Guide to the Patricia and Richard Garvin papers
circa 1942-2021
Collection number: HMC-1395.
Creator:
Garvin, Patricia.
Garvin, Richard.
Title: Patricia and Richard Garvin papers
Dates: circa 1942-2021.
Volume of collection: 5.0 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: Papers and photographs of an Anchorage couple who were involved in the travel industry.
Biographical note:
Patricia “Patti” McCarthy was born in 1927 and died 2017. She moved to Alaska in 1954 and worked for the KFRB radio station in Fairbanks from 1957-1962. During her time working for the radio station, she married Dick in 1948. After radio, she worked for the Division of Land, Mines, and Minerals for 27 years. She was an Anchorage Flowers contest winner and received the Mayor’s Award for Public Service.
Richard “Dick” Garvin was born 1926 and died 2021. He moved to Alaska in 1942 and had a career in radio and tourism. Dick started working for the Anchorage KBYR radio station in 1954. He was promoted to general manager of the Fairbanks KFRB radio station and worked there from 1957 to 1962. Dick started his career in tourism in 1964, when he began working in Anchorage for Alaska Airlines. In 1984, he and his wife purchased American Travel Service in 1985 from Princess Tours, where he was president until 1987. He also worked for the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau from 1990 to 2004. Dick was a member of the Alaska Travel Industry Association, retiring as its president in 2006.
The couple had an interest in Japanese art and culture, which was reflected in the design of their award-winning backyard garden.
Collection description:
This collection contains primarily papers and photographs related to the Garvins’ involvement in the travel and tourism industry in Anchorage, as well as their personal activities. The papers include family history information, tariff sheets from Munz Airways, travel pamphlets, and digital copies of newspaper clippings. The photographs include personal prints and slides, including photographs of their award-winning garden. The collection also contains several VHS tapes, awards, and memorabilia.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by type of material.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Digital materials: The digital contents of this collection are not available online. Access may only be provided on-site in the Archives research room. For more information about potential distance access to digital records, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives and Special Collections holds copyright to collection materials created by Dick and Patti Garvin.
Preferred citation: Patricia and Richard Garvin papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Separated materials: Published materials were removed from the collection, and selected publications were added to Ephemera collections.
Acquisition note: Debbie Eaton, Dick’s niece, gifted the collection to the Archives in 2022.
Processing information: This collection was described by Shu Mayer and Gwen Higgins in 2022.
Container list:
| Box | Description |
| Box 1 | Family history research, correspondence, awards, photos, travel brochures |
| Box 2 | Photographs |
| Box 3 | Photographs, VHS tapes, CDs |
| Box 4 | Photograph Albums (intact) |
| Box 5 | Memorabilia |
| Box 6 | Oversized photographs, awards and certificates, tariffs |
| Oversize folder | Baby picture of Dick Garvin, “Klondike Nights” program |
| Oversize roll | Travel posters, maps |