Alaska Historical Society Museums Alaska Joint Annual Conference

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Alaska Historical Society & Museums Alaska

Joint Annual Conference September 30- October 3, 2015 Cordova, Alaska Cordova Mayor James Kacsh is pleased to welcome you to friendly and scenic Cordova. Pop into Napa Auto Parts Co-Chairs, Andrew Goldstein & Monica Shah anytime to say hello to Mayor Kacsh!

Museums Alaska & Alaska Historical Society

Joint Annual Conference September 30- October 3, 2015

Your 2015 Conference Chair, Barclay Jones Kopchak and Cordova Historical Society President Mike Webber welcome you to Cordova! James Michener’s novel “Alaska” debuted the last time Cordova hosted. We had some very lively debates at conference that year and look forward to more this year!

Cordova- intentionally off the beaten path but so worth the journey.

Photo courtesy of davidlittlephotography.com 3 Cordova Daily Times Friday, January 17, 1930, Doctor Chase, Chairman

Alaska Game Commission Museums Alaska Theme: says, “Trapping up to normal.” Joining Forces: Museums, Communities & Collaboration

Alaska Historical Societies Theme: Trade Routes and Crossroads in the North Pacific

AHS theme statement: MA theme statement: Located at the center of the Gulf In order for museums to remain at the of Alaska, Cordova and the center of community life, we must Copper River Delta have been foster dynamic interactions with a destination for travelers and individuals, public groups, and a confluence of ancient trading partner organizations to strengthen routes for thousands of years. our civic role. As the dialogue This year’s conference progresses beyond the ideas of presentations will dig deep into consultation and inclusion, museums topics related to Alaska local are using exciting new methods to histories with emphasis on trade, engage audiences and be a source of cultural interactions, and empowerment and change. Join us at dynamic encounters at one of the the 2015 Museums Alaska conference world’s great crossroads. in Cordova as we explore how partnerships bolster advocacy efforts, inform exhibit development, 4 and complement outreach activities. 5 #73.51.65 Photo courtesy of Cordova Historical Society, from the Doc Chase collection Table of Contents The Cordova Historical Society is pleased to host the Joint Title Page 3 Museums and Alaska Historical Societies conference this year. Conference Themes 5 You honor us by being our first Cordova Historical Society 7 guests in our new venue – The Cordova Center. Twelve years Keynote Speakers 8-9 in the making, our community inspired development project has Pre-Conference Workshops 10-11 come to fruition. How do you Conference Schedule Thursday 12-24 like it? Conference Schedule Friday 25-34 Conference Schedule Saturday 35-38 Post Conference Tours 40-44 The Cordova Historical Society Locations for Other Activities 39 and Museum Mug-Up 46 The Cordova Historical Society, formed in Cordova General Information 4 7 1966 by a dozen active amateur historians, is a non-profit organization dedicated to Advertising 50 preserving and sharing the history and Cordova Center Map 64 culture of Cordova and surrounding areas.

Cordova Map Inside back cover The mission of the Society is to collect, preserve, interpret, exhibit and research objects and works of art which represent the history and cultural background of Cordova, the Copper River, Kennecott, Katalla, Prince William Sound and adjacent areas in order to educate and promote historical Cannery, knowledge. This includes nurturing the #CH67.2.30 culture of today by supporting living artists Photo courtesy of Cordova who reside within the area of our mission or Historical whose work is directly influenced by it. 6 Society 7 Dr. Lath Carlson Dr. Frank Soos Executive Director, Alaska State Writer Laureate, Living Computer Museum Professor Emeritus of English at Seattle, Washington University of Alaska Fairbanks

Thursday, October 1, 2015 Friday, October 2, 2015 8:30- 10:00 am 8:30- 10:00 am Cordova Center North Star Theatre Cordova Center North Star Theatre

Alaska Historical Society Keynote Address: Museums Alaska Keynote Address: “Stories We Tell and the “The Really Useful Museum” People Who Tell Them”

How might museums transform from being nice places to visit In his talk, Frank will use a variety of personal experiences and a range of sources and see things, to becoming vital community resources? How are to raise the questions of how we decide what to write about and how we account users different from visitors, or participants? What about staff for our authorial selves in what we write. Drawing from writers as diverse as as guards, facilitators, or instigators? Can museums tap into the paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould and popular culture critic Tom Wolfe, with needs of our communities in unique ways? brief stops at Classical Greek historians and the World Book Encyclopedia, Frank will ask his audience to examine themselves as carefully as they do their subject when they sit down to write history.

#06-25 Collection-1 Cordova 1908, Photo courtesy of Cordova Historical Society 8 9 Pre-Conference Workshops Pre-Conference Workshops

Wednesday, September 30 Wednesday, September 30 Wednesday, 1:00-4:00 pm Wednesday, 7:45 pm 8:30 am- 4:30 pm 8:30 am- 4:30 pm Alaska State Historical Retracing the Canadian Arctic MA-SESSION A MA-SESSION B Records Advisory Expedition of 1913 Building Partnerships to Cataloging from the Door Board Meeting Welcoming remarks by local host Build Museums to the Shelf! Mayors Conference Room committee followed by a program by Captains Bob Bernard and RJ Museum Temporary Exhibits Gallery Education Room Kopchak Jane Lindsey, Director, Juneau City Angela Linn , Museum of the North Cordova Center North Star Theatre Museum Cynthia Jones (CJ), Hammer Museum Bianca Carpeneti, Executive Director, and Sheldon Museum Wednesday, 5:00-6:30 pm Museums Alaska Helen Alten , Sheldon Museum & Chris Kowalczewski and Laurie Wolf, Cultural Center Museums Alaska The Foraker Group Board Meeting Judi Andrijanoff, Rise Alaska; Sammye Cataloging consists of more than Education Room Pokryfki and Roy Agloinga,The digital database entry! This workshop is Rasmuson Foundation designed to walk you through, step by step, everything necessary to properly What Mud? Starting with “is your project ready for document each accession from the time it funding?” this workshop will take you enters your door until every item is through the full scope of project properly stored. We will also include Wednesday, 5:00-6:30 pm development, including: the information on the use of collections Alaska Historical Society predeveloment process; building management systems, including Past partnerships; growing community Board Meeting Perfect and Arctos. Attendees will receive support; opportunities for private Community Room A takeaways including handouts and online and other sources of funding; private guides to assist them in these critical foundations; government funding; an collections activities. information exchange with communities that have been throug the process; an update on current legislation relating to museum construction grants; Wednesday, 7:00-9:00 pm legislative strategy; and running a OPENING RECEPTION Merle K. capital campaign. Cordova Center Upper and Lower Atrium (Mudhole) Smith, and Museum Galleries early aviation pioneer, #95.46.54 Photo courtesy of Cordova Historical Society 10 11 Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015 Thursday, October 1, 2015

