Guide to the Greater Anchorage, Inc. Fur Rendezvous records
1938-2005
Collection number: HMC-0121.
Creator: Greater Anchorage, Inc.
Title: Greater Anchorage, Inc. Fur Rendezvous records.
Dates: 1938-2005.
Volume of collection: 28 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Records of the organization responsible for the annual Fur Rendezvous festival in Anchorage.
Organizational history:
The first annual “Winter Sports Carnival” was held in Anchorage, Alaska over February 15-17, 1935. In 1937, the name of the festival was changed to “Winter Sports Tournament and Fur Rendezvous,” in part after Alaska’s fur- trading heritage. The central events included a fur auction, skiing, basketball, and hockey. The Fur Rendezvous was suspended in 1942 for the duration of World War II and resumed again in 1946. The event was managed at different times by civic groups, fraternal and service organizations, special committees, and the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce. The Fur Rendezvous was taken over in 1956 by Greater Anchorage, Inc., a non-profit civic organization, and was gradually expanded into a ten-day event in late February and early March of each year. Fur Rendezvous events include the World Championship Sled Dog Race (begun in 1946), the Women’s World Championship Sled Dog Race (begun in 1953), a fur auction, several balls including the Miner’s and Trapper’s Ball, sports such as men’s snowshoe softball, parades, contests such as the World Championship Dog Weight Pull (begun in 1967), assorted races including Grand Prix auto race, numerous exhibits, and other contests and activities. The festival is known today as the Fur Rondy Festival.
Collection description:
The collection consists of papers and photographs created and kept by Greater Anchorage, Inc. that document the organization’s involvement with the annual Fur Rendezvous festival from 1938-2005. These materials include festival advertisements, board meeting minutes and reports, brochures, concession and exhibit information, correspondence, event schedules, financial papers, mailing lists, membership records, newspaper clippings, programs, permits, press releases, and other papers relating to various festival events. There is also an extensive set of photographs, negatives, contact prints, and proofs taken by photographer Ward W. Wells that document the events and activities of the Fur Rendezvous from 1952-1982. Other items of note include a set of booster buttons from 1974-1984; an incomplete set of collector buttons from 1965-1984; a set of annual event catalogs from 1951-1981 (1968 missing); a collectors album of the signatures of prominent attendees, and film such as promotional videos and footage of the festival from news organizations, among many other items.
Arrangement: The collection is divided into two parts: Part I. Materials acquired before 1999 and Part II. Materials acquired after 1999.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives does not own copyright to this collection.
Preferred citation: Greater Anchorage Inc. Fur Rendezvous records, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Related materials: Fur Rendezvous Annual 1953/Alaska State Housing booklet, EPH-0082-AHS.
Acquisition note: The collection was placed on deposit in the Archives in 1980 by Greater Anchorage Inc. Additional material was deposited in 1981-2006 and continues to be submitted periodically. Additional material from other sources has been added to the collection. The 1964 King Regent sash, which was awarded to Bill Rager, was transferred to Archives and Special Collections by the Anchorage Museum Atwood Resource Center in 2018.
Processing information: Part I of the collection was arranged and described by Archives staff prior to 1999. Megan K. Friedel revised and updated this description in 2010. Part II was re-boxed and foldered by Jeffrey Sinnott between 1999-2006 and was arranged and described by Lesley Ann Wallace and Megan K. Friedel in 2010.
Container list:
Part 1. Materials acquired before 1999. 14.2 cubic feet.
Part 1. Series 1. Historical files, 1938-1978. 10.2 cubic feet.
This series includes advertisements, board meeting minutes and reports, brochures, concession and exhibit information, correspondence, event schedules, financial papers, mailing lists, membership records, newspaper clippings, programs, permits, press releases, and other papers relating to various festival events. Arranged chronologically by year and then alphabetically by subject.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| Box 1 | Historical files. Includes materials on the history of Greater Anchorage, Inc. and Kay Kennedy promotional information (1938-1939). | 1938-1947, 1956-1966 |
| Box 2 | Historical files. Includes ledgers and account books. | 1967-1968 |
| Box 3 | Historical files. | 1968-1969 |
| Box 4 | Historical files. | 1969-1971 |
| Box 5 | Historical files. Includes by-law revisions. | 1971-1972 |
| Box 6 | Historical files. | 1972 |
| Box 7 | Historical files. Includes annuals. | 1972-1973 |
| Box 8 | Historical files. | 1973-1974 |
| Box 9 | Historical files. | 1974-1976 |
| Box 10 | Historical files. Includes by-laws and organization manual. | 1976-1978, undated |
| Box 11 | Minutes of meetings. | 1982-1983 |
Part 1. Series 2. Ward W. Wells photographs, 1950-1982. 2 cubic feet.
