Hammond, George Peter 1896-

American historian, author, director of the Bancroft Library, and professor of history at various American universities.

From the description of Papers, 1628-1960. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122599113

George P. Hammond, son of a Danish homesteader in North Dakota, resided in that state until his adolescence, at which point he moved, along with his family, to California. There, he pursued his doctoral degree and established himself as a known scholar of Mexico and the U.S. Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and California, in particular). His dissertation research turned into his life work which revolved around the study of the life of Don Diego de Vargas, conquistador of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Hammond's later work, including many collaborations with Agapito Rey, involved other histories of conquest in the Southwest. He was key in the celebration of the Cuarto Centenario (fourth centennial) in New Mexico which commemorated Coronado's arrival. Thus, Hammond was a principal promoter of the glorification of the conquistadors' history in the state of New Mexico -- a role reflected by his publications. In addition to authoring numerous books regarding Spanish entries into the Americas, Hammond headed the publication of a Coronado Historical series, was editor of the Quivira Society publications, and held an editorship of the journal The Historian.

Hammond served as Professor of History at the University of New Mexico, where he also served as Chair of the History Department and Dean of Graduate Studies. While in New Mexico, Hammond acted as State Director for the New Mexico Historical Records Survey, Works Progress Administration (later known as Works Projects Administration) from 1936-1939. The primary task of the New Mexico Historical Records Survey was to compile inventories of the records of the various counties of New Mexico. Hammond later accepted a position as Professor of History at the University of California at Berkeley which led to his perhaps most noted post as Director of the Bancroft Library, from 1946-1965. Hammond is Fellow of the New Mexico Historical Society, the California Historical Society, and the Society of American Archivists. He was the recipient of the Serra Award of the Americas in 1964, in recognition of his contributions to the research of the Southwest.

From the guide to the George P. Hammond Collection, 1933-1956, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)