Guide to the Gordon H. Hills papers
1949-1998
Collection number: HMC-0475.
Creator: Hills, Gordon H.
Title: Gordon H. Hills papers.
Dates: 1949-1998.
Volume of collection: 1.7 cubic feet.
Language of materials: The majority of collection materials are in English. The collection also contains materials in French and Russian.
Collection summary: Materials relating to library service to Native groups.
Biographical note:
Gordon H. Hills was born in New York in 1931. He received a B.S. degree in Agriculture from Cornell University, and an M.L.S. from the University of Washington. After attending graduate school, he lived in Seattle and Alaska, including a year of residing in a tepee on the coast of Washington. Mr. Hills has worked as a regional history librarian, tribal heritage librarian, prison librarian, Native community college librarian, and as a library development coordinator in Yupik Eskimo communities. He traveled to Siberia as part of a sister-city exchange program and observed the rural library systems there. His book Native Libraries: Cross-Cultural Conditions in the Circumpolar North was published in 1997. The book represents the culmination of Mr. Hill’s years of research into library service to Native groups.
Collection description:
This collection contains papers relating to the writing and publication of the book Native Libraries: Cross-Cultural Conditions in the Circumpolar North. The collection includes several drafts of the manuscript, correspondence with the publishing company, editors, and professional contacts. The collection also contains reference files on subjects pertaining to the book and other similar research interests such as a survey Mr. Hills did in 1986-1987 on North American library schools and Native librarianship.
Arrangement: The collection has been arranged into the following series:
Series 1: Native Libraries drafts; 1985-1997
Series 2: Correspondence; 1976-1998
Series 3: Reference files; 1968-1995
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Collection materials may be subject to copyright not held by the Archives.
Preferred citation: Gordon H. Hills papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Separated materials: Some published works from the collection have been moved to the Library’s Rare Books collection.
Acquisition note: The collection was given to the Archives by Gordon H. Hills in 1998.
Processing information: This collection was arranged and described by Kathleen Hertel in 1998. The guide to the collection was updated to meet current standard by Arlene Schmuland in 2018. Published materials were removed at that time.
Container list:
Series 1: Native Libraries drafts; 1985-1997. 0.5 cubic feet.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/1-2 | Draft with annotations, notes, and correspondence | 1988? |
| 1/3-5 | Draft with edits and annotations | 1990-1993 |
| 1/6-7 | Notes and edits | 1985-1995 |
Series 2: Correspondence; 1976-1998. 0.25 cubic feet.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/8 | Correspondence with Scarecrow Press | 1986-1998 |
| 1/9 | Correspondence with other publishers | 1987-1989 |
| 1/10 | Photograph duplication requests | 1991 |
| 1/11 | Correspondence with Brian Deer | 1976-1990 |
| 1/12 | Correspondence with Paula Maloy | 1992-1994 |
| 1/13 | Correspondence with Sanford Berman | 1983, 1986 |
| 1/14 | Correspondence with Joel Savishinsky | 1986 |
| 1/15-16 | Correspondence with others | 1978-1995 |
Series 3: Reference files; 1968-1995. 0.85 cubic feet.
Arranged by topic.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/17-18 | Canada: correspondence, notes, and research materials | 1968-1992 |
| 1/19 | Finland: correspondence, notes, and research materials | 1978-1994 |
| 1/20 | Greenland: correspondence, notes, and research materials | 1986-1995 |
| 1/21 | New Zealand and Australia: correspondence | 1984-1988 |
| 1/22-23 | Russia and the former Soviet Union: correspondence, article drafts, vocabulary lists, travel information, and research materials | 1985-1989 |
| 2/1-3 | Alaska with a focus on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska: article drafts, library aide training project materials, notes, correspondence, village library survey results, evaluation of the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center library | 1970-1994 |
| 2/4 | Other native libraries: correspondence | 1978-1989 |
| 2/5 | Library education and development: correspondence and notes | 1970-1988 |
| 2/6 | Cross-cultural issues and Native/white relations: article, correspondence, and notes | 1986 |
| 2/7 | Literacy in Native cultures: notes | 1982-1989 |
| 2/8 | Oral traditions: correspondence and translation of “New life for ancient legends of Chukotha.” | 1981-1990 |
| 2/9 | Library media and the Native community: correspondence and articles | 1968-1988 |
| 2/10 | Urban and international library services: correspondence | 1988-1991 |
| 2/11 | Circumpolar and arctic regions organizations, research centers, and conferences: correspondence and notes | 1971-1991 |
| 2/12 | Database searches: correspondence | 1994 |
| 2/13 | North American library school survey: notes, data, correspondence, survey responses | 1986-1987 |
| 2/14 | Alaska library grant projects: correspondence, reports | 1983-1995 |