Guide to the Estelle and Philip Garges papers
1928-1929, 1947
Collection number: HMC-0381.
Creator:
Garges, Estelle.
Garges, Philip.
Title: Estelle and Philip Garges papers.
Dates: 1928-1929, 1947.
Volume of collection: 0.40 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers and photographs of a couple who traveled in Alaska from 1928 to 1929 and stayed for several years.
Biographical note:
Philip Garges was born in Washington, D.C., in 1902. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1924 and received a degree in civil engineering from Cornell University in 1926. He married Mary Estelle Tyler in 1928, and they traveled to Alaska on their honeymoon. While in Alaska they travelled on the S.S. Alaska, S.S.Aleutian, and the Alaska Railroad. Philip Garges was also on his way to Fairbanks to work for the Alaska Road Commission. The Garges lived in Alaska for several years. Mary Jerene Garges, their daughter, was born in Juneau in December 1929. Later, Philip Garges served in World War II and in 1952 became district engineer in Buffalo, New York. He retired in 1954 at the rank of colonel. He died in Annandale, Virginia in 1983.
Collection description:
The collection consists of papers and copies of photographs from a photograph album relating to Philip and Estelle Garges’ trip and stay in Alaska. The papers include a copy of a journal begun by Estelle Garges and maintained by her and her husband, several letters, and newspaper clippings. The collection also includes several photographs with scenes of Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks, the Steese Highway, and road construction.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1: Personal papers and correspondence; undated, 1928, 1947
Series 2: Photographs; 1928-1929
Alternative formats: The collection contains a xerographic copy of the original photograph album as well as contact prints and copy negatives.
Digitized copies: Selected materials have been digitized and can be found on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives holds copyright to materials created by Estelle and Philip Garges.
Preferred citation: Estelle and Philip Garges papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Separated materials: Copies of publications were removed from the collection. Please ask an archivist for further information.
Acquisition note: The photograph album was loaned to Archives and Special Collections in 1991, and contact prints, copy negatives, and a xerographic copy were made. A deed of gift was signed in 1992 by Jerene Garges Jones.
Processing information: This collection was described by Dennis Walle in 1992. The guide to this collection was converted to current standard by Veronica Denison in 2015.
Location of originals: The original photograph album is with the Garges family.
Container list:
Series 1. Personal papers and correspondence; undated, 1928, 1947. 0.10 cubic feet.
This series consists primarily of papers relating to the Garges’ trip to and stay in Alaska in 1928. Included are part of a diary, letters, and postcards.
| Folder | Description | Box |
| 1 | Diary: Describes stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Seward, Anchorage, Curry, and Fairbanks, and two U.S. Army Signal Corps telegrams from Phil Garges to Mrs. P.R. Garges | 1928 |
| 2 | Postcards sent: Mailed by Estelle Garges from Fairbanks to Mr. P.J. Fitzgibbons, Mrs. P.J. Fitzgibbons, and Mr. D.E. Garges | 1928 September |
| 3 | Letters received: Emerson Itschner (Fairbanks) to Phil (Juneau); Emerson L. Cummings (Juneau) to Phil; Lt. Col. Charles B. Eggen (Alaska Air Command) to Col. and Mrs. Garges (Fort Belvoir, Virginia) | 1928, 1947 |
| 4 | News clippings: The New Poor, sponsored by the Loyal Order of Moose; Alaska Road Commission and the Kuskokwim Portage | undated, 1929 |
Series 2. Photographs; 1928-1929. 0.30 cubic feet.
This series contains a xerographic copy of the photograph album loaned to Archives and Special Collection for copying, as well as contact prints and copy negatives of most of the photographs in the original album. The photograph album documents the Garges’ trip to Alaska in 1928, as well as their stay through 1929.
| Folder | Description | Dates |
| 5 | Xerographic copy of photograph album | 1928-1929 |
| 6 | Photographs: Alaska towns and villages, roadhouses, houses, people, airplanes, ships and boats, gold mining operations, road and bridge building, the Steese and Richardson highways, the Alaska Road Commission, the Alaska Railroad, sled dog racing, and animals. Towns and villages include Fairbanks, Circle Hot Springs, Central, Chena Hot Springs, Skagway, Tanana, Fort Gibbon, Ruby, Kaltag, Russian Mission, Bethel, Nome, and Anchorage | 1928-1929 |
| 7-8 | Copy negatives and contact prints | 1928-1929 |