Volume 45, No. 3 !uarterly of the Alaska Historical Society Autumn 2017

Ranger Corey patted the collie on her aristocratic head, then crouched beside her. He quietly peeled off one of his fur-lined gloves and traced the track's outline with his IRUHIRUHÀQJHU:ROYHULQHKH exclaimed. Lassie whined in distaste, even though she had never met up with a wolverine. 1RWKLQJWRZRUU\DERXW ROGJLUOVDLG&RUH\ZLWKD chuckle... —Lassie: Adventure in Alaska, George Elrick, 1967

Message from the President:

ifty years ago history-minded Alaskans formed the Alaska Historical Society to celebrate the state’s rich past and to coordinate the efforts of professional historians and the general public. Much has changed since 1967, but AHS continues to pursue its mission with gusto. Each year, in partnership with Museums Alaska, we gather for our annualF meeting, which offers seasoned historians and beginners alike the chance to share their most exciting discoveries. 7KLV\HDU$+6LVIRFXVLQJRQDQRWKHUDQQLYHUVDU\³WKHVHVTXLFHQWHQQLDORI$ODVND3XUFKDVH³ZKLFKKDVUHOHDVHGDÁRRGRI new research on that dramatic moment, a century and a half ago, when Alaska became part of the United States. Please join us in Anchorage, September 27-30, to hear what Alaska’s historians have uncovered and to support the ongoing efforts of the Alaska Historical Society and Museums Alaska! —Chris Allan EXPLORING THE LEGACY OF THE ALASKA PURCHASE CONFERENCE PROGRAM

—THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28—

10:30-12:00

ĚĘĘĎĆēĒĊėĎĈĆ

Ȉ —••‹ƒ‡”‹ ƒ‘Ž‘‹‡•‹ͷ;ͼͽǣƒ•‡Ž‹‡ǡ Katherine Arndt, Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks Ȉ ‡™ƒ”†ƒ†–Š‡•ƒ”ǣŽƒ•ƒƒ†ƒ ‹’ƒ–‹‘ǤMichael Dunham, Author of Š‡ƒŠ‘‘Ž†Žƒ•ƒand Š‡ƒ Š‘‘—‰Š–Žƒ•ƒ Ȉ Š‡ ‹•–‘”‹ ƒŽƒ†—Ž–—”ƒŽ ‡”‹–ƒ‰‡‘ˆ—••‹ƒ‹–Š‡‘”–Šƒ ‹ϔ‹ ǡAlexander Petrov, Institute of World History, Russian Academy of Sciences

ėĔēęĎĊėėĆĎđćđĆğĊėĘ

Ȉ —––‹‰‹ –—”‡•‹–‘‘–‹‘ǣDz‹–›‘ˆ ‘Ž†dzƒ†–Š‡”‡ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡‘†‡” ‹•–‘”‹ ƒŽ‘ —‡–ƒ”›ǡTerrence Cole, University of Alaska Fairbanks Ȉ ƒ–‡‡‡†›‹–Š‡Ž‘†‹‡ǡ‘‡ƒ† ƒ”–Š›ǡPat Garrett, McCarthy-Kennicott Historical Museum Ȉ • ƒ’‡–‘ ”‡‡†‘ǫǣ‡ –‹‘ƒŽ‘ϔŽ‹ –ǡ —‰‹–‹˜‡Žƒ˜‡•ǡƒ†Žƒ ŠƒŽ‡”•‹Žƒ•ƒǡIan Hartman, University of Alaska Anchorage.

ĊėėĎęĔėĎĆđĆĞĘ

Ȉ Žƒ•ƒ ‘Ž†ˆ‘” ”‹•Š”‡ƒ•ǣŠ‡ ”‹•Š†—”‹‰–Š‡ ‘Ž†‡”ƒǡͷ;ͼͽǦͷͿͷͽǡSean McGrane, Irish Club of Alaska Ȉ Š‡‡–”ƒŽ‹–›‘ˆ—„Ž‹ ‹–›‹–Š‡‹• ‘—”•‡‘ˆƒ”Ž›‡””‹–‘”‹ƒŽŽƒ•ƒǣ–‘”›‘Ž†Š”‘—‰Š‘’—Žƒ”Žƒ•ƒ ” Š‡–›’‡•ǡGhert Abbott, Ketchikan Ȉ ‹‰Š–‡‡ƒ–Š‘—”‘•‡ǣŠ‡ Š‘”ƒ‰‡‘”‘ ‹•–‘”›‘—‹†ǯ–‘™, Fred Woods, Brigham Young University

1:30-3:00

ĚĘĘĎĆēĒĊėĎĈĆ

Ȉ —•Šƒ‰ƒȄ ”‘—••‹ƒ ‘”––‘ ‹•Šƒ’, Tim Troll, Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust Ȉ ‡†‘”‘Žƒ‘˜ǡ ‘—†‡”‘ˆŽ‡•ƒ†”‘˜•‹ƒ†‘Žƒ‘˜‡†‘—„–•‹‘—–Š™‡•–‡”Žƒ•ƒƒ† ‹•‡• ‡†ƒ–•‹ Žƒ•ƒ‘†ƒ›ǡBeverly Simms, Fedor Kolmakov descendant Ȉ ‘ŠǤŽƒ”‹—••‹ƒ‡”‹ ƒȋͷ;ͼͼǦͷ;ͼͽȌƒ†Žƒ•ƒȋͷ;ͼ;Ǧͷ;ͼͿȌǡJohn Branson, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

