His most famous work, Steamboats on the Western Rivers, an Economic and Technological History, was published in 1949.
[2] After studying engineering and economic history at Harvard University, he received a doctorate in 1928.
[2] In 1952, his scholarship was acknowledged when he was awarded the Dunning Prize by the American Historical Association.
[2] In 1937, Hunter joined the faculty of American University where he was a professor of history until his retirement in 1966.
[2] In 1983, Dr. Hunter was awarded the Leonardo da Vinci Medal by the Society of History of Technology.