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University of Chicago Library

Guide to the Harry Hansen Papers 1898-1977

© 2009 University of Chicago Library

Descriptive Summary

Title:

Hansen, Harry. Papers

Dates:

1898-1977

Size:

23.75 linear feet (31 boxes)

Repository:

Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center
University of Chicago Library
1100 East 57th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.

Abstract:

Harry Hansen, writer, literary critic, and editor. The Harry Hansen Papers consist of correspondence, manuscripts by Hansen, reviews and production notes of his books, and an extensive collection of clippings of his book review columns, World War I reporting, and other short writings.

Information on Use

Access

The collection is open for research.

Citation

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Hansen, Harry. Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Biographical Note

Harry Hansen was born in Davenport, Iowa, December 26, 1884. After graduating from high school, he became telegraph editor for the Davenport Republican. While his Papers contain few documents from this period, letters from numerous Davenport correspondents, Hansen’s return for speeches, and occasional writing for the Iowa State Historical Society bulletin show his continuing interest in the city of his birth.

Hansen came to Chicago to study English at the University of Chicago and was awarded his Ph. B. in 1909. He remained at the University until 1911 as alumni secretary and editor of the University Magazine.

In 1911, Hansen became a reporter for the Chicago Daily News, and in 1914 he was sent to Germany to cover World War I. His attendance at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 led to the first of more than fifteen books, The Adventures of the Fourteen Points.

Returning to Chicago, Hansen became literary editor for the Daily News, a position he held until 1926. He then moved to New York where he was literary critic for the New York World and New York World-Telegram until 1949, and a reviewer for Harper’s Magazine from 1923 to 1939 and for Redbook from 1940 to 1950. He edited the annual O. Henry Prize collection of short stories from 1933 to 1940. From 1949 to 1965 he edited The World Almanac published by the World-Telegram. He became vice-president of the publishing firm Hastings House in 1965. He died January 2, 1977.

Scope Note

The Harry Hansen Papers consist of letters to Hansen, manuscripts by him, reviews and production notes of his books, and an extensive collection of clippings of his book review column, “The First Reader,” and other short writings.

Series I contains materials from his foreign correspondence for the Chicago Daily News during World War I, including clippings, correspondence, photographs, and notes.

Series II contains manuscripts and materials relating to his book-length works, including notes, reviews, and some correspondence. This series also includes collected clippings of Hansen’s book review columns for both the Chicago Daily News and Harper’s.

Series III contains additional clippings of book reviews and other articles by Hansen published in a variety of newspapers and periodicals. It also includes writings by others, research and notes on a variety of subjects, and other materials relating to Hansen’s work as editor, reviewer, and author.

Series IV contains memorabilia from Hansen’s years at the University of Chicago; of particular interest are the photographs and printed ephemera stemming from his active participation in the Blackfriars.

Series V contains the bulk of correspondence in the collection as well as biographical materials, including photos, Hansen’s own autobiographical notes, and various publications about Hansen. The correspondence in this series and in Series II includes letters from authors whose work Hansen reviewed, editors, publishers, and other literary colleagues, as well as from readers and fans of Hansen’s journalism and books. Also included with the correspondence in Series V are personal cards and letters and a few invitations, programs, and conference schedules. Photocopies of short letters from Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Harry Truman are contained in Box 22 of Series V.

Series VI contains oversize material from Series I through V. This includes maps and additional clippings from Hansen’s World War I reporting, numerous book reviews (both regular columns and single reviews), newspaper and magazine articles by Hansen and others, research and clippings on various subjects, promotional materials for Hansen’s work, additional biographical materials, and additional memorabilia from the University of Chicago, including Blackfriars scores.

Related Resources

Browse finding aids by topic.