7:00-8:00 am 8:30-10:00 am 10:30 am-12:00 pm 10:30 am-12:00 pm MA-SESSION A MA-KEYNOTE SPEAKER MA-SESSION A MA-SESSION B Advocacy Roundtable - “The Really Useful Museum” Collections on the Move Q&A with Lath Carlson, Grants Matrix Cordova Center North Star Theatre Temporary Exhibits Gallery post keynote session (30m); Reluctant Fisherman Inn Dr. Lath Carlson, Scott Carrlee, Alaska State Museum, Engaging Audiences and Bianca Carpeneti, Museums Alaska Executive Director, Andrew Goldstein, Valdez Museum & Community Support, Part Living Computer Museum Historical Archive 1 : Building Community This round table is an opportunity to Seattle, Washington Cynthia Jones, Hammer Museum and Support (60m) go over the standards adopted for the Sheldon Museum libraries, and get feedback from How might museums transform from Education Room attendees on material/areas they believe being nice places to visit and see things, Learn about the essential components of Lath Carlson, Living Computer are germane to the museums’ standards. to becoming vital community resources? moving a museum collection from the Museum (Q&A 30 minute) This input can be a guide for us as we How are users different from visitors, planning stages to the execution of the Natalie Wadle and Amy Steffian, begin developing our own matrix for or participants? What about staff as move and everything in between. The Alutiiq Museum museums. guards, facilitators, or instigators? Can presenters will share lessons learned Helen Alten, Sheldon Museum & museums tap into the needs of our from moving modest collections on a Cultural Center communities in unique ways? budget to relocating the Alaska State Museum’s 32,000 artifact collection Engaging audiences is a foundation into a new storage vault in the SLAM of museum work. How do we inspire building. people to participate in programs? How do we change and refresh our programs to maintain interest and reach broader audiences? This session explores Breakfast examples of efforts to develop novel anyone? opportunities for public participation and build community around the exploration of local cultural heritage.

#83.4.3 Photo courtesy of Cordova Historical Society, Matrona Chimovisky, grandmother of our own Virginia Lacy. 12 13 Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015 Thursday, October 1, 2015

10:30 am-12:00 pm Brian Kassof, “’Come Back Again parochial sphere can also be seen as tests were performed using the AHS-SESSION A Next Year, You’ll Find Moscow’: rare Alaska history gems. In this revolutionary hovercraft: an amphibious Far North Adventurers Travel Narratives About the Soviet presentation, I will discuss Joe vehicle that could transport loads of cargo Arctic in the 1920s and 1930s” Rychetnick’s Bush Cop (1991), and numerous passengers across the Community Room A Before the Second World War, Laura Porter’s Flat Honeymoon various and endless terrains of Alaska. American views of Russia were (1908), Gaede Penner’s Prescription The applications and possibilities were Paul Krejci, “Tracking ‘The Greatest strongly influenced by the works of for Adventure (1993) and other limitless and some even thought that Individual Hunter of Material in the journalists and travelers. This paper examples of how these accounts the hovercraft would replace the use of North’: Joe Bernard and His Teddy uses a group of travel narratives from contribute to Alaska’s rich history. planes in the bush. This paper explores Bear” the 1920s and 1930s about the Soviet the history of the uses and impacts of A little-known figure today, Joe far north to show the overall picture Larry Hibpshman grew up, hovercraft in Alaska from the 1960s to the Bernard spent the years between the they painted of the development of the partly, in Alaska. He lived in present. early 1900s and the mid-1920s in the Arctic regions of the Soviet Union. I Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaskan, Siberian, and Canadian Arctic pay particular attention to the ways in and worked and served in the military Charles Hilton is an Assistant Archivist working as a trader, sailor, trapper, which these narrative accounts were in the Bush. He retired in 2014 after in the Alaska and Polar Regions miner, and collector. It was as a trader shaped by images and ideas taken twenty-six years at the Alaska State Collections, Rasmuson Library, and collector that Bernard secured a from Soviet propaganda or anti-Soviet Archives. He is particularly University of Alaska Fairbanks. He is also name for himself in the annals of Arctic rhetoric. interested in community history, completing a Master of Arts in the UAF exploration and science. Operating his educating children about Alaska, and Northern Studies program. 56-foot gas schooner Teddy Bear along Brian Kassof is an Assistant Professor communication among the many the northern coastline, he amassed in the History Department at the ‘voices’ that make up Alaskan society. Chris Allan, “Wilderness Scheming: The enormous indigenous material University of Alaska, Fairbanks, where Washington Creek Steam Tractor and collections that were distributed to he teaches Russian and European Dreams of a Far North Empire” museums throughout the United States, History. He is currently studying In 1898, when thousands of stampeders Canada, and England. Landing in Soviet cultural production and the 10:30-12:00 headed north to Alaska and the Klondike, Cordova by accident in 1924, he worked early development of the Soviet oil SESSION B a few realized that money could also be into his nineties, documenting these industry. made from coal—coal to feed steamboat adventurous years. Machines, Missiles, and engines, coal to power railroads, and coal Larry Hibpshman, “In Praise of the Transportation to fuel a vast empire based on mining. Parochial: Alaska’s First-Person Dr. Paul Krejci teaches courses in Pioneer Igloo The fabulously named Napoleon music history, music theory, and the Literature” Bonaparte Labrie was one such coal humanities at the University of Alaska First-person accounts describing life Charles Hilton, “Hovering across Land hunter, and the company he formed Fairbanks. His research focuses on the and work reveal unique perspectives and Sea: The Use of Hovercraft in imported an enormous steam-powered nature of musical interaction in the on what it means to be Alaskan. Yet Alaska” traction engine to haul a mountain of Western Arctic from the late 18th these same accounts are often “out of Given the extreme weather, vast size, coal over winter trails to the banks of the century to the present day. print” or otherwise lost to the reading and diverse geography of Alaska, there Yukon River. But, as with so many Far public. Whether they are unpublished has always been a need to search for North schemes, the plan offered only manuscripts, self-published volumes, new and unique vehicles for disappointment and the machine soon 14 or printed in limited runs by small transportation and trade. In the 1960s, became an exotic relic of the age. 15 publishers, these documents of the Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015 Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015

Chris Allan is a National Park Service 10:30 am-12:00 pm Noon to 1:15 pm 1:30-3:00 pm historian working for Yukon-Charley AHS-PANEL DISCUSSION STATE OF THE STATE MA-SESSION A Rivers National Preserve and Gates of LUNCHEON Engaging Audiences and the Arctic National Park & Preserve. He Oral Histories and Lessons from Cordova Center North Star Theatre serves on the Alaska Historical Society the Exxon Valdez Community Support, Part 2: Board, and his next book examines his- “The Big Read” Valdez Cordova Center North Star Theatre Judy Bittner and torical mining machines in the (90 min) Linda Thibodeau, speakers. Yukon-Charley Rivers area. Alicia Zorzett Education Room Leslie McCarthy “Look to the Future and the Karen Brewster, “Armed and Alert: Kate Morse 150th anniversary of the Alaska Faith Revell, Curator of Education and Living and Working at Nike Missile purchase” Public Programs, Valdez Museum and Sites in Alaska” Cordova’s world-class fisheries were Historical Archive Alaska’s location made it a key strategic profoundly disrupted by the Exxon Karen Allred, KCHU Radio, “Morning player during the Cold War. Missile Valdez oil spill, an event that led to over Edition Host” and Development Team sites and radar stations were established a decade of economic collapse and social Member around the state to help protect turmoil. This presentation will introduce Mollie Good, Director, Valdez American citizens. For security the Exxon Valdez section of the oral Consortium Library reasons, much of what happened at history clearinghouse Project Jukebox Lanette Oliver, Director, SPACE: these locations was shrouded in and illustrate how oral history is making Science, Physical, Academic, and Cul- secrecy. The personal stories from an educational impact on students, tural Enrichment men who worked at Nike Missile Sites particularly those involved in the around the state tell us about Alaska’s Copper River Watershed Project, to help In this engaging case study of the role in the Cold War and impacts on ensure this type of environmental “The Big Read Valdez” learn how four Alaska and Alaskans, but also offer disaster will never happen again. organizations collaborated and brought understanding of what life was like at a community together to read Jack Lon- remote missile sites, the pressures that Alicia Zorzetto works with the Prince don’s “Call of the Wild.” The Big Read young soldiers were under, and the William Sound Regional Citizen’s is a project of the National impact of the 1964 Earthquake on nucle- Advisory Council; Endowment of the Arts and Arts ar missiles in Alaska. Leslie McCarthy works with the Midwest that encourages a University of Alaska Fairbanks Oral community-wide read of a selected book Karen Brewster is a Research Associate History Program; and civic engagement in a host of Hollis Henrichs, with the Oral History Program/Project Kate Morse works with the Copper activities related to the book’s theme. Local undertaker Jukebox at the University of Alaska Fair- River Watershed Project. and co-founder banks. She has conducted oral history of the Cordova interviews around Alaska for twen- Iceworm Festival, ty-five years on a variety of Photo courtesy of historical and cultural topics. She serves Cordova Historical on the Alaska Historical Society Board Society 16 and is the author of two life history 17 books about pioneering Alaskans. Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015 Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015

