Guide to the John S. Hellenthal papers
1917-1989
Collection number: HMC-0447.
Creator: Hellenthal, John S.
Title: John S. Hellenthal papers.
Dates: 1917-1988.
Volume of collection: 2.25 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers of an Alaskan legislator.
Biographical note:
John Simon Hellenthal was born in Juneau, Alaska, in 1915. In 1939, he received his law degree and began practicing with his father in Anchorage at Hellenthal, Hellenthal and Son. He was elected as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention in Fairbanks in 1955. Hellenthal served as Anchorage city attorney from 1947-1952 and was a member of the Alaska Constitutional Convention in 1955. After statehood was announced, Hellenthal was elected to the State House of Representatives and served from 1959-1962. He served as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee during his terms as state legislator. From 1960-1961 he chaired the state Democratic Party and was campaign chairman for William E. Egan’s 1966 gubernatorial campaign. Hellenthal continued to be an active member of the community until his death in 1989.
Collection description:
This collection consists of papers relating to John Hellenthal’s personal and political activities, as well as his work as a member of the State House of Representatives. The collection includes: correspondence, records on the Alaska statehood movement, Egan campaign materials, maps, and photographs. The collection also includes legislative reference files, 1960 legislative session files, Judiciary Committee bill and report files, Administrative Procedures Act files, Judiciary Act files, and pending bills.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged into 13 different series. The records relating to Hellenthal’s two terms as legislator were arranged by type of record and separated into their own series. Series 13: Pending bill files contains copies of bills which were pending in the House or Senate during Hellenthal’s term in the legislature, and therefore correspond to Series 9 and 10.
Series 1: Correspondence; 1950-1988
Series 2: Alaska Statehood files; 1955
Series 3. Bill Egan Gubernatorial Campaign records; 1955-1966
Series 4: Maps; 1917-1980
Series 5: Photographs; undated, 1935-1989
Series 6: John F. Kennedy campaign files; 1960-1961
Series 7: Alaska Legislative reference files; 1958-1984
Series 8: 1960 Legislative Session files; 1956-1960
Series 9: Judiciary Committee bill files; 1958-1961
Series 10: Judiciary Committee bill reports; 1959
Series 11: Administrative Procedures Act files; 1959-1962
Series 12: Judiciary Act files; 1958-1961, 1970-1973
Series 13: Pending bill files; 1958-1960, 1971
Digitized copies: Selected photographs have been digitized and are available on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives does not hold copyright to materials in this collection.
Preferred citation: John S. Hellenthal papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Separated materials: Publications were removed from the collection and some added to Rare Books. Please ask an archivist for further information.
Acquisition note: The collection was given to Archives and Special Collections in 1996 by LaRue Hellenthal, John Hellenthal’s wife. Additions were made in 1998 and 1999.
Processing information: This collection was described by Kathy Hertel in 2001. The guide to the collection was revised by Veronica Denison in 2015.
Container list:
Series 1. Correspondence; 1950-1988. 0.20 cubic feet.
This series contains correspondence between Hellenthal and a variety of writers including politicians, investors, as well as friends and relatives. Arranged chronologically.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/1 | Correspondence | 1950-1955 |
| 1/2 | Correspondence | 1956 |
| 1/3 | Correspondence | 1958-1959 |
| 1/4 | Correspondence | 1960 |
| 1/5 | Correspondence: Alaska Legislative Council | 1961 |
| 1/6 | Correspondence | 1967-1988 |
Series 2. Alaska Statehood files; 1955. 0.10 cubic feet.
This series contains items relating to Hellenthal’s work with the State Constitutional Convention and transition into statehood. The series includes copies of speeches, as well as brochures promoting statehood.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/7 | Copies of speeches, instructions for candidates, flyers, brochures, clippings and blank forms, Alaska Airlines tickets | 1955 |
| 1/8 | Constitutional Convention stationary | 1955 |
Series 3. Bill Egan Gubernatorial Campaign papers; 1955-1966. 0.25 cubic feet.