ĊėĘĔēĆđ ĎĘęĔėĎĊĘ

Ȉ ƒŽ–‡” ƒ”’‡”ƒ–‘—– ‡”‘ Š‘‘Žǣ–Šƒ„ƒ• ƒ‹ƒ”Ž›͸Ͷ–Š‡–—”›‡™‰Žƒ†ǡMary Ehrlander, University of Alaska Fairbanks Ȉ ‘†— –‹‰”ƒŽ ‹•–‘”‹‡•ƒ•ƒ‘™‡”ˆ—Žƒ›–‘‘‡ –‡ ‘†ƒ”› Š‘‘Ž–—†‡–•–‘–Š‡ƒ•–ǡSimon Gorbaty, Anchorage School District Ȉ ƒ‡”›‹ˆ‡‘–Š‡—•Šƒ‰ƒǣŠ‡–‘”›‘ˆŽŽƒƒ›‹‡Ž•‡‡Ž•‘†‹•‘ǡͷͿͷͶǦͷͿ;͹ǡMary (Nelson) Dinon, Southeast Alaska Native Health Consortium

2 Alaska History News ĚĘĎēĊĘĘĆēĉĔđĎęĎĈĘ

Ȉ Žƒ•ƒǯ•Ž†‡•–‘’ƒ›ǣ ‘™–Š‡Žƒ•ƒ‘‡” ‹ƒŽ‘’ƒ›Šƒ’‡†–Š‡‡””‹–‘”›ǡJ. Pennelope Goforth, Author Ȉ ‡ƒǯ•––ƒ ‘–Š‡‘’ƒ›Šƒ–—‹Ž–ƒ‡””‹–‘”›ǡ”‡•– ”—‡‹‰‰ƒ‹•––Š‡Žƒ•ƒ–‡ƒ•Š‹’ ‘’ƒ›ǣͷͿ͹ͿǦͷͿͽͷǡPierce Bateman, Graduate Student, University of Alaska Fairbanks Ȉ Š‡Žƒ•ƒƒ‹Ž”‘ƒ†ƒ†‘—– ‹Ž‡›ƒ–‹‘ƒŽƒ”ǡErik Johnson, Denali National Park and Preserve

3:30-5:00

ĚĘĘĎĆēĒĊėĎĈĆƭđĆĘĐĆĚėĈčĆĘĊ

Ȉ ‡•–‹ƒ–‹‘Ȅ‹–ƒǣǮ’‡ ‹ƒŽ‘””‡•’‘†‡–•ǯƒ†–Š‡ƒ ‡–‘‡’‘”–‘–Š‡”ƒ•ˆ‡”‘ˆ—••‹ƒ‡”‹ ƒ–‘–Š‡‹–‡† –ƒ–‡•ǡChris Allan, National Park Service Ȉ ‘•–‹Žƒ ‡ǣ‡˜‹•‹–‹‰Žƒ•ƒǯ• ƒ„Ž‡†—••‹ƒ ‘”–ǡKen Pratt, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Alaska Region Ȉ Š‡”ƒ•ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘‘ˆ‹–ƒǡͷ;ͼͽǦͷ;ͽͽǡRebecca Poulson, Alaska Historical Commission

đĆĘĐĆǯĘ ĎĘčĊėĎĊĘ

Ȉ Šƒ‰‹‰‹†‡•ǣŽƒ•ƒƒ–‹˜‡•‹–Š‡”‹•–‘Žƒ›ƒŽ‘ ‹•Š‡”›ǡBridget Groat, Doctoral Candidate, Arizona State University

ĔĈĆđ ĎĘęĔėĎĊĘ

Ȉ ƒŽ‹‰‘–Š‡‹Ž†‹†‡ǣ —‡ƒ—ǯ•‘™–‘™ƒ†‘—–Š ”ƒŽ‹–”‡‡–‹–Š‡ͷͿͺͶ•, Averil Lerman, Attorney Ȉ ‡ƒ”–•‘ˆ‘—”ƒ‰‡ǣŠ‡—”˜‹˜‘”•‘ˆ–Š‡ͷͿͺ͹ ‹ŽŽƒ”ƒ•Šǡ John Tippets, Retired, American Airlines and American Airlines Federal Credit Union. Ȉ ‹–‡”ƒ––Š‡—••‹ƒ ‘—•‡ǡJackie Pels, Hardscratch Press

—FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29—

8:30-10:00

ĊĞēĔęĊĉĉėĊĘĘǣ  †‹‰‡‘—•‡”•’‡ –‹˜‡‘–Š‡Žƒ•ƒ—” Šƒ•‡ǡWillie ‰‰‹ƒ‰”— Hensley, Inupiaq Scholar, Politician, and Lecturer