1:30-3:00 pm Katherine Arndt, “Touring the Natives, and explorers from other Cadres of ANCSA collaborators and MA-SESSION B Colonies: Inspection Tours by Alaska’s European powers played roles. Details the State of Alaska puppet regime have Russian Governors, 1819-1866” are murky, including the origins of hidden the truth, conspirators claim. Digital Preservation at Small To familiarize themselves with local Kenai, Kasilof, Seward, and Nanwalek. I Unfortunately this theory has been Museums: A Case Study on conditions, the Russian-American will focus on untangling what we know disseminated on social media, repeated Practical Solutions Company’s colonial chief managers about this dramatic era that ended in in public testimony, and published in a Temporary Exhibits Gallery (governors) found nothing to be quite 1799, when the Russian American reputable journal. It is high time to bury as effective as personal visits to the Company under Aleksandr Baranov the three-acre plot, under the grassy Hanna Streicher, Museums Studies far-flung districts of their domain. took control of the region. knoll. Intern, Baranov Museum From Semen Ianovskii through Prince Dmitrii Maksutov, nearly every one of Shana Loshbaugh has been in Alaska Terrence Cole is a history professor at Coming shortly! them tried to visit as many outposts as since 1981, and her resume includes University of Alaska Fairbanks and a possible at least once during his term stints as a farm and factory worker, long-time contributor to work of the of office. Their official reports of their stay-at-home mom, bookkeeper, Alaska Historical Society. observations are being compiled for a journalist, student of Russian and new volume in the Rasmuson Library’s biology, and otter washer following the Historical Translation Series. Here, I Exxon Valdez oil spill. She received a summarize highlights of their visits to doctorate in environmental history from 1:30-3:00 pm Prince William Sound, to the post of the University of Alaska Fairbanks for AHS-SESSION B Nucheck (Konstantinovskii Redoubt) on a dissertation about the Kenai River Hinchinbrook Island. Watershed. Public History and Research Tools Katherine L. Arndt is Alaska and Polar Terrence Cole, “Seward’s Three-Acre Pioneer Igloo Regions Bibliographer at the Elmer E. Folly: The Kostlivtzov Conspiracy and Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska the Denial of the 1867 Alaska Kathy Peavey, “Shamans, Otter Fairbanks. Purchase” Hunters, Cannery Workers: Travelling In recent decades tribal sovereignty around Prince of Wales Island and Shana Loshbaugh, “Early Russian activists, secessionists, and Alaska Southeast Alaska in 1900-1920 via Settlements on the Kenai Peninsula: Native nationalists have embraced a 1:30-3:00 pm Census Records” Dramas and Mysteries” kooky conspiracy theory about the 1867 Census records take us on a journey AHS-SESSION A After Bering’s voyage Russians moved U.S. purchase of Alaska. At two cents an and tell us who was here at the turn of Imperial Alaska east along the North Pacific coast acre, the revisionists claim, William H. the century and what their occupations pursuing furs. In 1784, Grigori Shelikov Seward should have given the Czar six Community Room A were. Italian cannery workers by the and his men conquered Kodiak. For the cents, because he only purchased three dozens in Hunter Bay, a shaman on Fish next fifteen years, the Russian invasion acres. The smoking gun is the so-called Egg Island, otter hunters in Howkan. brought momentous changes to 1867 Kostlivtzov Memo, a Czarist re- Travel back in time and learn of the Southcentral Alaska. Not only Russians sponse to Secretary Seward concerning people and occupations around you. and the indigenous Chugach and Russian America’s “system of division Learn about how to read your area’s 18 19 Dena’ina, but also other Alaskans, Sibe- and measurement of landed property.” past via census information. rian Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015 Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015

Kathy Peavey is a historian and member Jacqueline Fernandez is Curator of 3:30-5:00 pm Angela Schmidt, “Crossroads in the Far of the small and unorganized Craig Collections at the Sheldon Jackson AHS-SESSION A North: The Films of Bud and Connie Historical Society. Kathy has recently Museum in Sitka, Alaska. She has Helmericks” joined the Alaska Historical Society. worked in museums in Alaska, People Shaping Alaska’s Well-known Arctic adventurers Kathy is passionate about salmon primarily with ethnographic and natural History Harmon “Bud” Helmericks and canneries and collecting salmon labels. history collections, since 2008 and Education Room Constance Helmericks explored Kathy owns Island Charters and along previously held the position of Curator northern Alaska together during the with her crew has removed over 100,000 at the Sitka Historical Society. She serves Hild Peters, “Crossroads of Tradition 1940s and 1950s. Movies the couple shot pounds of net, line and plastics off the on the board of Museums Alaska. and Transition: The Life Story of the on 16mm color film were the subject of beaches of Alaska. Reverend Helen Peters of Tanana” national lecture tours. Made with great The Athabascan elder Reverend Helen care and artfulness under extreme living Jacqueline Fernandez, “A Problem of Peters was born in 1929 and is a conditions, these films depict the unique Provenance at the Sheldon Jackson 3:30-5:00 pm second-generation Christian raised by lives of the Helmericks family, as well Museum” MA-SESSION A her grandmothers and Episcopal as the rapidly-changing lives of coastal The collection from Anvik in the Shel- and inland Iñupiat peoples during the Museums Alaska Annual missionaries at Tanana’s Mission of Our don Jackson Museum and its prove- Saviour. Alone at the age of fifteen, she era of pre-Statehood and pre-pipeline nance presents a fascinating challenge— Meeting abruptly transitioned from a Alaska. See scenes from the films and despite being catalogued as being from Cordova Center North Star Theatre subsistence lifestyle to a modern one learn more about how they are being Anvik, the westernmost Athabascan when she moved to Fairbanks in 1945. preserved at the Alaska Film Archives at village in Alaska, the objects were Her life is punctuated by tragedies, University of Alaska Fairbanks. originally catalogued as Yup’ik, losses and unfortunate experience with Angela Schmidt has worked for the likely because of cultural commonalities violence, substance abuse and suicide. Alaska Film Archives in various between the Deg Hit’an and Kolchan She courageously broke the silence capacities since 2000, and has been its peoples and Norton Sound “Eskimos.” surrounding these forbidden topics by director since 2014. She is currently These connections were highlighted opening the door to dialogue. Helen pursuing a master’s degree in Arctic and by E.W. Nelson in “Manuscript on the credits the wisdom of her elders for Northern Studies at the University of ‘Tinne’ Tribes of Alaska.” My guiding her and faith in God for Alaska Fairbanks. presentation will seek to illuminate how sustaining her. these artifacts from the museum’s Zachary Jones, “Yéilnaawú (Dead collection highlight the confluence of Hild Peters is the executive officer for Raven): Documenting a Tlingit Master Athabascan and Yup’ik cultures the College of Natural Science and Artist and His Work” described by Nelson at this apex of Mathematics. In 2014 she completed her Yéilnaawú (also known as Silver rivers and peoples in southwestern master’s thesis Where the Rivers Meet: Jim) was a master Tlingit artist of the Alaska. The Life Story of the Reverend Helen Koosk’eidí clan, Xhaas hít of Sitka. Peters of Tanana, which was an oral Yéilnaawú’s skills included carving, history project and serves as the formline painting, and jewelry. Some of foundation of this presentation. his monumental art pieces include the Sitka Kaagwaantaan Eagle Nest House #67.7.16-1 Photo courtesy of Cordova Historical screen (c. 1900), the Sitka 20 Society, St. George’s Episcopal Church 21 Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015 Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015

