Guide to the Thomas Saplak photographs
1942-1943
Collection number: HMC-0540.
Creator: Saplak, Thomas.
Title: Thomas Saplak photographs.
Dates: 1942-1943.
Volume of collection: 0.20 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Photographs of the area between Dawson Creek and the Sikanni Chief River in British Columbia during the construction of the Alaska Highway.
Biographical note:
Corporal Thomas Saplak was a U.S. Army soldier with Company G, 477th during World War II. His unit supported U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and civilian personnel constructing the Alaska Highway. Saplak’s unit served on the southern section of the highway, between Dawson Creek and the Sikanni Chief River in British Columbia.
Collection description:
The collection consists of Corporal Thomas Saplak’s photograph album relating to his military service and construction of the Alaska Highway in 1942-1943. The collection consists of a xerographic copy of the original 26 page album; the original buckskin album cover, and 87 photographs. General subjects of the photographs include: construction camps, fellow soldiers, civilian workmen, scenes along the highway, military and civilian vehicles and heavy equipment used during road construction, bridges, river ferries, and riverboats. Specific subjects of the photographs include: the military police station at the Blueberry Relay Station (Mile 101); the G-477 company barracks and mess hall; construction of the temporary bridge across the Peace River in November 1942 (Mile 36); the Sikanni Chief River Bridge (Mile 163); and the B. Backman Hines Alcan Bus #4.
Arrangement: The materials in the collection are arranged by type.
Alternative formats: A Xerox copy of the original album is available. Copy negatives were made from selected prints in the collection.
Digitized copies: 52 images from this collection have been digitized and placed online in the Alaska’s Digital Archives. 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: Thomas Saplak photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: This collection was purchased from eBay in 2001.
Processing information: This collection was described, photo album disassembled, and photographs rearranged by Jeffrey Sinnott in 2001. The collection was converted to current standard by Veronica Denison in 2014. Photographs were arranged back into original order by Arlene Schmuland in 2014.