This series contains papers from Hellenthal’s work as chairman of Bill Egan’s 1966 gubernatorial campaign. Items in this series include correspondence, lists of campaign workers, as well as advertising and promotional materials.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/9 | Correspondence | 1955-1966 July |
| 1/10 | Correspondence | 1966 August-1966 November |
| 1/11 | Lists of campaign workers and contributors | 1966 |
| 1/12 | Campaign speeches and press releases, drafts, notes, and transcripts | 1966 |
| 1/13 | Campaign itineraries for Bill Egan | 1966 |
| 1/14 | Advertisements, “third term” explanatory and promotional materials, drafts | 1966 |
| 1/15 | Advertisements, radio and television, drafts, schedules, scripts | 1966 |
| 1/16 | Advertisements, print, drafts, samples, orders, invoices, bumper sticker, flyers | 1966 |
| 1/17 | Jaycees Newsletters, with campaign ads | 1966 |
| 1/18 | Poll by Ptarmigan Business and Professional Women’s Club by Ernst & Ernst, poll, correspondence | 1966 |
| 1/19 | Notes, reprints, and copies | 1966 |
| 1/20 | Clippings | 1966 |
| OS 1 | Egan Campaign, posters | 1966 |
Series 4. Maps; 1917-1980. 0.10 cubic feet.
This series contains maps related to industries and property in which Hellenthal invested.
| Folder | Description | Dates |
| OS 1 | “Road Constructed by Union Ohio” near the Kenai | undated |
| Map Roll | “Plat of Anchorage Townsite with South, East, and Third Additions” | 1917 |
| OS 1 | “Plat of U.S. Survey No. 1456, Fourth Addition to Anchorage Townsite” | 1923 February 14 |
| OS 1 | “Supplemental Plat of East Addition to Anchorage, Alaska” | 1941 February 13 |
| OS 2 | “Portion Swanson River and Soldotna Creek Units, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, Showing Route of Auto Trip Through Swanson River Field” | 1961 January 13 |
| OS 1 | “Route of Air Trip over Kenai Oil and Gas Areas” | 1961 January 13 |
| OS 1 | “Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, December 2, 1980” USGS | 1980 |
Series 5. Photographs; circa 1935-1989. 0.05 cubic feet.
This series contains photographs of Alaskan scenery, buildings, and people.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/21 | Personal photographs: Juneau, Valdez, Alaska scenery, Hellenthal; copied photograph of Robert Kennedy, Hellenthal, and a King Crab | circa 1934-1989 |
| Box 4 | “Arctic Brotherhood” meeting room, Skagway | undated |
| Box 4 | “Greek Church, Sitka, Alaska” by Winter and Pond | undated |
Series 6. John F. Kennedy campaign files; 1960-1961. 0.05 cubic feet.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/22 | Press releases, Inauguration Ceremony | 1960-1961 |
| 1/23 | Fundraising telegrams | 1960 |
Series 7. Alaska Legislative reference files; 1958-1984. 0.20 cubic feet.
This series contains legislative reference files created and collected by Hellenthal during his involvement in state government. Included are articles written by Hellenthal, related reports, congressional newsletters, and files on mental health planning, Native claims, reapportionment, mining, geese management, and news clippings.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/24 | Third Division Democratic Convention, Party Platform | 1953 December 16 |
| 1/25 | “Alaska’s Heralded Constitution: The Forty-Ninth State Sets and Example” by Hellenthal | 1958 December |
| 1/26 | State capitol move, reports, correspondence | 1962 |
| 1/27 | Newsletters from Washington: Sen. Bob Bartlett, Sen. Ernest Gruening, Rep. Ralph Rivers | 1964 |
| 1/28 | “Mental Illness, Incompetency, ‘Insanity’, and Alaska Law” by Hellenthal, Alaska Law Journal | 1965 June |
| 1/29 | Congressional Record, reports on earthquake and Native Claims Settlement Act | 1964, 1971 |
| 1/30 | Report: Mental Health Planning for Alaska by Hellenthal | 1965 |
| 1/31 | Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act | 1971 |
| 1/32 | Reapportionment report, Supreme Court | 1972 |
| 1/33 | Status of Mining Claims, draft of report | 1980 |
| 1/34 | Geese Management, fund raising materials | 1980 |
| 1/35 | Clippings and sample ballots | 1955-1975 |
| 1/36 | Political Cartoon about Juneau | undated |
| 1/37 | Newspaper clippings | 1961-1985 |
Series 8. 1960 Legislative Session files; 1956-1960. 0.10 cubic feet.