10:30-12:00

ĚĘĘĎĆēĒĊėĎĈĆƭđĆĘĐĆĚėĈčĆĘĊ

Ȉ Š‡ƒ™‘ˆ‹–‡†‡†‘•‡“—‡ ‡•ǣŠ‡Žƒ•ƒƒ–‹˜‡ƒ†Žƒ‹•‡––Ž‡‡– –ƒ•ƒ‡‰ƒ ›‘ˆ–Š‡Žƒ•ƒ —” Šƒ•‡ǡStephen Haycox, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Alaska Anchorage Ȉ ‡Ž–‹‰–Š‡ ‡—”–ƒ‹ǣ‘–‡’‘”ƒ”›Žƒ•ƒǦ—••‹ƒ‡Žƒ–‹‘•‹ ‡–Š‡Žƒ•ƒ—” Šƒ•‡ǡDavid Ramseur, Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage Ȉ ˜‹•‹‘‹‰Žƒ•ƒǣŠ‡”–‹•–‹ ‡‰ƒ ›‘ˆ—••‹ƒ‡”‹ ƒǡEvguenia Anichtchenko. Sitka Maritime Heritage Society

ĆĈĎēČĔēęėĔěĊėĘĞ

Ȉ DzŠ‡›—”‡† –‘™dzǣ ‘—•‹‰‹• ”‹‹ƒ–‹‘‹‹†Ǧ™‡–‹‡–Š‡–—”› Š‘”ƒ‰‡ǡDavid Reamer, Graduate Student, Southern New Hampshire University Ȉ Š‡‘—– ‹Ž‡›Ǧ‡ƒŽ‹‘–”‘˜‡”•›ƒ†–Š‡ǤǤ‘ƒ”†‘ ‡‘‰”ƒ’Š‹ ƒ‡•ǡDouglas Vandegraft, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and U.S. Board on Geographic Names Ȉ Žƒ•ƒǯ•‹Žǣƒš‹‰ ‹•–‘”›ǡLisa Weissler

Alaska History News 3 ĊēĊėĆđ ēęĊėĊĘę

Ȉ ‡ϔŽ‡ –‹‰‘–Š‡‡ƒ‹‡‹•—Žƒ ‹•–‘”›‘ˆ‡”‡ ‡Ȅ‡••‘•ˆ”‘ƒ‡•“—‹ ‡–‡‹ƒŽ ƒ–Š‡”‹‰ǡShana Loshbaugh, Conference Coordinator ͷͻͶ‡ƒ”•ǣ‡ƒ‹‡‹•—Žƒ ‹•–‘”›‘ˆ‡”‡ ‡. Ȉ ‡™‡ƒŽ•ǡŽ†—”ƒŽ•ǡƒ†”–‹•–•ˆ”‘—–•‹†‡ǣ”–Š—”‡””‹ ǯ•Žƒ•ƒƒ†• ƒ’‡•ǡAnne Rittgers, Graduate Student, University of Alaska Fairbanks Ȉ ‡”•’‡ –‹˜‡•‘‡š—ƒŽƒ†‘‡•–‹ ‹‘Ž‡ ‡‹—”ƒŽŽƒ•ƒǡKatie Hayden, Department of Fish & Game

1:30-3:00

đĆĘĐĆĆęĎěĊĘƭđĆĘĐĆĚėĈčĆĘĊ

Ȉ š’Ž‘”‹‰–Š‡‡‰ƒ ›‘ˆŽ‹‰‹–‘‘–‡‡›ƒǣŠ‡–‘”‹‡•‘ˆ™‘ ‘‹ ƒƒ–ƒ™ƒƒ‘Ž‡•ǡDaniel Monteith, University of Alaska Southeast Ȉ  –‡”’”‡–ƒ–‹‘‘ˆŠƒ––Š‡Š‹‡ˆ•ƒ‹†‘‹˜‹‰ ”‡‡ǣ‘›—‘‡”•’‡ –‹˜‡‘–Š‡Žƒ•ƒ—” Šƒ•‡ƒ†–Š‡ ‡‰ƒ ›‘ˆ–Š‡ƒƒƒŠ‹‡ˆ•ǡGuy Peters, Descendant of Paul Williams, and Chiefs Charlie and William; and Hild Peters, University of Alaska Fairbanks Ȉ —••‹ƒ ϔŽ—‡ ‡‘–Š‡ƒ‰—ƒ‰‡ƒ†‘”Ž†Ǧ‹‡™‘ˆ–Š‡—’ǯ‹‡‘’Ž‡, Irina Sheina, Institute of Foreign Languages, Ryazan State University

ĆėĔėęčĊėĘĕĊĈęĎěĊĘ

Ȉ Š‡‹‰‹ϔ‹ ƒ ‡‘ˆ–Š‡” –‹ ‹‡”‹ ƒ ‹•–‘”›ǡRuss Vander Lugt, U.S. Army and Doctoral Candidate, University of Alaska Fairbanks Ȉ ‘†”‘’‘•‡•ǡƒ‹•’‘•‡•ȄŽ‹ƒ–‡Šƒ‰‡ƒ†–Š‡” –‹ —„Ž‹‡ǡCarolyn Kozak, Graduate Student, University of Alaska Fairbanks