University of Chicago. Blackfriars. Records

University of Chicago. Chicago Alumnae Club. Records

Subject Headings

INVENTORY

Series I: World War I Reporting

Box 1   Folder 1

Correspondence, clippings, notebooks, photographs, ephemera related to HH’s assignments as a European reporter for the Chicago Daily News, 1914-1919

Box 1   Folder 2

Carbon copies of dispatches, correspondence to the Daily News and to publishers regarding a possible book on war experience, 1914-1915

Box 1   Folder 3

Scrapbook filled with correspondence to and from Harry Hansen, 1914-1915

Box 1   Folder 4

Nine photographs of soldiers, Rome, 1916

Box 1   Folder 5

Notebook from 1919 Peace Conference

Box 1   Folder 6

Scandinavian trip notes, correspondence, clippings and printed ephemera, photographs, passport, 1916

Box 1   Folder 7

Correspondence, clippings and printed ephemera, photographs, 1919

Box 1   Folder 8

Correspondence, photographs from the peace conference, 1919

Box 2   Folder 1

The Chicago Daily News War Book for American Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, 1918

Box 2   Folder 2

Packet of clipping by Hansen, 1914

Box 2   Folder 3

Packet of clippings by Hansen, undated

Box 2   Folder 4

Clippings by Hansen, undated

Box 2   Folder 5

Clippings by Hansen, undated

Box 2   Folder 6

Scrapbook of clippings by Hansen, undated

Box 2   Folder 7

Notebook, undated

Box 3   Folder 1

Notebook, 1915

Box 3   Folder 2

Notebook, 1914

Box 3   Folder 3

Notebook, undated

Series II: Major Writings and Book Review Columns

Box 3   Folder 4

America’s First War in Europe, manuscript, undated

Box 3   Folder 5

America’s First War in Europe, manuscript, undated

Box 3   Folder 6

America’s First War in Europe, manuscript, undated

Box 3   Folder 7

America’s First War in Europe, manuscript, undated

Box 4   Folder 1

The Chicago (Rivers of America, 1942), notes, Illinois and Michigan Canal, undated

Box 4   Folder 2

The Chicago (Rivers of America, 1942), notes, literature and music, undated

Box 4   Folder 3

The Chicago (Rivers of America, 1942), notes, conventions and politics, Lincoln, undated

Box 4   Folder 4

The Chicago (Rivers of America, 1942), notes, special events, undated

Box 4   Folder 5

The Chicago (Rivers of America, 1942), notes, miscellaneous, undated

Box 4   Folder 6

Notes for The Chicago, miscellaneous, undated

Box 4   Folder 7

The Chicago (Rivers of America, 1942), notes, architecture, undated

Box 4   Folder 8

The Chicago (Rivers of America, 1942), notes, miscellaneous, undated

Box 4   Folder 9

The Chicago (Rivers of America, 1942), notes, bibliography, undated

Box 4   Folder 10

Notes for The Chicago, portage and early river travel, undated

Box 4   Folder 11

Notes on Illinois before 1800, undated

Box 4   Folder 12

Notes on Fort Dearborn, undated

Box 4   Folder 13

Notes on Illinois railroads, undated

Box 4   Folder 14

The Story of Illinois, reviews and promotional materials, 1956, 1960

Box 4   Folder 15

Materials on Scarsdale, New York, 1929-1954, undated

Box 4   Folder 16

Materials on Scarsdale, New York, 1951-1974, undated

Box 4   Folder 17

Reviews and promotional materials for Faber, The Boston Massacre, and Scarsdale, undated

