Stan Hanson, 1942-2001, Founding Fellow 

Highlights

First university archivist and historian (labour history and Saskatchewan history) at the University of Saskatchewan (1970-1999); leader in the field of monetary appraisal in Canada; served on the first executive of the ACA. 

Education and Background 

Born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Stanley Duane (Stan) Hanson received both his BA (1964) and his MA (1972) in history from the University of Saskatchewan. His MA thesis topic was the 1931 Estevan strike and riot. 

Professional Career 

Stan Hanson joined the staff of the Saskatchewan Legislative Library in Regina in 1964 as an archival assistant. In 1966 he moved on to serve as an archivist for the Saskatchewan Archives Board in Regina. In 1970 Hanson was appointed to become the first University Archivist for the University of Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon. The sole archivist for more than two decades and never with more than two staff, Hanson served as both archivist and records manager, responsible for records scheduling, acquisition, appraisal, processing, and providing reference services. After provincial access and privacy legislation was established, he became responsible for handling formal access requests. Hanson also concurrently served as Director of the Diefenbaker Centre from 1991 to 1995. In 1995 Hanson formally stepped away from his University Archivist role, carrying on as the Assistant Archivist. He retired in 1999, but continued to conduct historical research. He authored numerous books and articles during his career, including Saskatoon: The First Half Century (co-authored with Don Kerr in 1982). Hanson’s final work, the edited memoirs of Saskatoon politician James Clinkskill, was published posthumously in 2003. 

Contributions to the Profession 

Stan Hanson was elected to the first executive of the ACA and over time served on numerous ACA committees, as well as speaking frequently at its conferences. He helped found the Saskatchewan Council of Archives and the Saskatchewan Archivists Society. He also served on Canadian Council of Archives and was appointed to its Planning and Priorities Committee, as well as the Task Force on a Union List of Canadian Archival Holdings. Hanson was a leader in the area of monetary appraisal; he was not only a frequent speaker on the topic but also served as director and later chair of the National Archival Appraisal Board, and authored the 1992 ACA guide The Monetary Appraisal of Archival Documents in Canada. Hanson published a number of works relating to Saskatchewan history and frequently guest lectured in Canadian labour history classes. After retirement he continued to serve as a mentor and advisor within the archival community, and to conduct research. “Throughout his career, he maintained enormous enthusiasm for the future of the profession and was particularly interested in exploring the opportunities afforded by technology” (Avery, Archivaria 52). 

 Honours, Awards and Recognition 

• Archivist Emeritus, University of Saskatchewan, 1999 
• ACA Fellow, 2000 

Further Information

• Cheryl Avery, “Stan Hanson, 1942-2001,” Archivaria 52 (Fall 2001): 206-207. 

Photo source: University of Saskatchewan, University Archives and Special Collections, University Library fonds, RG 2016, accession 1111-303 

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