O.C. and Ruth Connelly collection

Guide to the O.C. and Ruth Connelly photograph album
1938-1941

Collection number: HMC-0562.
Creator:
Connelly, O.C.
Connelly, Ruth.
Title: O.C. and Ruth Connelly photograph album.
Dates: 1938-1941.
Volume of collection: 0.25 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: Photos of the reindeer superintendent and schoolteachers for Saint Lawrence Island, 1938-1940.

Biographical note:
O.C. Connelly was the Local Reindeer Superintendent, Bureau of Indian Affairs, for Saint Lawrence Island from 1938 to 1940. He and his wife, Ruth, also served as the schoolteachers at the village of Savoonga, where they were stationed. Bill, their young son, lived with them. The local superintendent of the reindeer program was the official government representative on the island, responsible for supervising the annual reindeer roundup and harvest, supervising the native-run cooperative store, and teaching at the village school. O.C. Connelly and his son Bill left Savoonga in November of 1940. They took the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Haida to Nome, flew to Anchorage on a Mirow Air Service plane, and then sailed on the S.S. Yukon from Seward to Seattle. They then took a train to Chicago and later visited friends and family in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Ohio, and Indiana.

Collection description:
The collection consists of a photograph album entitled “Alaska Odyssey, Vol. II.” The collection consists of the original album pages, and 92 black and white copy negatives. The original 74-page album contains 425 different mounted black and white prints. Subjects of the photographs include: hunting whales at Gambell; hunting walrus off Punuk Island; beluga whales; sea lions; arctic fox and arctic fox furs being packed; Mirow Air Service planes delivering mail; Connelly family photographs; native schoolchildren and adults at the schoolhouse in Savoonga; artifacts and ancient dwelling at Kookoolik; yearly supplies arriving on the S.S. Sutherland; the arrival of the trading boat, the M.S. Trader; U.S. Coast Guard commander, medical officers, and other crew of the USMS North Star; reindeer camps and roundups; travel to Seattle via Unalakleet, McGrath, Anchorage, Seward, and Juneau; and travel from Seattle to Chicago, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Ohio, and finally to Indiana.

Arrangement: The album pages have been retained in the original order.

Digitized copies: Some images from the album are available online through the Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.

Rights note: The Archives does not hold copyright to this collection.

Preferred citation: O.C. and Ruth Connelly photograph album, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Acquisition note: This collection was purchased by the Archives at internet auction in 2002.

Processing information: This collection was described by Jeffrey Sinnott in 2002.  Further description was added by Frank Grubbs in 2009.

Container list:

