Guide to the Robert D. Combes papers
undated, 1952-1953
An Alaska Historical Society collection
Collection number: HMC-1237-AHS.
Creator: Combes, Robert D.
Title: Robert D. Combes papers.
Dates: undated, 1952-1953.
Volume of collection: 0.1 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in the collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers, photographs, and film of a Battalion Carpenter and Radar Operator who served at the 96th AAA Battalion Headquaters in Anchorage from 1952-1954.
Biographical note:
Robert D. Combes was born in Baldwin, Long Island, New York and graduated high school there in 1949. He was drafted into the army in 1952, while attending Hofstra University. Combes was sent to Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, where he trained with the 101st Airborne (Infantry) Division. Next, he was sent to Anchorage, where he served as Battalion Carpenter and Radar Operator. He and his wife lived off-base at Sunset Trailer Park in Mountain View. After being released from active service in 1954, Combes worked for Republic Aviation, Grumman Aircraft Corporation, and at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He later returned to Long Island and became a vocational education teacher. He retired from teaching after 17 years of service and now lives in Florida with his wife.
Collection description:
The collection is comprised of materials relating to Robert Combes’s time living in Alaska. The collection consists of the contents of 28 scrapbook pages, including photographs, clippings, regulations for Sunset Trailer Park, a program for an Easter church service, a Christmas card, and a Christmas dinner menu. The collection also contains a 1953 Fur Rendezvous program, a program for the 1953 Alaska Sports Festival, a copy of The Anchorage Guide, slides, a reel of 8 mm film, and a jar of ash from the eruption of Mt. Spurr in 1953. Subjects of the photographs include streets in Anchorage, 1953 Fur Rendezvous, Armed Forces Day in 1953, Eagle River, the Seward Highway, Sunset Trailer Park, and military facilities in Anchorage. The slides depict scenery near Anchorage. The film reel contains moving images depicting Eagle River, the Matanuska Glacier, two homes overlooking Cook Inlet, and the Sunset Trailer Park, where Combes and his wife lived.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by type of material.
Alternative formats: The collection includes a xerographic copy of the original scrapbook pages to indicate the original order.
Digitized copies: 16 images from this collection have been digitized and can be found on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Copyright to materials created by Robert D. Combes is held by the Alaska Historical Society.
Preferred citation: Robert D. Combes papers, Alaska Historical Society collections, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory: Biographical information was provided by Robert D. Combes.
Acquisition note: Robert D. Combes donated the collection to the Alaska Historical Society in 2014. The Historical Society retains ownership of the collection and placed it on deposit in Archives and Special Collections in 2016. A deed of gift was signed by Combes in 2016.
Processing information: This collection was described by Gwen Sieja in 2016. At that time the photographs and other materials were removed from the scrapbook pages for preservation purposes.