This post covers our activities for the months of May and June. We have largely been working from home over the last few months, and we have had to shift our focus to activities that can be done remotely. This means a lot of new items on Alaska’s Digital Archives, as well as a new topic guide on law in Alaska. Arlene also participated in an online forum hosted by Cook Inlet Historical Society.

Alaska’s Digital Archives

Added metadata to 20 photographs from the Leland Olson papers. Leland Olson traveled to many White Alice sites in Alaska and Canada during the construction of the telecommunications system.

11 letters and 1 colonist resettlement contract from the Thelma Caulkins papers. Digitized for for a university history teacher using them in a class on the New Deal.

Hans J. Christensen with dog team, 1917.

115 photographs from the Hans J. Christensen family photograph album.

35 photographs and 1 event program from the Alaska Black Caucus, Inc. records.

Attendees at Alaska Black Caucus, Fourth Annual Awards Banquet, January 19, 1980.

62 transcriptions of Ruben Gaines recordings have been added to the description of those items. Thanks to Robin Hanson and Alice Cone for all their hard work in transcribing the recordings!

Topic guides

Law related collections. Our newest topic guide lists collections related to law in Alaska, including papers of lawyers and collections related to lawsuits. We’re working on converting all of our guides to this new format.

Events

Arlene participated in an online forum hosted by Cook Inlet Historical Society and the Anchorage Museum on June 18. The forum was entitled: “We’re Saving It For You: The Value and Importance of Archives.” The panel included Dr. William Schneider, retired Professor and Oral Historian at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bruce Parham, retired archivist from the National Archives Anchorage branch, and Arabeth Balasko, archivist at the Anchorage Museum.