Guide to the Ruth Arcand Park Project records
1958-1985
Collection number: HMC-0217.
Creator: Arcand, Ruth.
Title: Ruth Arcand Park project records.
Dates: 1958-1985.
Volume of collection: 0.25 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers regarding the establishment and naming of a park in Anchorage.
Biographical note:
Ruth Arcand was born in Lubbock, Texas in 1918, and graduated from Texas Tech University in 1941 with a degree in journalism. During World War II she served in the Navy as a WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). In 1947, she came to Alaska to work as a link trainer operator for Pacific Northern Airlines, and was one of the first homesteaders in the O’Malley area of Anchorage. Active in community affairs, Ruth Arcand served for four years on the first borough parks and recreation board, and also served as a board member to the Anchorage Ski Club, Hilltop Youth Inc., and the Huffman-O’Malley Community Council. She has also served as chairman to various civic groups including the Alaska State Federation of Women’s Clubs, Conservation Department, the Homemakers Club, and the O’Malley Road Clean-Up. Beginning in 1968, Ruth Arcand organized and ran the successful effort to have state land Section 16 in the O’Malley-Huffman area declared parkland and protected from development or sale. The effort succeeded in 1985 and the land was named Ruth Arcand Park in her honor that same year. Arcand died in 1997.
Collection description:
The collection consists of correspondence, letters of testimony, legal documents, newspaper clippings, newsletters, and other materials concerning Section 16, Ruth Arcand, and her efforts to get Section 16 declared parkland. A majority of the materials pertain to name the park Ruth Arcand Park. The materials were put together as part of a presentation before the Anchorage Assembly to have the Section 16 parkland named Ruth Arcand Park.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by subject.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives does not hold copyright to materials in this collection.
Preferred citation: Ruth Arcand Park Project records, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory: “Find A Grave – Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials.” http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=294114
Acquisition note: The collection was loaned to the Archives by Ruth Arcand for copying in 1985.
Processing information: This collection was described by Dennis Walle in 1985. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard by Veronica Denison in 2015.
Location of originals: Originals are presumed to be with the Arcand family.
Container list:
| Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1 | Proposal: Photographs of poster boards used in presenting the proposal that Section 16 parkland be named Ruth Arcand Park; Mayor Tony Knowles’ memorandum to the Anchorage Assembly recommending the proposal; minutes of the Assembly action on the proposal; map of the park | 1969-1985 |
| 2 | Park history: Narrative describing Ruth Arcand’s role in getting Section 16 zoned as park land; brief biography of Ruth Arcand. | undated |
| 3 | Testimonials: Letters of testimony to Mayor Tony Knowles concerning the naming of Section 16 parkland in Arcand’s honor | 1985 |
| 4 | Documentation: correspondence between Ruth Arcand and various state legislators concerning Section 16; testimony by her; Assembly minutes of actions on the Section; and newsletters and newspaper clippings | 1968-1976 |
| 5 | Arcand’s personal papers: Letters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and news releases concerning Ruth Arcand and her activities in various Anchorage civic groups; Letter written by Ruth Arcand to Alaska Federation of Women’s Clubs members | 1958, 1971-1978 |