The negatives, contact prints, and proofs in this series are arranged chronologically by year and then by negative number. These numbers were assigned to the images by either by Ward W. Wells or the archivist who originally processed this collection. Folder titles are taken from the photographer’s original negative envelopes. Photocopies of these envelopes are included in many folders.
The negatives are numbered as follows:
0000 #0-0 = Numbered by Ward W. Wells on negative.
0000 #(0-0) = Numbered by processor on negative sleeve.
0000 = 4 x 5 negatives.
0000-120 or 0000-135 = Added by processor to indicate negative size.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 12/1 | Unidentified negatives | undated |
| 12/2 | Negatives 1084 #1-5: Moose Gooser Kiwanis | undated |
| 12/3 | Negatives 1146 #1, 2: Fur Rendezvous Photo Contest sponsored by the Anchorage Photo Guild | 1950 |
| 12/4 – 12/5 | Negatives 1200 #9-1: Raising banner
Negatives 1203 #1, 2: Square dancers |
1951 |
| 12/6 – 12/13 | Negatives 1250 #1-16: Moose Gooser
Negatives 1250 #17-20: Folk dance Negatives 1250 #21: Dog musher Negatives 1250 #22, 23: Sons of Norway cake presentation Negatives 1250 #24-33: Queen coronation Negatives 1250 #34, 35: Hoosier Hot Shots: Clowns and police in front of 4th Avenue Theater Negatives 1250 #36, 37: Blanket toss Negatives 1250 #38-44B: Style show at Elks Hall |
1952 |
| 12/14 | Negatives 1494 #1-6: Dog teams | 1954 |
| 12/15 – 12/17 | Negatives 1712 #(1-3): Floats in parade
Negatives 1712 #(4, 5): Fur auction Negatives 1712-120 #(3-8), (10-12): Dog sled races and fur auction Negatives 1712-120 #(10-12): Dog sled races and fur auction |
1956 |
| 12/18 -12/25 | Negatives 1770 #1-6: Native carver
Negatives 1770 #(7-9): Wrestlers Negatives 1770 #(10-17): Fur fashion show Negatives 1770 #(18-28) Coronation Ball Negatives 1770 #(29, 30): Various ceremonies Negatives 1770-120 #3-5: Mushers Negatives 1770-120 #(6-12): Blanket toss Negatives 1770-120 #(13-19): Blanket toss |
1957 |
| 12/26 – 12/35 | Negatives 1862 #(1-7): Wrestling – Vic Christy and Mr. Moto
Negatives 1863 #(1-12): Parade Negatives 1863-120 #(1-5): Parade Negatives 1864 #(1-4): [1] Peggy Postgate, [2] Betty Watson, [3] Cindy Terby, [4] Unidentified person Negatives 1864 #(1-10): Rondy Queen Jane DeLorenzo Negatives 1864-120 #(1, 2): Native parkas and blanket toss Negatives 1864-120 #(3, 4): Curling Negatives 1864-120 #(5-21): Curling Negatives 1881 #(1-13): Dog sled races Negatives 1881-120 #(1-41): Dog sled races |
1958 |
| 12/36 – 12/52 | Negatives 2055-120 #1-3: Queen candidates before coronation
Negatives 2055-120 #4-17: Eskimo pageant Negatives 2055-120 #18-28: Women’s dog sled races Negatives 2055-120 #29-48: Queen coronation Negatives 2055-120 #49-60: Parade Negatives 2055-120 #63-66/69: Parade Negatives 2055-120 #70-72: Fur auction Negatives 2055-120 #75-89: Fur auction Negatives 2055-120 #90-95: Sled dog weight-pulling contest (missing negative 2055-120 #91) Negatives 2055-120 #96-109: Dog racing championships Negatives 2055-120 #112-119: Dog racing championships Negatives 2055-120 #122-125: Dog racing championships Negatives 2055-120 #126-130: Eskimo blanket toss Negatives 2055-120 #131-220: Miner’s & Trapper’s Ball and beard contest Negatives 2055 #221-234: Queen coronation Negatives 2055-120 #(1-26): Wrestling/Zsabo, Lord Blears, Mr. Moto, Billy Varga Negatives 2055-135 #(1-14): Eskimo blanket toss Negatives 2055-135 #(1-16): Pancake feed/Aunt Jemima Negatives 2055-135 #(1-90): Eskimo pageant Negatives 2055-135 #(1-3) Merry-Go-Around Negatives 2055 MISC #(1-13): Misc. shots, unidentified negatives |
1959 |
| 12/53 – 12/60 | Negatives 3063-120 #1-20: Junior mushers
Negatives 3063-120 #21-32: Parade Negatives 3063-2¼x3½ #33-44: Parade Negatives 3063-120 #45: Chuck wagon Negatives 3063-120 #46-51: Circus Negatives 3063-120 #52, 53: Junior dog races Negatives 3063-120 #54-89: Dog races Negatives 3063-2¼x3½ #90-96: Dog races |
1960 |
