Finding aid for the Lolette and George Hanserd Photographs


Repository: Western Reserve Historical Society
Creator: Hanserd, Lolette and George
Title: Lolette and George Hanserd Photographs
Dates: 1910-1980
Extent: 0.20 linear feet (1 container)
Abstract: George and Lolette Hanserd were well known in Cleveland, Ohio's 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 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 in 1984. The collection consists of individual portraits of George Hanserd and his wife Lolette Hanserd and group portraits including them and others such as Jesse Owens, at athletic events, classmates of the Ohio College of Chiropody, and at a dinner of the Cleveland Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
PG Number PG 369
Location: closed stacks
Language: The records are in English

Biography of Lolette and George Hanserd

George Hanserd (1910-1984) was an athlete and podiatrist in Cleveland, Ohio. His wife, Lolette Hanserd, was an Associate Director of the Federation for Community Planning.

George Hanserd was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1910, and lived briefly in Montclair, New Jersey, before moving with his family to Cleveland, Ohio. While in high school and college, Hanserd participated in track and field. In 1935, he married Lolette. In 1939, he graduated from the Ohio College of Chiropody. After the World War II, Hanserd opened his own practice, and served part-time on the staffs of the outpatient podiatric clinic at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital until 1981, and the Cuyahoga County Nursing Home from 1963 to 1975. Hanserd was active in many professional societies and local civic clubs. He died in October 1984.

Lolette Hanserd was born in Nashville, Tennessee. She attended Fisk University, and received her Master of Arts degree from Western Reserve University's School of Applied Science. In 1952, Lolette began working for the Welfare Federation of Cleveland as a member of the Group Services Council. In 1965, she became director of the Human Relations Department. In 1971, Lolette was named associate director of the Federation of Community Planning, the new name adopted by the Welfare Federation. In 1972, Lolette 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 in 1984.


Scope and Content

The Lolette and George Hanserd Photographs, ca. 1910s-1980s, consist of individual portraits of George Hanserd and his wife Lolette Hanserd and group portraits including them and others such as Jesse Owens, at athletic events, classmates of the Ohio College of Chiropody, and at a dinner of the Cleveland Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. The collection includes 32 black and white and color photographs of varying sizes.

This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of the African American community in Cleveland, Ohio, in the twentieth century. It will also be useful to researchers studying the history of medicine, social work, and sports in Cleveland.


Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged by subject.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Related Material

The researcher should also consult MS 4236 Lolette and George Hanserd Papers.

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 -- Photographs.
African American women social workers -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.
African Americans -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.
Hanserd, George, 1910-1984 -- Photograph collections.
Hanserd, Lolette -- Photograph collections.
Owens, Jesse, 1913- -- Photograph collections.
Physicians -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.
Podiatrists -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.
Social workers -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.
Women social workers -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 369 Lolette and George Hanserd Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of Lolette Hanserd in 1983.

Detailed Description of The Collection

Lolette and George Hanserd Photographs 1910s-1980s

Box Folder
1 1 Portraits, George Hanserd, including Hanserd as a boy in Montclair, New Jersey; and in his podiatrist office in Cleveland, Ohio ca. 1910-1980s
1 2 Portraits, Lolette Hanserd, including Lolette and George at a dinner given by the Cleveland Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (possibly honoring Lolette as Social Worker of the Year for Cleveland Chapter, 1972) 1940s-1980s
1 3 Athletic events, including Hanserd with Jesse Owens 1930s
1 4 Miscellaneous photographs, including an autographed photograph of Art Tatum; and group portraits of Hanserd and former classmates of the Ohio College of Chiropody 1940s-1970s
1 5 8 x 10 inch monochrome negative of a long jump competition (removed to negative storage) 1930s