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Anton Hansen Collection

 Collection
Identifier: mss-390

Scope and Content

The Anton Hansen Papers include 2 cartons of material arranged into four series. "Correspondence" contains letters mostly from Anton to siblings Olaf and Marie in East Elmhurst, NY but also from other family members and friends. "Diaries" contains Anton's diaries which chronicle his daily life. "Miscellaneous" contains newspaper clippings, mortgage and insurance papers, books, and mathematical work. "Photographs and negatives" contain photographs, negatives (in poor condition) and a glass plate negative (broken). Letters and diaries give good descriptions of rural life in early 20th century Vermont. Some of the subjects include farming, daily weather, philosophy and religion, early airplane trips, a Long Island Boy Scout troop's excursions on the farm, the 18th amendment, the Green Mountain Parkway, and unemployment and overpopulation.

Dates

  • 1848-1956

Creator

Language of Materials

The collection is mostly in English with some materials in Danish.

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Manuscripts.

Biography

Anton Christian Hansen (often anglicized to "Hanson", Anton also referred to as "Tony" and sometimes "Anthony") was born March 24, 1879 and died circa 1961. He was Scandanavian born (possibly from Bornholm, Denmark). He and his family moved to New York circa 1890. He worked as a machinist for R. Hoe and Co., Printing Press, Machine and Saw Manufacturers in New York City until 1923 when his union went on strike. When the strike did not reach a settlement, he decided upon an early retirement. Hansen believed it would be difficult to find another job, due to his almost total deafness. With siblings Hans Olaf, also known as "Jack", (January 20, 1878-May 3, 1937) and Marie (February 18, 1871-August 12, 1953), Anton bought a 243-acre farm in West Halifax, Vermont, to which he gave the name Breidablik. The farm was home to dogs Sortie and Foxy, chickens, cows, and horses. Anton grew vegetables and sugared on the land. Anton spent most of his time on this farm, while Olaf and Marie split their time between Breidablik and their home in East Elmhurst, New York. Anton, Olaf, and Marie may have also had a brother Peter (March 31, 1881-May 30, 1903) and a brother Karl (born November 5, 1873, lived in California); it has not been confirmed that Peter and Karl were Anton's siblings.

Extent

2.5 Linear Feet (2 cartons)

Abstract

The Anton Hansen collection contains papers from Anton Hansen, a Scandanavian-born machinist by trade who lived in New York City and later on a farm in West Halifax, Vermont. The collection contains correspondence and diaries that chronicle Hansen's daily life.

Location

Library Research Annex; contact uvmsc@uvm.edu for access

Title
Guide to the Anton Hansen Papers
Status
Completed
Date
© 1998
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the University of Vermont Libraries, Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Silver Special Collections Library
48 University Place, Room B201
Burlington Vermont 05405 U.S.A. US
(802) 656-2138
(802) 656-4038 (Fax)