Hansen (Corwin) Photographs, 1937 - 1962

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Summary

Title:
Corwin Hansen Photographs
Dates:
1937 - 1962
Creators:
Hansen, Corwin, 1896-1989
Abstract:
The collection consists of approximately 500 8x10 inch and 11x14 inch black and white photographs of people, places, and events in San Francisco between 1937 and 1962 by professional newspaper photographer Corwin Hansen. Images of note include but are not limited to: 700 Montgomery Street; Chinatown; Chinese Six Companies building; Canessa Printing Company; President Harry Truman; Bimbo Giuntoli; comedy group The Committee; and the Golden Gate International Exposition. Also included are a collection of portraits and various views of San Francisco.
Extent:
2 Cubic Feet (1 carton, 1 oversize flat box)
Language:
Collection materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Corwin Hansen Photographs (SFP 86), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of approximately 500 8x10 inch and 11x14 inch black and white photographs of people, places, and events in San Francisco between 1937 and 1962 by professional newspaper photographer Corwin Hansen. Images of note include but are not limited to: 700 Montgomery Street; Chinatown; Chinese Six Companies building; Canessa Printing Company; President Harry Truman; Bimbo Giuntoli; comedy group The Committee; and the Golden Gate International Exposition, as well as various views of San Francisco.

Some photographs have handwritten notes on the reverse, though most are unidentitied. There are also several folders of portraits, both formal and environmental, with a small number of the photographed individuals identified. Some images appear to be from various commercial assignments, while others were likely taken for newspaper feature stories. There are also several pieces of ephemera related to Hansen and his work, including a photograph of himself along with a brief biography; copies of several "Newsweek" magazine covers with photographs presumably by Hansen; a folder of 8x10" negatives; an envelope containing negatives and proof sheets labeled "George Davis"; a copy of a commemorative booklet from the Brazilian pavilion at the GGIE with photographs by Hansen.

Biographical / historical:

Corwin Henry Hansen was born in San Francisco on December 23rd, 1896 to Otto H. Hansen and Elvine M. Petersen, and baptised at Ascension Lutheran Church of San Francisco on July 28th, 1897. He was the eldest of four children; his brother Everett O. Hansen, his sister Beatrice Olivia Hansen; and a half-brother through his mother, Arthur "Art" Milton Johnson. During the First World War, Corwin worked as a driller at Union Iron Works in San Francisco, and in his thirities was employed on various passenger ships traveling from New York to Europe. It was during this time, in August of 1932 he married Jane Sydney Fauconnedecalongne in New Orleans.

By the Second World War, Corwin worked for several San Francisco newspapers such as the News, News Call Bulletin, the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as Newsweek magazine as a staff photographer. He was also a freelance photographer taking pictures of San Francisco such as the 1939 World's Fair, elected officials and entertainers.

Corwin died on February 12th, 1989 in Alameda, California and was buried in Colma.

Acquisition information:
Gifted to SFPL in 2014.
Arrangement:

Collection is arranged by format size and then by subject with 8x10 photographs in box 1 and 11x14 photographs in box 2.

Physical location:
The collection is stored onsite.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid composed by Norman Yee.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-10-03 21:02:30 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish from photographs must be submitted in writing to the Photo Curator. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Corwin Hansen Photographs (SFP 86), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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