This series contains Legislative Session files created by Hellenthal during the 1960 State Legislative session. Included are correspondence, lists of bills carried over from previous sessions, and several bills under consideration or in committee. The series also includes copies of the bills and related notes.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/38 | Correspondence | 1956, 1959-1960 |
| 1/39 | Alaska Legislative Council, “Status of Senate Bills Carried over to Second Session” | 1959 December |
| 1/40 | Alaska Legislative Council, “Status of House Bills Carried over to Second Session” | 1959 December |
| 1/41 | Bills in Committee, effective January 1960 | 1960 January |
| 1/42 | House Bill #127 | 1960 |
| 1/43 | House Bill #188 | 1960 |
| 1/44 | House Bill #227 | 1960 |
| 1/45 | “Uniform Rules” | 1959 |
Series 9. Judiciary Committee bill files; 1958-1961. 0.20 cubic feet.
This series contains copies of bills under consideration in the house Judiciary Committee while Hellenthal was its chairman. Many files include notes, annotations, and related correspondence. The House, Senate, and Amendments files were divided into separate folders.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/46 | Correspondence | 1958 |
| 1/47 | House Bill #31 | 1959 |
| 1/48 | House Bill #52 | 1959 |
| 1/49 | House Bill #69 | 1959 |
| 1/50 | House Bill #72 | 1959 |
| 1/51 | House Bill #93 | 1959 |
| 1/52 | House Bill #94 | 1959 |
| 1/53 | House Bill #107 | 1959 |
| 1/54 | House Bill #112 | 1959 |
| 1/55 | House Bill #130 | 1959 |
| 1/56 | House Bill #133 | 1959 |
| 1/57 | House Bill #144 | 1959 |
| 1/58 | House Bill #149 | 1959 |
| 1/59 | House Bill #169 | 1959 |
| 1/60 | House Bill #170 | 1959 |
| 2/1 | House Bill #188 | 1959 |
| 2/2 | House Bill #189 | 1959 |
| 2/3 | House Bill #192 | 1959 |
| 2/4 | House Bill #193 | 1959 |
| 2/5 | House Bill #194 | 1959 |
| 2/6 | House Bill #195 | 1959 |
| 2/7 | House Bill #196 | 1959 |
| 2/8 | House Bill #197 | 1959 |
| 2/9 | House Bill #203 | 1959 |
| 2/10 | House Bill #205 | 1959 |
| 2/11 | House Bill #206 | 1959 |
| 2/12 | House Bill #211 | 1959 |
| 2/13 | House Bill #215 | 1959 |
| 2/14 | House Bill #216 | 1959 |
| 2/15 | House Bill #227 | 1959 |
| 2/16 | House Bill #237 | 1959 |
| 2/17 | House Bill #241 | 1959 |
| 2/18 | House Bill #243 | 1959 |
| 2/19 | House Bill #247 | 1959 |
| 2/20 | House Bill #249 | 1959 |
| 2/21 | House Bill #250 | 1959 |
| 2/22 | House Bill #254 | 1959 |
| 2/23 | House Bill #256 | 1959 |
| 2/24 | House Bill #265 | 1959 |
| 2/25 | House Bill #268 | 1959 |
| 2/26 | House Bill #321 | 1959 |
| 2/27 | Senate Bill #25 | 1959 |
| 2/28 | Senate Bill #66 | 1959 |
| 2/29 | Senate Bill #105 | 1959 |
| 2/30 | Amendments to Senate Bill #105 | 1959 |
| 2/31 | Amendments to Senate Bill #119 | 1961 |
| 2/32 | Senate Bill #120 | 1959 |
| 2/33 | Senate Bill #136 | 1959 |
| 2/34 | House Concurrent Resolution #5 | 1959 |
| 2/35 | House Joint Resolution #8 | 1959 |
| 2/36 | House Joint Resolution #13 | 1959 |
Series 10. Judiciary Committee bill reports; 1959. 0.30 cubic feet.
