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James V. Hansen Congressional papers, 1970-2013

Overview of the Collection

Title
James V. Hansen Congressional papers
Dates
1970-2013 (inclusive)
Quantity
256 boxes, (316.25 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 351
Summary
This collection contains subject files, general correspondence, constituent correspondence, books, reports, maps, newspaper clippings, media, and other documents from James V. Hansen's 20 years as a U.S. congressman representing Utah's first district.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

Restrictions: Series I, Boxes 90-94 sealed. Researchers must obtain permission from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator to view these items. Also, not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

James Vear Hansen was born August 14, 1932, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Following his graduation from East High School in Salt Lake City, Hansen served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955, during which time he fought in the Korean War. At the conclusion of his military service, he attended the University of Utah where he received a Bachelor of Science in 1961. Hansen then entered the business world where he worked in insurance and real estate. His first foray into politics was in 1960 when he was appointed to the Farmington City Council. He left that position in 1972 when he was elected as a Republican candidate to the Utah State House of Representatives. He served in this capacity from 1973 to 1980, functioning as the Speaker of the House from 1979 to 1980.

In 1980 Hansen was elected to the United States House of Representatives serving Utah's First Congressional district. During his eleven terms (1981-2003), Hansen served as the chair of both the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (One Hundred Fifth Congress) and the Committee on Resources (One Hundred Seventh Congress). He also sat on the Armed Services Committee, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Natural Resources Committee. During his tenure in office, Hansen was known as a strong supporter of Utah's defense industry and also advocated multiple-use development of natural resources on public lands. He was deeply involved in the MX Missile system and the negotiations involving the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, or BRAC. In 2002 Hansen announced that he would not be running for reelection and concluded his service in the United States House of Representatives in 2003.

Sources:

Allan Kent Powell, "James V Hansen," http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/h/HANSEN, JAMES.html (accessed January 11, 2011).

"Hansen, James Vear, (1932-)," http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000172, (accessed January 11, 2011).

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Content Description

The papers of Congressman James V. Hansen is separated into five series. The first series (Series I) contains subject files, correspondence and reports of major legislation and debates Congressman Hansen encountered during his service in the United States House of Representatives. Hansen's staff arranged the majority of the files in this series and these were left in their original order. Collated into these files are files from Congressman Hansen's Series II: General Correspondence that his staff labeled by topic due to their historical significance or Congressman Hansen's close association with them. The majority of the subject files are arranged alphabetically with media, books, binders and other materials located at the end of the series.

Included in Boxes 90 to 94 of this series are sealed items relating to the Intermountain Indian School, Military Academies, and other sensitive information. Access to these materials is restricted and may only to be viewed with the permission of the Utah State University Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator. Of special interest in the sealed records is a folder of correspondence concerning Iranian activism at Utah State University during the Iranian Revolution in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Box 95 was added in 2024 and includes correspondence regarding petitions dealing with a variety of issues.

The second series (Series II) consists of Congressman Hansen's general correspondence during his service in the United States House of Representatives. It is generally organized chronologically based on the order it was received by Congressman Hansen's office. With some exceptions, the correspondence sent by constituents is stapled to responses sent by Congressman Hansen's office. The form letters Congressman Hansen received have been separated from other Series II: General Correspondence and are found at the end of the series. Also attached to the end of the series are general response letters that Congressman Hansen sent in response to constituents' correspondence.

The third series (Series III) consists of books, reports, and maps kept by Congressman Hansen's office. Most of these documents relate to Utah issues with which the congressman was involved.

The fourth series (Series IV) consists of newspaper articles collected by Congressman Hansen's office. The newspaper articles address various legislation, national or Utah issues, or talk about Congressman Hansen himself.

The fifth series (Series V) consists of two boxes of media collected by Congressman Hansen's office, including several VHS, data tapes, cassette tapes, a CD and several floppy disks produced or collected by Congressman Hansen. The items are ordered by media type and arranged in the box for best possible fit.

The sixth series (Series VI) contains sixty boxes containing reports and records relating to Hansen's involvement with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Resources. This section contains many files relating to the establishment of national parks, monuments (Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in particular), and wilderness areas in the American West. Other prominent topics and controversies deal with water and land rights in government established conservation areas. Additional items include reports, requests, and correspondence dealing with Department of the Interior monetary appropriations for the late 1990s and early 2000s. The folders in this series were labeled as Hansen had titled them.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from The Papers of Congressman James V. Hansen must be obtained from the Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: James V. Hansen Congressional papers USU_COLL MSS 351, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations: USU_COLL MSS 351, USUSCA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is largely organized by document type, however, the last series contains various documents related to Hansen's service on the Committee on Resources.

Processing Note

Series I-V processed in November of 2012.

Series VI processed in 2015.

Acquisition Information

The materials in series I-V were donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by James V. Hansen in January 2003.

The materials that make up Series VI (Committee on Resources) were donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by James V. Hansen in 2014.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Agriculture
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Economics and Banking
  • Economics and Banking
  • Forestry and Logging
  • Journalism
  • Legislators--United States.
  • Legislators--Utah.
  • MX (Weapons system)
  • Material Types
  • Material Types
  • Material Types
  • Politics, Government, and Lawsities
  • Politics, Government, and Lawsities
  • Politics, Government, and Lawsities
  • Politics, Government, and Lawsities
  • Politics, Government, and Lawsities
  • Politics, Government, and Lawsities
  • Religion
  • Science, Technology, and Health
  • Science, Technology, and Health
  • Social Life and Customs
  • Social Life and Customs
  • Social Life and Customs
  • Social Life and Customs
  • Social Life and Customs
  • Social Life and Customs
  • Transportation

Geographical Names

  • Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (Utah)
  • Hill Air Force Base (Utah)
  • Tooele Army Depot (Utah)
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