Charles Fleetwood Hanna papers
Collection
0300-MDHC
Charles Fleetwood Hanna worked for the Customs Service in Baltimore, Maryland. His papers contain his unpublished autobiography, dating from 1913, correspondence and other writings, financial and legal documents, and photographs. Much of it is undated and handwritten in pencil. Some of the writings are on U.S. Treasury Department stationery. The correspondence covers many topics,including Hanna's rental property, retirement pensions for Civil Service employees, his life in Baltimore, and his requests to remain employed after reaching 80 years of age. The writings include notes on his family history, his own life and miscellaneous topics. The documents include copies of his will and leases for property he owned in Baltimore. Two professional photographs of unidentified men are dated 1900 and 1903.
This collection is open for research.
Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.
0.50 Linear Feet
The Charles Fleetwood Hanna papers span the years 1873 through 1925 with the bulk of the material dating between 1900 and 1925. The collection contains his unpublished autobiography, correspondence and other writings, financial and legal documents, and photographs. Much of it is undated and handwritten in pencil. Some of the writings are on U.S. Treasury Department stationery. The letters are assumed to be copies or drafts. The single largest piece of writing is the autobiography dating from 1913.
The correspondence covers many topics including Hanna's rental property, retirement pensions for Civil Service employees, his life in Baltimore, and his requests to remain employed after reaching 80 years of age. The writings include notes on his family history, his own life and miscellaneous topics. The documents include copies of his will and leases for property he owned in Baltimore. Two professional photographs of unidentified men are dated 1900 and 1903.
Charles Fleetwood Hanna was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 4, 1841. He was a son of William Hanna (1806-1891) and Caroline Small Hanna (1809-1845). His maternal grandfather was Jacob Small, mayor of Baltimore from 1826 to 1831, who also built the Exchange Hotel at the northwest corner of Gay and Lombard streets that later became the Custom House. Hanna married Emma Maria Sanders (1843-1875) and they had four children, Wesley (b. 1865), Caroline (b. 1870), Leila (b. 1872), and Frank (b. 1874). After Emma's death, Hanna married Josephine Lulu Schoch (1845-1920). They had two children, William (b. 1881) and Florence (b. 1884).
Charles F. Hanna attended the Male Central High School in Baltimore, served in the Civil War, and attended the University of Maryland in Baltimore, where he studied law. In his early twenties, Hanna along with his brother and other friends joined the Masonic Order. From March 1864 through September 1870, Hanna worked for the Designated Depository of the United States in the Baltimore Customs House. In 1870 he began working for the Customs Service in Baltimore, where he remained until his retirement in 1922. For the last 25 years of his career he was the Cashier of Customs for the Port of Baltimore. Hanna died August 11, 1926. He was survived by all his children except Frank (who died in infancy), three grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.
During his lifetime Hanna was active in the Masons and in the National Civil Service Association. He was elected its Treasurer in 1899. Hanna also owned property in Baltimore that he leased to tenants for many years.
The collection is organized into five series.
The papers were found in a box of miscellaneous Maryland manuscripts in 1990.
The collection was acquired with no discernible order. Subsequently it was divided into five series. The materials have been placed in acid-free folders in acid-free boxes. The photographs have been placed in Mylar sleeves.
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives