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Pioneers of Alaska, Igloo No. 15 Records

Guide to the Pioneers of Alaska, Igloo No. 15 records
1910-1988

Collection number: HMC-0202.
Creator: Pioneers of Alaska. Igloo 15.
Title: Pioneers of Alaska, Igloo No. 15 records.
Dates: 1916-1988.
Volume of collection: 9.6 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Records of the local Anchorage branch of a fraternal organization for pioneers in Alaska.

Organizational history:
Igloo No. 15 of the Pioneers of Alaska is one of the oldest fraternal organizations in Anchorage, Alaska. The charter for the organization was signed in September 1916 and approved by the Grand Igloo of the Pioneers of Alaska in February 1918. Officers during Igloo No. 15’s first year in 1917 included John Frame, President; John Robinson, 1st Vice President; J. S. Mathews, Secretary; and Ray Larsen, Treasurer. Early meetings of the Igloo were held in the Labor Union Hall, the Moose Lodge, and Robarts Hall. In July 1917, the Igloo purchased Anchorage’s first school building from the Alaska Engineering Commission and moved it to a lot in downtown Anchorage. It served as a meeting hall for the Igloo and Women’s Auxiliary No. 4, (established 1919) until 1964 when it was damaged in the Alaska earthquake. In 1965, Igloo No. 15 established the non-profit Pioneer Hall Building Corporation to acquire property and funds to contract for the construction of a new Pioneer Hall in Anchorage, and to administer and maintain the hall after its completion. The new hall was completed and dedicated in 1966.

Collection description:
This collection contains the records of Pioneers of Alaska, Igloo No. 15. Included are administrative records; meeting and membership records; legal files; special events files; financial records; and papers concerning the Grand Igloo, pioneers homes in Alaska, and graves and cemetery records. These files contain extensive data documenting the history and operation of the organization. The administrative records include the Igloo’s constitution and bylaws, annual reports (1918-1983), Board of Trustees records (1969-1974),  correspondence (1917-1987), minutes, resolutions, and attendance registers, as well as membership rolls and lists, documents relating to the sale of the old Pioneer Hall and the construction of the new hall, and ledgers, check registers, and audits.

Arrangement: The collection is arranged in the following order:

Part 1. Administrative records; 1916-1988

Series 1: General records; 1917-1987
Series 2: Pioneer Hall Building Corporation; 1965-1966
Series 3: Special events records; 1923-1978
Series 4:  Financial records; 1917-1988

Part 2. Grand Igloo records; 1920-1984
Part 3. Pioneer Homes; 1937-1981

Digitized copies: Digital copies of collection material not available online. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.

Rights note: Archives does not own rights to this collection.

Preferred citation: Pioneers of Alaska, Igloo No. 15 records, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Acquisition note: This collection was deposited in the Archives by the Pioneers of Alaska, Igloo No. 15 in 1988, 1989, and 1992.

Processing information: This collection was originally arranged and described by Dennis Walle. The collection was rearranged and the guide revised by Megan K. Friedel in 2012.

Container list:

Part 1. Administrative records; 1916-1988. 8 cubic feet.
Part 1. Series 1: General records; 1917-1987. 6.2 cubic feet.

Box/Folder Description Dates
1/1 Constitution and bylaws 1917, 1919, 1982
1/2 Ritual book 1961
1/3 Board of Trustees meeting notes and discussion material 1969-1974
1/4 – 1/23 General correspondence undated, 1917-1987
1/24 – 2/9 Secretary’s correspondence undated, 1952-1987
2/10 Roll call of officers 1921-1925
2/11 – 4/10 Meeting minutes 1916-1987
4/11 – 4/13 Resolutions 1918-1982
4/14 – 4/17 Meeting attendance registers 1952-1984
4/18 – 4/19 Membership applications, A-Z. See appendix for index of names. 1921-1973
4/20 Membership applications suspended 1933-1984
4/21 – 5/6 Membership rolls 1917-1973
5/7 Membership rolls – Auxiliary No. 4 1975, 1977
5/8 – 5/9 Membership cards, A-Z 1964-1966
5/10 – 5/16 Membership cards – Deceased members circa 1930-1982
5/17 – 5/19 Membership cards – Members withdrawn, dropped, or transferred circa 1929-1981
5/20 Membership cards – members issued clearance cards circa 1960-1978
5/21 Member address books undated
6/1 Member address lists undated
6/2 – 6/6 Membership rosters undated, 1981-1985
6/7 Bill of sale – Old Pioneer Hall 1965
6/8 Estate settlements 1970, 1976
6/9 Leases 1917-1976
6/10 Leases – Correspondence and notes 1975-1980
6/11 Elevator maintenance agreement 1981

Part 1. Series 2: Pioneer Hall Building Corporation records; 1965-1966. 0.3 cubic feet.