a housing development and about its them for political gain, seriously Kaagwaantaan Panting Wolf House by 1879, the institutions and transformation into a Migratory impacting the 1926 Territorial elections. housepost (1904), and the Yakutat relationships of today’s Alaska were Waterfowl Refuge. Teikhweidí Wolf House screen (1905). already taking shape. I will explore how Ghert Abbott is a Ketchikan historian Today Yéilnaawú’s works are present circumstances and events in Ruth Jolly Knapman, a transplanted and recent graduate of the University of in museums and private collections, yet Southeastern Alaska, and in the North- Iowa farm girl, was interested in Alaska Southeast. He is presently this artist’s life is largely undocumented. west and Canada, may have fostered the Alaska history before arriving in working towards a social history of This presentation shares biographical alliance of a segment of Tlingit society Fairbanks fifty-one years ago. She Ketchikan from 1919 to 1931 while information about Yéilnaawú, the with the Presbyterian mission—an became a life member of both also making preparations for graduate context of Tlingit art, and his place in alliance which profoundly influenced Tanana-Yukon Historical Society and school. Alaskan art history. the history of Alaska. Alaska Historical Society, and also joined Pioneers of Alaska and Zachary R. Jones is an Adjunct Rebecca Poulson is an artist in Sitka and Daughters of the American Revolution. Instructor of History/Anthropology at the president of the Alaska Historical Her projects include work at cleaning University of Alaska Southeast and an Society. She publishes a calendar of her up early cemeteries, researching burials Archivist II at the Alaska State Archives. watercolors and prints, and has recently in Alaska, and recording Pioneer Jones is currently a Ph.D. student in used film and installation to explore the genealogies. Ethnohistory through the University of history of Sheldon Jackson School and Alaska Fairbanks. College. She has conducted oral history Ghert Abbott, “Time for a Cleanup: interviews with dozens of former staff Ketchikan’s Red Light District and the and students and is currently writing Politics of Publicity and Reform” a book about the school, of which this 3:30-5:00 pm In the 1920s Ketchikan’s leading citizens presentation is one chapter. AHS-SESSION B believed that positive publicity was essential for Southeast Alaska’s Ruth Jolly Knapman, “The Origins of Evolving Alaskan continued development. It was Creamer’s Dairy: The Longest Communities therefore necessary to overcome Family-Owned Dairy in Alaska” Temporary Exhibits Gallery Alaska’s frontier image and present “Milk selling for $5 a quart at Nome,” Ketchikan as a stable and respectable was the enticement for the Hinkley Rebecca Poulson, “Disease, Gunboats, community. Threatening these efforts family to leave Oregon to go to Nome Sawmills and the Origin of the Sitka was the reality that Ketchikan’s with their dairy herd. No trees to build Mission” merchants were dependent upon the a barn, no natural grass for graze ... and The decade following the 1867 Alaska money brought in by the city’s red light no $5 a quart caused the Hinkleys to Treaty is well documented, but we try district, gambling dens, and bootlegging move their dairy to Barnette’s Cache to fit it into the world that emerged joints. Attempts were made to on the Chena River in 1903. Selling later, and so miss the dynamics of the overcome this contradiction by the dairy to Mrs. Hinkley’s sister and upheaval. Everything was in play, with managing and even hiding the city’s husband, Anna and Charlie Creamer, high political, economic, and, for Alaska underground economy. But these efforts #83.4.1 Photo courtesy of Cordova Historical in 1927 kept the dairy in the family for Natives, existential stakes: ultimately backfired when Native Society, Chief Chimovisky sixty-seven years. Learn how the local activists and Wickite politicians exposed residents kept the dairy from becoming 23 Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015 Friday, October 2, 2015

3:30-5:00 pm in D.C. after working seventeen years DNA testing discovered living give an opportunity for groups to learn AHS-PANEL DISCUSSION in Alaska as a cartographer. descendants in Canada and Alaska. Her from one another on important issues search crosses cultures and borders, and such as: leadership development, Exploring the Past with involves artists, scholars and scientists. mentorship, internships, and more! Political Correctness in Mind 5:00-6:00 pm The project raises questions about Community Room A Alaska Historical Society/ understanding and interpreting ownership, knowledge and connection. Lael Morgan Museums Alaska Joint Board 7:00-8:00 am Ross Coen Meeting MA-BREAKFAST Doug Vandergraft Education Room 7:00-8:00 am ROUNDTABLE B How should we deal with early sources LOCAL HISTORICAL The Future of Museums in whose language is insensitive today? 6:00-8:00 pm SOCIETIES ROUNDTABLE Alaska How do we clarify that certain words 150th Anniversary of the Baja Taco may not make their authors racists? ROVING RECEPTIONS How should the old map description of Pioneer Igloo No. 19 Alaska Purchase Planning Angela Linn, Museum of the North tundra as “nigger heads” be translated Ilanka Cultural Center Roundtable when the politically correct “tundra Copper River Watershed Project Reluctant Fisherman An open forum to discuss both the tussocks” doesn’t adequately describe Roving Receptions is like a progressive pressing issues Alaskan museums are the pain of navigating them? Muktuk dinner for the history-loving soul! You facing right now and where we’re going in the future. Open to big ideas from pipe Marston, who laid the groundwork may visit all three venues or just one 7:00-8:00 am dreams to projects under development. for the Native land claims settlement, and in any order you wish. All are MA-BREAKFAST referred to participants as “dusky with in walking distance and offer hors ROUNDTABLE A skinned” and “simple folk.” Sheldon d’oeuvres and local culture. Jackson, long champion of indigenous Bridging the Gap: Alaskans, is an unnerving read today, as Emerging, Mid-Career, and is much classic Alaska literature. How 8:00 pm Experienced Museum do you tell it like it was? “Tracing Roots” Film Professionals Ross Coen is a PhD student in history Screening Reluctant Fisherman Photo courtesy of at the University of Washington and has Cordova Center North Star Theatre been an Alaska Historical Society board Della Hall, Museum of the North Cordova Historical Society, member since 2010. Ellen Frankenstein, filmmaker This roundtable will be a discussion Helen Grindle, among museum professionals, emerging, Lael Morgan is a writer and founder “Tracing Roots” is a documentary that cannery worker experienced, and everything in between. of Epicenter Press where she serves as follows master Haida weaver Delores and mother of Attendees will divide into groups based acquisitions editor. Churchill on a journey to replicate the our longtime CHS on experience level, and Della will spruce root hat found with Kwaday Dan board member provide discussion points and questions Doug Vandegraft is chief of the Map- Ts’inchi, also known as the Long Ago and volunteer Ira ping and Boundary Branch of the Bu- Person Found. The 300-year-old man for the groups to respond to. This will 24 Grindle 25 reau of Ocean Energy Management was discovered in British Columbia and Friday, October 2, 2015 Friday, October 2, 2015

