Guide to the Will (W. L.) Rusho photographs and memoir
1947-1948, 2004
Collection number: HMC-0639.
Creator: Rusho, Will (W. L).
Title: Will (W. L.) Rusho photographs and memoir
Dates: 1947-1948, 2004.
Volume of collection: 0.02 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Digital images and memoir relating to a soldier’s service in Whittier, Alaska.
Biographical note:
W. L. Rusho was born in Montrose, Colorado in 1928. He enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Whittier, Alaska from 1947 to 1948. He served as Chief Clerk for the Port Quartermaster for most of that time. He graduated from Colorado University in 1952 and worked as a Public Affairs Officer for the Bureau of Reclamation in both Arizona and Utah from the 1950s to the 1980s. During that time he produced several award-winning motion pictures that dealt with water developments throughout the western United States. He and his wife, Carole McGee Rusho, live in Utah.
Collection description:
This collection consists of 59 digitized photographs and one four-page memoir. 58 of the images are available in tiff format, one is available in jpeg format only. The images were scanned at 300 ppi, generally 2100 pixels along the longest dimension. The original photographs were taken in 1947 and 1948. Subjects include buildings, scenery, the Whittier tunnel, and other views of the town of Whittier and surroundings. In the memoir, Mr. Rusho discusses living in Whittier, his tasks as a clerk in the Army, and the Whittier climate.
Arrangement: The images are arranged in chronological groupings.
Rights note: Copyright to this collection is not held by the Archives.
Preferred citation: Will (W. L.) Rusho photographs and memoir, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: The collection was presented to the Archives by Mr. Rusho in 2004.
Processing information: This collection was described by Arlene Schmuland in 2004.
Location of originals: Originals are still held by Mr. Rusho.
Photograph list:
| Item number | Caption | Date |
| 1a | Docks | 1947 October |
| 1b | Docks looking north | 1947 October |
| 1c (jpg only) | First snow of season | 1947 October |
| 1d | Whittier Docks | 1947 November |
| 1e | View to east across Passage Canal | 1947 November |
| 1f | W. L. Rusho | 1947 November |
| 2a | Untitled | 1948 January |
| 2b | Untitled | 1948 February |
| 2c | Clara May Fitzmaurice (Commanding Officer’s daughter) | 1948 February |
| 2d | Glacier and mountain to west | 1948 January |
| 2e | Headquarters. Detachment, 79th Transportation Service Corps | 1948 February |
| 2f | Information and Education Building (after roof was shoveled) | 1948 January |
| 2g | Parking lot | 1948 February |
| 2h | ‘Home’-a snow covered Quonset hut | 1948 January |
| 2i | Quonset homes for GIs (latrine at far right) | 1947 December |
| 2j | Quonsets and tractor | 1947 December |
| 2k | Quonsets for GIs | 1947 November |
| 2l | Radio station | 1948 January |
| 2m | W. L. Rusho | 1947 December |
| 2n | Service Club (after roof was shoveled) | 1948 January |
| 2o | Shoveling snow from roof of Port Quartermaster Building | 1948 February |
| 2p | Snow crushed building | 1948 February |
| 2q | Snow crushed building | 1948 February |
| 2r | ‘Whittier, Alaska’ snow pile | 1948 January |
| 2s | Street scene | 1948 February |
| 2t | Typical street scene | 1948 January |
| 2u | Sunset on the mountain across the fiord | 1948 February |
| 2v | Sun shines on the mountain across the fiord but not yet on Whittier | 1948 February |
| 2w | Post Theater | 1948 January |
| 2x | Tractor stuck in snow | 1948 January |
| 2y | Snow covered building and water tower | 1948 January |
| 2z | Frozen water tower | 1948 February |
| 3a | Cliffs above Whittier, Alaska | 1948 May |
| 3b | Double exposure with ghosts | 1948 June |
| 3c | Dock activity | 1948 June |
| 3d | Fireboat drill | 1948 July |
| 3e | Fireboat drill | 1948 July |
| 3f | Hiking on mountainside | 1948 May |
| 3g | View of town from mountain | 1948 May |
| 3h | Picnic in Bear Valley | 1948 June |
| 3i | Picnic in Bear Valley | 1948 June |
| 3j | Portage Glacier | 1948 May |
| 3k | Alaska Railroad | 1948 June |
| 3l | Road to tunnel | 1948 June |
| 3m | Alaska Railroad. Bear Valley | 1948 June |
| 3n | Alaska Railroad. Bear Valley | 1948 June |
| 3o | W. L. Rusho | 1948 June |
| 3p | W. L. Rusho at Port Quartermaster | 1948 June |
| 3q | Settle skyline as seen from USAT Mower | 1948 June |
| 3r | Having fun | 1948 May |
| 3s | Snowmelt runoff | 1948 June |
| 3t | Town from hill | 1948 May |
| 3u | Tugboat | 1948 July |
| 3v | Tugboat | 1948 July |
| 3w | Railroad tunnel | 1948 June |
| 3x | Tunnel into Bear Valley | 1948 June |
| 3y | Bear Valley. Train enters tunnel | 1948 June |
| 3z | USAT Mower arrives for trip home | 1948 July |
| 3aa | USAT Mower arrives for trip home | 1948 July |