Overview
Hansen, Mamie Frances King, 1894-1990.
Mamie Frances King Hansen Papers
Mss. 785X
1938-1972
1 cubic foot
A native Texan, Mamie Hansen spent most of her adult life in Los Angeles, California.
Her letters home during these years richly detail her life in California and the internal dynamics of a complex family relationship
as well as her work with the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC). Scrapbooks contain clippings covering her social
life and activity in the Democratic Party including her candidacy for the 13th Congressional District in 1950.
Texas Woman's University, the Woman's Collection
Biographical Note
Mamie Frances King was born November 29, 1894, in Redwater, Texas. The family moved to Comanche where she attended school. After studying a year at Southern
Methodist University in Dallas and taking a business course in Fort Worth, Mamie moved to Los Angeles, California in 1923. She lived there until 1970 when she
and her second husband retired to Comanche. She worked as a real estate broker and furthered her education by taking courses at Los Angeles City College
and extension courses at the University of California. She was also active in The Ebell of Los Angeles (a woman's club), the Democratic Party, and the
United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC). She was a candidate for the U.S. Congress from Los Angeles in 1950. Mamie was married to a man from St. Jo,
Texas named Bellah from 1925-1939, then later married Emil A. "Mike" Hansen in 1943. Hansen was an electrician at Warner Bros., retiring after 38 years with
the studio. He was also active in union issues.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
Consists of lengthy, typewritten copies of letters to her family detailing a difficult relationship with her mother and financial concerns
as well as letters regarding the UDC. Also includes scrapbooks containing news clippings of social events and Democratic party figures such
as Mary A. Foy and Helen Gahagan Douglas, and Hansen's congressional campaign. Lecture notes from unidentified classes are
recorded in notebooks.
Arrangement of the Collection
- Series 1: Correspondence
- Series 2: Photographs
- Series 3: Educational activities
- Series 4: Scrapbooks
- Series 5: Miscellaneous
Access to Collection:
Researchers may access the Mamie Frances King Hansen Papers Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm in the
Woman's Collection. The Woman's Collection is located on the second floor of the Blagg-Huey Library. All materials are
viewed in the Catherine Merchant Reading Room, and photocopies are provided at the discretion of the Woman's Collection.
Publication and Copyright Statements:
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Coordinator for Special Collections.
All responsibility for questions of copyright that may arise in copying, scanning, and use of material shall be
assumed by the user.
Provenance
The collection was a gift of Patsy A. Reese, her niece, 2006
Encoded by:
Ann Barton, 2007
Detailed Description of the Collection
Correspondence
1
1
Autobiographical Letter,1972 / 1 item.
Hand-written letter to "Lelia" in which Hansen reminisces on her life, her family, and identifies important
turning events in her life. It is not clear this letter was ever mailed.
1
2
Family Letters, 1947-1948 / 13 items
Lengthy, detailed typed letters to her family describing her life in California, trips around the country,
and a very contentious relationship with her mother, who came to Los Angeles for a visit.
1
3
United Daughters of the Confederacy,1945-1948 / 36 items.
Letters regarding Mamie's work with the UDC. During this period, she was president of the James Parks Caldwell
chapter and attended several national conventions. She was also in charge of the UDC war bond drive in 1945.
1
4
Business Letters,1947 / 8 items.
Personal Business Letters.
Photographs
1
5
Miscellaneous Photographs / 7 items.
Snapshots of Mamie and her first husband, Mike Hansen, ca. 1950, and a photograph of Mamie and Mary E. Foy, a
member of a notable California family and Democratic Party activist.
Educational Activities.
1
6
The Ebell of Los Angeles, 1948 / 1 item.
Meeting Program.
1
7
Class Reports, 1950.
Book reports and reviews of talks prepared for a speech class at an unidentified institution.
Scrapbooks.
1
8
Scrapbook / Vol.1
News clippings regarding The Ebell of Los Angeles, garden club activities, and coverage of Adlai Stevenson who was running for
president of the U.S. Printed on cover: "The Victory Scrapbook," inscribed "Christmas, 1947."
1
9
Scrapbook / Vol. 2
News clippings of Democratic figures including Eleanor Roosevelt and Los Angeles notables. Printed on cover: "The Modern
Scrapbook," 1950.
1
10
Scrapbook / Vol. 3
News clippings of society and Democratic Party events in Los Angeles attended by Hansen, Mary Foy, and Helen Gahagan Douglas.
Also included is extensive coverage of Hansen's campaign for the 13th District U.S. Congressional seat. Loose documents inserted
between back pages are addressed to "Mamie Frances Bellah" [her second husband's last name] include acknowledgement of
campaign donations to the Roosevelt-Wallace campaign.
Miscellaneous
1
11
Desk Diary, 1948.
1
12
Assorted News Clippings,1939-1945.