8:30-10:00 am 10:30 am-12:00 pm 10:30 am-12:00 pm 10:30 am-12:00 pm AHS-KEYNOTE SPEAKER MA-SESSION A MA-SESSION B AHS-SESSION A “Stories We Tell and the Developing a Grant Spotlight on Tribal Museums Alaska’s Fisheries and People Who Tell Them” Proposal and Cultural Centers Canneries Cordova Center North Star Theatre Education Room Temporary Exhibits Gallery Cordova Center North Star Theatre

Dr. Frank Soos, Alaska State Writer Scott Carrlee, Alaska State Museum, LaRue Barnes, Ilanka Cultural Center, Ross Coen, “Fresh from the Can: Laureate, Professor Emeritus of English Curator of Museum Services Eva Malvich, The Yupiit Piciryarait Salmon, Pure Food Laws, and at University of Alaska Fairbanks Amy Steffian, Alutiiq Museum, Museum, Perceptions of Nature in the Early Director of Research & Publication Amy Russel-Jamgochian, Kawweak 20th-Century Alaska Fishing Industry” In his talk, Frank will use a variety of Cultural Center Histories of the early 20th-century personal experiences and a range of The best way to learn grant writing is Alaska salmon canning industry have sources to raise the questions of how to do it! Participants in this hands-on LaRue Barnes tells the story of the tribal shown that technological innovation, we decide what to write about and how session will work in groups to design museum journey including those who low-cost labor, and lax regulation led we account for our authorial selves in and outline the elements of a grant have proven invaluable along the way. to record fish harvests and profits. Few, what we write. Drawing from writers proposal and then share their process. Eva shares upcoming plans for a however, focus on the salmon itself as diverse as paleontologist Stephen Presentations and group discussion will modern Qasgiq turned art incubator actually inside the can. This Jay Gould and popular culture critic help participants learn how to frame a will house a workshop with tools for presentation looks beyond the four Tom Wolfe, with brief stops at Classical request, develop proposal sections, and local artists, a learning space for walls of the cannery and examines how Greek historians and the World Book avoid common pitfalls. Are you writing teaching, a retail space to sell arts and the industry perceived salmon, first as Encyclopedia, Frank will ask his a grant proposal? Do you have a a community space for events and a living creature in the ocean and then audience to examine themselves as proposal that was turned down? Scott celebrations. Amy highlights the main as a commercial product whose quality, carefully as they do their subject when and Amy will also be available at the achievements and challenges in the taste, and appearance on the consumer’s they sit down to write history. conference to provide feedback. Bring 10-year journey to open the region’s first dinner table became a priority. In your ideas or a working proposal and cultural center. marketing canned salmon as pure, sign up for a time to share it with them. wholesome, and even “fresh,” the packers downplayed industrialism and marketed nature.

Ross Coen is a PhD student in history #76.7.24-1 Photo at the University of Washington and has courtesy of been an Alaska Historical Society board Cordova member since 2010. Historical Society, Nirvana Park founded by Henry Feldman 26 27 Friday, October 2, 2015 Friday, October 2, 2015

Bob King, “Salmon Dreamer or Anjuli Grantham, “Cannery Part 1: Archivists will lead a “primary 1:30-3:00 pm Schemer?: Roland Onffroy, Pacific Landscapes on the West Side of Kodiak source research” exercise with the AHS-SESSION A Packing & Navigation, and the Can- Island” audience. This exercise, based on cultural nery War of 1903” In the summer of 2015, the Baranov interactions in Alaska, is suitable for a Politics and Social Justice As Alaska’s canned salmon industry Museum set off to document through wide variety of researcher ages and Cordova Center North Star Theatre boomed at the turn of the 20th oral histories and photography the experience levels. It will introduce century, a self-styled “financial fishing history and culture of the west audience members to when, where, how, Averil Lerman, “The Last Hangings in dreamer” proposed an ambitious plan side of Kodiak Island. The project and why primary sources could be used Alaska: Vengeance or Justice?” to consolidate the entire industry under sought to document the history of set in their research. They will also learn In 1948 and 1950, two men met their a single salmon trust. Roland Onffroy net sites and canneries in this remote how to find, use, and evaluate primary deaths by court-ordered hanging in raised millions to finance his part of the Kodiak archipelago, in sources for their research. Part 2: Archi- Juneau. They were the last two men monopoly, acquired eighteen canner- addition to the contemporary connec- vists from many of the archival hanged in the Territory, and both were ies from Ketchikan to Bristol Bay, and tions to place. This presentation will institutions in Alaska will do lightning hanged for the same 1946 murder of a planned to buy out the rest. Within a describe the fishing landscape of the presentations focusing on their online Juneau shopkeeper. Both were year, his company was the second west side, describing how canneries discovery tools. African-American. A close look at the largest producer of Alaska canned have impacted the geography, the events that led them to the gallows salmon. Then, as it geared up for its economy and the sense of place in the Veronica Denison is an archivist at the raises troubling questions about second season, Pacific Packing & region. UAA/APU Consortium Archives and whether both of those men were really Navigation filed for bankruptcy. What Special Collections. She holds an MSLIS guilty. A careful review of the court happened? Who was Onffroy, the man Anjuli Grantham is Curator of with a concentration in Archives records, coupled with information that with a “commanding presence, Collections and Exhibits at the Baranov Management from Simmons College. was never given to the jurors, compels a convincing tongue, and most charming Museum in Kodiak. She is the Project conclusion that neither trial was fair and and insinuating manner?” And what did Director of the Alaska Historical Gwen Sieja is an archivist at the UAA/ illustrates some of the ways in which the it mean for Alaska’s salmon industry? Society’s Alaska Historic Canneries APU Consortium Library Archives and criminal justice system can fail. Initiative. Special Collections. She holds a Robert W. “Bob” King of Juneau has master’s degree in Library and Averil Lerman is an Anchorage written about Bristol Bay history since Information Studies from the University attorney who spent twenty years he worked at Dillingham public radio of Wisconsin-Madison. litigating the validity of criminal station KDLG in the 1980s. He also 10:30 am-12:00 pm convictions, in state and federal court, served as press secretary for Alaska AHS-PANEL DISCUSSION and now trains other lawyers in post- Governor Tony Knowles and most Noon to 1:15 conviction practice. Ms. Lerman serves Charting the Waters of on the Board of the Alaska Historical recently was an advisor on fish and LOCAL HISTORICAL related issues for U.S. Senator Mark Archival Research Society. Begich. Community Room A SOCIETIES LUNCHEON 2016 SESSION Veronica Denison location TBD Gwen Sieja

