Hanson Mechanical Trade School Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 2033-Photo Folio 11
Scope and Content
The collection consists of two series. The first, People and General Class Scenes Series. contains 11 folders thematically organized, with 123 photos total. They contain various photos of the Hanson Mechanical building, and street view, as well as activities undertaken by the students and instructors within. Pictures of welding, metal lathe, as well as various stamping, machining, and mechanical testing take place within. The second series is housed seperately in the Photo Folio 11 file, and contain group class photos for the years 1948 to 1974. There is also on oversized photograph of the Hanson Mechanical School building.
Dates
- 1919-1970s
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
The NDSU Archives does not hold the copyrights to this collection.
History
Hanson Mechanical was originally created as Hanson Automobile, Tractor, and Electrical School, in 1918. It was founded, owned, and operated by Swedish immigrant August Hanson (b.1871-d.1945). The school was started in order to better train young men for the new 20th century world, which required highly specialized and technically proficient persons necessary to function. In the 1930s, with the depression going strong, the facility offered the ability to escape grinding poverty through the instilling of skills in a desirable trade. The facilities burned in 1947, and were then rebuilt the following year, expanding the size and capacity of the school.
The school offered courses in arc, and acetylene welding, metal lathe, stamping, machining, and electrical automotive work. Various courses were started and stopped throughout the tenure of the school, such as wheel balancing, rotation, alignment, other automotive work. As of 1929 the school offered aviation repair and certifications for government aviation programs, this was later sold and the education was discontinued.
The business continued for 58 years, until it was closed in 1976, citing increasing cost of services, and material, as well as the increasing amount of trade and technical schools as reasons for the closure. While the school was originally founded in order to train young men, by the time of its closure, over 200 women had received degrees, and over 10,000 total graduates, many of whom paid for their degree with funds from the G.I. Bill.
The school offered courses in arc, and acetylene welding, metal lathe, stamping, machining, and electrical automotive work. Various courses were started and stopped throughout the tenure of the school, such as wheel balancing, rotation, alignment, other automotive work. As of 1929 the school offered aviation repair and certifications for government aviation programs, this was later sold and the education was discontinued.
The business continued for 58 years, until it was closed in 1976, citing increasing cost of services, and material, as well as the increasing amount of trade and technical schools as reasons for the closure. While the school was originally founded in order to train young men, by the time of its closure, over 200 women had received degrees, and over 10,000 total graduates, many of whom paid for their degree with funds from the G.I. Bill.
Extent
159 Photographic Prints
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Photographic collection from a Fargo, N.D. trade school started in order to better train young men for the new 20th century world. The school offered courses in arc, and acetylene welding, metal lathe, stamping, machining, and electrical automotive work.
Provenance
Donated by the Hanson Mechanical Trade School, 1977 (Acc. 2014)
Separated Materials
Student transcripts were sent to the North Dakota Career and Technical Education office in Bismarck, N.D., April 8, 2016. They were in turn transferred to the State Archives of North Dakota as of 2021.
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding aid to the Hanson Mechanical Trade School Photograph Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu