Today, March 26, is the anniversary of the day the White Alice communications network was put into service. In a random bit of serendipity,this morning I finished the finding aid (collection guide) to the Leland Olson papers. Lee Olson was a surveyor and personnel manager for Western Electric, one of…
Guest blogger: Mariecris “I feel Kuumba is a funnel through which information, feelings, political climate, racial dilemmas can be acknowledged and resolved. In order to achieve our highest potential we must recognize ourselves, our culture and values. It’s time that we name ourselves, understand ourselves and create for ourselves!” Paula…
Guest blogger: Megan If you’re just tuning in, we’re celebrating Black History Month here at the Archives & Special Collections blog (with a brief detour for some Valentine’s Day affection). Mariecris and I have been highlighting collections from our archives that focus on the history of blacks in Alaska, and…
One of the things we love about working in archives is that sometimes the papers give you a little glimpse into people’s lives. Not the important, momentous, world-shaking events, but daily lives. A window on relationships, family, love. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, all three of us (Mariecris, Megan,…
Guest blogger: Mariecris. Black History -Will no longer be taught in the context of slavery then freedom, of our arrival in the country before the Mayflower in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. – Yes earlier than Mayflower dropping anchor at Plymouth Rock. -As you study history the best way to acquire…
Guest blogger: Megan Last week, we had a visit to the Archives by Channel 2 (KTUU) to film a segment on African American history in anticipation of February’s Black History Month. The collection they were most interested in seeing and talking to us about – and by “us” I really…
Apparently, I (Megan) can’t hide in my office anymore and plead my newbie status as an excuse for not writing a blog post. I’ve been Reference Archivist here in Archives & Special Collections for two weeks now and an Alaskan for just three weeks. And what a busy three weeks…
Guest blogger: Mariecris Anyone passing by the Archives the first few weeks of December may have seen a curious sight: me working behind a blockade of boxes. I wouldn’t say that I was “hiding behind my work.” But at times my work involves being immersed in boxes, folders, papers, and…
We’re used to seeing items from our collections show up in footnotes in scholarly articles, that sort of thing. But this weekend we had the pleasant experience of seeing a thank you to us (Nicole, Mariecris, & Arlene) show up in a program from a play! A local theatre, Cyrano’s,…
It’s coming up on Alaska Civil Rights/Martin Luther King Jr. Day and once again the question has reappeared. Archivists, librarians, and historians around the state are being asked: “Where do I find the text of Elizabeth Peratrovich’s speech to the Legislature?” Here’s my standard answer: “It doesn’t exist.” Let me…
