Guide to the Almer J. Peterson papers and photographs
1935-1948
Almer J. Peterson
Collection number: HMC-0413.
Creator: Peterson, Almer J.
Title: Almer J. Peterson papers and photographs.
Dates: 1935-1937, 1946, 1948.
Volume of collection: 0.25 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: Photographs and some documents related to an attorney living in the Palmer (Matanuska) colony.
Biographical note:
Almer J. Peterson was born in Minnesota and was educated as a pharmacist. He received a law degree in 1915. He worked first as a pharmacist and then became involved in the practice of law. He married Lila A. Phillips in 1916; they had three children. Peterson moved to Alaska in 1935. He obtained a job as a carpenter with the Matanuska Colony. However, he was soon admitted to the Alaska Bar (1935) after which he began the practice of law, first in Palmer, and soon thereafter, in Anchorage. He served as the Matanuska Valley Fair manager in 1937. He was Anchorage city attorney for two years and a member of the territorial House of Representatives. He was also an unsuccessful Republican candidate for delegate to Congress (1946, 1950) and for territorial attorney general (1948). Peterson retired in 1954. He died in Washington in 1962 after a long illness.
Collection description:
This collection consists primarily of Almer J. Peterson’s photograph album and other papers and photographs. They almost entirely relate to the Matanuska Colony and vicinity (1935-1937). In the album are 83 photographs, five postcards that Almer J. Peterson sent during and after this travel to Alaska and two blotters advertising his campaigns for public office. The collection also includes 35 loose photographs, conservation negatives for most of the photographs, political artifacts (two blotters and a pencil), and a Matanuska Valley Fair program (1937).
Arrangement: This collection is arranged by record type.
Digitized copies: Some of the photographs from this collection can be viewed online in the Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: The Archives owns copyright to collection materials created by Almer J. Peterson.
Preferred citation: Almer J. Peterson papers and photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: This collection was given to the Archives in 1994 by Shirley Peterson Carlos, Almer J. Peterson’s daughter.
Processing information: This collection was arranged and described by Dennis Walle in 1995.
Container list:
| Box/Folder | Description | Date |
| 1/1 | Photograph album | 1935, 1946, 1948 |
| 1/2 | Loose photographs | 1935-1936 |
| 1/3 | Copy negatives | 1935-1936 |
| 1/4 | Campaign advertisement pencil | 1946 |
| 1/5 | Matanuska Valley Fair program | 1937 |