Cliff Cernick papers

Guide to the Cliff Cernick papers
circa 1949-2002

Collection number: HMC-0607.
Creator: Cernick, Cliff, 1918-.
Title: Cliff Cernick papers.
Dates: circa 1949-2002.
Volume of collection: 31 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Research and personal files of an Alaskan aviation historian and journalist.

Biographical note:
Cliff Cernick was born in 1918, in Cle Elum, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor of science degree in journalism. In 1949 he went to work for the Anchorage Daily News and became managing editor. He married Patricia Hervey in 1956 and they had two children. His other work included serving as the editor of the Fairbanks Daily News Miner in 1958 and with the Federal Aviation Administration from 1962 to 1983. He was remarried in 1978 to Frances Hartwig. Mr. Cernick researched and authored several books and articles on aviation and Alaska themes, including Winging it, Skystruck, and others.

Collection description:
The collection primarily consists of Cliff Cernick’s writing and research files for a variety of book and article projects. These include book drafts, correspondence, interviews, subject files, and photographs. The collection also contains manuscripts and writings by other authors with whom Mr. Cernick worked.

Arrangement: The materials in the collection are roughly grouped by function type: biographical materials,  correspondence, writing files, subject files, and photographs among others.

Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.

Rights note: The Archives holds copyright to collection materials authored by Cliff Cernick.

Preferred citation: Cliff Cernick papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Works used in preparation of inventory:
Anchorage Daily News (Anchorage, Alaska). Obituary of Cliff Cernick, January 18, 2003.

Separated materials: Most of the published materials were removed from the collection. Most were moved to the Rare Books or Alaskana collections within the Library.

Acquisition note: The collection was a gift to the Archives from Nancy Aldrich, Cliff Cernick’s daughter. The collection was transferred to the Archives in 2003. A deed of gift was signed in 2010.

Processing information: This collection was described by Arlene Schmuland in 2011.

Container list:

Box	Description
1	Biographical materials, diary and appointment books
2	Personal correspondence, circa 1950-1988
3	Correspondence, alphabetical by correspondent
4	Correspondence
5	Writings including materials on Western flyer, backup files, and freelance files
6	Writings and subject files
7	Alaska Press Club
8	Organizations, Alaska information file, Jack Jefford Winging it writing files
9-10	Sky struck files
11	Book drafts
12	Ray Peterson writing files
13-14	Marguerite Reiss writing files
15	Gene Coghlan writing files
16	Jo Blahut, Warren Runnerstrom, Grace Galloway, Anne Purdy writing files
17	Jim Magoffin, John Miscovich, Ward Gay, Ken Hinchey, Teed Reeves and Joseph Bauer writing files
18	Manuscripts authored by others
19	Manuscripts authored by others continued, interview transcripts, publishers files
20	Biographical subject file A-H
21	Biographical subject file I-Z
22	Place name subject file A-R
23	Place name subject file S-Z
24	Subject file A-E
25	Subject file F-N
26	Subject file N-V
27	Subject file W-Y
28	Aviation subject file A-Y
29	Historical photographs
30	Photographs from place name and subject files, photographs from biographical files, photographs from free lance files, and unidentified photographs
31	Audiocassettes
32	Audiocassettes of Ray Peterson tapes
33-34	Family photographs and documents; Photographs from place name and subject files, photographs from biographical files, photographs from freelance files, and unidentified photographs