Page/Item	Description (captions in quotes)
Inside cover	Portrait of husky dog (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
1a	“Savoonga School bell” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
1b	“Signaling boats” (2.5 x 3.5 inch)
1c	Rowboat off the beach (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
1d	Rowboat off the beach (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
1e-f	“North Star” U.S. Coast Guard Ship USMS North Star off coast.
2a	“The Launching of our Omiak.” (2.25 x 4 inch).
2b	Man and women walking on a beach (2.25 x 4 inch).
2c	“Off to Gambell” Whale boat (2.25 x 4 inch).
2d	Women walking on beach (2.25 x 4 inch).
2e	“Storm clouds” (35mm contact).
2f	“Water boys” (35mm contact).
2g	“Sunset” Gambell school bell (35mm contact).
3a-e	“Hunting walrus at Poongook” Punuk Island. (2.25 x 4.5 inch)
4a-c	“Beluga – White Whales” Whale harvest on shore. (3 prints: 2-2.5 x 4.25 inch, 1-2.5 x 3.5 inch).
5a-c	“Whale hunting at Gambell” (2.75 x 4.5 inch).
6a-b	“Whale hunting at Gambell” (2.75 x 4.5 inch).
6c	“Walrus Hunters” Men with rifles (2.75 x 4.5 inch).
7a-c	“Walrus” (2.75 x 4.5 inch).
8a-b	“Sea Lions – Ooguruk.” (2 prints: 1-2.5 x 4.25 inch, 1-35mm contact).
8c	“Ribbon Seal” Seal skin (35mm contact).
8d	Seal on shore surrounded by people (2.5 x 4.25 inch).
8e	“Scraping walrus skin” (35mm contact).
8f-g	“Gathering seaweeds” (2.5 x 4.5 inch).
9a	“Boats on the bank” (35mm contact).
9b-f	“Bringing in freight”(5 prints: 2-35mm contact, 3-2.75 x 4.25 inch).
9g	“Surf on the beach” (2.75 x 4.25 inch).
10a-e	“Arctic Fox” Fox caught in leg trap (2.75 x 4.5 inch).
11a-c	“Packing Furs” Arctic fox furs packed into sacks inside schoolhouse (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
11d	“Furs-March 1940” Arctic fox furs packed into sacks inside schoolhouse (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
11e-f	“Packing Furs” Arctic fox furs packed into sacks inside schoolhouse (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
12a	“Tomcod fishing” (2.25 x 2.5 inch).
12b-d	“Whale Found, May 1940″ (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
13a-b	“Waiting for mail plane, Jan. 1940” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
13c	“The field runway” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
13d	Musher with dogs pulling a sled (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
13e	“Kappy” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
13f	“Jack” Pilot Jack Jefford with Mirow Air Service planes (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
13g-h	Mirow Air Service planes (2 x 2.75 inch).
14a-s	Family Photographs: Bill Connelly (boy), Ruth (mother), O.C. Connelly (father), Mother M., Tiger (cat), and Major (dog). (19 prints: 2-2.5 x 3.5 inch, 17-35mm contact).
15a	“Ruth [Christopher] and Ellie [Alowa]” (4 x 5 inch).
15b	Two pairs of skis shoved in the snow (2.5 x 3.25 inch).
15c	“Katherine, Bill [Connelly], Hogarth, Gertrude, and Floyd” Children near beach (2.5 x 3.25 inch).
16a	“Tri-motor nosed up – bent all three props in landing” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
16b	“Rescue by Lockheed” Mail plane (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
16c	“Tri-motor Stinson” (2.5 x 4 inch).
16d	“Merle Sasseen” Mirow Air Service pilot with broom (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
16e	“Jack Jefford” Mirow Air Service planes (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
16f	Mirow Air Service plane (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
17a	“Bill, March 1940” Man wearing a parka skiing (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
17b	“Sea Ice” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
17c	Small canal between two ice sheets (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
17d	“Spring 1940” People and village on coast (2.75 X 4.5 inch).
17e	Village under a blanket of snow (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
17f	Small rowboat on a icy beach (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
18a-d	“School Days” Women and girls sewing clothes and other classroom activities.(4 prints: 1-35mm contact, 3-3.25 x 4.5 inch).
19a	“Eleanor, Katherine, and Alice” Schoolgirls and women at schoolhouse in Savoonga (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
19b-c	Schoolgirls and women at schoolhouse in Savoonga (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
