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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
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.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1986.
[Identification of item], Richard Hanser papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
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