Box 5   Folder 1

The Chicago, scrapbook, 1940-1942

Box 5   Folder 2

The Chicago, correspondence and reviews, 1941-1953

Box 5   Folder 3

Materials for North of Manhattan, 1947-1961, undated

Box 5   Folder 4

Reviews of Your Life Lies Before You, 1923-1935, undated

Box 5   Folder 5

Correspondence and promotional materials for Your Life Lies Before You 1923-1959

Box 5   Folder 6

Midwest Portraits, correspondence and reviews, 1923-1924, 1934-1935, 1973

Box 5   Folder 7

Correspondence and loose clippings from Midwest Portraits scrapbook, 1923-1924

Box 5   Folder 8

A Peace Congress of Intrigue, reviews and correspondence, 1918-1919

Box 5   Folder 9

Notes on Civil War, undated

Box 5   Folder 10

The Civil War, reviews and promotional materials, 1961-1971

Box 5   Folder 11

Manuscript, Stairways to Stardom, undated

Box 6   Folder 1

Stairways to Stardom, manuscript, undated

Box 6   Folder 2

Stairways to Stardom, manuscript, undated

Box 6   Folder 3

Stairways to Stardom, manuscript, undated

Box 6   Folder 4

Stairways to Stardom, manuscript, undated

Box 6   Folder 5

Stairways to Stardom, manuscript, undated

Box 6   Folder 6

Stairways to Stardom, manuscript, undated

Box 6   Folder 7

America’s First War in Europe, manuscript, undated

Box 6   Folder 8

America’s First War in Europe, manuscript, undated

Box 7

Scrapbook of First Reader columns, Chicago Daily News, December 12, 1927 to July 31, 1928

Box 7

Scrapbook of First Reader columns, Chicago Daily News, August 1, 1928 to March 27, 1929

Box 8

Scrapbook of First Reader columns, Chicago Daily News, November 28, 1929 to February 4, 1930

Box 8   Folder 1

Among the New Books columns, Harper’s Magazine, 1924-1925

Box 8   Folder 2

Among the New Books columns, Harper’s Magazine, 1934-1938

Series III: Research Materials, Notes, Minor Writings and Other Professional Materials

