Arthur August Hansen

October 10, 1938 – October 29, 2025

Arthur August Hansen, professor emeritus of history at California State University, Fullerton, died peacefully in his home in Los Osos, California, on October 29, 2025. He was an eminent and award-winning scholar of Japanese American history and a devoted mentor to his many history colleagues and students. He was 87 years old.

Art was born on October 10, 1938, in Hoboken, New Jersey. His father Haakon Hansen was from an immigrant Norwegian family, while his mother, Anna Stover Hansen, was the daughter of garment factory workers in Troy, New York. He lived with his parents and older brother Roy in Little Ferry, New Jersey, for the first decade of his life. Then, in August 1949, the family moved to Santa Barbara, California, where he lived until adulthood. Art earned his B.A. and Ph.D. in history at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and in 1966 was hired as a history professor at California State University, Fullerton [CSUF], where he taught for the next 37 years.

During his many years of teaching both U.S. history and Asian American history at CSUF, Art was pivotable in developing the Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History [COPH], serving as director for many years. It is also where he met his wife Debra Gold Hansen who was an editor for one the oral history projects. Art’s major accomplishment was creating the Japanese American Oral History Project, which now contains over 500 oral histories conducted by Art, his students, and colleagues, as well as photographs, memoirs, books, and other archival documents.

Art was also prominent in developing oral history as a nationwide academic discipline. He served as the editor of the Oral History Review from 1981 to 1987, as well as the President of the Oral History Association from 2002-2003. Art mentored many students, serving as chair of over 30 student thesis committees, two of which won the university’s outstanding thesis award. As one former student (who is now a well-respected psychologist and author) noted: “Art’s dedication as a beloved mentor to many students set them on their own aspirational academic journey.”

Tracy Smith Falk, another former student and current officer in the Orange County Historical Society, recalled: “Art supported and participated in elevating and celebrating local history and local historians”: “He mentored his students to be the best writers, researchers, oral historians, and people they could be. He taught them to seek out the full story and uncover all the experiences that made Orange County so diverse, interesting and unique.

For his service on campus and in the profession, Art recieved over 25 honors and awards, including several outstanding teaching awards and a Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Asian American Studies.

Art was a prolific scholar. He wrote or edited 12 books, 23 articles and essays, as well as several encyclopedia entries and numerous book reviews for scholarly journals and the Nichi Bei Weekly. He began his historical career studying British intellectual history but quickly changed focus to study the Japanese American incarceration during World War II. His particular focus was on the protests and resistance in the camps and the cultural politics

surrounding them. This was important and pioneering work in the field.

After Art retired from CSUF in 2003, he continued researching and writing, completing books and articles he had started during his busy academic career. When taking a break from the computer, he enjoyed watching sports, playing golf, and reading both fiction and nonfiction books. He and his wife Debbie also traveled extensively during this time, taking cruises and tours around Europe, the U.S. and Canada. At the same time, they enjoyed living in their homes in Yorba Linda and Los Osos.

Art is survived by his loving wife of 48 years and his devoted in-laws, nieces, and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Cal State Fullerton in January 2026. Donations in Art’s memory can be made to COPH’s Hansen Lectureship and Fellowship Endowment,