Guide to the Mary Santee Hanson papers
1917-1918
Collection number: HMC-0551.
Creator: Hanson, Mary Santee.
Title: Mary Santee Hanson papers.
Dates: 1917-1918.
Volume of collection: 0.01 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Diary and narrative of a woman living in Alaska while her husband served at Fort William H. Seward.
Biographical note:
Mary Santee Hanson was the wife of Lieutenant Conrad J. Hanson. The Hansons traveled to Southeast Alaska aboard the S. S. Dolphin, arriving at Fort William H. Seward in September 1917. While in Alaska, Mrs. Hanson gave birth to a daughter, Mary Ellen Hanson, on June 18, 1918. After a one-year tour of service, the Hansons left Alaska aboard the S. S. Transport Sherman, arriving in San Francisco in September 1918.
Collection description:
This collection consists of a typescript narrative and daily diary written by Mary Santee Hanson. The eighteen page narrative is entitled “Story of the Trip of Lieutenant Conrad J. Hanson and Mary Santee Hanson, September 5th, 1917, to September 27, 1918, on Board the Good Ship Dolphin, bound for and Arrived at Fort William H. Seward, Alaska, up the Inside Passage, Returning on the S. S. Transport Sherman to San Francisco.” It describes the family’s trip up the west coasts of the United States and Canada, arrival at Fort William H. Seward, family life in Alaska, and local flora and fauna. The diary is entitled “Alaska, Land of the Midnight Sun, September 10th, 1917 to September 20th, 1918.” Mrs. Hanson’s diary provides a daily account of her activities while she was in Alaska, including domestic duties, social occasions and gatherings, visits to other towns and villages, and events surrounding the birth of her daughter.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged in original order.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives and Special Collections does not own copyright to the collection.
Preferred citation: Mary Santee Hanson papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: The collection was purchased by the Archives on eBay in 2001.
Processing information: This collection was described by Kathleen Hertel in 2001. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard by Gwen Sieja in 2015.