19d	“Jean, Ellie [Alowa], Vera and ?” Schoolgirls and women at schoolhouse in Savoonga (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
19e	“May and Effie” Schoolgirls and women at schoolhouse in Savoonga (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
19f	“Sewing class” Schoolgirls and women at schoolhouse in Savoonga (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
20a	“Playhouse built by lst to 3rd Grades” (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
20b-c	“Interpretive Dancing” (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
21a-b	“Eskimo Interpretive Dancing” (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
21c	“Playhouse” (35mm contact).
21d	“Painting” (35mm contact).
21e	“Reading” (35mm contact).
22a-f	“Kukulik Bound!” Boat ride to Kooloolik (35mm contact).
22g-i	“Bones… and ancient dwellings” (35mm contact).
22j	“Where Sambo was found” Human figure or carving (35mm contact).
22k	“Sambo, 1000 yrs old” Carved figure (1.25 x 2.25 inch).
22l-m	“Kermit” Boy on boat (35mm contact).
22n-o	“Home again” (35mm contact).
23a-b	“Artifact from Kukulik” Headless figure from Kookoolik (2.75 x 4 inch).
23c	” Dr. Leighton” Dr. Alexander M. Leighton, M.D. (2 x 2.75 inch).
24a-b	“USMS North Star, July 1940.” (35mm contact).
24c	Men and women working on rowboats at a beach (35mm contact).
24d	“Mother leaves” (35mm contact).
24e	“Mr. Farrell, Albert, O.C. [Connelly]” (35mm contact).
24f	“Visitors” (35mm contact).
24g	“Nurses Leake and Sheridan” (35mm contact).
24h	“Camerons” Howard and Edna Cameron (35mm contact).
24i	“Lookout Point” (35mm contact).
24j	“Store-Warehouse Co-Op” (35mm contact).
24k-l	“Sunset” (35mm contact).
25a	“S.S. Sutherland – 1939″ Ship offshore (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
25b	“Yearly supplies arrive” (2.5 x 4.5 inch).
25c-f	“Bringing in the Sutherland by echo thru the dense fog.” Man ringing schoolhouse bell (35mm contact).
26a-c	S.S. Sutherland offloading supplies (35mm contact).
26d	“Capt. Westerholm” (35mm contact).
26e	Sailor on deck of S.S. Sutherland (35mm contact).
26f	Lifeboat of S.S. Sutherland (35mm contact).
26g	“Cap” Captain Westerholm (35mm contact).
26h	“O.C. and Westerholm” (35mm contact).
26i	“Miriam Kulowiyi” (35mm contact).
26j	“Westerholm and Ruth” (35mm contact).
26k-r	“Longshoring year’s supplies – 1940” (35mm contact).
27a	“M.S. Trader arrives” Boat going out to meet vessel (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
27b	“Pete Paullson (Icelander)” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
27c	“M.S. Trader, Ira Rank’s trading boat” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
28a	“USCGC Alert – 8/8/39” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
28b	“Mother arriving on the USCGC Alert” (3.25 x 4.5 inch)
28c	Two rowboats on shoe and a ship in the distance (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
29a	“Checking for ice movements” Man on top of tower (35mm contact).
29b	“Doctor Parker and Chief Executive Surat, U.S.C.G.” Lieutenant Commander R.C. Sarratt, Commanding Officer of the USMS North Star (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
29c	“Dr. Smith and Leake, R.N” (35mm contact).
29d	Rowboats on shore amongst men and women. (35mm contact).
29e	“Radio operators and Bill [Connelly], 1938” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
29f	“Pharmacists Mate, Dr. Dental Asst., Dentist (Chief out of Washington) and Leake, R.N.” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
30a-u	Bill Connelly and Gambell residents: Ruth Christopher, Sally Christopher, Allen Alowa, Ellie Alowa, Martha, Fred, Baby Mark, May, Effie, Florence, Romola Tumbloo, Mrs. Albert, Vera Kingeekuk, Omah Okka, Mrs. Seppilu, John Kulowiyi, Harvey Iya, Barbara, and Calvin (35mm contact).
30v	“New suits” Three boys in suits (35mm contact).
31a-c	“Flying high!!” (35mm contact).
31d-i	“Eskimoes at play” (35mm contact).
31j	“Leake” Nurse (35mm contact).
31k-l	“Bill on the beach” (35mm contact).
31m	“Leake” Nurse (35mm contact).
31n	“Allen, Vera, Gertrude” Vera and two small children (2 x 2.75 inch).
32a-d	“Allen Alowa” Infant boy and mother Ellie. Photographs of boy at “1 month,” “2 months,” and “4 months” (4 prints: 3-2.5 x 3.5 inch, 1-1.5 x 2 inch).
32e	“Sleepy boy” (2.75 x 4 inch).
33a-d	“Allen[‘]s first steps” Infant Allen Alowa (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
