AV 18 Helen M. Hansen Collection

              AV 18
Helen M. Hansen Collection
Page 1
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Audiovisual Collections
AV 18
Helen M. Hansen Collection
( 1894- 1996)
OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Number:
AV 18
Title:
Helen M. Hansen Collection
Creator:
Helen M. Hansen
Dates:
1894- 1996 ( bulk 1955- 1996)
Media:
35mm slides, safety film negatives, photographs,
16mm motion picture film, manuscripts and supporting materials
Quantity:
6 cubic feet
Location:
Ohio Historical Center
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF HELEN M. HANSEN
Helen M. Rheinegger Hansen was born on June 6, 1902 in Sandusky, Ohio. Both of her parents’ families immigrated to the United States from Switzerland. She graduated from Sandusky High School in 1920 and was employed for twelve years as a secretary at the American Crayon Company. On November 23, 1932 she married William N. Hansen who served as Deputy Sheriff in Sandusky.
Hansen’s interest is local history was sparked by the razing of older buildings in Sandusky during the 1950’ s. She began to photograph and research the history of Sandusky’s historic buildings. She wrote a column for the newspaper, the Sandusky Register, titled “ Stately Old Homes” from 1958 to 1959. This column and other pieces were published in Hansen’s first book, “ At Home in Early Sandusky, Foundations for the Future” in 1975. She also authored “ From the Widow’s Walk, A View of Sandusky,” volumes one and two with Virginia Steinemann, which was published in 1991.
Hansen played a significant role in the establishment of the Follett House Museum. In 1976 she oversaw the move of the museum’s collection from the Sandusky Library to the former home of Oran Follett at 404 Wayne Street in Sandusky. Hansen became the museum’s first curator in 1978. Beginning in 1987 Steinemann and Hansen collaborated on another column for the Sandusky Register titled “ Follett House Scrapbook.” Hansen held the position of curator until her retirement in December 1993 at the age of 91.