Inventory of the Richard Hanser papers
Finding aid prepared by Josh Giglio and Jack Shumway
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2008, 2014
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: Richard Hanser papers
Date (inclusive): 1937-1981
Collection Number: 86011
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
38 manuscript boxes, 4 card file boxes
(17.5 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Television scripts, other writings, correspondence, notes, printed matter and other research materials relating to a wide
variety of episodes in American and world history, including the 1923 putsch by Adolf Hitler, anti-Nazi resistance by students
at the Universität München during World War II, and the role of humor in politics.
Creator:
Hanser, Richard
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1986.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Richard Hanser papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
Richard Hanser (1909-1981) was an award-winning historical novelist and writer of television documentary series. A native
of Buffalo, New York, Hanser was a descendant of three generations of clergymen. He prepared for the Protestant ministry at
Concordia Lutheran Collegiate Institute in Bronxville, New York, before turning to journalism.
Hanser worked for
The Buffalo Times, The Cleveland Press, and subsequently served as editor for Fawcett Publications. During the war, he served in the Office of War Information and
created broadcasts for the office's psychological warfare department. Hanser joined the National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
after World War II and co-wrote
Victory at Sea, a naval history of the war, with television producer Henry Salomon.
The program, which was accompanied by the music of Richard Rodgers, won the George Foster Peabody Award and many other honors.
Hanser also was the chief writer for NBC's
Project XX series. His scripts included "Meet Mr. Lincoln," which won the Robert E. Sherwood Award; "Life in the Thirties"; "He is Risen";
and "Mark Twain's America," which won the Writers Guild of America Award.
Hanser's most noteworthy books include
A Noble Treason: The Revolt of the Munich Students Against Hitler and
Putsch: How Hitler Made Revolution.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Richard Hanser papers include biographical material, and research, production, and publicity material for the NBC television
series
Victory at Sea, Project XX, and
Wisdom.
Documentation of the
Project XX program is complete and includes scripts and drafts, correspondence, press releases, reviews, and other production information
for 24 episodes.
Victory at Sea is represented by narrations for all 26 episodes, a script for a motion picture version of the series (United Arts, 1954),
and material pertaining to a book by Hanser and producer Henry J. Salomon, Jr. Also included are notes, scripts, and promotional
material pertaining to five programs of the
Wisdom series.
In addition to these major works, the collection contains a wide variety of notes from various research projects conducted
by Hanser, ranging from Hitler and his colleagues to alcoholism in Russia during the 1970s. These research materials are comprised
of Hanser's handwritten notes, newspaper clippings, photocopies, and other manuscripts.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1939-1945 -- Germany
Anti-Nazi movement
National socialism
Germany -- History -- Beer Hall Putsch, 1923
Political satire
Hitler, Adolf, 1889-1945
Universität München
box 1, folder 1
J. C. historical clips
1971-1972
box 1, folder 2
Press quotes -- Jesus
1973 September
box 1, folder 3
Jesus Christ Superstar,
1971-1973
box 1, folder 4
Jesus transcripts (original)
undated
box 1, folder 5
Jesus clippings
1971-1972
box 1, folder 6
Letters regarding publication of
Jesus: What Manner of Man Is This?,
1974-1976
box 1, folder 7
Manuscript: "The Glorious Hour of Lt. Monroe,"
1974 October 25
box 1, folder 8
Simon and Schuster book catalogs/library catalogs
1972
box 2, folder 1
Mary R. O'Brien interview
1976 January 3
Scope and Contents note
Hanser interview with Mary O'Brien regarding his recent book on James Monroe and his profession as a historical writer.
box 2, folder 2
Monroe comment
1976 September
Scope and Contents note
Professional and press comments on Hanser's manuscript of his James Monroe book.
box 2, folder 3
Letters and royalty notes for the Monroe text
1975-1976
box 2, folder 4
J. Karl edits and comments on the Monroe manuscript
1975
box 2, folder 5
Submitted samples and comments from Jesus texts
1971
box 2, folder 6
S[imon] and S[chuster] correspondence on "Jesus" texts
1972-1977
box 2, folder 7
Hanser-selected Jesus quotes from the Bible
undated
box 2, folder 8
Miscellaneous Jesus notes and quotes
undated
box 2, folder 9
Miscellaneous letters on Jesus texts
1981
box 2, folder 10
Publicity from Jesus texts
1972
box 3, folder 1
Weedon copies from the Chicago Historical Society
1973
box 3, folder 2
Manuscripts by William S. Stryker in 1898
undated
Scope and Contents note
Writings on the Battles of Trenton and Princeton.
