Hanford Plans to Retire, Served as Dean 20 Years

A. Chester Hanford, Professor of Government, will retire this summer, it was learned yesterday.

Hanford served as Dean of Harvard College for twenty years from 1927 to 1947, longer than any other person in Harvard history. He has been with the University since 1915, teaching government before acting as Dean.

In his 42 years at Harvard, Hanford helped initiate many important reforms, including the House system. The National Scholarship Program, the tutoring plan and the beginning of General Education.

When Hanford retired from the Dean's office, Paul H. Buck, then Provost of the University, remarked, "Above all, he will be remembered as a humane counselor of youth--a man who gave understanding and endless hours to multifold problems of individual students."

Recalls Experiences

Hanford said that he "never experienced a dull moment" in his life as dean. Reminiscing about some of the unusual problems he had to face, he mentioned the stealing of the Sacred Cod and the time two Californians got lost in the Maine woods. He also told of the time several Harvard men photographed the stolen Yale Bulldog licking hamburger off the toe of John Harvard.

Hanford is the last surviving member of the quartet which heard Edward Harkness suddenly announce that he would give 13 million dollars to implant the House system at Harvard. He remembers how President Lowell used to call him up in the evenings to ask him to come discuss some aspect of the House blueprints with him.

He became one of the strongest advocates of the tutorial system and spared no effort to strengthen it. He was also instrumental in carrying out the National Scholarship Program and travelled around the country to interview prospective candidates.

Helped Train Future Leaders

The office of Dean of Freshmen was created under his instigation. Hanford is also "particularly proud" of the number of assistant deans that he trained for more important roles in education and other fields.

Among Hanford's former assistants are: Wilbur J. Bender, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aids; Henry Chauncey, President of the Educational Testing Service; John Hallowell, Headmaster of Western Reserve Academy; Sargent Kennedy, Registrar of Harvard College; Richard Sullivan, President of Reed College in Oregon, and many others.

After retirement, Hanford says he will probably teach for a few more years. He says he will also do some gardening at his farm near Ware, Mass., and will do some writing about his experience at Harvard.