Howard Hanlon Collection

Collection

Identifier: MSS-471

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection of Howard Hanlon (1896-1973), lumberman, manufacturer, and author, primarily assembled for his book Delta Harvest (1966), a semi-fictional account of the hardwood forests and logging industries of the lower Mississippi River Valley.

Includes correspondence for Hanlon's research for Delta Harvest, interviews, printed material, written histories, photographs, maps and other materials documenting lumber companies, lumbermen, and the forestry industry in the Mississippi River delta area.

To see digitized material, please click on the link under the "External documents" tab.

Dates

1906 - 1967

Biographical/Historical Note

Howard A. Hanlon, son of Fred and Lula Halstead Hanlon, was born on November 19, 1896, Springfield, PA. He married Helen Potter and together they had one daughter, Lois Hanlon O'Neil. Howard Hanlon died in October 1973 in Montour Falls, NY.

Hanlon started in the lumber business in 1921 and ran many circular saw mills in the New York and Pennsylvania area. In 1947 he and B.J Cotton incorporated as the Cotton Hanlon Company, a large lumber mill company headquartered in Odessa, New York. He also had an active role in other companies such as YoCotha Lumber Company, Ashepoo River Lumber Company, Interstate Hardwood Lumber Company, Cotton Hanlon Young Lumber Company, J.F. Hanlon Lumber Company, Fourth Lake Lumber Company, Nallen Lumber Company and Odessa Lumber Company.

Author of The Vanquished Americans (1943), The Ball Hooter (1960), Delta Harvest (1966), and The Bull Hunchers (1970).

For additional information see: Memorial: "Howard A. Hanlon November 19, 1896- October 20, 1973. Article: "Howard A. Hanlon: November 19, 1896-October 20, 1973". Northern Logger and Timber Processor, February 1974.