Guide to the Fletcher Miller papers
1928-2002
Collection number: HMC-1000.
Creator: Miller, Fletcher, 1923-2007.
Title: Fletcher Miller papers.
Date: 1928-2002.
Volume of collection: 12.0 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: Papers of a beekeeper in Anchorage, Alaska.
Biographical note:
Fletcher Miller was a lifelong beekeeper. His father was a commercial beekeeper and county bee inspector in Colorado in the 1920s and 1930s, and his uncle and father had a package and queen bee business out of Texas. Fletcher took over his father’s bees when he was a junior in high school but sold them when he was drafted in World War II, during which he served in China. Fletcher moved to Alaska in 1954 and was told by Alaska Division of Agriculture that bees would not do well. Fletcher put aside thoughts of beekeeping and concentrated on his job as an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) electrician.
In 1978, Fletcher saw a swarm of bees near his Anchorage home, made inquiries, and learned there were a number of hobby beekeepers in the Anchorage area. He and Tom Elliott co-founded Cook Inlet Beekeepers Association (CIBA) and Alaska State Beekeeping Association. Fletcher started CIBA’s newsletter in 1981. As a member of the beekeeping organizations, he worked to have state regulations in place regarding the importation of bees, specifically to deal with brood diseases such as American Foulbrood (AFB). He was very active in educating local politicians, city residents, and students in Anchorage schools about apiculture through maintaining a live bee exhibit at the Alaska Zoo and at the Imaginarium, teaching school and community education classes, and working with local youth groups. Fletcher is buried in Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery alongside his wife, Marilyn, who died of cancer in 1992.
Collection description:
The collection consists primarily of materials relating to beekeeping efforts, though also includes a small amount of biographical and personal papers. Beekeeping materials include educational materials, beekeeping association files, beekeeping publications, photographs, audiocassettes, and videotapes.
Arrangement: The collection is grouped into several series: personal papers, educational materials, association files, beekeeping publications, photographs, audiocassettes, and videotapes.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Copyright to materials authored by Fletcher Miller is held by Archives and Special Collections.
Preferred citation: Fletcher Miller papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Separated materials: Several complete or near-complete journal runs of beekeeping journals were transferred to the Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (ARLIS).
Acquisition note: The collection was given to Archives & Special Collections by Timothy Miller on behalf of the Fletcher Miller family in 2008.
Processing information: This collection was arranged and described by Sigrid Brudie in 2010.
Container list:
| Box | Series | Dates |
| 1 | Personal files | Circa 1976-2002 |
| 2 | Educational materials | 1928-1997 |
| 3-6 | Association files | 1980-2002 |
| 7 | Beekeeping publications | 1928-1989 |
| 8 | Photographs | Circa 1990s |
| 9 | Audiocassettes | Circa 1980-1985 |
| 10-11 | Videocassettes | Circa 1980-2000 |
| 12 | Oversize photographs and clippings | Circa 1970-2000 |