Mrs. R.J. (Anna) Sprott
(1879-1961)
Picture taken
Photographer: Bill Cunningham
See brief bio of Bill below
"the formidable Anna Sprott, with
splendid suits and superbly feminine hats bedecked with cabbage roses and veils
was one of the very early Professionals who forged a way ahead for women in
business. On the one hand she provided access to the skills needed to break
into business, while at the same time running a famous business school and
running it at a profit doing that long before it was fashionable to do so"
Anna Ethel Sprott,
radio school operator and alderman, died in
she inherited, rather
than created, the institution that she headed on the death of her husband
Robert James Sprott.
Anna Sprott‘s
husband had in 1903, in his early thirties, taken over an existing business
college on downtown Hastings Street and renamed it the Sprott-Shaw
Business University after himself and partner William Henry Shaw.
irish by descent,
the future Anna Sprott arrived in Vancouver in 1911
as a young widow in her early thirties (33) with a daughter, took a course at Sprott-Shaw, became an instructor there, and in 1918
married its proprietor.
over the next years
Robert Sprott founded the first radio station (CJCE)
west of
on his death in 1942, already in her early
sixties (63) and unmentioned in her husband's obituaries except as an unnamed
"sorrowing wife", Anna Sprott nonetheless took over as head of Sprott-Shaw
Schools and as president of the Vancouver radio station he founded now called
CKMO
what is clear is that
Anna used her entrepreneurial position to advantage. In 1949 (70) she ran for
Anna Sprott was
elected on her first try, decisively defeating among others CCF incumbent Laura
Jamieson, and after ten years on council becoming the longest serving woman in
the history of the city.
in 1951 Sprott became
the first woman (72) to serve as acting mayor of Vancouver, the press observing
that ”part of her time is still given over to her job as president of Sprott-Shaw Schools, since she is vitally interested in
young people who are mapping out careers in the business world.”
History of Sprott-Shaw Radio
1922
On April 10, Sprott-Shaw Schools of Commerce & Wireless Telegraphy,
and Radio Specialties Ltd., started CJCE on 750 kHz with 5 watts of power.
Studios were at
1924
Sprott-Shaw closed CJCE and assumed
control of CFCQ, and the station's power increased to
50 watts.
1925
CFCQ moved to 730
kHz and increased power to 1,000 watts
1928
CFCQ became CKMO,
sharing time with CKCD and CKWX on 730 kHz.
1929
CKMO's studios moved to the Bekins
Building,
1933
CKMO switched from
730 to 1410 kHz. Studios were at 812 Robson.
1947
CKMO is listed as
owned by BC Broadcasting System Ltd.,
1955
Sprott-Shaw sold CKMO to Radio C-FUN Ltd.
and call letters for CKMO were turned in.
***
PROVINCE
PHOTOGRAPHER BILL CUNNINGHAM
Bill
Cunningham died on Tuesday night,
He was
Province photographer for so long the records don't even show when he started.
The best guess is 1941 through 1966. He was the B.C. Lions' first photographer
(and paid-up founding member), the official Canucks' photographer, and
chronicler of sports events through generations. In the latter years he was a
bigger local celebrity than most of the people he photographed.
He was
everywhere: Photographing jocks and celebrities and treating them with equally
loving disdain. When Bill said "Smile," it wasn't a request, it was
an order. One night a visiting dignitary dropped the ceremonial puck before
Bill was ready. "Do it again," Bill snapped. Meekly, the man bent
over and did it again. It was Soviet premier Nikita Khruschev.
Rembrandt,
we called him, a white-haired little man in a
written by Jim
Taylor