box 3, folder 5
Biography notes, miscellaneous
undated
box 3, folder 6
Background on Washington's Crossing
undated
Scope and Contents note
Events leading up to Washington's crossing of the Hudson River.
box 3, folder 7
Promotion for Monroe biography
1976
box 3, folder 8
Book proposal: Lt. Monroe on the Delaware
1972 September 19
box 3, folder 9-11
Monroe -- personal biography
circa 1975
Scope and Contents note
Research and letters regarding Hanser's writing of Monroe's biography.
box 4, folder 1
Research on Washington in New York, Long Island, and White Plains
undated
Scope and Contents note
Kip's Bay and Heathcote Hill, Fort Washington and Fort Lee, the Hickey Plot.
box 4, folder 2
Research on the Trenton Crossing
undated
Scope and Contents note
Includes more notes by Bancroft and Glover research.
box 4, folder 3
Williamsburg, William and Mary, J. Marshall, Virginia
1954-1976
box 4, folder 4
3rd Virginia Regiment
1973 October
box 4, folder 5
March North: Williamsburg to New York
undated
box 4, folder 6
Research on the Battle of Harlem Heights
undated
Scope and Contents note
Contains Weedon letters and Chilton letters.
box 4, folder 7
Treatment notes and queries
undated
box 4, folder 8
Monroe research correspondence
1973-1974
box 4, folder 9
New Jersey retreat research
undated
box 4, folder 10
Army: organization march/camp
undated
Scope and Contents note
U.S. Naval Institute proceedings pertaining to African Americans, militia, women, George Washington's trouble with deserters,
food, drums, and sickness.
box 4, folder 11
Arms, rifles, muskets, and cannons research
undated
box 4, folder 12
Uniforms research
undated
box 4, folder 13
British Army research
undated
box 4, folder 14
Information on Hessians (miscellaneous)
undated
box 5, folder 1
Victory at Sea, manuscript
1958
Scope and Contents note
Victory at Sea was originally a television miniseries (1952-1953), which Hanser collaborated on, that was about general warfare in World
War II, particularly pertaining to the Navy. It also explored the industry in warfare. The manuscript is the book adaptation
of the miniseries.
box 5, folder 2
"Midway,"
1952 April
Scope and Contents note
Manuscript of the "Midway" episode of the
Victory at Sea television miniseries.
box 5, folder 3
"Mediterranean Mosaic,"
1952 August
Scope and Contents note
British forces head on to Gibraltar and Malta to hold off the Italian Navy and the German Luftwaffe from invading there. While
the English do get constantly bombarded at the Malta Islands, they remain steadfastly determined to keep charging, especially
after King George VI pays a visit.
box 5, folder 4
"Guadalcanal,"
1952 August
box 5, folder 5
"Rabaul,"
1952 July
Scope and Contents note
The title of this
Victory at Sea episode refers to the circle of ships the militaries of the United States, Australia, and New Zealand manage to surround
around the Japanese base of Rabaul in the Solomon Islands.
box 5, folder 6
"Anti-Submarine Warfare"
1952 March
box 5, folder 8
"Anti-Submarine Warfare"
1952 March
box 5, folder 7
"Pearl Harbor,"
1952 March 24
box 5, folder 9
Revised Jesus text, correspondence, and proof notes
1972 April-May
box 6, folder 1
"Peleliu-Pelaw,"
1952 July 31
Scope and Contents note
The United States prepares to attack the Japanese as they attempt to conquer Peleliu and Anguar near the Philippines.
box 6, folder 2
"Battle of Leyte,"
undated
box 6, folder 3
"Return of the Allies: Philippines,"
1952 November
box 6, folder 4
"Submarines,"
1953 January
Scope and Contents note
In this episode of
Victory at Sea the U.S. submarines contributed to the sinking of thousands of Japanese battleships.
box 6, folder 5
"The Fate of Europe,"
1953 February
box 6, folder 6
"Suribachi -- Iwo Jima,"
1953 March
box 6, folder 7
"The Road to Mandalay," China, Burma, and India
1952 January
Scope and Contents note
This episode details Japan's invasion of China in 1936 and the subsequent conquest of Burma after Pearl Harbor.
box 6, folder 8
"Suicide for Glory" -- Okinawa
1953 March
box 6, folder 9
"Design for Peace,"
1953 February
box 6, folder 10
Victory at Sea, book text II
1958 June 17
box 7, folder 1
"The American Experience,"
1972 September 22
box 7, folder 2
"Mare Nostrum,"
1952 July
box 7, folder 3
"Sea and Sand," North Africa
1952 October
Scope and Contents note
In this episode, the U.S. Army goes forward to defeat German General Rommel's military men in North Africa while the Allies
also overtake many of the Mediterranean supply bases.
box 7, folder 4
"Beneath the Southern Cross," South Atlantic
1952 July
Scope and Contents note
This episode portrays the battle of the South Atlantic between the British ship
Devonshire and the German ship
Atlantis.
box 7, folder 5
"The Magnetic North," Murmansk -- Alaska
1952 January
Scope and Contents note
This episode of
Victory at Sea explores the battles between the Americans and the Germans over the Arctic Circle concerning the Nazi-occupied Norwegians.
After the Germans' defeat, the Japanese take their turn, resulting in another long, drawn out battle.
box 7, folder 6
"The Conquest of Micronesia,"
1952 September
box 7, folder 7
"New Guinea,"
1952 September
box 7, folder 8
"Roman Renaissance,"
1952 December
box 7, folder 9
"D-Day," Normandy
1952 May
box 7, folder 10
"Killers and the Killed," anti-submarine warfare
1952 October
Scope and Contents note
Although Germany's surface fleet is no longer a factor beyond D-Day, its submarine packs continue to wreak havoc upon the
Allied convoys that are vital to the survival of troops fighting in France. The Allies develop new ways to counter and destroy
the U-Boat threat so that the Atlantic Ocean can continue to serve as the pipeline to victory in Europe.
box 7, folder 11
"The Turkey Shoot,"
1952 November
box 8, folder 1
Hitler early history
undated
box 8, folder 2
Hitler miscellaneous topics
undated
box 8, folder 3
Hitler's views on Germany, commanders, pre-WWII
undated
box 8, folder 4
Hitler personality
undated
Scope and Contents note
Various notes on Hitler's habits, viewpoints, and personal details.
box 9, folder 1
Hitler WWI miscellaneous
undated
Scope and Contents note
Hitler's acquaintances, ideologies, and other projects after World War I.
box 9, folder 2
Pre-WWI miscellaneous
undated
Scope and Contents note
Materials regarding Lenin in Munich, Munich Revolution, FEME, and political murders.
box 9, folder 3
Post-WWI miscellaneous
undated
Scope and Contents note
Materials regarding intellectuals, Versailles Treaty, Anti-Weimar campaign.
box 9, folder 4
Nazi-Germany miscellaneous
undated
Scope and Contents note
Storm Troopers' evolutions: uniform, flag, and salutes.
box 9, folder 5
Munich miscellaneous
1920-1922
box 10, folder 1
Hitler inner personality
undated
Scope and Contents note
Details on Hitler and religion, humor, his inner circle.
box 10, folder 2
Munich miscellaneous
1920-1922
box 10, folder 3
Hitler miscellaneous, post-WWI
1923-1924
Scope and Contents note
Documents regarding trial, prison, and putsch attempt.
box 10, folder 4
World War I details
undated
Scope and Contents note
The Kaiser, the collapse and end of World War I.
box 10, folder 5
Hitler personality
undated
box 11, folder 1-2
Hitler associations post-WWI and WWII
undated
box 12, folder 1-3
Motion picture manuscripts
1954-1960
box 13, folder 1
"Life in the Thirties," broadcast manuscript
1959
Scope and Contents note
A documentary film portraying life in America during the 1930s.
box 13, folder 2
"Mark Twain's America," broadcast manuscript
1960 April
box 13, folder 3
Victory at Sea, 90-minute special version
1960 November
Scope and Contents note
Shortened version of the popular television series portraying combat (mostly naval) during World War II.
box 13, folder 4
"The Coming of Christ," broadcast manuscript
1960 December
box 13, folder 5
"Laughter USA," broadcast manuscript
1961
box 13, folder 6
"The Story of Will Rogers," broadcast manuscript
1961
box 13, folder 7
Truman Smith report
1963 July 1
box 13, folder 8
"That War in Korea," broadcast manuscript
1963 September
Scope and Contents note
Pertaining to the events of the Korean War.
box 13, folder 9
Miscellaneous book outlines
1969 September 9
box 13, folder 10
The New York Times, book review
1971 January 17
box 13, folder 11-13
Project XX broadcasts
1962-1969
box 14, folder 1-5
"Putsch!" (yellow copy)
1968 February
Scope and Contents note
Story on the origins of Hitler's coming to power through the onset of Revolution.
box 14, folder 6
Letters and commentary on "Putsch" text
undated
box 14, folder 8-10
Scheider Bericht reports
undated
box 15, folder 1
Führer persönlich
1943-1960
box 15, folder 2
Hitler: personal details
1955-1956
box 15, folder 3
Hitler background quotes
1956
box 15, folder 4
Haarmann, Denke, Kuertin, etc.
