Guide to the J. Otto and Virginia Lee George photographs
1936-1940
An Alaska Historical Society collection
Collection number: HMC-1397-AHS.
Creator: George, J. Otto.
Title: J. Otto and Virginia Lee George photographs.
Dates: 1936-1940.
Volume of collection: 0.02 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Photographs from an Indian Health Service doctor and his wife based in Akiak, Utqiagvik, and Bethel, Alaska.
Biographical note:
Dr. J. Otto George and his wife, Virginia Lee George, a nurse, came to Alaska in 1936 to provide medical care in Akiak through the Indian Health Service. They also lived in Barrow and served in other locations in Alaska. They left Alaska in approximately 1940 to live in Oregon. Dr. George later wrote a memoir of his time in Alaska entitled Eskimo Medicine Man.
Collection description:
This collection contains 125 black and white negatives and 1 photograph of people and scenes around Akiak, Utqiagvik, Bethel, and unidentified areas from roughly 1936-1940. The images include a whale hunt, children in a dog sled, an airplane, family portraits, and houses.
Arrangement: The photographs are in the order in which they arrived at the Archives.
Digitized copies: This collection has been digitized. Digitized copies of collection materials are not available online, however they are available to view in the Archives Research Room. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: The Archives holds copyright to materials in this collection created by J. Otto and Virginia Lee George.
Preferred citation: J. Otto and Virginia Lee George photographs, Alaska Historical Society collections, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Related materials: Otto George’s diaries from his time in Alaska are held by Alaska and Polar Regions Collections and Archives at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Acquisition note: This collection was donated to the Alaska Historical Society in 2022 by Michael George, son of Otto and Virginia. The Historical Society retains ownership of the collection and placed it on deposit in Archives and Special Collections in 2022.
Processing information: This collection was described by Arlene Schmuland in 2022. Additional information added by Becky Butler in 2023.