This series contains reports of the House Judiciary Committee on numerous bills presented in the State House and Senate. A majority of the folders include both the Committee report and a copy of the bill. Many files also contain notes, annotated copies of the bills, memos, and related correspondence. Folders are divided between House and Senate bill files.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 2/37 | “Public Accountancy Act of 1959” draft | 1959 |
| 2/38 | House Joint Memorial #3 | 1959 |
| 2/39 | Report, House Bill #5 | 1959 |
| 2/40 | Report, House Bill #11 | 1959 |
| 2/41 | Report, House Bill #13 | 1959 |
| 2/42 | Report, House Bill #20 | 1959 |
| 2/43 | Report, House Bill #23 | 1959 |
| 2/44 | Report, House Bill #24 | 1959 |
| 2/45 | Report, House Bill #26 | 1959 |
| 2/46 | Report extract, House Bill #30 | 1959 |
| 2/47 | Report, House Bill #33 | 1959 |
| 2/48 | Report, House Bill #34 | 1959 |
| 2/49 | Report, House Bill #39 | 1959 |
| 2/50 | Report, House Bill #40 | 1959 |
| 2/51 | Report, House Bill #51 | 1959 |
| 2/52 | Report, House Bill #54 | 1959 |
| 2/53 | Report, House Bill #56 | 1959 |
| 2/54 | Report, House Bill #57 | 1959 |
| 2/55 | Report, House Bill #61 | 1959 |
| 2/56 | Report, House Bill #89 | 1959 |
| 2/57 | Report, House Bill #95 | 1959 |
| 2/58 | Report, House Bill #96 | 1959 |
| 2/59 | Report, House Bill #99 | 1959 |
| 2/60 | Report, House Bill #100 | 1959 |
| 2/61 | Report, House Bill #101 | 1959 |
| 2/62 | Report, House Bill #102 | 1959 |
| 2/63 | Report, House Bill #103 | 1959 |
| 2/64 | Report, House Bill #106 | 1959 |
| 2/65 | Report, House Bill #109 | 1959 |
| 2/66 | Report, House Bill #117 | 1959 |
| 2/67 | Report, House Bill #119 | 1959 |
| 2/68 | Report, House Bill #123 | 1959 |
| 2/69 | Report, House Bill #126 | 1959 |
| 2/70 | Report, House Bill #135 | 1959 |
| 2/71 | Report, House Bill #151 | 1959 |
| 2/72 | Report, House Bill #152 | 1959 |
| 2/73 | Report, House Bill #160 | 1959 |
| 2/74 | Report, House Bill #165 | 1959 |
| 2/75 | Report, House Bill #166 | 1959 |
| 2/76 | Report, House Bill #199 | 1959 |
| 2/77 | Report, House Bill #229 | 1959 |
| 2/78 | Report, Senate Bill #2 | 1959 |
| 2/79 | Report, Senate Bill #9 | 1959 |
| 2/80 | Report, Senate Bill #25 | 1959 |
| 2/81 | Report, Senate Bill #37 | 1959 |
| 2/82 | Report, Senate Bill #41 | 1959 |
| 2/83 | Report, Senate Bill #42 | 1959 |
| 2/84 | Report, Senate Bill #49 | 1959 |
| 2/85 | Report, Senate Bill #50 | 1959 |
| 2/86 | Report, Senate Bill #56 | 1959 |
| 2/87 | Report, Senate Bill #59 | 1959 |
| 2/88 | Report, Senate Bill #61 | 1959 |
| 2/89 | Report, Senate Bill #79 | 1959 |
| 2/90 | Report, Senate Bill #83 | 1959 |
| 2/91 | Report, Senate Bill #109 | 1959 |
| 2/92 | Report, Senate Bill #111 | 1959 |
| 2/93 | Report Senate Bill #116 | 1959 |
| 2/94 | Report on Many Bills | 1959 |
Series 11. Administrative Procedures Act files; 1959-1962. 0.20 cubic feet.
