Research

Hazel D. Hansen Papers

COLLECTION OVERVIEW

Collection Number: GR ASCSA HDH 043
Name(s) of Creator(s): Hazel Dorothy Hansen (1899-1962)
Title: Hasel D. Hansen Papers
Date [bulk]: 1935-1955
Date [inclusive]:
Language(s): English, Greek
Summary: The collection consists of  Hazel Hansen’s manuscripts, including “The Thessalian Noble Families. A Study in the Classical History of Thessaly," chapters of a guidebook about Skyros (maps and photos included), and a manuscript concerning the publication of a catalog of the archeaological collection of Skyros.
Quantity: 0.40
Immediate Source of Acquisition: Lionel Pearson, 1966
Information about Access: The collection is available for research after consultation with the Archivist
Cite as: American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Archives, Hazel D. Hansen Papers (Αμερικανική Σχολή Κλασικών Σπουδών στην Αθήνα, Αρχείο Hazel D. Hansen).

For more information, please contact the Archives
The American School of Classical Studies at Athens
54 Souidias Street, Athens 106 76, Greece
phone: 213 000 2400 (ext. 425)
Contact via E-mail

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Hazel Hansen (1899-1962) received her BA and MA from Stanford University (192O, 1921) Her Master's thesis was a "Study of the Persians of Aeschylus." From 1922 to 1925 she continued her graduate studies at the American School of Classical Studies, Athens, Greece. After her return to Stanford she earned a Ph.D. degree in 1926 with a dissertation, titled "Early Civilization in Thessaly." A book with the same title was published in 1933. A. T. Murray, known for his translation of Homer, was her inspiring teacher; and in later years she worked with him as a collaborator. The year 1927-28 was spent again in Greece; that year she held the Alice Freeman Palmer Fellowship of the American Association of University Women. After her return to Stanford in 1928, she became an Instructor in the Department of Classics, in 1931 she became Assistant Professor, and in 1935 Associate Professor. Her promotion to full professor in 1940 was based on her recognized standing among the classical archaeologists, especially in the field of Aegean prehistory. At that time Dr. Hansen was already deeply involved in a project which remained unfinished when she died: "The Early Civilization in Skyros." Skyros is a small island in the Aegean Sea, where she spent many summers cataloguing the excavated material (vases, bones, etc.). The Greek government recognizing her efforts made her an honorary Greek citizen, and gave her permission to publish her findings. Later the Archaeological Service of the Greek Ministry requested that she write a guidebook for the Skyros Museum. Hansen was a visiting professor at the ASCSA in 1956-57. She also served in the School's Managing Committee for many years.

See also: N. Vogeikoff-Brogan, "Forgotten Friend of Skyros: Hazel D. Hansen (Pt. I)," in From the Archivist's Notebook, April 19, 2020.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The collection consists of  Hazel Hansen’s manuscripts, including “The Thessalian Noble Families. A Study in the Classical History of Thessaly,” chapters of a guidebook about Skyros (maps and photos included), and a manuscript concerning the publication of a catalog of the archaeological collection of Skyros.

CONTENT LIST

BOX 1  Thessaly and Skyros

Folder 1
Manuscript of Hazel Hansen’s book “The Noble Families of Thessaly. A History of the Classical Period.” Typewritten with handwritten notes and corrections. Numbered (from Chapter One)

Folder 2
Working notes, photos and related material on the Valley of Tempe

Folder 3
Manuscript concerning a guidebook of Skyros arranged in chapters

  • Chapter 1- Arrival
  • Chapter 2 – Kastro
  • Chapter 3 – The Village: at rest
  • Chapter 4- The Village: at work
  • Chapter 5 – Δικαστήριον
  • Chapter 6 – Τρεις Μπούκες
  • Chapter 7 -Το Συμβούλιον
  • Chapter 8 – Schools
  • Chapter 9 – Η Εκκλησία
  • Chapter 10 – Oxi Day
  • Chapter 11 – Χιμώνα [sic] Χίλια Χρόνια
  • Chapter 12 - Το Πάσχα

Folder 4

Varia Including:
Folder titled "Coasts of Skyros -for diary" (with photos and captions)
Notes and earlier darfts of the guidebook
 

BOX 2  Skyros. Publication of the Archaeological Collection

Folder 1
Manuscript “Chronology”

Folder 2
Manuscript “Bronze Age”

Folder 3
Manuscript “Protogeometric Period”

Folder 4
Plates with photos for pots A 1-113 (not all plates have photos)

Folder 5
Drawings and photos for 409 pots

Folder 6
Notes closely related to the manuscript: complete catalogue; and handwritten copies of museum notations by John Papademetriou and Ph. Stavropoulos.

Folder 7
Folder titled "Important Miscellaney". It includes her commentary of V. R. d'A. Desborough's Protogeometric Pottery, Oxford 1952.