Guide to the J. D. Hanson photographs
1941-1943
Collection number: HMC-0866.
Creator: Hanson, J. D.
Title: J. D. Hanson photographs.
Dates: 1941-1943.
Volume of collection: 0.2 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Photographs of a seaman on the U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Aurora in Alaska waters during World War II.
Biographical note:
J. D. Hanson was a seaman on the U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Aurora, which served in Alaskan waters from 1942 to 1945. The Aurora, a 165 foot Thetis-Class cutter, was commissioned in 1931. During World War II, the cutter was armed with depth charges and dual-purpose batteries and assigned to the Northwest Sea Frontier, stationed in Juneau, Alaska. The cutter was assigned to escort duty, leading 18 convoys between Icy Straits, Yakutat, Seward, Alitak, Dutch Harbor and Chernofski from January to May 1942, and more convoys from Kodiak to Icy Straits and return from July to August 1942. After undergoing repairs in Seattle, the cutter resumed escort duty and anti-submarine patrols in Alaska from January 1943 until the end of the war. The Aurora was decommissioned in January of 1967.
Collection description:
The collection consists of the contents of the World War II era photograph album of U. S. Coast Guard seaman J. D. Hanson, as well as a photo lot that was kept with the album. The contents of the photograph album: the illustrated portion of the album cover; an album page illustrated with a drawing of a rising sun with the title, “Alaska Scenes, ’42-’43”; a hand drawn color cartoon of Bugs Bunny sitting on the top of a submarine periscope and holding a depth charge in his hand, with the caption, “What’s cooking, Doc?”; 89 original black and white prints from the album; 36 black and white Alaskan commercial tourist prints; and 11 black and white Alaskan tourist photo post cards. Also included is a lot of 48 black and white prints kept with the album of images taken aboard the Cutter Aurora. The subject of the original photographs include: officers and sailors aboard the U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Aurora; family and friends; the town of Sitka; a patrol boat; and various Alaskan coastal scenery. Officers and sailors identified in the photographs include: Lieutenant Commanders F. M. McCabe and Reynolds, and seamen Harry G. Emmons, Ted Secrettie and Charles Mills. The tourist prints and post cards are of Alaskan towns, people, wildlife and scenery, as well as a poem about rain.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by type of material. Photographs are further arranged by size.
Alternative formats: The collection contains a xerographic copy of the original 29 page album to indicate original order.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives and Special Collections does not own copyright to the collection.
Preferred citation: J. D. Hanson photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: The collection was purchased by the Archives on eBay in 2006.
Processing information: The original photograph album was dismantled, the contents rearranged, and the collection described by Jeffrey Sinnott in 2006. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard by Gwen Sieja in 2015.