David and Jenny Strandberg family papers

Guide to the David and Jenny Strandberg family papers
1897-1970

Collection number: HMC-0357.
Creators:
Strandberg, David.
Strandberg, Jenny S. Johanson.
Strandberg, William.
Strandberg, Theodore.
Strandberg, Odin.
Strandberg, Genevieve.
Title: David and Jenny Strandberg family papers.
Dates: 1897-1970.
Volume of collection: 2.96 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are primarily in English with some materials in Swedish.
Collection summary: Papers of a family who lived in Anchorage and operated mines throughout Alaska.

Biographical note:
David Strandberg was born in Halmstad, Sweden, in 1875. After completing his early education in Sweden, his family emigrated to the United States. Strandberg attended Wilson Business College in Seattle, Washington, and also worked in mining and lumbering in Pennsylvania and Washington state. He came to Alaska in 1895 to prospect for gold. David Strandberg was active in gold mining and prospecting in the Dawson, Yukon Territory area until 1905, when he moved to Fairbanks to mine at Ester Creek. Jenny Johanson was born in Småland, Sweden, in 1884. She came to the United States in 1904, moving to Dawson, Yukon Territory, and then Fairbanks in 1905 before her marriage to David Strandberg in 1908. In 1911, the Strandbergs moved to Flat Creek near Iditarod, where the family actively mined until 1932. The family moved to Anchorage in 1923 to better provide for the education of their six children: Harold (1909-1995), Olga (1910-1993), William (full name: John William Strandberg, 1911-1963), Theodore (1913-1965), Odin (full name: Edward Odin Strandberg, 1915-2002), and Genevieve (full name: Linnea Genevieve Strandberg , 1918-2009). From Anchorage, David Strandberg served as president of Strandberg and Sons Mines, Incorporated, which operated gold mining operations at Cripple Creek near Folger (Innoko River), Candle Creek near McGrath (Kuskokwim River), Utopia Creek near Hughes (Koyukuk River), and a platinum mine on Clara Creek in the Goodnews area (off Kuskokwim Bay). David Strandberg died in Anchorage in 1949. Jenny Strandberg was well known in Anchorage for her participation in community affairs and her garden at the family home near downtown. She died in Anchorage in 1951.

Collection description:
The collection consists of the papers and photographs of the David and Jenny Strandberg Family. The papers consist of a small number of personal papers of David Strandberg, Jenny S. Johanson Strandberg, their sons William, Theodore, and Odin Strandberg, and their younger daughter Genevieve Strandberg. The family photographs and slides consist of; groups of photos from mining areas including Dawson, Yukon Territory, Ester Creek, Flat and Iditarod, Pass Creek, Cripple Creek, Colorado Creek, and Clara Creek near Goodnews; photos and portraits of various Strandberg family members; photographs of the Anchorage area and various Yukon Territory and Alaska photo post cards; and color slides taken by William Strandberg, including those from the mining areas of Manley Hot Springs and Indian River near Hughes on the Koyukuk River. Xerographic copies of the original family photograph albums are also included. The collection also includes Odin Strandberg’s films, which contain footage of the Strandberg family, Alyeska, Folger, skiing, and mining.

Arrangement: The collection is arranged into the following series:

Series 1: David Strandberg papers; undated, 1907-1956.
Series 2: Jenny S. Johanson Strandberg papers; 1897-1958.
Series 3: David and Jenny Strandberg papers; undated, 1943-1962.
Series 4: William Strandberg papers; undated, 1919-1964.
Series 5: Theodore R. Strandberg papers; 1956-1960.
Series 6: Odin Strandberg papers; undated, 1927-1968.
Series 7: Genevieve Strandberg Papers; undated, 1924-1936.
Series 8: Strandberg Family photographs; circa 1899-1970.

Alternative formats: Xerographic copies of three photo albums were made to indicate the original order of the photographs.

Digitized copies: Two images from the collection are available online through Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies please contact Archives and Special Collections.

Rights note: The Archives holds copyright to materials created by the Strandberg family. The collection contains materials not created by the Strandberg family may be subject to copyright.

