Guide to the Josephine M. Gordon journals
1964-1985
Collection number: HMC-0407.
Creator: Gordon, Josephine M.
Title: Josephine M. Gordon journals.
Dates: 1964-1985.
Volume of collection: 1.0 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Journals of a family’s annual trips through Alaska, Yukon Territory, and British Columbia.
Biographical note:
Josephine M. Gordon moved to Anchorage, Alaska, with her husband J. Chester Gordon in 1956, two years after they bought Anchorage radio station KBYR. Jo Gordon spent a great deal of her time in Alaska writing and painting. Near the end of each summer between 1969 and 1985 and possibly other years, the Gordons went on an extended vacation through Alaska and Western Canada. Jo Gordon wrote and illustrated one journal volume for each summer trip. The Gordons left Alaska in 1994.
Collection description:
The collection consists of copies of Jo Gordon’s fourteen illustrated journals which detail the summer road trips the Gordons took between 1969 and 1985. The first journal in the collection also contains illustrated entries from 1964 and 1966. In the journals, she discussed the towns they visited, the people they met, the businesses they patronized, road conditions, scenery, berry picking, (and making jams and jellies), her husband’s interest in antique telegraph insulators, and their poodles.
Arrangement: The journals in the collection are arranged chronologically.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Use restrictions: Permission to quote passages longer than fifty words must be obtained from the donor in writing.
Rights note: Copyright to the collection was retained by the donor.
Preferred citation: Josephine M. Gordon journals, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Index: An index to people and locations mentioned in the journals is available.
Acquisition note: The journals were loaned to the archives for copying by Josephine M. Gordon in 1994.
Processing information: This collection was described by Dennis Walle prior to 1995. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard by Gwen Sieja in 2016.
Location of originals: The original journals were returned to Josephine M. Gordon following copying and are presumed to remain with her family.