1962
Scope and Contents note
Cannibalism in Germany photostats from Colin Wilson's
Encyclopedia of Murder.
box 15, folder 5
Future books; references; nationlist-socialist Germany
1964
Scope and Contents note
Notes from Professor Hunt at Harvard.
box 15, folder 7
"Putsch!" (yellow copy)
1968 February
box 15, folder 8
Tucholsky -- Prediction of 3rd Reich Revival notes
1969
box 15, folder 9
Expressionism and Dadaism
1966-1970
Scope and Contents note
Blain Reiter clipping.
box 15, folder 11
Hemingway
undated
Scope and Contents note
Regardging inflation and Ruhr.
box 15, folder 12
Hitler's 2nd Book/Will
undated
Scope and Contents note
Hitler's analysis on why he lost the war (
Spiegel).
box 15, folder 13
Psychologist quotes on Adolf Hitler
undated
box 16, folder 1
"The Twisted Cross," original script
1956 March
Scope and Contents note
Broadcast concerning the origins of the 3rd Reich and the Nazi socialist movement.
box 16, folder 2-4
Munich notes
1965-1980
Scope and Contents note
Notes on Hitler, addresses in Munich, mixed newspaper clippings.
box 16, folder 6
Wederkind clips
1967-1970
box 16, folder 7
Beer (and Munich)
1968-1969
box 16, folder 8
Chronology: From Death of Queen Victoria in 1901 to 1930
undated
box 16, folder 9
Postwar Germany -- SA
undated
box 16, folder 10
Putsch, prison, and agitation
undated
box 16, folder 11
Hitler -- elections and power
undated
box 16, folder 12
Notes on Goering, Hess, and Goebbels
undated
box 16, folder 13
Terror, SS, and KZ
undated
box 16, folder 14
Masses and marching
undated
box 16, folder 15
Berchtes Gaden-War (Munich)
undated
box 16, folder 16
Nemesis -- End of the war
undated
box 16, folder 17
Rathenan series ("Wset am Sonntag")
undated
box 16, folder 18
"World in Trance,"
undated
box 17, folder 1
Liebknecht-Luxemburg murders
1919 January 15
Scope and Contents note
Composed of Spiegel and Major Pabst interviews, as well as a Monat article.
box 17, folder 2
"Adolf Hitler im Felde,"
undated
box 17, folder 3
Notes of Karl May
undated
box 17, folder 4
Hitler trial -- prison
1962
box 17, folder 5
"History of Civilization,"
1967 February
box 17, folder 6
New York Post "Putsch!" publicity
1971
box 17, folder 7
"Putsch!" promotion comments
undated
box 17, folder 8
"Putsch!" in Britain
undated
box 17, folder 9
"Putsch!" letters
1970-1976
box 17, folder 10
Newspaper clippings and ads
1970-1972
box 17, folder 11
Rundschau -- An American-German review
1971 May
box 17, folder 12
"Pyramid," paperback
1979
box 18, folder 1
Rodell (Fawcett) and Hitler
1961-1975
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence and notes between Hanser and Marie Rodell, a literary agent and author.
box 18, folder 2
"Putsch!," notes and clippings
1961-1966
box 18, folder 3
Library of Congress: Government Archives
1962
box 18, folder 4
"Putsch!" correspondence -- answered and source addresses
1962-1971
box 18, folder 5
"Putsch!" correspondence -- Prentice Hall
1967-1969
box 18, folder 6
The Arts:
Saturday Review
1972 March 25
Scope and Contents note
The Summer Olympics -- Munich and the German World.
box 18, folder 7
Schwabing, Munich
1966 April
box 18, folder 8
"Putsch!" Notes #2
1967-1972
box 18, folder 9
Bergman "Putsch!" film
1976
box 18, folder 10
"Whisper-Jokes," proposal and correspondence
1976 Fall
box 18, folder 11
Fall Kahr - Beer hall details and Putsch
1980
box 18, folder 12
Book burning notes
1968-1979
box 18, folder 13
"Putsch!" march
1951-1968
Scope and Contents note
Ludendorff - "Wir Marschieren."
box 18, folder 15
"Putsch!" correspondence -- active
1961-1970
Scope and Contents note
Hoover Institute - Prof. Abel and Prof. Gordon.
box 19, folder 1
"Gallows Humor,"
1947, 1951
Scope and Contents note
Includes clippings Hanser collected on the subject.
box 19, folder 2
Kohout
1953, 1954
Scope and Contents note
Materials include Hanser's notes regarding him and his works.