Preferred citation: David and Jenny Strandberg family papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Works used in preparation of inventory:
“Edward Odin Strandberg Obituary.” Peninsula Clarion, November 3, 2002. Accessed via Peninsula Clarion website, February 11, 2015.

“Genevieve Linnea Strandberg Kuntz Crawford.” Eureka Times-Standard, August 27, 2009. Accessed via Legacy.com, February 11, 2015.

Separated materials: Published material has been separated from the collection and added to the Consortium Library’s Rare Books collection.

Related materials:

Acquisition note: The collection was presented to the archives by Olga Doheny and Odin Strandberg in 1981 and 1986. A deed of gift was signed by Odin Strandberg in 1997.

Processing information: This collection was described by Jeffrey Sinnott in 2000. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard by Gwen Sieja in 2015. The films in the Odin Strandberg series were described and added to the collection in 2018 by Veronica Denison.

Container list:

Series 1: David Strandberg papers; undated, 1907-1956. 0.15 cubic feet.

Box/ Folder Description Dates
1/1-2 Incoming correspondence undated, 1907-1956
1/3 Yearbook diary 1915
1/4-5 Correspondence and cards regarding his death 1949
1/6 Dr. J.H. Romig’s Board of Directors Wild Game Dinner 1941-1945
3/2 Dr. J.H. Romig’s Board of Directors certificate of membership 1942 May 20
1/7 Personal papers: cloth notice, note about ore samples, daily prayer, luggage identification card undated

Series 2: Jenny S. Johanson Strandberg papers; undated, 1897-1958. 0.5 cubic feet.

Box/ Folder Description Dates
1/8-9 Incoming correspondence undated, 1902-1951
1/10 School record (single page, handwritten, Swedish language) 1897
1/11 Household account books 1935-1936
1/12 Real estate papers 1928-1946
1/13 Anchorage city tax records 1950-1958
1/14-15 Death announcements and correspondence 1951
1/16 Estate papers 1951-1958
1/17 Flower show ribbons 1945
1/18 Travel post cards undated, 1904
3/3 Scrapbook of clippings related to mining

Series 3: David and Jenny Strandberg papers; undated, 1943-1962. 0.15 cubic feet.

Box/ Folder Description Dates
1/19 Incoming correspondence undated, 1943-1947
1/20 Flower cards from funeral services 1949, 1951
1/21 Grand Igloo Pioneers delegate badge undated

Series 4: William Strandberg papers; undated, 1919-1964. 0.15 cubic feet.

Box/Folder Description Dates
1/22 School and university records undated, 1919-1942
1/23 Notebooks and diaries undated, 1931-1961
1/24-25 Death and funeral records undated, 1951-1964
1/26 Personal papers: correspondence, vehicle registration, driving permit, Greater Anchorage, Inc. certificate of appreciation. 1959-1961

Series 5: Theodore R. Strandberg papers; undated, 1956-1960. 0.01 cubic feet.

Box/Folder Description Dates
1/27 Personal papers: correspondence, insurance statement, University of Alaska Alumni Association membership card and newsletter undated, 1919-1942

Series 6: Odin Strandberg papers; undated, 1927-1968. 0.76 cubic feet.

Box/ Folder Description Dates
1/28 Personal papers: University of Washington grade reports, insurance statement, wedding invitation, Sig Strandberg (son) campaign leaflet undated, 1927-1968
4/1 16mm film: Children: Odin, Sig, Johnny, Jenny 1947-1948
4/2 16mm film: Colorado Creek Mining, Sig, Odin undated
4/3 16mm film: Odin undated
4/4 16mm film: Alyeska, April, Folger, Bear, dead – June ’60, March 1962 Front Window 1960-1961
4/5 16mm film: Kalifornsky Ski Club, Siler attempt at Tustemena Glacier undated
4/6-11 16mm films: undescribed undated, 1961
4/12 16mm film: CUL Foundation, finished plants 1961
4/13 16mm film: CUL Power Plant 1961
4/14 16mm film: 1964 – Arrival of engine 1964
4/15 16mm film: Dad’s Graduation? undated
4/16 16mm film: Departure for bear hunt, Russian Church, Priests, et al 1971? circa 1971
4/17-18 VHS copies of films undated
4/19 Photograph negatives: Power plant 1964, 1966

Series 7: Genevieve Strandberg Papers; undated, 1924-1936. 0.01 cubic feet.