Box/Folder Description Dates
6/12 Articles of incorporation 1965
6/13 Board of Trustees meeting minutes 1965
6/14 Building contract 1965-1966
6/15 Bank loan receipts 1965
6/16 – 6/17 Bank statements and cancelled checks 1965-1966
6/18 Building fund 1965
6/19 Debentures 1966
6/20 Disbursements 1965-1966
6/21 Hall rental charges 1966
6/23 Insurance 1966
6/24 Loan application from Small Business Association 1965
6/25 Other records 1966

Part 1. Series 3: Special events records; 1923-1978. 0.3 cubic feet.

Box/Folder Description Dates
6/26 Breakup Ball 1967-1977
6/27 Cabaret Party 1967
6/28 – 6/29 “Days of ‘98” 1954-1955
6/30 Dedication of Pioneer Hall 1966
6/31 Fish Feed 1970-1973
6/32 Harvest Dinner 1972-1978
6/33 Open House 1923-1938
6/34 Pancake Feed 1970-1977
6/35 Picnic 1968-1977
6/36 Stampede 1975

Part 1. Series 4: Financial records; 1917-1988. 1.2 cubic feet.

Box/Folder Description Dates
6/37 – 6/38 Annual financial reports 1917-1980
6/39 Annual income and expense statements 1967-1971
6/40 – 6/44 Annual reports and correspondence for trust accounts 1970-1977
6/55 – 7/4 Ledgers 1918-1964
7/5 – 7/10 Ledger/check registers 1943-1976
7/11 Audits 1960-1966
7/12 – 8/3 Bank statements, deposit slips, bills, and cancelled checks 1922-1977
8/4 – 8/10 Bills 1917-1975
8/11 Bond subscriptions – Pioneer Hall 1965
8/12 Building loan certificates – Pioneer Building 1918
8/13 – 8/16 Cancelled checks 1918-1976
8/17 Correspondence 1916-1980
8/18 – 8/19 Deposit records 1970-1974
8/20 Insurance 1955-1975
8/21 Inventories – Safe deposit box 1967-1988
8/22 Mail rates 1977
8/23 Paid accounts 1973
8/24 Proposed budget undated
8/25 – 8/27 Receipts 1920-1972
8/28 – 8/31 Record of funds transferred from secretary to treasurer 1966-1984
8/32 – 8/33 Rental of Pioneer Hall 1971-1973
8/34 Tax assessments 1917-1962
8/35 Tax information and returns 1954-1974
8/36 – 8/37 Treasurers reports (for additional treasurers reports, see meeting minutes) 1917-1981
8/38 Treasurers reports – Dues and initiation fees received 1980-1982
8/39 Trust agreement undated
8/40 – 9/2 Warrants 1917-1930

Part 2. Grand Igloo records; 1910-1984. 1.4 cubic feet.

Box/Folder Description Dates
9/3 Constitution and bylaws 1947-1984
9/4 Glass-plate negative of charter form undated
9/5 Meeting/convention minutes 1920-1964
9/6 – 9/10 Meeting/convention reports 1960-1986
9/11 Meeting/convention speeches 1981, 1985
9/12 – 9/20 Convention records, including minutes, correspondence, financial records and reports, and Sitka petition 1954, 1961
9/21 – 9/24 53rd session minutes, correspondence, financial records, and committee records 1969
9/25 – 9/26 Convention programs 1958-1986
9/27 – 10/1 Grand Igloo session programs 1954-1987
10/2 – 10/5 Correspondence 1931-1934
10/6 Ledger 1910, 1921-1923
10/7 Ledger – Supplies ordered (listed by Igloo) 1908-1916
10/8 Supply price list, inventories, and warrants 1921-1924
10/9 Igloo charter and membership list undated, 1932
10/10 Rubber stamps undated, 1969

Part 3. Pioneer Homes; 1937-1981. 0.2 cubic feet.

Box/Folder Description Dates
10/11 Biennial reports, Pioneer Home Superintendent 1937-1940
10/12 Annual reports, Sitka Home Christmas fund 1956-1967
10/13 Anchorage Pioneer Home addition report 1979
10/14 Brochures undated, 1961, 1976
10/15 Guest lists circa 1961-1973
10/16 Older Alaskans Commission legislation 1981

 

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