Welcome to the NAHA Collections Catalog!
Use our online catalog to explore our archival and manuscript collections. Some finding aids are currently offline, but we’re happy to help – just reach out to the NAHA archivist with any questions. Looking for digitized materials? Click here to browse thousands of items available online!
John F. Hanson papers, 1888-1966
- Title
- John F. Hanson papers, 1888-1966
- Identifier
- P1138
- Date
- 1888-1966
- Description
- Notes on Life History, an autobiographical sketch (29 p., typescript) of an immigrant from Stavanger whose life was largely spent in the Quaker ministry. A partial autobiography (through 1910) kept by Estella Hanson Watland (1872-1950), whose entries expand upon her father's story at several points and also give a graphic description of her childhood, youth, and married life in Iowa, South Dakota, and Oregon. Hanson's book "Light and Shade from the Land of the Midnight Sun" (1903) is in the NAHA books collection. Emigrated with parents to Iowa (1856), to South Dakota (1879), to Portland, Oregon (1904)
Includes:- "Notes on Life History," (ca. 1903) an autobiographical sketch (29 p., typescript) of an immigrant from Stavanger whose life was largely spent in the Quaker ministry. Includes topics such as: Civil War and Quaker response; notes concerning Iowa yearly meetings (1865-1889) and movement to manage Indian [Native American] affairs under the Pres. Grant's Indian policy; "Recollections of the temperance agitation"; "Prohibition in South Dakota"; "Experience with the American Indians" mentions Wounded Knee Creek incident.
- Estella Hanson Watland. A partial autobiography (photocopied, through 1910) kept by Estella Hanson Watland (1872-1950), whose entries expand upon her father's story at several points and also give a graphic description of her childhood, youth, and married life in Iowa, South Dakota, and Oregon; includes obits for Henry Watland (1966) & Estella Watland (1950). Topics covered: "Prairie Fires in South Dakota" (1885); "A cow-pony named Bill"; "The Great Blizzard [Children's Blizzard] of 1888"; "Father helped the Indians [Native Americans] of Pine Ridge Reservation [South Dakota]"; temperance movement in South Dakota; Penn College, Iowa (1893); "Christmas Memories in South Dakota,"
- Extent
- 2 folders
- Type
- Manuscripts
Collection
Citation
Hanson, John F. (John Frederick), 1841-1917, “John F. Hanson papers, 1888-1966,” Norwegian American Historical Association, accessed October 17, 2026, https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/catalog/items/show/10597.