| 12/61 – 12/63 | Negatives 3295-120 #1-4 Miss Alaska – Jean Ann Holm, Fairbanks
Negatives 3295-120 #(5-25) Miss Alaska – Jean Ann Holm, Fairbanks Negatives 3295-120 #(26-30) Mike Watkins, 12, San Jose, CA, Newspaper Carrier – King for a Day |
1961 |
| Box 13 | Contact prints of negatives 1084 #1-5 through 3295-120 #26-30 | 1950-1961 |
| 14/1 – 14/26 | Negatives 3415A #1-16: Dr. Lombard
Negatives 3415A-120 #17-22: Dr. Lombard Negatives 3415A-120 #23-29: General Foods Corp. – Gravy Train Publicity Negatives 3415A-120 #30-61: Dogs Negatives 3415A-120 #62-120: Go-Kart Races Negatives 3415A-120 #121-173: Stock Car Races Negatives 3415A-120 #174-180: Women’s Snowshoe Race Negatives 3415A-120 #181-216: Junior Dog Sled Races Negatives 3415A #217-223: Fourth Avenue Dog Races Negatives 3415A-120 #224-242: Fourth Avenue Dog Races Negatives 3415A-120 #244-287: Fourth Avenue Dog Races Negatives 3415B-120 #288-293: Art Show Negatives 3415B-120 #295-300: Photo Show Negatives 3415B-2¼x3½ #301-315: Photo Show Negatives 3415B-120 #316-332: Fur Auction Negatives 3415B-120 #333-344, 352, 353: Rondy Parade Negatives 3415B-2¼x3½ #345-351: Rondy Parade Negatives 3415B-120 #354-371: Blanket Toss Negatives 3415B #372: Announcers (individual/groups) Negatives 3415B-120 #373-425: Individuals/groups (#376, 379, 390-391 depict “Mr. Fur Face, Muktuk Marston”) Negatives 3415B-120 #426-469: Miscellaneous Crowds and Events Negatives 3415B-2¼x3½ #470-473: Miscellaneous Individuals Negatives 3415B-120 #475-480, 484-489: Chilkat Dancers Negatives 3415B-120 #490-493: Dog Sled Races Negatives 3415C-135 #(0-35)(1): Chilkat Dancers Negatives 3415C-135 #(1-37)(2): Chilkat Dancers Negatives 3415C-135 #(8-37)(3): Chilkat Dancers |
1962 |
| 14/27 – 14/29 | Negatives 4015 #1-10: Rondy Old Time Costumes
Negatives 4015-120 #(1-9): Chilkat Dancers Negatives 4015-120 #(1-13): Eskimos – St. Lawrence Island |
1963 |
| 14/30 – 14/45 | Negatives 4140-120 #1-103: Lassie and Sky King
Negatives 4140-120 #104-105: Lassie and Farrel Ingham Children Negatives 4170-120 #1-15: Miss Alaska Pageant/Talent Negatives 4170 #16: Miss Alaska Pageant/Frank Feeman Negatives 4170-120 #17-30: Miss Alaska Pageant/Coronation of Karol Homman Negatives 4170 #31-55: Miss Alaska Pageant/Karol Homman, Winner Negatives 4171-120 #1: Miss Anchorage Pageant/ Runner-Ups Negatives 4171-120 #2-14: Miss Anchorage Pageant/ Talent Negatives 4171-12 0 #15-17: Miss Anchorage Pageant/Everybody Can’t Be a Winner Negatives 4171-120 #18: Frank Feeman Negatives 4171 #19, 20: Introduction of Candidates Negatives 4171-120 #21-23: Pageant – Stage Action Negatives 4171-120 #24-26: Pageant – Paul Lien Negatives 4171-120 #27-28: Pageant – Ballgowns Negatives 4171 #29-31: Pageant – Susan Koslosky Negatives 4171-120 #32-44: Pageant (Miss Anchorage) – Karol Homman |
1964 |
| 14/46 – 14/49 | Negatives 4256-120 #1-46: Miss Anchorage Contest
Negatives 4256-120 #47-51: Rondy Dog Races Negatives 4256-120 #52-58: Rondy Parade Negatives 4256-135 #(1-68): Rondy — Miss Anchorage |
1965 |
| 14/50 | Negative 7288 #1: GAI/Miss Alaska Contestants | 1967 |
| 14/51 | Negatives 4975-120 #1-10: Rondy – Old-Time Household Goods at Alaska Mutual Savings; Old Schoolroom at National Bank of Alaska | 1972 |
| 14/52 – 14/53 | Negatives (1980) #(1-11): Mr. and Mrs. Gene Smith – King and Queen Regents
Negatives (1980) #(1-20) Publicity Portraits – Casey Clure |
1980 |
| 14/54 – 14/56 | Negatives (1981) #(1-26): Debra Steckel, Rondy Queen
Negatives (1981) #(1-10): Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Nurse, King and Queen Regents Negatives (1981) #(1-12): Gregory Bill – Publicity Portraits |
1981 |
| 14/57 | Negatives (1982) #(1-6): Mr. and Mrs. John Schandelmeier, Fur Rondy King & Queen – Publicity Portraits | 1982 |
| Box 15 | Prints, contact prints, and proofs of negatives 3415A through 4975-120, (1980) through (1982), and unidentified. | 1965-1982 |
Part 1. Series 3. Artifacts, 1953-1985. 2 cubic feet.