This series contains files related to the development and passage of the state Administrative Procedure Acts. Included in the series are drafts and copies of bills, correspondence with committees and other legislators, and related bills.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 2/95 | Proposed Administrative Procedures Act | 1959 January 12 |
| 2/96 | Administrative Procedures Act, House Bill #13, drafts | 1959 January |
| 2/97 | Administrative Procedures Act, printed edition | 1959 April |
| 2/98 | Amendments to House Bill #13 | 1959 |
| 2/99 | Instructions to Administrators on preparations of regulations for Alaska Administrative Code | 1959 |
| 2/100 | Correspondence and Memos | 1959-1962 |
| 2/101 | Joint House-Senate Committee Report | 1959 January 12 |
| 2/102 | Report of the Annual Review of Administrative Regulations | 1960-1962 |
| 2/103 | Code of Civil Procedure, Senate Bill #105, House Committee Substitute, Judiciary Committee Report | 1959 |
| 2/104 | Code of Criminal Procedure, Senate Bill #119, House Committee Substitute, Judiciary Committee Report | 1959 |
| 2/105 | Uniform Commercial Code, House Bill #120, Judiciary Committee Report | 1959 |
| 2/106 | Speech to House, handwritten draft | 1959 |
| 2/107 | List of boards with notes | 1959 |
| 2/108 | Related Administrative Procedures legislation from outside states | 1961-1962 |
Series 12. Judiciary Act files; 1958-1961, 1970-1973. 0.20 cubic feet.
This series contains items relating to the development and passage of the state Judiciary Acts. Included are drafts and copies of the bills, correspondence with committees, and other legislators, committee reports, and related court rulings.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 2/109 | Copies of Senate Bill # 7 | 1959 |
| 2/110 | Committee Substitutes for Senate Bill #7 | 1959 |
| 2/111 | Proposed amendments to Senate Bill #7 | 1959 |
| 2/112 | Section on Territorial Police | 1959 |
| 2/113 | Senate/House Judiciary Committee memo | undated |
| 2/114 | Memo to Board of Governors | 1958 September 4 |
| 2/115 | Memo to Board of Governors | 1958 September 15 |
| 2/116 | Correspondence | 1958 |
| 2/117 | Correspondence | 1959 |
| 2/118 | Correspondence | 1970 |
| 2/119 | Correspondence | 1972 |
| 2/120 | Correspondence | undated, 1973 |
| 2/121 | Alaska Bar Association Committee report on Comparative Negligence Rule and Majority Verdict Rule | undated |
| 2/122 | Alaska Bar Association Committee report on Lower Courts | undated |
| 2/123 | Alaska Bar Association Committee revised report | undated |
| 2/124 | Alaska Bar Association Committee, “Some Proposals for Alaska Rules Civil Procedure, and an Appraisal of Federal Rules Civil Procedure” | 1959 |
| 2/125 | Salary scale for court reporters, “Court Reporting and Facts for Public Officials” | 1956 |
| 2/126 | “Compensation of Judges of State Appellate Courts and Trial Courts;” 1958-1959 | |
| 2/127 | Copy of House Journal with Committee Substitute for Senate Bill #119 | 1961 February |
| 2/128 | Related Cases: U.S. vs. Everett Starling; U.S. vs. Thomas and Floyd Curnutt; National Labor Relations Board vs. Carpenters’ Union Local 1281; Wolfe’s Department Store vs. Maryland Casualty Co. | 1959 |
| 2/129 | Related Cases: U.S. vs. Frank Marrone | 1959 |
Series 13. Pending bill files; 1958-1960, 1971. 0.30 cubic feet.
