Summary Information
Connor T. Hansen Papers
1913-1987
Mss 647; AC 479
2.6 c.f. (2 record center cartons and 2 card boxes) and 1 film
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Connor T. Hansen, a former Wisconsin supreme court justice (1967-1980), including personal correspondence, speeches and writings, subject files documenting involvement in the National Council of Christians and Jews and other organizations, campaign files documenting the elections in which he was involved between 1939 and 1970, a subject index to his Supreme Court decisions, memoranda books, and other biographical material.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00647 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Connor T. Hansen was born in Freeman, South Dakota, on November 1, 1913, but in 1919 his family moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he lived for a large part of his adult life. After graduating from Eau Claire High School and Eau Claire Teachers College in 1934, Hansen received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1937. He returned to Eau Claire to establish his practice and almost immediately became involved in electoral politics. He was elected Eau Claire district attorney in 1938, serving three terms before resigning in 1943 to become a FBI special agent. After the war Hansen returned to private practice in Eau Claire. He also resumed his interest in Republican politics. After initially being appointed to the county board, he was elected county board chairman in 1949. In 1948 he actively campaigned in behalf of the presidential candidacy of Harold Stassen and ran unsuccessfully himself for the U.S. Congress. In 1958 Hanson was elected to the Eau Claire county court. As county judge, Hanson was well known for his interest in the problems of youth and juvenile offenders. In 1967 he was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor Warren Knowles, in part because of Hansen's reputation as a juvenile court judge and because of his experience with probate law. He was only the second county judge in Wisconsin history to serve on the state's highest court.
In 1970 Hansen was elected without opposition to a full ten-year term on the court. He did not seek reelection, however, in 1980. During his tenure on the court Hansen was known for his opinions upholding state bonding for highways and the Wisconsin Housing Finance Authority and the use of industrial revenue bonds by local government.
After his appointment as Supreme Court justice Hansen moved to Lake Mills, his wife's family home, and after his retirement he served two terms on the Jefferson County Board. Other activities included active membership in the United Church of Christ, and serving as state chairman of the National Council of Christians and Jews and as director of the Wisconsin Welfare Council.
Hansen died in Madison on August 21, 1987.
Scope and Content Note
The Connor T. Hansen Papers held by the Historical Society consist of private papers which supplement published and official archival documentation on his thirteen-year career as a member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Included are files on electoral campaigns ranging from his first campaign for Eau Claire district attorney to his 1970 Supreme Court election; copies of speeches, the majority of which were made in his capacity as Supreme Court and county judge; a subject index to his decisions; and correspondence primarily concerning various civic interests. Also in the collection are some general biographical information, Xeroxed clippings, and a film concerning his 1969 campaign announcement.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION includes sketches, memoranda, and genealogical material concerning his mother, Gladdus Hall Hansen.
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE was probably referred to as “private correspondence” when written from his Supreme Count chambers. In fact, however, this correspondence concerns general matters not related to specific cases before the court.
SPEECHES are arranged then chronologically by date or by period if no specific date is known. For most, a typescript of Hansen's remarks is included, although only note cards are present for a few occasions. For his well-known speech on the constitutional rights of juveniles in court, there is also some background information and clippings. Also filed in this series are clippings, a few press releases, and printed copies of several articles.
The SUBJECT FILES contain a variety of types of documents concerning Hansen's civic and political activities. The campaign files, perhaps the most interesting portion of the series, variously contain correspondence, literature and brochures, planning documents, financial reports, and clippings. The file on the 1970 judicial election is the most extensive.
Also of interest are the files on the National Council of Christians and Jews, of which Hansen served as state chairman. Files on the Wisconsin Welfare Council, which were extensive in the papers accessioned from Hansen, were weeded and the separations compared to the Society's collection on the Council and its successor, the Wisconsin Council on Human Concerns. Minutes of the Judicial Council were removed and added to records of that agency held by the Archives.
MISCELLANY consists of pocket memoranda books and a subject index to his court decisions.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Connor T. Hansen, Lake Mills, Wisconsin, February 23, 1984. Accession Number: M84-69
Processed by Joanne Hohler and Carolyn J. Mattern, 1987.
Contents List
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Mss 647
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Series: Biographical Information
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Biographical sketches
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Clippings
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Box
1
Folder
3-5
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Memorabilia
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Biography and genealogy of Gladdus Hall Hansen
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Hansen family miscellany
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Box
1
Folder
8-16
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Series: General Correspondence, 1930-1980
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Series: Speeches and Writings
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Speeches
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Box
1
Folder
17-19
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1938-1966
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Box
1
Folder
20
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Background for article on constitutional rights in juvenile proceedings, 1967
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Box
1
Folder
21
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1967-1971
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Box
2
Folder
1-2
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1972-1982
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Notes, circa 1938-1966
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Reactions to speeches, 1967-1970
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Press releases re speeches, 1967-1969
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Articles, 1964-1969
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Series: Subject Files
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Camp Manito-Wish, 1968-1980
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Camp 77 (hunting club), 1944-1952
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Campaign files
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Box
2
Folder
9
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, 1938 District attorney campaign
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Box
2
Folder
10
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, 1940 District attorney campaign
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Box
2
Folder
11
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, 1942 District attorney campaign
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Box
2
Folder
12
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, 1948 Congressional campaign
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Box
2
Folder
13-14
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, 1958-1959 County court campaigns
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Box
2
Folder
15
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, 1965 County court campaign
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Box
2
Folder
16-18
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, 1970 Supreme Court election
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AC 479
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Film of Hansen announcing his candidacy, 1969
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Mss 647
Box
2
Folder
19
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Court Reorganization Committee of the Legislative Council, 1970
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Box
2
Folder
20
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Eau Claire High School reunions, 1956, 1966
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Box
2
Folder
21
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Eau Claire Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1940s
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Box
2
Folder
22
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Freemasons, 1930-1960
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Box
2
Folder
23
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Judicial Council, 1968-1970
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Box
2
Folder
24
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Republican National Convention, 1948
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Box
2
Folder
25
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Invitations and speaking engagements, 1967-1975
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Box
2
Folder
26
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Lions Club, 1969-1972
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Box
2
Folder
27-31
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National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1968-1971
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Box
2
Folder
32
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Opportunities Inc. of Jefferson County, 1971-1972
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Box
2
Folder
33
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Reapportionment, Special counsel to the governor, 1982
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Box
2
Folder
34
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Supreme Court appointment, 1967
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Box
2
Folder
35
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Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire Foundation, 1960-1966
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Box
2
Folder
36
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Wisconsin Welfare Council, 1967-1973
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Series: Miscellany
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Box
2
Folder
37
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Miscellaneous documents and notes, undated
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Box
3
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Pocket memoranda books, 1967-1979
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Box
4
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Subject index to Hansen Supreme Court decisions and case summaries
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