund
Office of the Lt- Governor of the Province of New Brunswick