34a	Infant Allen Alowa (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
34b	“1 year old” Infant Allen Alowa (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
34c	Infant Allen Alowa (2.75 x 4.5 inch).
35a-c	“Ruth and Sally Christopher, Ellie and Allen Alowa” Mothers with babies on their backs with O.C. Connell in front of Savoonga schoolhouse (2.75 x 4.5 inch).
36a	“Ruth and Sally” Christopher family (2.25 x 3.5 inch).
36b	“Sally and Christopher” Christopher family (2.5 x 2.5 inch).
36c	“Ruth, Sally and Ellie [Alowa]” Christopher family (2.25 x 3.5 inch).
36d	“Sally” Christopher family (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
37a-d	“Sally Christopher” Infant (4 prints: 3-3.25 x 4.5 inch, 1-2.25 x 3.25 inch).
38a	“Ruth and Sally [Christopher]” (2.75 x 4.5 inch).
38b	“Lawrence and son of Gambell” (2.5 x 4 inch).
38c	“Nilla Klukwan and Teddy Hin[c]kley, Gambell” (2.25 x 3.5 inch).
38d	“Ted Hin[c]kley and Teddy, Gambell” Schoolteacher and son at Gambell (2.25 x 3.5 inch).
39a	“Leake at reindeer camp” Nurse Leake (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
39b	“Leake on Kukulik Trail” Sitting holding camera, Kookoolik Trail (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
39c	“‘My tent is all gone’ – reindeer camp” Nurse Leake (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
40a-c	Inupiat men (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
40d	“Irving Ifkohluk” Man holding geese carcasses in front of tent (2.75 x 4.5 inch).
41a-c	“Gambell People” Women and children, and women dancers (3 prints: 1-3.25 x 4.5 inch, 2-2.75 x 4.5 inch).
42a-c	“Beaching a whale boat” (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
43a-c	“Reindeer Camp, 1939” (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
44a-e	“Reindeer Camp scenes, 1939” (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
45a	” Reindeer Camp, 1939, Chopping firewood” (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
45b	” Reindeer Camp, 1939, Tent town” (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
45c	“Reindeer Camp, 1939, Music hath charms!” Natives listening to phonograph in tent (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
46a-d	“Scenes at North Cape reindeer camp”(2.25 x 3.25 inch).
46e	“OC, Irving [Ifkohluk], Bill and Ronald” (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
47a	“Mug up time” Reindeer camp (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
47b	O.C. [Connelly], Bill [Conelly], and Nurse Leake eating in tent, Reindeer camp (2.25 x 3.25 inch).
47c	“Relaxation” Reindeer camp (2.75 x 4.5 inch).
48a	Children playing in pit (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
48b	Children playing in pit (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
48c	“Just kids play” Children playing in pit (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
49a-c	“Reindeer come!” Children outside corral (3.25 x 4.5 inch).
50a-h	“10,000 Reindeer” Reindeer herded into corral (2.25 x 3.25 inch).
51a-h	“Reindeer, reindeer everywhere!” butchering and carcasses (2.25 x 3.25 inch).
52a	“Back to the hills and freedom” Reindeer crossing stream (2.25 x 3.25 inch).
52b	“Skins drying” (2.25 x 3.25 inch).
52c	Men skinning reindeer pelts. (2.25 x 3.25 inch).
52d	Skins drying (2.25 x 3.25 inch).
52e-f	“Skinning” (2.25 x 3.25 inch).
52g	“Skinning” (2.25 x 3.25 inch).
52h	“Carcasses” (2.25 x 3.25 inch).
52i	“Legs for mukluks” (2.25 x 3.25 inch).
53a-b	“More than 10,000 reindeer by actual count!” (2.75 x 4.5 inch).
53c	“Frank Sepillu, Irving Ifkohluk, Secretary-Counters” Men sitting in small tent (2.75 x 4.5 inch).
54a-d	“Through the crowding pens, to the cute and freedom – (sometimes).” (4 prints: 3-3 x 4.5 inch, 1-2.5 x 4.25 inch).
54e	“Fawn” (2.5 x 4.25 inch).
55a-c	“Reindeer roundup Counting, Butchering, Castrating” (2.75 x 4 inch).
56a-c	Reindeer roundup (2.75 x 4 inch).
57a-b	Reindeer roundup (2 prints: 1-2.25x 3.25, 1-2.75 x 4 inch).
57c	“Baby bird on Secretary’s table” (2.75 x 4 inch).
58a	“USCGC Haida – enroute Nome”(2.75 x 4 inch).
58b	“Louise Polet – Nome” (2.75 x 3 inch).
58c-d	“King Island – home of the cliff-dwelling Eskimoes” (2.75 x 4 inch).
58e	“Rev. Merle Smith – Flying Adventist Mission Field Worker, Nome, November 1940” (2.75 x 4 inch).
59a	“Refeuling at Unalakleet” Mirow Air Service plane (2.75 x 4 inch).
59b	“On to McGrath” (2.75 x 4.25 inch).
59c	“Roadhouse at McGrath, Grounded by weather” Clough’s Roadhouse. (2.75 x 4.25 inch).
