JANM Mourns the Passing of Arthur A. Hansen

Editors please note: JANM’s Pavilion is closed for renovation; programs will continue on the JANM campus and at other locations at janm.org/OnTheGo. 

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) mourns the passing of Dr. Arthur A. Hansen. He was professor emeritus of History and Asian American Studies at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), and was JANM’s senior historian from 2001 through 2005. In 2008 he retired from CSUF as the director of the university’s Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History.

As JANM’s senior historian, Hansen primarily worked with the Museum’s Curatorial department and Media Arts Center. He was crucial in guiding and advising the curators as they developed projects and exhibitions. One of the Museum’s most enthusiastic supporters, Hansen also discussed with staff how JANM needed to respond to the ways in which the perceptions of the Museum’s audience and the public were shifting in regards to Japanese American history. His vision and guidance was invaluable in shaping JANM’s public programs and exhibitions. 

Hansen also helped support the Watase Media Arts Center’s Life History Program. He conducted interviews with multi-sport athlete, Wally Yonamine; sociocultural anthropologist Dr. James Hirabayashi, who also provided guidance and direction to JANM’s educational and curatorial programs; and Jean Ariyoshi, the former first lady of Hawai‘i. He led oral history workshops and played an instrumental role in the four-city REgenerations project on Japanese American resettlement. He was an advisor for Discover Nikkei when JANM was first developing the community website, and continued to advise Discover Nikkei through the years. He was also the historical advisor for the Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy at JANM’s Fighting for Democracy educator resource guide. From 2005 through 2017 he worked on a series of grant projects and national JANM-sponsored conferences in Little Rock, Denver, and Seattle. In 2023, he was the guest of honor at JANM’s special public program, The Enduring Power of Oral History: An Afternoon with Art Hansen and Friends. His unwavering confidence and support of JANM always encouraged its staff to imagine what the Museum could be. 

“JANM is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Arthur A. Hansen, a key figure in capturing the oral histories of Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II and a beloved member of the JANM family. His reverence for Japanese American history and culture, his gift for unearthing previously untapped stories, and his deep commitment to mentoring future generations have left an indelible mark on the public history field and on our hearts,” said Ann Burroughs, JANM President and CEO.

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