ĎēĆēĈĎĆđđĆēēĎēČċĔėĔēǦėĔċĎęĘ

Ȉ ”‡ƒ–‹‰‘—”™ ‹•–‘”›‹Žƒ•ƒǣ ‡Ž’ ‹•–‘”‹ ƒŽ‘ ‹‡–‹‡•ƒ†—•‡—• ”‘™‹ƒšǦƒ”–ƒ›•ǡBeth Rose and Katie St. John, Alaska Community Foundation

—SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30—

9:30-11:00

Ȉ Š‡—••‹ƒ‡”‹ ƒš’‡†‹–‹‘•ǡMikhail Malakhov, Explorer, Ryazan Ȉ •‹†‡–Š‡ƒ”‡‘‘Ƭƒ’Š‘’ǣ”‹„—–‡–‘„•‡”˜ƒ–‘”›‘‘•ǡPatti Moss David

POSTERS

Ȉ Š‡ —–—”‡‘ˆ ‹•–‘”‹ ƒŽ‡™•’ƒ’‡”•ǣ ‡••Ƭ”‡•‡”˜ƒ–‹‘–Š”‘—‰Š‹‰‹–‹œƒ–‹‘ǡLeah Geibel and Anastasia Tarmann, Alaska State Library, Archives and Museums Ȉ Žƒ•ƒǯ• ‹•–‘”›Š”‘—‰ŠŠ‹Žƒ–‡Ž›ǡChet Walukiewicz, Alaska Philatelic Collectors' Club

FILMS

Ȉ ‹‰ŠŽ‹‰Š–•‘ˆ–Š‡ͷͿͽͺ‡ƒ‹ ‹•–‘”›‘ˆ‡”‡ ‡, Shana Loshbaugh Ȉ Žƒ•ƒǯ•‡‡Ž ‹•–‘”›ǣ ‹Ž•‡Ž‡„”ƒ–‹‰–Š‡—” Šƒ•‡‡–‡‹ƒŽ, Damon Stuebner and Angela Schmidt Ȉ ‹‡””‡‡”–‘ǯ•Dz‹–›‘ˆ ‘Ž†dzƒ†”‡ —”•‘”, Terrence Cole Ȉ ‡Ž–‹‰–Š‡ ‡ǣƒ— Š‹‰‘”‘‹•‹Žƒ•ƒ, Fred Woods