box 19, folder 4
Rodell (non-Wyden)
1970-1973
box 19, folder 5
Soviet drinking
circa 1970
Scope and Contents note
Notes on Soviet alcoholism and other drinking problems relating to the economy, the workforce, and society.
box 19, folder 6
Book proposals
1976, 1979, 1980
box 19, folder 7
Richard Hanser biographies
1980
box 19, folder 8
"Wit as a Weapon,"
undated
box 19, folder 9
"Comedian on the Firing Line,"
undated
Research materials, notes, clippings
box 20, folder 4
Rote Kappele and Lucy spy ring
1960s
box 20, folder 5
German youth movements
1970s
box 20, folder 7
Female Russian spies
1970s
box 20, folder 8
Communist youth parties
1970s
box 21, folder 4
Assorted research topics
1970s
box 22, folder 2
Das Parlament, newspaper
1952
box 22, folder 3
Sex scandals in Nazi high command
1970s
box 22, folder 6
German jazz music
undated
box 22, folder 7
Jazz music in Russia
1970s
box 23, folder 1
"Town Hall Tonight," script
undated
box 23, folder 2
"Hitler Takes a Ribbing from the Germans,"
1947
box 23, folder 3
Comical Communists
1950-1975
box 23, folder 4
"Count Bobby," printed materials
1970
box 23, folder 5
Clips on German humor
1960
box 23, folder 6
Writings on German humor
1960s
box 23, folder 7
Notes, correspondence, writings on German resistance
1960
box 23, folder 9
German war criminals (Spandau)
1960s
Political humor clippings
box 24, folder 1
Reagan humor clippings
1970-1980s
box 24, folder 4
General presidential humor
1970s
box 24, folder 5
Adlai Stevenson humor
1970s
box 24, folder 7
Historical and contemporary political humor
1960s
box 24, folder 8
General political humor
1960-1979
box 24, folder 9
International political humor
1970s
box 24, folder 10
"Laughter USA," clippings
1970s
box 25, folder 1-2
Collected material
1960s-1970s
box 25, folder 4
"Iron Curtain Humor,"
1954
box 25, folder 5
"Weekend," anti-Soviet jokes
1960s
box 25, folder 6
Article ideas
1950s-1960s
box 25, folder 8
News clippings regarding Italy
1970s
box 25, folder 9
General American humor
1970s
box 27, folder 1
"Official Humor," magazines
1970s
box 27, folder 2
"Heritage," American sayings
1970s
box 27, folder 3
England, post-war Germany
1970s
box 27, folder 8
Articles on political humor
1970s
box 28, folder 1
"Mirror of America," research materials and notes
1970s
box 28, folder 2
"Mirror of America," research, outlines, and notes
1970s
box 28, folder 3
"Mirror of America," shot list
1970s
box 28, folder 4-5
Project XX, information
1970s
box 29, folder 2
George Washington research
1970s
box 29, folder 3
George Marshall research, scripts, and documents
1960s
box 29, folder 5
Humor, quotes, and satire clippings
1960s
box 29, folder 6
France and other countries
1960s
box 29, folder 7
"Hazards of Humor,"
1960s
box 30, folder 2
Continuity outlines on George Washington
1960s
box 30, folder 3
George Washington program notes, scripts, awards info, and outlines
1960s
box 30, folder 4
Lincoln program script, shot list, and publicity
1960s
box 31, folder 1
Mark Twain research
1960s
box 31, folder 2
"The Coming," shot list
1960
box 31, folder 3
"Risen," scripts and shot list
1960s
box 31, folder 5
Stock market research
1960s
box 31, folder 7
Published works
1960s-1970s
box 32, folder 1
Assorted publications
1960s
box 32, folder 2
USS
Edsall TV story
1960s
box 35, folder 1
Correspondence and newspaper
1970s
box 35, folder 4-5
The New Leader, magazine
1952-1969
box 37, folder 2
Research and correspondence
1970s
box 37, folder 3-4
"A Noble Treason," script
1980
box 38, folder 1
"White Rose," discards and re-dos
1979
box 38, folder 2
"A Noble Treason," script
1980
box 38, folder 5-6
"The White Rose and the Swastika," script
1980
box 39, folder 3
Muth and Haecker materials
undated
box 39, folder 4
Kuby forum materials
undated
box 39, folder 5
Notes on indictments
undated
box 39, folder 6
Chronology radio script
undated
box 40, folder 1
Notes on the Gestapo
1937
box 40, folder 2-4
Collected notes and research
1970s
box 42, folder 4
Walter Wust papers
1930s-1940s
box 42, folder 5
Collected German news clippings
1981