Box 9   Folder 1

Notes and research on biography, undated

Box 9   Folder 2

Materials on censorship, undated

Box 9   Folder 3

Manuscripts and notes, undated

Box 9   Folder 4

Notes on Plymouth, undated

Box 9   Folder 5

Manuscripts, undated

Box 9   Folder 6

Notes, undated

Box 9   Folder 7

Materials on Nathaniel Hawthorne, undated

Box 9   Folder 8

Materials on Thomas Paine, undated

Box 9   Folder 9

Untitled lecture, undated

Box 9   Folder 10

Notes on Louisa May Alcott, undated

Box 9   Folder 11

Notes, undated

Box 9   Folder 12

Notes on Henry David Thoreau, undated

Box 9   Folder 13

Notes on the violin, undated

Box 9   Folder 14

Notes and manuscripts, undated

Box 9   Folder 15

"The New Spirit in American Books," lecture at Davenport, Iowa, undated

Box 9   Folder 16

Lecture notes and materials, undated

Box 9   Folder 17

Notes on Sidney Lanier, undated

Box 9   Folder 18

Notes on Edgar Allan Poe, undated

Box 10   Folder 1

Notes on Walt Whitman, undated

Box 10   Folder 2

Notes on Willa Cather, undated

Box 10   Folder 3

Notes, undated

Box 10   Folder 4

Notes on Ralph Waldo Emerson, undated

Box 10   Folder 5

Manuscripts and notes on Major John Andre, undated

Box 10   Folder 6

Manuscripts and notes on Major John Andre, undated

Box 10   Folder 7

World Almanac materials, undated

Box 10   Folder 8

Notes and manuscripts on Maxim Gorki, undated

Box 10   Folder 9

News clippings on Maxim Gorki, 1901-1906, undated

Box 10   Folder 10

Lectures and interviews, undated

Box 11   Folder 1

Materials on E.W. Howe, 1927

Box 11   Folder 2

Lecture on Goethe, 1932

Box 11   Folder 3

Research and notes on biography and autobiography, undated

Box 11   Folder 4

Manuscript drafts on writers and historical figures, undated

Box 11   Folder 5

Lecture at Midston House, undated

Box 11   Folder 6

Manuscript on publishers, undated

Box 11   Folder 7

Materials on Harriet M. Dewey, 1914, undated

Box 11   Folder 8

Notes and manuscripts on biography, undated

Box 11   Folder 9

Notes on biography, undated

Box 11   Folder 10

Manuscripts on Lincoln, undated

Box 11   Folder 11

Drafts and notes, undated

Box 11   Folder 12

Drafts and notes, undated

Box 11   Folder 13

Manuscript drafts for Ben Hecht introduction, undated

Box 11   Folder 14

Manuscripts and notes, undated

Box 11   Folder 15

‘Kathrine’ by Hans Habe, translated by Hansen, undated

Box 11   Folder 16

Notes for projected book on violin, undated

Box 11   Folder 17

Works by others, 1931, 1942, undated

Box 12   Folder 1

Works by others, 1924-1959

Box 12   Folder 2

Works by others, 1932-1952

Box 12   Folder 3

Publications, 1939, 1945, undated

Box 12   Folder 4

Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge, correspondence and other materials, 1936-1977