4 Alaska History News News and Notes from Around the State

Circle District Historical Society’s Project Poppy-- On Saturday, October 7th the historical societies and photographs of over 250 species in 58 families (including museums on the Kenai Peninsula with hold their fall meeting. •‘‡‘ǦϐŽ‘™‡”‹‰’Žƒ–•ȌǦǦ‹•ƒ‡š’ƒ†‡† ‘’—–‡”‹œ‡† The Soldotna Historical Society is hosting the gathering. version of a photo display done in 1984 for their museum in ! Central. Patricia Oakes (1932-1993), Laurel B. Tyrrell, Betsy The Kodiak Historical Societyincorporated in 1954 and Gelvin, and Alfred Cook took the original photographs. The ‘’‡‡†–Š‡–‘™ǯ•ϐ‹”•–—•‡—‹ͳͻͷ͹ǤŠ‡˜‹•‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡ ‘’—–‡”˜‡”•‹‘ǡDz‹Ž†ϐŽ‘™‡”•‘ˆŽƒ•ƒǯ•‹” Ž‡‹‹‰ society was to preserve and share the history of the Kodiak District” has some of the thirty-six photographs from the ƒ†Ž‡—–‹ƒ •Žƒ†•ǤŠ‡ϐ‹”•–—•‡—™ƒ•‹ƒ‘”Ž†ƒ” original display and many additional ones. In the summers II Quonset hut. Following the 1964 earthquake, Purchase ‘ˆͳͻͻͺǦʹͲͲ͸›””‡ŽŽƒ†‘‘’Š‘–‘‰”ƒ’Š‡†ϐŽ‘™‡”•ƒŽ‘‰ Centennial funds enabled the society to renovate the Erskine the Circle Hot Springs Road and Steese Highway, and Cook House / Russian log warehouse for a museum. ’Š‘–‘‰”ƒ’Š‡†ϐŽ‘™‡”•ƒŽ‘‰–Š‡‘”–ƒ‰‡”‡‡Ǧ ƒ””‹•‘ ! Creek loop from Circle Hot Springs to Squaw Creek, along The Alutiiq Museum and City of Kodiak are sponsoring the Pinnell Mountain Trail from Twelvemile Summit to Eagle lectures on Thursdays this fall. The schedule includes Summit, and on many area mountain tops. presentations on the Alutiiq language, cultural resources on ! Afognak lands, tanning a salmon skin, and sticklebacks. As The Tanana-Yukon Historical Society has an active part of the Alutiiq Culture Fest held earlier this month the speakers program, held monthly at the Pioneer Hall or museum had an Alutiiq headdress pageant. the Noel Wien Library. Their program on October 18th ! will be a panel discussion with staff from the Alaska and The Palmer Historical Societyis hosting its last History Polar Regions Department, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Night for the year on September 20th at the Palmer Moose Details and dates can be found on their Facebook page. ‘†‰‡Ǥ”ǤŽ‡š ‹ŽŽ•ǡƒ—–Š‘”‘ˆDz ‹†‹‰Žƒ•ƒǯ•‹ŽŽƒ‰‡•ǣƒ† ! connecting them” is going to speak. The Pioneer Air Museum in Fairbanks opened for the ! summer on May 15th. Over the summer two interns worked The Talkeetna Historical Society and Museum is completing cataloging the collections, and the museum board hopes to its rehabilitation of the 1916 Ole Dahl cabin. They received ‡‡’‘‡–Š”‘—‰Š–Š‡™‹–‡”–‘ϐ‹‹•Š‘•–‘ˆ–Š‡ ƒ–ƒŽ‘‰‹‰ grants from the Alaska Association of Historical Preservation, work. The group plans to work on displays over the the Talkeetna Community Council, Jessica Stevens winter. If interested in helping out, please send an email to Foundation, and the Evenor Fund to do the work. They [email protected]. have added more information to their “Historic Talkeetna ! downtown walking tour” app that was launched last summer. The Cooper Landing Historical Museum tells the Š‡”‡ǯ•‘”‡‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘ƒ„‘—––Š‡—•‡—ƒ†‹–•’”‘Œ‡ –• ‘—‹–›ǯ•Š‹•–‘”›‹–™‘Š‹•–‘”‹ „—‹Ž†‹‰•ǣ ƒ ‡ƒǯ• at www.talkeetnahistoricalsociety.org cabin built in the late 1920s which served as the Cooper ! ƒ†‹‰‘•–ˆϐ‹ ‡ˆ‘”ƒŽ‘•–ͶͲ›‡ƒ”•ƒ†–Š‡ Š‘‘Ž The Wasilla Museum and Visitor Center hosted a Night House built in 1955 and used until 2001. Volunteers staff @ the Museum series this summer. The August program the museum during the summer, and it is funded through included an invitation to people to donate items and write donations, sales in museum store, and garage sales. Send memories to put in the Wasilla Time Vault to celebrate the donations to P.O. Box 542, Cooper Landing, AK 99572 –‘™ǯ• ‡–‡‹ƒŽ›‡ƒ”Ǥ‘”‡ƒ„‘—––Š‡‹”ƒ –‹˜‹–‹‡•‹•ƒ–www. ! cityofwasilla.com/museum. The Hope and Sunrise Historical Society just received ! ƒ†‘ƒ–‹‘‘ˆŠƒ”Ž‡•Ǥƒ˜‹•ǯ•–‘‘Ž ‘ŽŽ‡ –‹‘ˆ”‘Š‹• Just to the north of Wasilla is the Willow Historical and Wildlife granddaughter, Nancy Davis Hollenbeck. Davis built the Hope Foundation that is working to create a museum in the Old Methodist Church. Willow Community Building that was built by homesteaders in ! 1961. The museum is in the midst of a lawsuit the Matanuska- The Resurrection Bay Historical Society celebrated Susitna Borough that wants the group to move the building off ‡™ƒ”†ǯ• ‘—†‡”•ǯƒ›‘—‰—•–ʹͺ–ŠǤŠ‡‡˜‡–Š‘‘”‡† borough land. Nevertheless, the group opened the museum on –Š‡’‡‘’Ž‡™Š‘Žƒ†‡†ƒ––‘†ƒ›ǯ•†‘™–‘™™ƒ–‡”ˆ”‘– the 4th of July and had more than 150 guests. They hold monthly to establish the town. As part of the celebration, Dennis meetings and recently had Bernadette (White) Frost, one of McLain presented a program on the scale model of the  the original students in the 1959 one-room Willow School (a ‘”ƒ he made for the museum. The ‘”ƒwas an Alaska Quonset hut) as guest speaker. Steamship Company ship that routinely docked at Seward ! after trips to Dutch Harbor in the early 1900s. The project  Š‘”ƒ‰‡ǯ• Cook Inlet Historical Society has announced was made possible by a grant from the Kenai Mountains- ‹–•ʹͲͳ͹Ǧͳͺ ƒ‡•ƒ”‡––‡ –—”‡‡”‹‡•ǣͳͷͲ‡ƒ”•ǣ Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area. This month, they ‡ϐ‹‹‰‘‡–•‹–Š‡ ”‡ƒ–ƒ†ǤŠ‡ϐ‹”•–’”‘‰”ƒ• have an exhibit of photographs and news stories about the commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Alaska Treaty ͳͻͳ͹‘™‡ŽŽ”‡‡ϐŽ‘‘†Ǥ

