Franklin Hanford papers
Creator: Hanford, Franklin, 1844-
Call Number: D.143
Dates: 1864-1936
Physical Description: 24 boxes
Language(s): Materials are in English
Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Table of Contents:

Biographical/Historical Note
Arrangement
Subject(s)
Access
Use
Citation
Related Materials
Content List
Series I: Correspondence
Series II: Personal papers
Series III: Published works
Series IV: Ephemera
Series V: Calling cards
Series VI: Photographs
Series VII: Military materials
Collection Overview
Title: Franklin Hanford papers
Creator: Hanford, Franklin, 1844-
Call Number: D.143
Dates: 1864-1936
Physical Description: 24 boxes
Language(s): Materials are in English
Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Biographical/Historical Note
Franklin Hanford was born at Chili, New York, on November 8, 1844, the son of William Haynes Hanford and Abbey Pixley Hanford. He received his early education at the Union School at Scottsville, New York, and at the Rochester High School at Rochester, New York. At an early age, Hanford decided on a military career, and in 1862 he entered the United States Naval Academy. After just two weeks at the Academy, however, Hanford was abruptly dismissed when records revealed that he was eighteen years old; the upper age limit for admission to the Academy had recently been lowered from eighteen to seventeen. Hanford protested that he had never been informed of the change, and Academy officials advised him to seek reinstatement through his Congressman, Alfred Ely. After the Secretary of the Navy refused to intervene on his behalf, Congressman Ely took Hanford to the White House, where they met with President Lincoln, who agreed to order Hanford reinstated. The meeting with Lincoln was counted by Hanford among his most memorable experiences.

During his years at the Naval Academy, Hanford saw duty in the Civil War. He was graduated in 1866 and received his first assignment aboard the U.S.S. Saco. In 1868, he was assigned to the ship Kearsage, aboard which he was promoted, first to ensign, then to master, and finally to lieutenant. In 1871, he was assigned to the flagship Wabash, on which he served in the European Station. After three years in Europe, Hanford held several assignments in the Asiatic Station, followed by three years on ordnance duty at the New York Navy Yard. From 1881 to 1884, Hanford served as navigator aboard the U.S.S. Pensacola. In 1885, he was promoted to lieutenant commander. While serving as senior aid to the commandant of the New York Navy Yard from 1892 to 1895, he was promoted to commander. His next assignment was to serve as commandant of the U.S.S. Alert on the Pacific Station from 1895 to 1897. Afterwards, he held the post of lighthouse inspector on the Great Lakes until 1900, when he assumed the office of commandant of the U.S. Naval Station at Cavite, Philippine Islands. He was ordered home in 1902, and he retired with the rank of rear admiral in 1903.

In his retirement years, Admiral Hanford resided at his home, "The Farm," at Scottsville. He continued to pursue the collection of rare books, a hobby he had begun as a young man, and he took an avid interest in history, particularly the history of the Genesee Valley. He published several papers for the Scottsville Literary Society, of which he was a member. He gave speeches on historical topics before a variety of organizations, and many of these talks drew on his own experiences. A stroke suffered in 1912 left him impaired to some extent, but he was able to continue with many of his activities until his eyesight failed. Admiral Hanford died on February 8, 1928, and was buried in Oatka Cemetery at Scottsville.

Admiral Hanford was married on November 6, 1878, to Sarah Adelia Crosby (1851-1915) of Scottsville. They had three children, Mary Crosby Hanford (1880-1881), John Munn Hanford (1882-1973), who graduated from Williams College and New York University Medical School and became a prominent New York City physician, and Ruth Crosby Hanford (1887-1976), later Mrs. James Buell Munn, who was graduated from Wellesley College.

Arrangement
Single contents list for both original collection and 1983 addition.

Subject(s):
Correspondence
Photographs
Hanford, Franklin, 1844-
United States. Navy
Access
The Franklin Hanford papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.Use
Reproductions are made upon request but can be subject to restrictions. Permission to publish materials from the collection must currently be requested. Please note that some materials may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information contact rarebks@library.rochester.eduCitation
[Item title, item date], Franklin Hanford papers, D.143, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of RochesterRelated Materials
Other collections in the Department of Rare Books & Special Collections that are related to the Franklin Hanford Papers are the Munn-Pixley Family Papers, 1817-1935 (D.101), the Hanford-Munn Family Papers (D.102), and the Mors Ostrander Slocum Papers (D.42). The former collection centers around John Pixley Munn (1846-1931), a first cousin of Franklin Hanford, and includes correspondence by Hanford to Munn. The latter collection centers around Ruth Crosby (Hanford) Munn, daughter of Franklin Hanford, who married James Buell Munn, the son of John Pixley Munn.


Administrative Information
Author: Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Publisher: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Address:
Rush Rhees Library
Second Floor, Room 225
Rochester, NY 14627-0055
rarebks@library.rochester.edu
URL:


Content List