Box 12   Folder 5

Partial manuscript on Major John Andre, undated

Box 12   Folder 6

Notes on authors and books, undated

Box 13   Folder 1

Notes for course on book review, undated

Box 13   Folder 2

Gene Markey, drawings, correspondence, photo, 1922-1923, undated

Box 13   Folder 3

Composition books, undated

Box 13   Folder 4

Materials on John Gunther, 1934-1940

Box 13   Folder 5

The Christmas Bookman, 1926; The Coffee House, 1941-1942, 1948

Box 14   Folder 1

Notes, clippings, other materials, 1921-1926, undated

Box 14   Folder 2

Clippings, 1902

Box 14   Folder 3

Articles and book reviews, 1922-1936, undated

Box 14   Folder 4

Articles and book reviews, 1939-1968, undated

Box 14   Folder 5

Promotional materials for Hansen books and review columns, 1926-1954, undated

Box 14   Folder 6

Promotional materials, 1946-1969, undated

Box 15   Folder 1

Promotional materials for works by others, 1928-1942, undated

Box 15   Folder 2

Book awards and competitions, 1940-1959, undated

Box 15   Folder 3

Materials from O. Henry Prize Short Story Collections, 1933-1954

Box 15   Folder 4

Promotional materials for Hastings House publishers, 1969-1979, undated

Box 15   Folder 5

Programs and invitations, 1919-1940, undated

Box 16   Folder 1

Programs and invitations, 1941-1970

Series IV: University of Chicago

Box 16   Folder 2

University of Chicago, The Monthly Maroon, The Snell Hall Cooler, 1906

Box 16   Folder 3

University of Chicago, photos, 1909, 1911, undated

Box 16   Folder 4

University of Chicago, miscellaneous, 1905, 1909, undated

Box 16   Folder 5

University of Chicago, notes for theatrical productions, undated

Box 16   Folder 6

University of Chicago, composition books, 1905, 1907, 1911, 1913

Series V: Correspondence, Personal, and Biographical Materials

Box 16   Folder 7

Biographical and personal materials, 1905-1938

Box 17   Folder 1

Biographical materials, 1940-1977

Box 17   Folder 2

Articles about Hansen, 1926-1949

Box 17   Folder 3

Photographs, 1922, 1939, 1946, undated

Box 17   Folder 4

Correspondence, 1904-1937

Box 17   Folder 5

Correspondence, 1938-1955

Box 17   Folder 6

Correspondence, 1956-1976, undated

Box 18   Folder 1

Correspondence, 1916-19

Box 18   Folder 2

Correspondence, 1920-29

Box 18   Folder 3

Correspondence, Esther Shephard’s Paul Bunyan, 1925

Box 18   Folder 4

Correspondence, 1930

Box 18   Folder 5

Correspondence, 1931-32

Box 18   Folder 6

Correspondence, 1933-34

Box 18   Folder 7

Correspondence, 1935

Box 18   Folder 8

Correspondence, 1936

Box 18   Folder 9

Correspondence, 1937

Box 18   Folder 10

Correspondence, Ralph Cram’s Reminiscences of Davenport, Iowa, 1937

Box 18   Folder 11

Correspondence, 1938

Box 18   Folder 12

Correspondence, 1939

Box 18   Folder 13

Correspondence, 1940

Box 19   Folder 1

Correspondence, 11th Writer’s Conference, 1940-41

Box 19   Folder 2

Correspondence, 1941

Box 19   Folder 3

Correspondence, Harper Prize Competitions, 1937-41

Box 19   Folder 4

Correspondence, 1942

Box 19   Folder 5

Correspondence, 1943

Box 19   Folder 6

Correspondence, 1944

Box 19   Folder 7

Correspondence, 1945

Box 19   Folder 8

Correspondence, 1945

Box 19   Folder 9

Correspondence, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Novel Awards, 1945

Box 19   Folder 10

Correspondence, 1946

Box 19   Folder 11

Correspondence, 1947

Box 20   Folder 1

Correspondence, 1948

Box 20   Folder 2

Correspondence, 1948

Box 20   Folder 3

Correspondence, 1949

Box 20   Folder 4

Correspondence, 1950

Box 20   Folder 5

Correspondence, 1951

Box 20   Folder 6

Correspondence, 1952

Box 20   Folder 7

Correspondence, 1953

Box 20   Folder 8

Correspondence, 1954

Box 20   Folder 9

Correspondence, 1955

Box 21   Folder 1

Correspondence, 1956

Box 21   Folder 2

Correspondence, 1957

Box 21   Folder 3

Correspondence, Westchester Historical Society Meeting, 1957

Box 21   Folder 4

Correspondence, 1958

Box 21   Folder 5

Correspondence, 1959

Box 21   Folder 6

Correspondence, 1960

Box 21   Folder 7

Correspondence, 1961-62

Box 21   Folder 8

Correspondence, 1963

Box 21   Folder 9

Correspondence, 1964-69

Box 21   Folder 10

Correspondence, 1970-73

Box 21   Folder 11

Correspondence, 1974-76

Box 21   Folder 12

Correspondence, Undated letters

Box 22   Folder 1

Correspondence, Herbert Bayard Swope 1926-1953

Box 22   Folder 2

Correspondence, Harry Sell 1948-1961

Box 22   Folder 3

Correspondence, Iowa State Historical Society, 1948-1964

Box 22   Folder 4

Correspondence, Limited Editions Club, 1954-1968

Box 22   Folder 5

Correspondence, William Sutton regarding Robert Frost and Sherwood Anderson, 1975-1976

Box 22   Folder 6

Copies of literary correspondence sold at C. Hamilton Galleries, 1975

Box 22   Folder 7

Correspondence, Schlogl’s Restaurant

Series VI: Oversize Materials

Box 23   Folder 1

Maps and clippings from Paris Peace Conference scrapbook, 1919

Box 23   Folder 2

Clippings from Paris Peace Conference scrapbook, 1919

Box 23   Folder 3

Chicago Daily News columns and articles, 1918-1920

Box 23   Folder 4

Foreign correspondence and articles, Chicago Daily News and Chicago Tribune, 1914-1917

Box 23   Folder 5

Foreign correspondence and articles, various newspapers, 1914-1915

Box 23   Folder 6

Foreign correspondence and articles, Chicago Daily News, 1916

Box 23   Folder 7

Foreign correspondence and articles, 1914-1915, undated

Box 23   Folder 8

Foreign correspondence and articles, Chicago Daily News, 1914-1915, undated

Box 23   Folder 9

Foreign correspondence and articles, Chicago Tribune, 1914-1915

Box 23   Folder 10

Foreign correspondence and articles, 1919-1921

Box 23   Folder 11

Foreign correspondence and articles, Chicago Daily News and Chicago Tribune, 1914-1915

Box 24

Scrapbook of clippings related to 1919 Paris Peace Conference

Box 24

Scrapbook of clippings related to 1919 Paris Peace Conference

Box 24

Scrapbook of reviews and promotional materials for Midwest Portraits, undated

Box 25

Scrapbook of book reviews from Chicago Daily News, 1917, 1920-1926

Box 26   Folder 1

Clippings about Major John Andre, undated

Box 26   Folder 2

Clippings about Maxim Gorki, 1901-1906

Box 26   Folder 3

Clippings on censorship, undated

Box 26   Folder 4

Chicago Literary Times, 1923-1924

Box 26   Folder 5

Chicago Daily News, "Page About Books," 1920-1921

Box 26   Folder 6

Chicago Daily News, "Page About Books," 1920-1921

Box 26   Folder 7

Chicago Daily News, "Page About Books," 1920-1921

Box 26   Folder 8

Newspaper articles and reviews, 1917-1962, undated

Box 26   Folder 9

Newspaper articles and reviews, 1922-1966, undated

Box 26   Folder 10

Newspaper articles and reviews, 1927-1954, undated

Box 26   Folder 11

Chicago Daily News, "Page About Books," 1920-1926

Box 27   Folder 1

Newspaper articles and reviews, 1920-1965, undated

Box 27   Folder 2

Newspaper articles and reviews, 1920-1926, undated

Box 27   Folder 3

Newspaper articles and reviews, 1920-1953, undated

Box 27   Folder 4

Newspaper articles and reviews, 1936-1967, undated

Box 27   Folder 5

Newspaper articles and reviews, 1923-1964, undated

Box 27   Folder 6

Chicago Daily News, "Page About Books," 1920-1925

Box 27   Folder 7

Chicago Daily News columns, 1918-1920

Box 27   Folder 8

Newspaper articles and reviews, 1926-1939

Box 27   Folder 9

Newspaper articles and reviews, 1940-1972

Box 28   Folder 1

Research on Illinois and Chicago, articles 1925-1937, undated

Box 28   Folder 2

Publications, 1922-1961

Box 28   Folder 3

Reviews and articles, 1924-1960

Box 28   Folder 4

Articles, 1925, 1947, 1968

Box 28   Folder 5

Articles, 1925-1974, undated

Box 28   Folder 6

Articles by others, 1914-1970, undated

Box 28   Folder 7

Book reviews, 1921-1958

Box 28   Folder 8

Chicago Tribune articles and columns, 1939-1963

Box 28   Folder 9

Articles about O. Henry Prize Stories

Box 28   Folder 10

Chicago Daily News columns, 1920-1925

Box 28   Folder 11

American Spectator, 1932-1933

Box 28   Folder 12

Lincoln Steffens dinner, photo, 1931

Box 28   Folder 13

Davenport Daily Times, Hansen memoirs, 1956

Box 29   Folder 1

Schlogl’s Roundtable, 1923, photographs and article

Box 29   Folder 2

Biographical material, 1935-1960, undated

Box 29   Folder 3

Map of Davenport, Iowa, undated

Box 29   Folder 4

Diplomas. Davenport Public Schools, 1898, University of Chicago, 1908

Box 29   Folder 5

Biographical news clippings, 1924-1974, undated

Box 29   Folder 6

University of Chicago Alumni Association, 1909-1916

Box 29   Folder 7

University of Chicago memorabilia, 1907-1914

Box 29   Folder 8

University of Chicago Maroon, 1907-1916

Box 29   Folder 9

University of Chicago Maroon, 1906-1907

Box 29   Folder 10

University of Chicago Maroon, articles on Blackfriars, 1909-1911

Box 30   Folder 1

Blackfriars scores, 1910, 1913

Box 30   Folder 2

Blackfriars scores and programs, 1907-1909

Box 30   Folder 3

Miscellaneous scores, 1900, 1905

Box 31

Two scrapbooks of theatrical news clippings, undated