Abraham Hanson papers, 1840-1866 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
Hanson, Abraham, 1818-1866
Abstract:
Abraham Hanson was an English-born American pastor and diplomat. Collection comprises 37 letters, dated 1850-1866, Abraham Hanson wrote to his wife, Lydia, and one he wrote to his father from Monrovia, Liberia, among other places. Topics include abolition, diplomatic duties, commercial affairs, emigration, shipboard travel, the condition of Liberians and his aspirations for them, health concerns, and personal matters. There are also 15 incoming letters written to Hanson and his wife, dated 1846-1866, reporting on Hanson's welfare and conditions in Liberia and Africa, along with personal travel and religious matters. Includes several condolences written to Lydia following Hanson's dearth. In addition, there is funeral sermon Hanson preached on 1848 December 10 in Wisconsin, a copy of the New York City Colonization Society's circular dated 1840 May 3, and a copy of an 1852 Liberian court decision regarding payment of tuition and provision of clothing for Robert Savage. There is also a sermon dated 1863 Dec 10, entitled "Zion's Compliance and God's Answer, Isaiah 49-16-15." Two of the letters in the collection are incomplete. Acquired as part of the John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture.
Extent:
0.2 Linear Feet (57 items)
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11069

Background

Scope and content:

Collection comprises 37 letters, dated 1850-1866, Abraham Hanson wrote to his wife, Lydia, and one he wrote to his father from Monrovia, Liberia, among other places. Topics include abolition, diplomatic duties, commercial affairs, emigration, shipboard travel, the condition of Liberians and his aspirations for them, health concerns, and personal matters. There are also 15 incoming letters written to Hanson and his wife, dated 1846-1866, reporting on Hanson's welfare and conditions in Liberia and Africa, along with personal travel and religious matters. Includes several condolences written to Lydia following Hanson's dearth. In addition, there is funeral sermon Hanson preached on 1848 December 10 in Wisconsin, a copy of the New York City Colonization Society's circular dated 1840 May 3, and a copy of an 1852 Liberian court decision regarding payment of tuition and provision of clothing for Robert Savage. There is also a sermon dated 1863 Dec 10, entitled "Zion's Compliance and God's Answer, Isaiah 49-16-15." Two of the letters in the collection are incomplete. Acquired as part of the John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture.

Biographical / historical:

Abraham Hanson was an English-born American pastor and diplomat. Hanson was born in 1818 and was educated near Bromley in South Yorkshire. He moved to the United States to become a pastor in the Methodist Episcopal Church, serving in parishes in Aurora, Illinois, Chicago, Milwaukee and Racine, Wisconsin. He left the ministry in 1851 due to poor health and relocated to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he became involved in local politics and was elected city treasurer for several terms. In May 1862, he became a U.S. Commercial Agent in Liberia. In 1863, he was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to become the first U.S. Commissioner and Consul-General to Liberia. In 1866, Hanson became ill with fever. He died on July 20, 1866, and was buried in Monrovia, the Liberian capital.

Acquisition information:
The Abraham Hanson papers, 1840-1866 and undated, were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2015.
Processing information:

Processed by Alice Poffinberger, October, 2015

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2015-0075.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Abraham Hanson papers, 1840-1866 and undated, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.