This series contains copies of bills which were pending in the House or Senate during Hellenthal’s term in the legislature. Included are drafts and annotated copies of the bills, notes, and correspondence with colleagues and constituents. Items are divided between the House and Senate and arranged by bill number. Many of the bills correspond with Series 9 and 10 in this collection.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 2/130 | Committee Substitute for House Bill #5 | 1959 |
| 2/131 | House Resolution #23 | 1959 |
| 2/132 | House Resolution #30 | 1959 |
| 2/133 | House Bill #63 | 1959 |
| 2/134 | House Bill #68 | 1959 |
| 2/135 | House Bill #78 | 1959 |
| 2/136 | House Bill #90 | 1959 |
| 2/137 | House Bill #96 | 1959 |
| 2/138 | House Bill #99-100 | 1959 |
| 2/139 | House Bill #105 | 1959 |
| 2/140 | House Bill #113 | 1959 |
| 2/141 | Committee Substitute for House Hill #117 | 1959 |
| 2/142 | House Bill #124 | 1959 |
| 2/143 | House Bill #140 | 1959 |
| 2/144 | House Bill #141 | 1959 |
| 2/145 | House Bill #147 | 1959 |
| 2/146 | House Bill #158 | 1959 |
| 2/147 | House Bill #165 | 1959 |
| 2/148 | House Bill #173 | 1959 |
| 2/149 | House Bill #177 | 1959 |
| 2/150 | Committee Substitute for House Bill #198 | 1959 |
| 2/151 | House Bill #199 | 1959 |
| 2/152 | House Bill #205 | 1959 |
| 2/153 | House Bill #248 | 1959 |
| 2/154 | House Bill #255 | 1959 |
| 2/155 | House Bill #300 | 1959 |
| 2/156 | House Bill #329 | 1959 |
| 2/157 | House Bill #332 | 1959 |
| 2/158 | House Bill #354 | 1959 |
| 2/159 | House Bill #374 | 1959 |
| 2/160 | Senate Bill #25 | 1959 |
| 2/161 | Committee Substitute for Senate Bill #41 | 1959 |
| 2/162 | Senate Bill #57 | 1959 |
| 2/163 | Senate Bill #60 | 1959 |
| 2/164 | Senate Bill #63 | 1959 |
| 3/1 | Senate Bill #68 | 1959 |
| 3/2 | Committee Substitute for Senate Bill #83 | 1959 |
| 3/3 | Senate Bill #87 | 1959 |
| 3/4 | Senate Bill #91 | 1959 |
| 3/5 | Senate Bill #92 | 1959 |
| 3/6 | Committee Substitute for Senate Bill #104 | 1959 |
| 3/7 | Senate Bill #110 | 1959 |
| 3/8 | Senate Bill #112 | 1959 |
| 3/9 | Committee Substitute for Senate Bill #116 | 1959 |
| 3/10 | Senate Bill #164 | 1959 |
| 3/11 | Senate Bill #178 | 1959 |
| 3/12 | Senate Bill #218 | 1959 |
| 3/13 | Senate Bill #224 | 1959 |
| 3/14 | Alaska Ferry System | 1959 |
| 3/15 | Appropriations Bill | 1958-1959 |
| 3/16 | Capital Improvements Program | 1959 |
| 3/17 | Civil Air Regulations | 1959 |
| 3/18 | Coal Leasing (in-state) Regulations | 1959 |
| 3/19 | Constitutional issues | 1959-1960 |
| 3/20 | Fish and Game | 1959 |
| 3/21 | Legislative Salaries | 1959 |
| 3/22 | Lending Agencies | 1959 |
| 3/23 | Northwest District | 1959 |
| 3/24 | Organic Act | 1959 |
| 3/25 | Rivers and Valleys Development Authority | 1959 |
| 3/26 | List of Reviewed Bills | 1959 April 29 |
| 3/27 | Memo to legislators limiting bills to one subject | undated |