Guide to the Fred Odlin letters
1934-1937
Collection number: HMC-0644.
Creator: Odlin, Fred.
Title: Fred Odlin letters.
Dates: 1934-1937.
Volume of collection: 0.02 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: Family letters written by a crewmember aboard the Alaska Steamship Company’s S.S. Curacao.
Biographical note:
Fred Odlin served on the Alaska Steamship Company’s Curacao in the mid-1930s. He dealt with freight and steerage passengers headed for work in Alaska canneries. He also sold goods such as candy, newspapers, tobacco, and magazines at ports of call.
Collection description:
This collection consists of letters written by Fred Odlin to his family in Seattle. The collection contains 34 letters and 23 envelopes. In the letters he writes of weather conditions, his duties, the freight being shipped, and passengers aboard ship. Ports of call include Cordova, Kodiak, Port Ashton, Port Hobron, Seward, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Latouche, Hoonah, and Juneau.
Arrangement: Letters are arranged chronologically by date.
Digitized copies: Selected items have been digitized and can be viewed on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies please contact Archives and Special Collections
Rights note: The Archives does not hold copyright to these letters.
Preferred citation: Fred Odlin letters, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: This collection was acquired by the Archives in groups through several internet auctions in 2003. This is not a complete collection: some groups of correspondence were not purchased by the Archives.
Processing information: This collection was described by Arlene Schmuland in 2003.
Container list:
| Item | Description | Date |
| 1 | En route from Zachy Bay [Zachar] to Ugani [Uganik]. Letter and envelope addressed to Helen Wolpert and Mother. | 1934 April 16 |
| 2 | En route from Hoonah to Cordova. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1934 June 12 |
| 3 | En route to Seward. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1934 June 19 |
| 4 | En route to Cordova. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Donahue (sister). | 1934 June 29 |
| 5 | En route to Cordova. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1934 June 29 |
| 6 | Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1934 July 9 |
| 7 | En route to Cordova. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1934 July 19 |
| 8 | En route from Sawmill Bay to the Nellie Juan Cannery. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1934 August 13 |
| 9 | At Cordova. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1934 September 13 |
| 10 | At Cordova. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1934 September 23 |
| 11 | At Ouzinki [Ouzinkie]. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1935 August 8 |
| 12 | En route from Latouche to Thumb Bay. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1935 September 21 |
| 13 | En route from Sawmill Bay to Cordova. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1935 October 5 |
| 14 | En route from Kodiak to Seldovia. Letter to family. | 1936 March |
| 15 | En route from Kodiak to Seward. Letter to family. | 1936 April 27 |
| 16 | En route from Latouche to Cordova. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1936 May 13 |
| 17 | En route to Cordova. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1936 May 20 |
| 18 | At Cordova. Letter to family. | 1936 June 3 |
| 19 | At Cordova. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1936 June 10 |
| 20 | En route to Latouche. Letter to family. | 1936 June 17 |
| 21 | Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1936 June 25 |
| 22 | En route to Seward. Letter to family. | 1936 June 30 |
| 23 | Envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin. | 1936 July 11 |
| 24 | En route to Cordova. Letter to family. | 1936 July 22 |
| 25 | En route to Seward. Letter to family. | 1936 July 31 |
| 26 | En route to Seward. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1936 August 15 |
| 27 | At Seward. Letter to family. | 1936 August 21 |
| 28 | En route to Seward. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1936 August 28 |
| 29 | At Seward. Letter to family. | 1936 September 4 |
| 30 | En route to Cordova. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1936 October 10 |
| 31 | En route to Cordova. Letter to family. | 1937 March 26 |
| 32 | En route to Cordova. Letter to family. | 1937 August 12 |
| 33 | En route to Latouche. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin and family. | 1937 August 18 |
| 34 | En route to Cordova. Letter to family. | 1937 August 27 |
| 35 | Latouche. Letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Margaret Odlin. | 1937 September 25 |