Guide to the Margaret E. Heller papers
1923-1981
Collection number: HMC-0398.
Creator: Heller, Margaret E.
Title: Margaret E. Heller papers.
Dates: 1923-1981.
Volume of collection: 0.4 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers of an airline employee and amateur ornithologist.
Biographical note:
Margaret E. Heller was born on May 7, 1909, and grew up in the House of the Good Shepard, an Episcopalian children’s home in Utica, New York. She put herself through college by working as a physical education teacher. She came to Alaska in 1945 with her sister Christine, who was a nutritionist and botanist. Margaret Heller worked for Alaska Airlines for many years, including serving as station agent in Nome, Alaska. She was an avid amateur ornithologist and was active in local ornithological organizations and projects to improve the environment for birds. Margaret Heller died in Anchorage on January 21, 1991.
Collection description:
The collection includes correspondence, a journal from when Heller was stationed in Nome with Alaska Airlines, files relating to the Alaska Ornithological Society, ornithological reference materials, and documents related to the Anchorage Urban Beautification Commission.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged in no discernible order.
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 hold copyright to materials in this collection.
Preferred citation: Margaret E. Heller papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Related materials: The Archives also holds the papers of Christine Heller, Margaret Heller’s sister: Christine A. Heller papers, HMC-0367.
Separated materials: Published material has been separated from the collection and some added to the Consortium Library’s Rare Books collection or the Archives’ ephemera collections. Please ask an archivist for further information.
Acquisition note: The collection was given to Archives by the estate of Margaret Heller in 1991.
Processing information: This collection was described by Michele Wellck in 1991. The guide to this collection was converted to current standard by Veronica Denison in 2015.
Container list:
| Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1 | Journal | 1955 January-November |
| 2 | Correspondence: Personal | undated, 1947-1981 |
| 3 | Correspondence: Ornithological | undated, 1965-1978 |
| 4 | Draft: “Birds and Airplanes” by Margaret Heller | circa 1963 |
| 5 | Alaska Ornithological Society: Constitution and bylaws | undated |
| 6 | Alaska Ornithological Society: Anchorage Chapter bylaws | undated |
| 7 | Correspondence: Alaska Ornithological Society | 1964-1966 |
| 8 | Alaska Ornithological Society, Christmas bird count | undated, 1964 |
| 9 | Notes related to Alaska Ornithological Society bulletins, meeting minutes, reports | undated, 1960-1970 |
| 11 | Draft: “Amateur Birder Along the Hyways” | undated |
| 11 | Alaska birds: lists of birds, articles on how to find birds | 1955-1977 |
| 12 | Anchorage Audubon Society: Information and bird list | undated, 1975 |
| 13 | Urban Beautification Commission: Memos, preliminary report, notes | undated, 1973 |
| 14 | Ornithology reference file | 1923-1972 |
| 15 | Sketch pad | 1971-1975 |