Alaska History News 5 News and Notes from Around the State

of Cession. Mike Dunham, author of Š‡ƒŠ‘‘—‰Š– State of Alaska provided matching funds to communities for Žƒ•ƒǣ‹ŽŽ‹ƒ Ǥ‡™ƒ”† and Š‡ƒŠ‘‘Ž†Žƒ•ƒǣ permanent city projects that would be completed for the •ƒ”Ž‡šƒ†‡” ‘ˆ—••‹ƒwill be the September speaker. centennial of the 1867 purchase of Alaska from the Russians.  –‘„‡”–Š‡•‘ ‹‡–›ǯ•ƒ—ƒŽŽƒ•ƒƒ›’”‘‰”ƒ™‹ŽŽ Petersburg chose to build a museum and a memorial to be a panel discussion about the causes and consequences those lost at sea. The ‡–‡”•„—”‰”‡•• reported on February of the Treaty of Cession. Steve Haycox, UAA Distinguished ͳ͹ǡͳͻ͸͹ǣDzŠ‡‰”ƒ†‘’‡‹‰‘ˆ–Š‡‡–‡‹ƒŽ’”‘Œ‡ –‹ Professor Emeritus will moderate the discussion with Petersburg will take place May 27, 1967. A new museum Russian historians Sergei Grinev of St. Petersburg, Ilya building and bronze sculpture on the museum grounds Vinkovestsky of Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, will grace the town. The museum is 16 feet by 30 feet, two Andrei Znamenski of the University of Tennessee; Joaqlin blocks from downtown, and will house collections of local Estus, Tlingit archivist and historian, and Andrey Khalkachan, artifacts and other items of historical interest. The grounds an eastern Siberia Native. The November program speaker are to be landscaped utilizing native plantings and walks is Katherine Arndt, Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska surfaced with pebbles from local beaches. “Fisk” Norwegian Fairbanks and Russian America scholar, who will talk about ˆ‘”ϐ‹•Š‡•ǡ‹•–Š‡ƒ‡‰‹˜‡–Š‡Žƒ”‰‡ͳͳˆ‘‘–„›ͳ͹ˆ‘‘–„›͹ —••‹ƒǯ•‘”–Š‡”‹ ƒ ‘Ž‘‹‡•‹ͳͺ͸͹Ǥ foot bronze sculpture by artist Carson Boysen. The swirling ! ƒ••‘ˆ˜ƒ”‹‡†ϐ‹•Šˆ‘”•™‹ŽŽ„‡‘—–‡†‘ƒ’‡†‡•–ƒŽ‹ƒ The March 27, 1964 Alaska earthquake washed away the oval pool. Vertical jets of water will rise from the center of Valdez waterfront and 32 people died. The town had to the sculpture. Exterior lights will be installed to illuminate be relocated to its present, safer location four miles away. the sculpture by night. A walk will circle the pool so that the On October 1, 1967, all services to the “Old Town” were sculpture may be viewed from all sides.” severed and the building of the new town site complete. ! The success in the relocation came from strong and The Tongass Historical Society has been bringing people in forward thinking leadership. The Valdez Museum’s annual Ketchikan together since 1961. Its members work closely Roadhouse Dinner and Auction on October 14th will honor with the Tongass Historical Museum and Totem Heritage the City Councils from 1964–1967. Through November the Center on exhibits and programs about the area. This month museum will host a weekly series of programs focusing on they too had a 50th anniversary celebration of their Purchase the Paul Finfer Collection that shows the challenges faced Centennial Building. to rebuild Valdez. The collection includes concept pencil ! drawings of the new town site, letters to city planners The Gastineau Channel Historical Society opened the Last from Owen Meals and John Kelsey, architectural drawings, Šƒ ‡‹‹‰—•‡—ˆ‘”–Š‡•‡ƒ•‘™‹–Šƒ‘–Š‡”ǯ•ƒ› ‹–‹œ‡ǯ•“—‡•–‹‘ƒ‹”‡•ǡƒ††‘ —‡–•–Šƒ–”‡ϐŽ‡ ––Š‡ event that had live music, artists from the Juneau Plein Rein role of local, state and federal agencies in building the new group, and included the unveiling of newly restored 3-D mine town. The museum invites the sharing of memories using maps produced by Alea Oien. And this year it celebrated its hashtag #50YearsValdezAK or commenting on Facebook at 20th year of receiving a lease to preserve the historic Sentinel Š––’•ǣȀȀ™™™Ǥˆƒ ‡„‘‘Ǥ ‘Ȁ˜ƒŽ†‡œ—•‡—Ȁ‘”Twitter @ Island lighthouse and make it available for the public to see. ValdezMuseum. Find out more at [email protected]. In 2006 they received a quitclaim deed to the island and ! buildings. The group has held numerous fund raising trips to The Sitka Historical Society has for sixty years operated the island, written grants, and solicited contributions to help the Sitka History Museum. The society has a collection preserve the buildings. They thank, among many, the Alaska of over 8,000 artifacts, several hundred paintings, prints ˆϐ‹ ‡‘ˆ ‹•–‘”›ƒ†” Šƒ‡‘Ž‘‰›ǡ–Š‡ƒ•—•‘ ‘—†ƒ–‹‘ǡ ƒ†‡šƒ’Ž‡•‘ˆϐ‹‡ƒ”–ǡƒ•’‡ –ƒ —Žƒ” ‘ŽŽ‡ –‹‘‘ˆ‡ƒ”Ž› the U.S. Lighthouse Society, and the Leighty Foundation. 235,000 historic photographs, and more than 100,000 Many volunteers have spent hours helping, and while there archival documents. They are completing their move into will always more to be done, they have been able to perform their new space in Centennial Hall with new exhibits of many the most important tasks to assure the lighthouse is stable. ‘ˆ–Š‡•‡–”‡ƒ•—”‡•ȄŒ—•–‹–‹‡ˆ‘”–Š‹•›‡ƒ”ǯ•Žƒ•ƒƒ› Festival on October 18th. p ! Other news and information Sitka Maritime Heritage Society hosted an “All Treasures The Alaska State Museums would like to hear from you is Wet and Salty” treasure hunt around the Japonski Island you are interested in serving on its Museum Collections Boathouse in August. Young pirates grabbed a treasure map, Advisory Committee. The committee meets twice a year by engaged in a quest, and were rewarded with a prize from a teleconference, and is responsible for approving donations, treasure chest. acquisitions, and deaccessions for the Alaska State Museum ! and Sheldon Jackson Museum. Terms are for three years. The Clausen Memorial Museum in Petersburg is in a If interested, please send or email a letter of interest and building that turned 50 this year. The town celebrated the a resume by September 22, 2017 to Addison Field, Alaska anniversary with a party where stories were told and food State Museums, 395 Whittier St., Juneau, AK 99801, addison. ™ƒ•‡Œ‘›‡†ǤŠ‡—•‡—ǯ••–‘”›•–ƒ”–•‹ͳͻ͸ͷ™Š‡–Š‡ ϐ‹‡Ž†̷ƒŽƒ•ƒǤ‰‘˜.

