Finding aid for the Lolette and George Hanserd Papers


Repository: Western Reserve Historical Society
Creator: Hanserd, Lolette and George
Title: Lolette and George Hanserd Papers
Dates: 1939-1984
Extent: 1.40 linear feet (3 containers)
Abstract: George and Lolette Hanserd were well known in the Cleveland, Ohio, African American community for their professional contributions, respectively, in podiatry and social work. In 1952 Lolette began working for the Welfare Federation of Cleveland as a member of the Group Services Council. In 1965 she was named director of a four-year project to improve interracial and intercultural relations for the Federation, after which she became director of the Human Relations Department. In 1971 her position was expanded to include associate director of the Federation of Community Planning, the new name adopted by the Welfare Federation that same year. One year later she became the first black to be named social worker of the year by the Cleveland Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Lolette retired from the Federation in 1984. The collection consists of Lolette's professional papers from the Federation for Community Planning, as well as some personal papers of both Lolette and George. The collection pertains primarily to Lolette Hanserd's civic activities and, to a much lesser degree, to George Hanserd's medical career in Cleveland.
MS Number MS 4236
Location: closed stacks
Language: The records are in English

Biography of Lolette and George Hanserd

George and Lolette Hanserd (1910-1984; ? - ?) were well known in the Cleveland, Ohio, African American community for their professional contributions, respectively, in podiatry and social work. George was born in Atlanta, moving to Cleveland with his family in 1924. He attended East Technical High School with Jesse Owens and then Cleveland College. In 1939 he graduated from the Ohio College of Chiropody (now the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine) then served in the army during World War II. After the war, Hanserd maintained a private practice and served part-time on the staffs of the outpatient podiatric clinic at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital to 1981 and the Cuyahoga County Nursing Home from 1963 to 1975. He was a member of the American and Ohio Podiatry Associations, Northeastern Ohio Academy of Podiatrists, Board of Managers for the East-Urban Young Men's Christian Association, Gaylord's Club, and Stadium Club. Lolette was born in Nashville, Tennessee. She attended Fisk University, and then received her Master of Arts from Western Reserve University's School of Applied Social Science. In 1943 she began working for the Cleveland Girl Scouts, becoming program chairperson in 1949 and community advisor for the Great Lakes region in 1951. In 1952 she began working for the Welfare Federation of Cleveland as a member of the Group Services Council. In 1965 she was named director of a four year project to improve interracial and inter-cultural relations for the Federation, after which she became director of the Human Relations Department. In 1971 her position was expanded to include associate director of the Federation of Community Planning, the new name adopted by the Welfare Federation that same year. One year later, she became the first African American to be named social worker of the year by the Cleveland Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Lolette retired from the Federation for Community Planning in 1984.


Scope and Content

The Lolette and George Hanserd Papers, 1939-1984 and undated, consist primarily of Lolette's professional papers from the Federation for Community Planning as well as some personal papers of both George and Lolette.

The collection pertains primarily to Lolette Hanserd's civic activities in Cleveland, Ohio, particularly her work on behalf of the Welfare Federation of Cleveland and the Federation for Community Planning. Thos studying the history of social work and the African American community in Cleveland will find this collection useful. To a much lesser degree, the collection documents George Hanserd's medical career in Cleveland.


Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series. Each series is arranged by subject and/or document type and then chronologically.
Series I: Personal Papers
Series II: Professional Papers

Restrictions on Access

None.

Related Material

Researchers should also consult PG 369 Lolette and George Hanserd Photographs.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

African American physicians -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
African American women social workers -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
African Americans -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Social conditions.
Social work with African Americans.
Social workers -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Women social workers -- Ohio -- Cleveland.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4236 Lolette and George Hanserd Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Lolette Hanserd, 1983, 1984, and 1985.

Processing Information

Processed by Bari Oyler Stith in 1988.

Detailed Description of The Collection

Series I: Personal Papers 1939-1984 undated

Box Folder
1 1 Lolette Hanserd, clippings 1950-1984 undated
1 1 Lolette Hanserd, memorabilia, including programs, certificates and a written tribute 1950-1984
1 2 George Hanserd, clippings 1984 undated
1 2 George Hanserd, memorabilia, including certificates, cards, obituaries and a tribute 1964-1984 undated
1 3 George Hanserd, The Occopodian, Ohio College of Chiropody 1939

Series II: Professional Papers 1959-1980 undated

Box Folder
1 4 Federation for Community Planning, Appalachian Project, including reports, proposals and memoranda 1959-1973 undated
1 5 Federation for Community Planning, Black Lung Program, including conference and meeting notes and correspondence 1974-1976
Box Folder
2 6 Federation for Community Planning, Black Lung Program, resources 1971-1975 undated
2 7 Federation for Community Planning, Equal Rights Amendment, including correspondence, clippings and resources 1970-1973 undated
2 8-11 Federation for Community Planning, Human Relations Department, Desegregation Program 1976-1978
2 12-14 Federation for Community Planning, Future possibilities, including meeting materials, correspondence, lists, personnel materials, reports, resources, and programs 1973-1974
2 15-26 Federation for Community Planning, Steering committee, including members lists, notices, minutes, correspondence, reports, and resources 1968-1980
2 27 Federation for Community Planning, Leadership Bank 1972-1974
2 28 International Women's Year, including programs and agenda 1977
2 29-30 Welfare Federation of Cleveland, Collinwood materials 1965-1972
Box Folder
3 31-32 Welfare Federation of Cleveland, Collinwood materials 1972-1975
3 33 Welfare Federation of Cleveland, miscellaneous materials, including addresses, conference packets, policy guidelines, memoranda, correspondence, reports, and surveys 1965-1970