59d-e	“Over Alaska Range” View from plane (2.75 x 4.25 inch).
60a-d	“Mt. Mckinley 20,230 ft” (2.5 x 4 inch).
60e-f	“Alaska Range” (2.5 x 4 inch).
61a-b	“Thru the pass North of Mt. McKinley” (2.5 x 4 inch).
61c	“Glacier” (2.5 x 4 inch).
61d	Mountain rage photograph shot from a plane (2.5 x 4 inch).
61e-f	“Down the R.R. to Anchorage” (2.5 x 4 inch).
62a	Aerial photograph of lakes (2.5 x 4 inch).
62b	Aerial photograph through plane’s prop (2.5 x 4 inch).
62c-e	“Anchorage” (2.5 x 4 inch).
62f	“Runway at Merril[l] Field” (2.5 x 4 inch).
63a-f	“On board the S.S. Yukon down the Inside Passage from Seward to Seattle” (2.5 x 4 inch).
64a-f	Juneau waterfront views, purchased tourist photographs (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
65a-r	Southeast Alaska, purchased tourist photographs (1.5 x 2.5 inch).
66a	“Chicago Bound” Train locomotive (2.5 x 4 inch).
66b	“Totem Pole – Lincoln Park, Chicago” (2.5 x 4 inch).
66c	“Somewhere in Montana” (2.5 x 4 inch).
66d	“Ann, Mother, Charles Jr., Aunt Rose, Bill at Aunt Roses’s – Chicago” (2.5 x 4 inch).
66e	“Grandpas and Bill – Seymour” (2.75 x 4 inch).
67a-f	“Lincoln Park Zoo – Chicago”(2.75 x 4 inch).
68a	“Enroute Washington, D.C.” (2.75 x 4 inch).
68b	“Old Hotel – Frederick, Md.” (2.75 x 4 inch).
68c	“Cousin Art and family” (2.75 x 4 inch).
68d	“Art and Olga’s Home – Washington” (2.75 x 4 inch).
68e	“Olga and Sue” (2.75 x 4 inch).
69a	“Looking down Mall toward Washington Monument” (2.5 x 4 inch).
69b	“U.S. Capital (Need we tell you?)” (2.5 x 4 inch).
69c	“Under Lindbergh’s plane in Smithsonian” (2.5 x 4 inch).
69d	“White House as seen from top of Washington Monument” (2.5 x 4 inch).
69e	“Bill Wicks, Bill [Connelly], and OC [Connelly]” (2.5 x 4 inch).
69f	“Bill’s [Wicks] home in Columbus, O.” (2.5 x 4 inch).
70a	“Sixth Street in Terre Haute” (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
70b	“Kay, Ann, Ball Residence, Medical Center, Indianapolis” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
70c	“Kay along Fall Creek” (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
70d	“Formal Gardens, Ball Residence” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
70e	“Bill [Connelly] and Kay by Fall Creek, Our first spring picnic” (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
70f	“Rear of Ball Residence and formal gardens” (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
71a	“Rotary Convalescent Home” Medical Center, Ball State University, Indianapolis, Indiana (2.5 x 3.5 inch).
71b	“Riley Hospital (Children’s Orthopedic)” Medical Center, Ball State (2.5 x 3.75 inch).University, Indianapolis, Indiana
71c	“Front of Ball Residence” Medical Center, Ball State University, Indianapolis, Indiana (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
71d	“Coleman Women’s Hospital” Medical Center, Ball State University, Indianapolis, Indiana (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
71e	“Indiana State Board of Health” Medical Center, Ball State University, Indianapolis, Indiana (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
71f	“The Cottage” Medical Center, Ball State University, Indianapolis, Indiana (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
72a	“Indiana State Teachers College Campus, Kay, Janie, and Bill [Connelly]” (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
72b	“Indiana State Teachers College Campus, Janie, Bill [Connelly], OC [Connelly], Kay” (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
72c	“Ft. Knox – where the gold is buried”(2.5 x 3.25 inch).
72d	“Lincoln Memorial Log Cabin, Hodgkinville, Ky.” (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
72e-f	“The Parthenon – Nashville, Tenn.” (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
73a	“George Rogers Clark Memorial” (1.75 x 2.75 inch).
73b	“George Rogers Clark Park” (2.75 x 4.25 inch).
73c	“St. Meinrad Monastery”(2.75 x 4.25 inch).
73d	“George Rogers Clark” Bronze indoor statue (2.75 x 4.25 inch).
73e	“Santa Claus Statue, Santa Claus, Ind.” (2.75 x 4.25 inch).
74a-b	“Redbud trees in bloom in hills overlooking Ohio River in Southern Indiana” (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
74c	“Beautiful Ohio” (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
74d	“Kappa Pi Initiation – 1941” (2.5 x 4.25 inch).
74e	“Kappa Pi -Natl Art Fraternity” (2.5 x 3.75 inch).
74f-h	“Weekly visit to Dr. Welch, Orthodontist” (1.75 x 2.25 inch).