6 Alaska History News Other News and Information

Š‡ϐ‹”•–Žƒ•ƒ‡™•’ƒ’‡”• have been posted on the Chronicling America website of the Library of Congress, Alaska Historical Society Š––’ǣȀȀ Š”‘‹ Ž‹‰ƒ‡”‹ ƒǤŽ‘ Ǥ‰‘˜Ȁ. The newspapers can Board of Directors be digitized and searched—for free! The ones available are Š‡Žƒ•ƒƒ‹Ž›’‹”‡ (1912-1918), ‘—‰Žƒ• •Žƒ†‡™• Chris Allan, President, [email protected] Fairbanks (1898-1907) and Š‡ŠŽ‹‰‡– (1908-1912), and the second batch has been submitted. The Alaska State Library received Rebecca Poulson, Vice President, [email protected] Sitka a National Digital Newspaper grant from the National Michael Hawfield, Treasurer, mchawfi[email protected] Endowment for the Humanities to select and prepare Homer 100,000 pages from Alaska newspapers to be uploaded Averil Lerman, Secretary, [email protected] into the database. Leah Geibel and Anastasia Tarmann are Anchorage leading the project and have created a project blog at Š––’ǣȀȀ Karen Brewster, [email protected] akdnp.wordpress.com with updates and links to articles with Fairbanks tips for searching. Tom Bundtzen, [email protected] Fairbanks ͳͻ͸ʹǡŽƒ•ƒǯ• ‘˜‡”‘”‹ŽŽ‰ƒ ”‡ƒ–‡†–Š‡Žƒ•ƒ Rogan Faith, [email protected] Centennial Commission with the goal of making a permanent Anchorage investment in Alaska. Communities were invited to propose J. Pennelope Goforth, [email protected] projects, including museums, community centers, performing Anchorage arts facilities, libraries, campgrounds, and historical parks to Ian Hartman, [email protected] be ready for the Alaska Purchase Centennial in 1967. Local Anchorage Erik Johnson, [email protected] residents had to back the projects and pay their share. The Denali Park Alaska State Museum has a new traveling exhibit with 28 Ruth Knapman, [email protected] ™ƒŽŽŠ—‰’ƒ‡Ž•ǡ‡ƒ Šͳ͸dzšʹͲdzǡ’”‘ϐ‹Ž‹‰ʹ͹‘ˆ–Š‡’”‘Œ‡ –•Ǥ Fairbanks More information on the exhibit and how to arrange to have Aaron Leggett, [email protected] it in your community can be found at Š––’ǣȀȀ—•‡—•ǤƒŽƒ•ƒǤ Anchorage Kathy Peavey, [email protected] gov/traveling_exhibits/view_from_the_future.html . Craig Sara Piasecki, [email protected] Tundra Vision Public History Consultants, Katie Ringsmuth, Anchorage has a full slate of programs scheduled for this fall. On Tim Troll, [email protected] ‡’–‡„‡”ʹͺ–Šƒ†› ƒ”’‡”ǡ›”ƒ‘ǯ•Š‡ƒ–”‡ǡ™‹ŽŽ Anchorage ‘†‡”ƒ–‡ƒ’ƒ‡ŽǡŽŽŽƒ•ƒǯ•ƒ–ƒ‰‡ǣŠ‡‘™‡”‘ˆ ‡ƒŽ‡ Others: Players in Alaska Theatre. In October, Diane Rodill will Jo Antonson, Executive Director, [email protected] talk about a Filipino (Alaskero) from Kodiak; in November Ross Coen, Editor, Alaska History, [email protected] Œ‘—”ƒŽ‹•–”‹––ƒ›‡–Š‡”ˆ‘”†™‹ŽŽ–ƒŽƒ„‘—–Žƒ•ƒǯ• Kathy Peavey, Editor, Alaska History News, [email protected] deadliest unsolved murder; and in December Pamela Cravez Judy Bittner, Alaska Office of History and Archaeology, judy.bittner@ will talk about her new book, Š‡‹‰‰‡•–ƒ‡† ƒ–ǣƒŽ‡• alaska.gov ˆ”‘Žƒ•ƒǯ•‡””‹–‘”‹ƒŽƒ™›‡”•ƒ† —†‰‡•ǤThe programs Patience Frederiksen, Alaska Libraries, Archives, Museums, patience. are held at the Mountain View Public Library. Also, Katie [email protected] has planned a fall lecture series to commemorate the 75th Anna Lee Hirschi, 150th Anniversary of the Alaska Treaty of Cession [email protected] anniversary of World War II in Alaska for the University of Alaska Anchorage. The September event is a panel with P.O. Box 100299, Anchorage, AK 99510-0299 history professor Paul Dunscomb, retired history professor Tel: 907/276-1596 Email: [email protected] Steve Haycox, and National Park Service anthropologist www.alaskahistoricalsociety.org Rachel Mason. The October event includes BRAVO 369 Flight 49history.blogspot.com or find us on Facebook Foundation director Craig Lang, Friends of Nike Site Summit representative Ivan Hodes, and Katie. The programs will be at Chugiak High School. More details about these programs can be found at Š––’•ǣȀȀ™™™Ǥˆƒ ‡„‘‘Ǥ ‘Ȁ—†”ƒ‹•‹‘Ȁ great gift for a friend, relative, local school or A library is a year’s membership in the Alaska Historical Society. Your gift includes the newsletter Visit our website: and journal Alaska History, and supports important www.alaskahistoricalsociety.org activities and programs. It’s easy ... go to the AHS website, www.alaskahistoricalsociety.org and then click on “membership and giving.” We welcome your letters, news and pictures. Please send them to us at one of the addresses above. embership lapsed? Renew today to celebrate M yesterday!

