Hansen, Harry, 1884-1977

American author, editor, and journalist.

Writer, literary critic, and editor.

Author and editor; d. 1977.

Writer, editor, and literary critic at the Chicago Daily News, author of several historical books.

Harry Hansen was born in Davenport, Iowa on December 26, 1884. After graduating from high school in Iowa, he became telegraph editor and writer for the Davenport Republican. Hansen came to Chicago to study English at the University of Chicago and was awarded a Ph. D. in 1909. In 1911 he was hired by the Chicago Daily News and in 1914 was sent overseas to cover World War I in Europe, eventually taking over the foreign desk in Chicago when the United States entered the conflict. In 1920 he became literary editor of the Daily News and remained with the paper until joining the New York World in 1926 as "First Reader." At the World he made the book review column a daily feature and continued as book editor after the newspaper's merger with the New York Telegram. He also contributed literary criticism to the Chicago Tribune, Harper's Magazine, and Redbook, and from 1933 to 1940 edited the O. Henry Prize Stories. He lectured widely, and had book review radio programs in both Chicago and New York. His book commentary was syndicated in magazines across the country. He also wrote several historical books including The Adventures of the Fourteen Points, Midwest Portraits, Carl Sandburg: The Man and his Poetry, and one novel, Your Life Lies Before You. Hansen married Ruth McLernon in 1914 and had two daughters, Ruth Eleanor and Marian. He died as a result of a stroke on January 3, 1977.

Harry Hansen was born in Davenport, Iowa, December 26, 1884. After graduating from high school, he became telegraph editor for the Davenport Republican. While his Papers contain few documents from this period, letters from numerous Davenport correspondents, Hansen’s return for speeches, and occasional writing for the Iowa State Historical Society bulletin show his continuing interest in the city of his birth.

Hansen came to Chicago to study English at the University of Chicago and was awarded his Ph. B. in 1909. He remained at the University until 1911 as alumni secretary and editor of the University Magazine.

In 1911, Hansen became a reporter for the Chicago Daily News, and in 1914 he was sent to Germany to cover World War I. His attendance at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 led to the first of more than fifteen books, The Adventures of the Fourteen Points.

Returning to Chicago, Hansen became literary editor for the Daily News, a position he held until 1926. He then moved to New York where he was literary critic for the New York World and New York World-Telegram until 1949, and a reviewer for Harper’s Magazine from 1923 to 1939 and for Redbook from 1940 to 1950. He edited the annual O. Henry Prize collection of short stories from 1933 to 1940. From 1949 to 1965 he edited The World Almanac published by the World-Telegram. He became vice-president of the publishing firm Hastings House in 1965. He died January 2, 1977.