Guide to the Howard Rock interview
1976
Collection number: HMC-0210.
Creator:
Fox, Robert M. (interviewer).
Rock, Howard (interviewee).
Title: Howard Rock interview.
Date: 1976.
Volume of collection: 0.01 cubic feet and 543 mb.
Language of materials: Materials in the collection are in English.
Collection summary: Interview with the first editor and publisher of the Tundra Times.
Biographical note:
Howard Rock was born in Point Hope, Alaska in 1911. He attended high school at White Mountain Vocational School, and studied at the University of Washington for three years. After college, he worked as an artist, carving in ivory until he was drafted during World War II; after the war he returned to his art work. He became involved in Native affairs in 1961 when he returned to Point Hope and served as village spokesman in a dispute between the villagers and the Atomic Energy Commission over a proposed plan to build an underwater harbor by exploding five atomic bombs. That same year he was approached by the Arctic Slope Native Association to form a newspaper and in October, 1962, the Tundra Times was started with Rock as editor and publisher, a position he held until his death in 1976. Under his direction the paper grew to a circulation of over 3,500. In 1975, it was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for meritorious public service. During his career Rock received many awards including being named “Alaskan of the Year,” in 1974, and “49er of the Year,” in 1975. Howard Rock died on April 20, 1976.
Collection description:
The collection consists of a recording and transcript of an interview of Howard Rock by Robert M. Fox in March, 1976. The interview was one of a series done for Leadership Programs and Alaska Native Perspectives: A Study to Promote University Awareness by Kathryn A. Hecht and Robert M. Fox. In the interview Rock discusses his education, employment history, a planned Alaska Native Leadership program, and Rock’s views on leadership.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by format.
Digitized copies: This collection has been digitized. For access to digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives and Special Collections does not own copyright to this collection.
Preferred citation: Howard Rock interview, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Custodial history: The collection was given to Roger Lang by Kathryn A. Hecht in 1979.
Acquisition note: The collection was presented to the archives by Roger Lang in 1980.
Processing information: This collection was described prior to 1995. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard by Gwen Higgins in 2017.