Alaska History News 7 ALASKA HISTORICAL SOCIETY P.O. Box 100299 Non-profit Org. Anchorage, AK 99510-0299 U.S. Postage Paid Permit 69 ǣ Anchorage, AK

Chris Allan found this note in the ”‹–‹•Š ‘Ž‘‹•– (Victoria, BC), June 1, 1867, newspaper. A ‘””‡•’‘†‡–™”‹–‡•–‘ƒƒŽ‹ˆ‘”‹ƒ’ƒ’‡”ǣ

“The New York ‘•– is bothering its head about a new ƒ‡ˆ‘”–Š‡‡™‡”‹ ƒ’‘••‡••‹‘•Ǥ –™‘ǯ– wait until we get a title (here is a chance for a pun) to the land, but insists upon baptism being performed at once. It hovers around Alexandroffsky—thinks –Šƒ–™‘ǯ–†‘Ȅ‰‘‡•–‘–Š‡–‘’‘ˆ‘—–Ž‹ƒ•‹‹–• search—descries Sitka, thinks that or New Archangel ‹‰Š–ƒ•™‡”ǡƒ†ϐ‹ƒŽŽ›•—‰‰‡•–•–Šƒ–„‡–™‡‡ Aliaska or Yukon there might be only the toss of a copper. You see we are a little afraid to leave the christening of the child to you outlandish Californians, for fear you may give it a name akin to some of your mountain towns or gulches—such as Horsetown, Jackass Gulch or Shirt Tail Bend. I have no doubt Seward would like to stand godfather. But this is a matter to be taken under grave advisement.”

Become a member… or if you’re already a member, sign up a friend or relative. Join the hundreds who want to stay in touch with historic Alaska by sending $35.00 for individual membership ($50.00 for organizations; $45.00 for family; $100.00 for a patron; $600.00 for a life membership.) This October 18th is the 150th anniversary of the It’s quick, it’s easy, and you receive the semiannual journal Alaska History, the quarterly ceremony at Sitka when Russia transferred its claims in newsletter Alaska History News, and discounts on publications. A useful and popular book North America to the United States. The AHS website is the society’s The Alaska 67 with annotated recommendations of good books on Alaska history. Order it through the website! has a calendar of events to help you commemorate one of Alaska’s most significant historic events: www. Send your application for memberhsip to Alaska Historical Society, P.O. Box 100299, Anchorage, Alaska 99510-0299; or join through the website: www. alaskahistoricalsociety.org. alaskahistoricalsociety.org.

8 Alaska History News