28 29 Friday, October 2, 2015 Friday, October 2, 2015

Toby Sullivan, “The 1981 Cannery Matthew McGrath, 1:30-3:00 pm 1:30-3:00 pm Murders: The Alaskan Salmon “Reds and Red Salmon: Anti- AHS-PANEL DISCUSSION MA-SESSION A Industry, Discrimination, and the Communism and the Fishermen’s Talking About Writing Can We do this Program Supreme Court” Unions of Western Alaska” In 1981 two young cannery worker After World War II the fishermen’s Community Room A Together? union organizers, Gene Viernes and unions of western Alaska were at the Temporary Exhibits Gallery Frank Soos Silme Domingo, were gunned down in apex of their power. Years of Chris Allan Seattle by hit men hired by a corrupt federal support established a tradition Maite Agopian, Public Engagement union boss in league with Philippines of collective bargaining where unions Lead, UA Museum of the North If talking might be compared to walking President Ferdinand Marcos. As fought the packers for a fish price. Wendy Goldstein, Museum & (we pick these up quickly and early in Filipino “Alaskeros,” Viernes and Beginning in 1947, fear of communism Community Engagement life), then writing is more like riding a Domingo worked the slime lines of in the fisheries caused civil wars in the Coordinator, Maxine & Jesse Whitney bicycle – we need lessons and plenty of canneries in Southeast Alaska and Alaska Fishermen’s Union and Cordova Museum, Prince William Sound practice. Join author and English Kodiak Island in the 1970s, and their District Fishermen’s Union. It attracted a Community College professor Frank Soos and Alaska experience with institutional racism red-hunting Congressional Committee, Patrick Plattet, Associate Professor, historian Chris Allan for a conversation helped fuel the struggle for Alaskan destroyed the union dream of a Department of Anthropology, UAF about the writing process: where do cannery worker civil rights. The lawsuit coastwise fish price, and paved the non-fiction writers find their topics, how they were part of against three major way for a non-union fishery. By 1954 Collaborating on educational program do we shape those early ideas, what canning companies eventually led to Cold War anti-communism had run its can be as crucial as it is challenging. about research, and how do we know if landmark anti-discrimination law in the course, but the fishermen’s unions were Through different examples and a writing project is ready for U.S. Supreme Court. a thing of the past. perspectives on educational programs publication? This panel session will that include a wide variety of allow us to share our writing strategies Toby Sullivan is Executive Director of Matthew McGrath is a historian and partnerships and levels of involvement and to answer your questions. Kodiak Maritime Museum and is a fifth-year PhD student at Carnegie (time/space/cost), we’ll discuss the writer and longtime commercial Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. He opportunities, value, and complexity Frank Soos is the Alaska State Writer fisherman. is working on his dissertation, which these collaborations bring to our Laureate and Professor Emeritus of studies the transition from labor unions practices. English at University of Alaska to marketing associations and the rise of Fairbanks. an entrepreneurial fisherman. Chris Allan is a National Park Service historian working for Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve and Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve. He also serves on the Alaska Historical Society Board.

30 31 Friday, October 2, 2015 Friday, October 2, 2015

1:30-3:00 pm Three of Cordova’s older buildings are 3:30-5:00 pm planning, implementing, MA-SESSION B the focus of rehabilitation and preservation work currently MA-SESSION A maintaining and managing these Partnering for Historic underway. Gaining assistance from Integrated Libraries, institutions. You’re encouraged to Preservation of Cordova’s historical architects and engineers, Archives and share your curiosity, experience, ideas, questions and solutions. Buildings learning how and where to apply for Museums (LAMS) grants and planning local Pioneer Igoloo Temporary Exhibits Gallery fundraisers will be topics covered by Troy Tirrell, Pioneer Igloo No. 19 these speakers. They will also highlight the rich histories of the Bob Banghart, Deputy Director, State 3:30-5:00 pm Anne Matsov, Valerie Gomez, Libraries, Archives and Museums National Park Service Pioneer Igloo No. 19, the Red Dragon MA SESSION B and St. George’s Church. Nancy Bird, St. George’s Scott Carrlee, Curatory of Museum Using On-Site Conservation Episcopal Church and Cordova Services, Alaska State Museum Projects as Outreach Historical Museum Education Room Heather McClain, Collections Coordinator, Seward Community Monica Shah, Anchorage Museum Library and Museum Tiffany Brunson, Baranov Museum Amy Steffian, Alutiiq Museum Linda Thibodeau, Director, State Helen Alten, Sheldon Museum and Libraries, Archives and Museums Cultural Center

Valarie Kingsland, Director, Seward Presenters will share and discuss how to Community Library and Museum make on-site conservation projects work as educational outreach to your Mixing information institutional types museum community. It can be a and sharing resources is a growing dynamic and fascinating way to attract trend. Sometimes they are called Com- the public to the museum and show munity Centers or Cultural Centers. them what it takes to care for the Regardless of what we call them, they collections. The logistics of several require us to think creatively, innova- successful projects that have been done tively and strategically in order to work #CH 7.2.13 in Alaska and other states will be across professional boundaries to serve described. Photo courtesy our communities successfully. You’re of Cordova invited to join this moderated, yet Historical informal, discussion about the unique Society, challenges of establishing integrated ar- Pioneer Igloo chives, libraries and museums in small communities. Discussion will focus on 32 33 Friday, October 2, 2015 Saturday, October 3, 2015

7:00-8:00 am 9:30-11:00 am 3:30-5:00 pm LOCAL HISTORICAL AHS-SESSION A Alaska Historical SOCIETIES Fisheries, Wildlife Society Annual Meeting ROUNDTABLE Management, and the Cordova Center North Star Theatre Baja Taco Pacific Rim Museum Temporary Exhibits Gallery

Elizabeth Figus, “Southeast Alaska as a Crossroads for Turn-of-the-Century 6:00-9:00 pm Halibut Fishermen” 8:00-9:00 am AWARDS BANQUET The goal of this paper is to explore how Museums Alaska Board Petersburg and Ketchikan functioned Cordova Center Lower Atrium Community Rooms A & B Meeting as crossroads during expansion of the Education Room Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) fishery in the early 1900s. Construction of a cannery in Petersburg in 1899 allowed for regular south-bound shipments of halibut. In 1909, a new cold storage in Ketchikan made it possible to fish year-round in the area. 8:00-9:00 am Halibut landings in Ketchikan dwarfed Alaska Historical landings in Petersburg until the second Societies Board Meeting half of the 20th century. Measured in Community Room A landings, Petersburg continues to be a key halibut fishing town today, while Ketchikan does not.

