Guide to the George R. Szanik slides
1941-1943
Collection number: HMC-0722.
Creator: Szanik, George R.
Title: George R. Szanik slides.
Dates: 1941-1943.
Volume of collection: 0.2 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary:Photographs from a serviceman serving in Alaska.
Biographical note:
George R. Szanik was born in California in 1920. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in San Francisco, California, in 1941. Szanik received training at Camp Roberts, California, an army replacement training center for infantry and field artillery soldiers. He was stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska, from 1942 to 1943. George Szanik later became a well-known architectural photographer.
Collection description:
The collection consists of the World War II era Alaska slides of George R. Szanik. The collection contains 76 different 35mm glass color slides. A list of slide captions is also included. Subjects of the slides include members of Szanik’s training company at Camp Roberts, various Fort Richardson area scenic views, buildings on Fort Richardson, skiing near Independence Mine in Hatcher Pass and at Arctic Valley, downtown Anchorage, the Curry Hotel, Mount McKinley National Park, and Eklutna Lake.
Arrangement: The slides are in numerical order based on numbers assigned by George Szanik.
Digitized copies: This collection has been digitized. 19 of the images have been placed on the Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives & Special Collections does not hold copyright to these materials.
Preferred citation: George R. Szanik slides, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: This collection was purchased at internet auction by the Archives in 2004.
Processing information: This collection was described by Jeffrey Sinnott in 2004. The guide was re-formatted to current standard in 2009. The images were digitized and placed online and the guide updated in 2015 by Arlene Schmuland.
Container list:
| Slide number | Description | Date |
| 33 | “Some of the gang at Roberts.” Twelve soldiers posed between barracks at Camp Roberts, California. | 1941 Summer |
| 34 | “Looking out of my door”; April 1942. Winter forest scene. | 1942 April |
| 35 | “Early A. M. Alaska – front yard.” Winter forest scene. | 1942 March |
| 36 | “An Alaskan morn.” Snow-covered bushes. | 1942 April |
| 37 | “Taking a break.” Szanik kneeling next to snow-covered bush. | 1942 April |
| 38 | “In my ‘tent city’ yard.” Szanik standing in front of spruce trees. | 1942 April |
| 39 | “What fun!” Szanik squatting holding snow in his hand. | |
| 40 | “Sunset in Alaska.” | 1942 April |
| 41-42 | “Late afternoon.” Forest and mountain scenery. | 1942 May |
| 43 | “Theatre #1 – Fort Richardson.” Long line of soldiers outside theatre on fort. | 1942 May |
| 46 | “Near Camel Creek.” Scenery, probably on Eklutna Flats. | 1942 June |
| 47 | “Eagle River – Alaska.” River and valley from above. | 1942 June |
| 48-49 | “Some Alaskan flowers;. Fireweed. | 1942 July |
| 50 | “Tent City road.” Dirt road with telephone poles and fireweed. | 1942 September |
| 51 | “Cooks Inlet.” | 1942 August |
| 52 | “Looking west to Richardson.” Mud flats and mountains. | 1942 August |
| 53 | “Geo. & his parka.” Szanik standing in white parka. | 1943 January |
| 54 | “Winter and home.” Trail in snow to Quonset hut. | 1943 January |
| 55 | “Alaskan sunset.” View of road and buildings on Fort Ricardson. | 1943 February |
| 56 | “An Alaskan Greeting.” Writing in snow. | 1943 February |
| 57 | “The range.” Late afternoon mountain scene. | 1943 February |
| 58 | “Palmer Highway.” Late afternoon scene. | 1943 February |
| 59-60 | “Winter trees.” | 1943 February |
| 61 | “An igloo in Alaska.” Side of snow and ice covered Quonset hut barracks with window dormers. | 1943 February |
| 62 | “An igloo in wintertime.” Another scene of same building. | 1943 February |
| 63 | “Our grounds.” Valley and mountain scene. | 1943 February |
| 64 | “Cooks Inlet – Alaska.” View across inlet. | 1943 February |
| 65 | “Looking toward Palmer.” Forest and mountain scene. | 1943 February |
| 66 | “Otter Lake.” Soldier standing on frozen lake. | 1943 February |
| 67 | “Palmer Highway.” Soldier standing at side of snow-covered road. | 1943 February |
| 68 | “Unloading near mine.” Soldiers unloading alpine skis near Independence Mine. | 1943 February |
| 69 | “Anchorage ski-run.” Soldiers skiing from treeless hilltop. Probably Arctic Valley or Anchorage Ski-Bowl. | 1943 February |
| 70 | “Skiing area.” Soldiers skiing near Independence Mine. | 1943 February |
| 71 | “Gold mine, Independence Mine.” View of Independence Mine buildings. | 1943 February |
| 72 | “Independence Mine.” View of hilltop with Independence Mine buildings below. | 1943 February |
| 73 | “Skiing area.” View from ski slopes of Hatcher Pass. | 1943 February |
| 74 | “Skiing.” Szanik on skis. | 1943 February |
| 75 | “Skiing (Rossi).” Soldier skiing. | 1943 February |
| 76 | “Alaskan slopes.” Mountain scene. | 1943 March |
| 77 | “Palmer Highway.” View of road and mountains. | 1943 March |
| 78 | “Alaskan mountains.” | 1943 April |
| 79 | “Coming of summer.” Ice melting along stream. | 1943 April |
| 80 | “An Alaskan winter.” Ice melting along stream. | 1943 April |
| 81 | “Picture taking in Alaska.” Soldier taking picture along same stream. | 1943 April |
| 82 | “Early Alaskan A. M.” View of path in snow nearing cabin. | 1943 April |
| 83 | “Anchorage, Alaska.” Fourth Avenue scene looking east with Hewitt’s Drug Store in foreground. | 1943 April |
| 84 | “Anchorage, Alaska.” Fourth Avenue scene looking west with Federal Building at right. | 1943 April |
| 85 | “Anchorage, Alaska.” Fourth Avenue scene looking east near Federal Building. | 1943 April |
| 86 | “U.S.O., Anchorage, Alaska.” Log U.S.O. building with woman pushing child on sled at left. | 1943 April |
| 87 | “Alaskan baby carriage.” Baby in box on top of sled on Fourth Avenue sidewalk. | 1943 April |
| 88 | “Curry, Alaska.” Soldiers and two Alaska Railroad passenger cars in front of the Curry Hotel. | 1943 May |
| 89 | “Bridge to ski area – Curry.” Soldier on suspension footbridge. | 1943 May |
| 90 | “Mt. McKinley, Alaska.” View of mountain from distance. | 1943 May |
| 91-92 | “On the way to McKinley.” Scenes of the Nenana River along the Alaska Railroad. | 1943 May |
| 93 | “Log cabins, McKinley Park.” Szanik standing next to old cabin. | 1943 May |
| 94 | “To skiing area.” Mountain scenery. | 1943 May |
| 95 | “Horseshoe Lake.” View from above. | 1943 May |
| 96 | “On a skiing trip.” Szanik feeding ground squirrel at Mt. McKinley Army Recreation Center. | 1943 May |
| 97 | “Ain’t I sharp?” Close-up of ground squirrel. | 1943 May |
| 98 | “On porch, McKinley Park Hotel.” Szanik sitting on porch rail. | 1943 May |
| 99 | “From lobby – looking east.” View from McKinley Park Hotel window onto porch. | 1943 May |
| 100-102 | “Eklutna Lake.” Views of lake from shore. | 1943 July 4 |
| 103 | “Near Eklutna Lake.” View of trees and mountains. | 1943 July 4 |
| 104 | “Near Eklutna Lake.” Mountain view near log cabin. | 1943 July 4 |
| 105 | “Leaving Eklutna Lake.” View of road and lake from above. | 1943 July 4 |
| 106 | “Home in Alaska.” Quonset hut barracks. | 1943 August |
| 107 | “Szanik & family.” Szanik playing with two kittens outside barracks. | 1943 August |
| 108 | “Home sweet home.” Quonset hut barracks. | 1943 August |
| 109 | “Our backyard.” Forest and mountain scene. | 1943 August |
| 110 | “Our Alaskan backyard.” Forest and mountain scene. | 1943 August |