Guide to the Holmes family papers
1915-1966
Collection number: HMC-0138.
Creator:
Holmes, Theresa M.
Holmes, Walter.
Title: Holmes family papers.
Dates: 1915-1966.
Volume of collection: 1.0 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Business papers and photographs relating to mining in the McCarthy area.
Biographical note:
Theresa (Tess) M. Holmes came to Alaska during the Shushana Gold Rush in 1914. She married Joseph H. Murie (possibly also spelled Muiry or Murray) and together they built Muiry’s Roadhouse at May Creek near McCarthy. They operated the roadhouse until Murie’s death. Tess left Alaska and operated a restaurant in Oregon, but returned after World War II and married Walter Holmes, chief of the highway department’s maintenance station in May Creek. Walter Holmes also came to Alaska in 1914 during the Shushana Gold Rush. The Holmes built a home near May Creek where they lived until he died in 1964. Holmes then moved to Seward and lived there until 1974, when she entered the Palmer Pioneer Home. She died in 1983.
Collection description:
The collection contains the papers of the Holmes family. Included in the collection are correspondence regarding a bank loan and placer mine locations, and records relating to Rex Creek Mining Co. The collection also includes photographs, as well as a photograph album. The subject of the photographs are people, Alaska scenery, Mother Lode Mine, Kennecott, Copper River, mines, mining, and miners in Alaska, Rex Creek, Chitina, Nizina River, the Holmes family site, airplanes and the air strip in McCarthy.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1: Business papers; 1926-1966
Series 2: Photographs; circa 1915-1932
Digitized copies: Selected photographs from this collection have been digitized and are available on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives does not have copyright to materials in this collection.
Preferred citation: Holmes family papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory:
Smith, Ken. “First Crash.” Wrangell St. Elias News. 2008. http://wsen.net/MA2008/page4.html.
Custodial history: The materials were found by the Gagnon family in a building on their property near May Creek, Alaska.
Acquisition note: Robert Spude, of the National Park Service, received the materials from the Gagnon family, who desired to see the materials preserved for research use. The collection was presented to Archives by Spude in 1983.
Processing information: This collection was arranged and described in 1984. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard and series combined by Veronica Denison in 2015.
Container list:
Series 1: Business and personal papers; 1926-1966. 0.4 cubic feet.
This series contains the business and personal papers of the Holmes family. A majority of the records in this series pertain to their mining business.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/1 | Correspondence | 1952-1955 |
| 1/2 | First Bank of Valdez loan; Bank statement and canceled checks | 1946-1953 |
| 1/3 | Placer Claim locations: Rex Creek, Calamity Gulch, May Creek, and Chititu Creek | 1946-1966 |
| 1/4 | J.H. Murie, Option of Purchase of mining claims on Chititu Creek in the Nizina Mining District | 1929-1930 |
| 1/5-10 | Rex Creek Mining Company: Correspondence, Production Report, company work journal, wages, accounts, bills | 1936-1937 |
| 1/11 | Dan Creek Mines: Partnership agreement, J.B. O’Neill and W.L. Holmes; Notice of Partnership Agreement to mine employees | 1947 |
| 1/12 | Rex Gulch and Dan Creek: Placer Mine Production forms | 1955 |
| 1/13 | Rex Gulch and Dan Creek: Injuries and Employment forms | 1955 |
| 1/14 | Rex Gulch and May Creek: Alaska Tax Statements and taxpayer information | 1949-1952 |
| OS Folder 1 | Map of claims held by J.H. Murie and Associates on Chititu Creek | undated |
| OS Folder 1 | Map, location of fire plugs, Kennecott Copper Corporation, Alaska | 1926 February 8 |
| 1/15 | Affidavit to hold a mining location: Cascade Lode Mining Claim in Chitistone Mining District | circa 1943 |
Series 2: Photographs; circa 1915-1932. 0.6 cubic feet.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/16 | Tess and Walter Holmes house, and McCarthy | undated |
| 1/17 | Photo post cards: Richardson Highway, Roadhouse and bus | circa 1915 |
| 1/18 | Photo post cards: Cordova | 1930 |
| 1/19 | Gramps and indios: People, machinery, and dog probably at a mining site | undated |
| 1/20 | Tess’ [Muiry’s] Roadhouse: Wrecked seaplane, the Prince William | undated |
| 1/21 | McCarthy area, mounted photos | undated |
| 1/22 | Alaska Ice Pak Fancy Crab Meat Mount McKinley, Valdez, Ketchikan, McCarthy | undated |
| 1/23 | Hunting | undated |
| 1/24 | Baseball game in California; Couple with dog | undated, 1932 |
| Box 2 | Photograph album | undated |