Hanson, Wayne, 1877-1965.

Agassiz Wayne Hanson, born in 1877 in Green Hill, Indiana, was a prominent leader in the YMCA movement in Indiana, at the national, and at the international levels. After serving as president of the University of Indiana student YMCA and assistant state secretary for Indiana, he went on to work with the YMCA's Overseas Division in France during World War I. After the war, he accepted a position based in Geneva as associate secretary for Europe. Hanson later served in several positions with the YMCA International Committee, focusing on international affairs, education on world citizenship, and the work of the YMCA World Service.

From the description of Wayne Hanson papers, 1892-1965. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62699374

Agassiz Wayne Hanson was born on August 24, 1877 in Green Hill, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University in 1899, where he had been the president of the student YMCA. After graduating he became assistant state secretary for Indiana, responsible for city, railroad and student associations, as well as fundraising.

In 1919 the YMCA's Overseas Division called him to work with the Foyers du Soldat, a French organization similar to the YMCA. He was first assigned to a large sailors' foyer in Toulon, where he coached the French personnel in association methods and developed this center into a model foyer. Later he took charge of the American YMCA staff in Paris, where he oversaw the demobilization of the French foyer work after the end of the war.

Hanson stayed in Europe after working in Paris, as he accepted a position as an associate secretary for Europe, headquartered in Geneva. His experiences in Europe prepared him for his next position, which was the director of the bureau of information and publicity for the YMCA's International Committee, a position he took in 1924. In this capacity he conducted international institutes, which helped educate local associations on the work of the YMCA World Service.

In 1932 Hanson relocated to Chicago to become the western field secretary of the International Committee. Here he continued an active interest in international affairs and continued to educate on world citizenship and the World Service, as well as fundraising.

In 1939, Hanson retired from the YMCA and became a lecturer on international affairs. He continued his international travels and contributions to the YMCA up to his death in 1965.

From the guide to the Wayne Hanson papers., 1892-1965., (University of Minnesota. Kautz Family YMCA Archives. [ymca])