Elizabeth Figus is an interdisciplinary scientist committed to the development 9:30-11:00 am of responsible fisheries management Museums Alaska Q & A strategies worldwide. Her experience includes industry work in the salmon City gym built in 1935, now Cordova Center North Star Theatre troll fishery in Southeast Alaska and Bidarki Recreation Center. independent fisheries research on two #73.51.33 Photo courtesy of continents. Cordova Historical Society

34 Saturday, October 3, 2015 Saturday, October 3, 2015

Rachel Mason, “Managing Muskoxen Russ Vander Lugt, “Nuchek: Gateway 9:30-11:00 am 9:30-11:00 am in Alaska: From Ice Age Relic to to Prince William Sound, Crossroads of AHS-PANEL DISCUSSION AHS-WORKSHOP Subsistence Species, Source of Cash, the North Pacific” and Nuisance Animal” Located on Hinchinbrook Island at the Opportunities, Challenges, Writers’ Workshop Muskoxen and other megafauna are entrance to Prince William Sound, and Resources for Documenting Education Room thought to have accompanied humans Nuchek was strategically located to and Preserving Alaska’s Canneries across the Bering Land Bridge from serve as a crossroads for interaction and Cordova Center Lower Atrium Michelle Lee Dent Asia to North America during a glacial trade during the 18th and 19th centuries. Community Rooms A& B Workshop cap: 15 participants (may period. Although a few fossil remains Overlooking a spit of sand facing the include waiting list for overflow; no fee) have turned up from the prehistoric Gulf of Alaska, Nuchek guarded Port Anjuli Grantham era, the animals had disappeared from Etches and Constantine Harbor. Bob King Join New York University Professor Alaska by the end of the 19th century. Nuchek was the scene of competing Casey Woster Michelle Dent for a 2-hour writing They were reintroduced on Nunivak claims during the race to the North workshop where you will have the Island in the 1930s and to other parts of Pacific despite Native claims to this Bring your coffee and join us for a opportunity to try out some of your new Alaska in the late 1960s and 1970s. Since gateway since time immemorial. From mug-up for fish heads. Learn about the ideas about this year’s conference theme their reintroduction their numbers have 1778-1788, English, Spanish, and Alaska’s Historic Canneries Initiative, Trade Routes and Crossroads in the grown, and humans have again begun Russian flags anchored in Nuchek’s resources for researching canneries and North Pacific. Writers of all levels are to hunt them. This paper tells about the harbor and various rites of possession fisheries history, and strategies for encouraged to attend. Through a series evolving relationship of humans and were performed. Americans arrived late documenting and preserving maritime of guided prompts, workshop this unusual animal in Alaska. on the scene, but Nuchek retained its history in Alaska. participants will be encouraged to write geographic and economic significance about topics of interest as well as those Rachel Mason has conducted in the region until the early 20th century Anjuli Grantham is Curator of related to this year’s conference theme. ethnographic and ethnohistorical when the site was abandoned. Collections and Exhibits at the Baranov They will also have the opportunity to research in Alaska for many years, Museum in Kodiak. She is the Project explore new approaches to longstanding beginning with fieldwork in Kodiak on Russ Vander Lugt is an Army officer Director of the Alaska Historical Society’s research topics, and/or they may even the occupational identity of commercial currently stationed at Ft. Wainwright. Alaska Historic Canneries Initiative. find themselves delving into family fishermen. She has worked for both the history and memoir. Want to experience state and federal subsistence programs Robert W. “Bob” King of Juneau has the surprising new insights that will and is currently employed in Anchorage written about Bristol Bay history since he occur to you by participating in this as Senior Cultural Anthropologist for worked at Dillingham public radio impromptu writers group? The the National Park Service. station KDLG in the 1980s. He also workshop will be an excellent served as press secretary for Alaska opportunity to play around with prose, Governor Tony Knowles and most to push through writer’s block, to recently was an advisor on fish and experiment with evidence and ideas, related issues for U.S. Senator Mark and to risk sharing your writing with Begich. new and familiar peers and colleagues. Historians, storytellers, tradition Katie Ringsmuth as moderator. bearers, and artists from a wide range Saturday, October 3, 2015 86.33.4, Feeding his pet! Photo courtesy of Cordova Historical Society of experience, including oral-history, 11:30 am-12:00 pm poetry, textile arts, and the visual arts, CLOSING COMMENTS are welcome. Museum professionals with an interest hosting similar Cordova Center North Star Theatre workshops at their home institutions are also encouraged to attend.

Nothing happens unless first we dream. Locations for Other Activities

-Carl Sandburg Registration/Information Table Upper Foyer Wednesday, 8:00-4:30; Thursday 8:00-4:30; Friday 8:00-4:30-; Saturday, 8:00-2:00

Angel Project Education Room Tuesday, September 29, 9:00-4:00

Trade Show/Exhibitors Lower Atrium

Silent Auction Community Room B

Continental Breakfast Lower Atrium- near window

Mug-Ups Upper Atrium- near window Photo courtesy of davidlittlephotography.com 39 Post-Conference Tours Post-Conference Tours

Now THIS is going to be fun!

#79.108.2, Photos courtesy of Cordova Historical Society, Horse Creek Mary, and a very large Copper River Salmon! Post-Conference Cordova Adventures Post-ConferenceThursday, Cordova October Adventures 2

SESSION 1 SESSION 2 SESSION 3 SESSION 4 Crystal Falls Cannery Tour Guided Hike on the McKinley Cordova Dock Walk Harbor Art Reception Meetiing place TBD Lake and Pipeline Lakes Trail Meet at the entrance of the Cordova Center Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Meet at the entrance of the Cordova Center Length: One hour Length: 45 minutes Size Limit: None Times: Tours run at 1:00 pm, Length: Four Hours Time: 2:00 pm; 3:00 pm Cost: None 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, Time: Start at 1:00pm Size Limit: 10 persons per walk Now that you’ve spent a few days and 4:00 pm back at 5:00pm Cost: $5 per person savoring the classic art in the Cordova Size Limit: Six passengers per trip. Size Limit: None Museum by the Alaskan masters such as Ever heard of a highliner? Is that a king Cost: $75.00 per person Cost: None Sydney Laurence, Jules Dahlager, Eustace or a sockeye? What does it mean to get Ziegler…..take the afternoon to see our corked? Come walk the docks with the Join Jack and Cherrie Stevenson as they Take a step back into time on these two contemporary artists work at Harbor Art Copper River Watershed Project and whisk you down the Eyak River to see looping trails guided by a US Forest Gallery. Formed by BarbaraHarvill, this discover the inner workings of the remains of two 1920s era canneries. Service employee. On the way up you gallery provides a studio and inspiration Cordova’s fishing industry. Learn Jack and Cherrie are willing to make will stop at the Mayor of Alaganik’s for many of our talented local Cordovan about the fish and fishermen that make multiple trips if there is interest. This is restored cabin and end at the Lucky artists. Original watercolors, oils, prints Copper River Salmon so special. You’ll an exciting trip on an airboat. Strike Mine. On the way back down and ceramics represent artwork by more see working fishing boats, talk to a Recommended to have rain gear and learn how the Copper River and than twenty local artists. The artists fisherman or two and hear tales of the boots and possibly hats and gloves! Northwestern Railway used the ponds frame and price their own artwork; no sea. We’ll send you home with a can of you’ll visit for water and how the Forest commission is added. The artsits will be salmon! Service is now rearing Cutthroat trout. working at the gallery and invite you to A moderately strenuous hike (5.4 miles come meet them during this special with stops). Recommended raingear, reception for our conference. hiking books (rubber or leather), daypack, water and snacks. Homemade treats, coffee, lemonade, and wine will be served. Harbor Art is located a short walk from the Cordova Center next to Baja Taco. Phone: (907) 253-3512. The artists look forward to meeting you!