Box/Folder Description Dates
1/29 Personal papers: University of Washington grade reports, postcards undated, 1924-1936


Series 8: Strandberg Family photographs; undated, 1899-1970. 1.0 cubic feet.
This series contains photographs, postcards and slides, as well as xerographic copies of four photograph albums, from which the photographs were taken. Photographs include family portraits and photographs, including the Erickson family and the family home and garden in Anchorage, photographs of mining sites and equipment, photographs and postcards of scenery in Alaska and Yukon Territory, and color slides taken by William Strandberg of scenes around Anchorage, Fairbanks, and various mining sites.

Box/Folder Description Dates
1/30 Xerographic copy of Strandberg Family album from Ester and Flat Creek areas circa 1905-1914
1/31 Xerographic copy of Goodnews Bay and the Clara Creek Mining Co. album; undated
1/32 Mining photos from Dawson area, Yukon Territory, Klondike Gold Rush undated
1/33 Mining photos from Ester Creek: Drift mining, hydraulic sluicing operations, dredge #3 circa 1905-1910, 1933
1/34 City and social photos from Flat and Iditarod undated, 1911-1914
1/35 Flat Creek mining and family photos undated, 1912-1932
1/36 Pass Creek prospecting photos 1924
1/37 Cripple Creek Mining Co. photos: Steam dragline operations, trestle sluice, sawmill, cabins, wood fuel freighting with tractors and sleds, and aircraft 1933-1935
1/38 Colorado Creek photos: wood fuel freighting, Folger, McGrath, Anchorage train station, and flying plane to mining area circa 1934
1/39 Northwest Development Co. photos: crane dragline operation and machinery damaged in fall off hillside undated
1/40 Goodnews Bay: Clara Creek Mining Co. photos: Dragline operation, camp, town, and people undated
1/41 Mining photographs-unknown locations undated, 1932-1940
1/42-45 David and Jenny Strandberg family photographs undated, 1928-1947
3/4 David and Jenny Strandberg oversize photographs undated
2/1 Harold Strandberg family photographs undated
2/2-4 William Strandberg photographs: Anchorage F ur Rendezvous. Xerographic copy of original album, original album prints. undated, 1924-1959
2/5 Ted Strandberg family photographs undated, 1928-1946
2/6 Odin Strandberg family photographs undated
2/7-10 Genevieve Strandberg family photographs. Xerographic copy of original album, original album prints. undated, circa 1920-1956
2/11 Photos of Strandberg children undated
3/1 Oversize photo of Strandberg children undated
2/12 Strandberg and Erickson family photos undated, 1916-1948
3/5 Oversize photograph of Arne and Josephine Erickson in their garden undated
2/13 Photographs of unidentified friends and family members undated, 1909
2/14 Alaska and Yukon Territory photographs and postcards undated, circa 1899-1930
2/15 Color slides of Jenny Strandberg’s Garden, and grave with flowers in Anchorage cemetery circa 1947-1949
2/16 Color slides of William Strandberg’s and friends at party circa 1958
2/17  Color slides of Kathleen Doheny and Calvert Cross at their high school graduation undated
2/18 Color slides of Public show of military hardware in downtown Fairbanks undated
2/19 Color slides of Atlin, British Columbia and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory (10 color slides) undated
2/20 Color slides of Kotzebue street scenes and Anchorage including dogsled races (18 color slides) undated
2/21 Color slides of Seward Highway along Cook Inlet (14 color slides) undated
2/22 Color slides of Manley Hot Springs and nearby mining area (42 color slides) undated
2/23 Color slides of Mining at Indian River Area near Hughes on the Koyukuk River (132 color slides) undated, 1957

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