| Box | Description | Dates |
| Box 16 | Booster buttons, annuals, and programs. | 1953-1985 |
| Box 17 | Commemorative ceramic plates and collector’s albums containing commemorative autographed envelopes with signatures of public figures associated with the festival, which include Fur Rendezvous queens and winners. | 1970-1984 |
| Box 32 | Lord Trapper commemorative mugs/steins; 1964 King Regent sash won by Bill Rager | undated, 1964, 1984 |
Part 2. Materials acquired after 1999. 13.8 cubic feet.
The materials in these boxes are arranged in the original order in which they arrived at the Archives.
| Box | Description | Dates |
| Box 18 | Floor supervisor’s hat for Monte Carlo Night | 1985 |
| Box 19 | Directors’ manuals of rules and regulations for exhibits, festival president resumes, and photographs of sporting events, including basketball, Grand Prix auto race auto race, dog sled races and social events such as awards banquets, dances, parades, and dinners. | 1969, 1979-1985 |
| Box 20 | Annual board meeting notes, executive committee notes, drafts for director’s manual, action plans for events and exhibits, 1983 fully published director’s manual, and list of past presidents’ contact information. | 1979-1992 |
| Box 21 | Budget notes, insurance papers, 1998 fireworks contract dispute papers, membership papers, event information including Miner’s and Trapper’s Ball and Monte Carlo Night, warehouse use plans, announcements, and photos of pageant winners and Fur Rendezvous Queens | 1973-1991 |
| Box 22 | Publications (festival programs, magazines, premium books, and pamphlets) and photographs of contestants, kings and queens, events, and exhibits. | 1970-1990 |
| Box 23 | Ward W. Wells color slides: A-G. Arranged alphabetically by festival subject. | 1985-1991 |
| Box 24 | Ward W. Wells color slides: G-P. Arranged alphabetically by festival subject. | 1985-1991 |
| Box 25 | Ward W. Wells color slides: P-S. Arranged alphabetically by festival subject. | 1985-1991 |
| Box 26 | Ward W. Wells color slides: S-W. Arranged alphabetically by festival subject. | 1985-1991 |
| Box 27 | President’s correspondence, board meeting notes (1994), economic impact study (1989), legal and financial papers, event information, and advertisements. | 1989-1994 |
| Box 28 | Film footage from news organizations, promotional videos, Chamber of Commerce membership directories, oversized photos of the Grand Prix auto race, and one handler banner for dog sledding. | 1991-2005 |
| Box 29 | Photographs of individuals, arranged alphabetically by name, and festival events. | 1956-1989 |
| Box 30 | Official events guides, Who’s Who Festival and Events membership directory (50th edition), collector’s program (1985), unidentified events photographs, and artifacts, including commemorative plate (1995), commemoratives pins, and piece of walrus tusk. | 1982-2004 |
| Box 31 (oversize) |
Income account book for 1971-1971, Ward W. Wells photographs of festival activities (1959 and undated), cassette tape of 12/16/1975 speech by Bob Sumbardo at the Presidents Luncheon at the Anchorage Westward Hotel, 1967 festival program, newspaper clippings, and binder of photocopies made in 1981 of 1937 Winter Sports Tournament and Fur Rendezvous material | 1959-1981 |