#86.5.11Photo courtesy of Cordova Historical Society, Boats at Northern Lights Packing Company at Crystal 42 Falls, circa 1929 43 Post-Conference Cordova Adventures Post-Conference Cordova Adventures

SESSION 5 SESSION 6 Sightseeing Cruise on the Historic Pub Crawl Auklet Meet in the Museums Temporary Gallery after the Awards banquet Meet at the boat on the dock below the AC grocery store Time: Following the Time: 1:00 pm -6:00 pm Awards Banquet, Size Limit: 4 person Minimum; Friday, October 2 Photo and old Size Limit: none 6 person Maximum caption from Cost: $200 per person Cost: $10 per person, his book, benefits the courtesy of Join local naturalists and skilled sailors Cordova Historical Cordova Dave and Annette Janka on their beautiful Society Historical wooden boat, the Auklet for a tour on the Society water. This trip will pass by former Join Host Doug Vandegraff, author of cannery sites including Orca Cannery and “Notorious Bars of Alaska”, for a tour of Shepherd Point Cannery. Because there is at least three of the four bars a high tide on this day the trip will documented in his newly released book: 93-10-161-1 include a special feature, slipping into the the Anchor, the Coho, and the Alaskan. Photo courtesy incredible ‘Hole-in-the-Wall. See sea otters If time allows the group will end up at of Cordova and birds: marbled murrelets, bald eagles, the Powderhouse. Historical common murre, loons, scoters, various Society species of gulls; possibly seals, sea lions and migratory birds. Includes mountain scenery along with human and natural history. Snacks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soft drinks. Chance of Dall’s porpoise, humpback whale, orcas, black bear on the shore.

Photo courtesy of Cordova Historical Society, The Alaskan 44 Bar 45 “In Cordova, ‘Mug Up’ was the break between meals at the canneries. We were served breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mug-up at 10 AM and 2 PM. The Mug-up at 9 PM was more elaborate, more a meal than a snack. Mug-ups usually had homemade cookies, pastries and pies because the FUN FACT canneries had full time bakers. If we worked to mid-night, we got steak Cordova is the largest community and eggs! :) in Alaska that does not have post office Fishermen and cannery workers were invited, but I don’t recall anyone home delivery. Cordovans love going being turned away. On sunny days out at Orca (where my experience is to the post office to greet each other and from, both as a cannery worker and fisherman) Mug-up would be outside get the daily gossip! on big tables set up and carts brought out fresh from the baker. I can’t eat a maple bar without thinking of Nefco mugups.” --Sylvia Lange Cordova Facts and General Information

MUG-UP! I give Cordova The term “Mug Up” was used in coastal businesses a communities by the mid-1800s to describe thumbs up! RESTAURANTS any snack or coffee break throughout the day or evening. Baja Taco- Mexican, B, L, D The Powder House Grill, L, D “Mug ups” were an important part of life Cordova Cafe- Diner, B, L for fishermen. They would gather and have OK Restaurant- Chinese, D a hearty meal and warm up whenever they Reluctant Fisherman- Fine dining, B, L, D could take a break. Today, this nautical Northern Delights- Sandwiches, L, D expression still describes a gathering of Meat Freaks- Sandwiches, L, D people for a drink and meal GROCERIES Mug-up is used by Scouts Canada to Front Door Store describe an evening snack (after dinner, AC Company but before Campfire). It is usually soup or Camtu’s hot chocolate and something to munch on (grilled cheese, etc).

“We’ll meet for a mug-up with the boys when Photo courtesy of Cordova 46 we reach harbour.” Historical Society, M. J. Heney 47 SerendipiTea Gifts, souvenirs and organix all in one place! 505 First Street 424-TEAS Lynne Steen, proprietor, est. 1929

Net loft 1/8 page

ARTIFACTS ALREADY HAVE A PLACE IN HISTORY. Cordova Branch FNBAlaska.com 424-6700 Spacesaver’s storage solutions make sure they’ll have one in the future.

As artifact contributions continue to grow, viable storage space suddenly seems as priceless as the collections you covet. However simple or Ilanka Cultural Center complex your needs, the Workpointe team, an Authorized Spacesaver Representative can provide a free space and storage analysis to account 110 NICHOLOFF WAY • WWW.NVEYAK.COM PH 907.424.7903 for every item. Connect with us at 206.763.4030 or [email protected]. A native gift gallery, tribal reposi- tory and museum in Cordova, one of Alaska’s ancient 9877 40th Ave. S. crossroads. Expe- rience our culture: Seattle, WA 98118 see totems, a full 206.763.4030 | workpointe.com Orca Whale skele- ton, native exhibits including the LOCATED ACROSS FROM Chugach mask FISHERMAN’S MEMORIAL returned to us

from Paris by the MONDAY - FRIDAY 10AM - 6PM Storage Solved® Annenberg Foun- www.spacesaver.com | 800.492.3434 dation. Available HALF PAGE

Laura’s liquors “Commemorating the 1/2 PAGE Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council’s Cordova Chamber of Commerce 1/2 page 25th anniversary as an official voice for the Exxon Valdez oil spill region’s citizens in promoting environmentally safe transportation of oil through Prince William Sound.

Sign up for our email newsletter: The Observer. www.pwsrcac.org, Find us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter The current site of THE RELUCTANT FISHERMAN INN

where, in 1908, the new boom town of Cordova received building materials to build a town in a few short years. Pictured here is the Customs House and the Cable House.

907-424-3201 Reservations only, 1-888-PW-MOTEL or 1-888-796-6835 We’re an easy walk to the harbor, kitchenettes available, great views, and good fishing nearby!

Wilson Construction Inc.

1020 Chase Ave, Cordova, AK 99574 (907) 424-3452

Serving Cordova for over 40 years.

THANK YOU! SERVICES HOURS To all of the behind the scenes folks that helped us put this conference together.

Territory Heritage Consulting Seaview Condo Copper valley telecom Women’s Pioneer full page Serving all your shopping needs. Igloo #5 Located in the New Harbor.

OK rest 1/4

Come see Cordova’s oldest building, “The Red Dragon” Built in 1908 Open Hours Noon- 6:00 pm Thursday and Friday Cordova’s first library known as the Red Dragon reading room. MRV Archit. full page

Founded on the original site of the Copper River Railroad’s dyna- mite powder storage house.

Enjoy Hearty Alaskan cooking, full bar, incredible views, and a little taste of history.

Owner operated since 1984 OPEN FOR LUNCH AND DINNER 11:00 AM - ? 424-5599 OPEN seven days a week 7am -7pm CITY OF CORDOVA FULL PAGE

Front cover, “Spirit Mountain” by Eustace Zeigler, Oil on canvas, 1918. Cordova Museum purchased from Cordova Masonic McKinley Lodge #5 in 1988.

Back cover, “Wild Bill” by Susan Ogle, Oil Orca lodge full page? new page? and acrylic on canvas, 2014. Cordova Museum purchase made possible by the generous support of the Rasmuson Art Acquisition Fund.

Who was “Wild Bill”? William H. Stafford, a spirited Cordova denizen was born in Cable, Wisconsin in 1918. Caught up in the Great Depression, “Wild Bill” lived the life of a drifter, hobo, laborer, until a mining job brought him to Alaska in 1940. He lived all over Alaska eventually settling in Cordova and Hawkins Island to comercially fish the flats. He was a good natured hermit who loved animals and the company of his dogs. KEY 1. The Cordova Center 11. Powderhouse 2. The Pioneer Igloo 12. Baja Taco 3. Reluctant Fisherman Inn 13. Northern Delights 4. Prince William Sound Motel 14. Meat Freaks 5. Eyak Inn 15. Harbor Art 6. Cordova Rose Lodge (1/2 M.) 16. The Net Loft 7. Orca Adventure Lodge (2M.) 8. Airport (13M.) 9. Copper River Watershed 10. Ilanka Cultural Center

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Cordova center map

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13. 16. 9. 12.

15. 14. 10. Welcome to Cordova!

We’re glad to see you.