Henry Paul Hansen
Encyclopedia
Henry Paul Hansen was an American
palynologist
known largely for his pioneering work on the vegetation history of the North American
Pacific Northwest
and for his time as the dean of Graduate Studies at Oregon State University
from 1949 - 1972.
, Wisconsin
to parents Andrew and Emma Petersen Hansen.
In 1939 he was married to Helen Rivedal and had five children with her before she died in 1972. He later married Ethel Welch in 1979.
where he continued studying until he was awarded his M.Sc in 1931. From Wisconsin Henry Hansen moved to the University of Washington
in 1935 where his thesis focused on the pollen analysis from bogs in the Puget Lowlands
of Washington.
in 1939 as an instructor. His research continued throughout his time there, including the collection and analysis of over 50 palynological records for the Pacific Northwest. One of his seminal publications was Postglacial Forest Succession, Climate, and Chronology in the Pacific Northwest, published in 1947. This work was all the more impressive given that chronologies at the time lacked stable age-depth controls later afforded by C14 dating.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
palynologist
Palynology
Palynology is the science that studies contemporary and fossil palynomorphs, including pollen, spores, orbicules, dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs, chitinozoans and scolecodonts, together with particulate organic matter and kerogen found in sedimentary rocks and sediments...
known largely for his pioneering work on the vegetation history of the North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
and for his time as the dean of Graduate Studies at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
from 1949 - 1972.
Early life
Henry Hansen was born on the April 28, 1907 in La CrosseLa Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
to parents Andrew and Emma Petersen Hansen.
In 1939 he was married to Helen Rivedal and had five children with her before she died in 1972. He later married Ethel Welch in 1979.
Education
His Bachelor of Sciences degree was obtained in 1930 from the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
where he continued studying until he was awarded his M.Sc in 1931. From Wisconsin Henry Hansen moved to the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1935 where his thesis focused on the pollen analysis from bogs in the Puget Lowlands
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
of Washington.
Scientific career
Henry Hansen began teaching at Oregon State UniversityOregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
in 1939 as an instructor. His research continued throughout his time there, including the collection and analysis of over 50 palynological records for the Pacific Northwest. One of his seminal publications was Postglacial Forest Succession, Climate, and Chronology in the Pacific Northwest, published in 1947. This work was all the more impressive given that chronologies at the time lacked stable age-depth controls later afforded by C14 dating.
Awards and recognition
- 1943-1944 - Guggenheim Fellowship
- 1947-1948 - Guggenheim FellowshipGuggenheim FellowshipGuggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...