Guide to the George T. Harper papers
1923-2004
Collection number: HMC-0686.
Creator: Harper, George T.
Title: George T. Harper papers.
Dates: 1923-2004.
Volume of collection: 8.0 cubic feet and 1.38 GB.
Language of materials: The collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: The papers of a historian who researched African American history in Alaska.
Biographical note:
George Harper was born February 14, 1930 in Atlanta, Georgia. From 1948 to 1952 he served with the U.S. Navy and was in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1952 to 1956. After he was honorably discharged in 1952 he went on to become a registered X-ray technician, pursue his Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce in 1960, and a computer programmer in 1961. In 1981, Harper moved to Anchorage to work with the Bureau of Land Management as computer specialist and retired in 1992. After retirement he began a computer consulting business called, “One on One PC Consulting” in 1990. In addition to working as a computer specialist he taught figure skating at the Diamond Center Ice Chalet from 1989-1993. George T. Harper was best known for his research of African American history in Alaska and produced his first Blacks in Alaska exhibit in 1989. He continued to do research till he passed away on January 21, 2004. His research papers and exhibit materials were donated to the Archives in 2004 and is now the George T. Harper’s Black in Alaska History Project records. In addition to researching African American history in Alaska, George was a genealogist, tracing his roots back to Peter Cade who was born in 1803 and passed away in Wilkes, Georgia, in 1900. Another project Harper worked on was his one-man play, Two Headed Turtle, an play about his life as gay man. It debuted in 2003. George Harper was also a traveller, travelling to places in Alaska, the United States, and all over the world.
Collection description:
The George T. Harper collections contains correspondence, biographical clippings, programs/advertisements of events at which he presented or attended, papers related to his research and play, the Two Headed Turtle, a diary of interactions he had while working at the Bureau of Land Management, and Harper’s genealogical research. The bulk of his collection is photographic materials. These include slides, photographs, photograph albums and slide shows he put together. Photographic materials depict Harper’s ancestors, family, and friends; travels around Alaska, the United States, Africa, and Europe; Blacks in Alaska exhibits and presentations; and the time he taught figure skating at the Diamond Center mall. In addition to papers and visual materials, the collections holds memorabilia he collected and images of plaques awarded to Harper.
Arrangement: The collection has been arranged the following five series: personal papers, research files, slides, photographs and photograph albums, and artifacts.
Series 1: Personal papers; 1965-2003
Series 2: Research files; 1923-2002
Series 3: Slides; 1964-1995
Series 4: Photographs and albums; 1930-2002
Series 5: Artifacts; undated, 1972-2002
Digitized copies: Digital copies of collection material not available online. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Technical requirements: Select files from the floppy disks were created in Quicken 98 or ROOTS IV. To view these files as they were intended, these software are required.
Rights note: The collection contains materials authored or created by organizations and individuals other than George T. Harper. The Archives does not hold copyright to these materials. The Archives owns copyright to materials created by George T. Harper.
Preferred citation: George T. Harper papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory:
Anchorage Daily News. “Obituaries: George Harper, 73.” February 10, 2004.
Porco, Peter. “Chronicler of Alaska’s black history dies at age 73.” Anchorage Daily News, January 23, 2004: B9.
Separated materials: A King Career Center 2001-2002 Program of Studies was separated to EPH-0529.
Related materials: The Archives holds George T. Harper’s Blacks in Alaska Project records.
Acquisition note: The collection was transferred to Archives in April 2004 per George T. Harpers’ will.
Processing information: This collection was described by Mariecris Gatlabayan in 2010. One cubic foot of EEO discrimination records were deaccessioned since they are confidential records and cannot be made open for research. Additional processing was done by Becky Butler in 2023. Photograph album pages have been scanned and dismantled.
Container list:
Series 1: Personal papers; 1965-2003.0.8 cubic feet and 25.5 MB. This series contains the correspondence of Harper and his mother, materials created in relation to his civic and historical work, floppy disks of files from his home computer, financial records, personal notes, materials relating to his play Two-Headed Turtle, and a diary of grievances he kept while working for the Bureau of Land Management. Files have been kept in original order within folders.
Box/Folder | Description | Date |
1/1 | Anne Angel’s correspondence | 1965-1980 |
1/2 | Correspondence | 1980-1990 |
1/3 | Correspondence | 1991 |
1/4 | Correspondence | 1992 |
1/5 | Correspondence | 1993 |
1/6 | Correspondence | 1994 |
1/7 | Correspondence | 1995 |
1/8 | Correspondence | 1996 |
1/9 | Correspondence | 1997 |
1/10 | Correspondence | 1998 |
1/11 | Correspondence | 1999 |
1/12 | Correspondence | 2000 |
1/13 | Correspondence | 2001 |
1/14 | Correspondence | 2002 |
1/15 | Correspondence | 2003 |
1/16 | Correspondence cards (1 of 2) | 1996-2003 |
1/17 | Correspondence cards (2 of 2) | 1991-2003 |
1/18 | Correspondence with photographs | 1993-1999 |
1/19 | Correspondence with photographs | 1977, 1996-2002 |
1/20 | George’s newsletter | 1994-2000 |
1/21 | Events attended: Flyers, programs | 1990-1998 |
1/22 | Event programs & advertisements featuring George T. Harper recognitions | 1991-2001 |
1/23 | Wrapped in Pride – photo | 2000-2002 |
1/24 | Wrapped in Pride records | 1999-2000 |
1/25 | Business and contact cards | undated |
1/26 | NFBPWC 23rd Annual Harvest Ball records | 1998 |
1/27 | Military records and research files | 1978-1994 |
1/28 | Understanding Neighbors project registration | 2002 |
1/29 | Financial records | 1986-1996 |
1/30 | Financial records – Social security/ retirement | 1990-1995 |
1/31 | Home plans | undated |
1/32 | Newspaper clippings about George T. Harper | 1991-2000 |
1/33 | Notebooks | undated, 1997-1998 |
1/34 | North Anchorage police patrol area memorandum | 1993-1994 |
1/35 | Stamps – commemorative | 1967, 1993-2000 |
1/36 | Computer disks (1 of 3) [on server] | undated, 1994-2000 |
1/37 | Computer disks (2 of 3) [on server] | undated, 1988-2002 |
1/38 | Computer disks (3 of 3) [on server] | undated, 1994-2000 |
1/39 | Unreadable computer disks | undated, 1990-1992 |
1/40 | Two Headed Turtle | 2003 |
1/41 | Travel records – certificate | 1997 August 22 |
1/42 | Business records – One to One PC Consulting | 1989-1990 |
1/43 | Funeral and obituary notes | circa 2003 |
1/44 | Bureau of Land Management diary | 1984 April-1985 May |
Series 2: Research files; 1923-2002. 0.8 cubic feet and 3.21 MB. This series contains Harper’s research files for the Blacks in Alaska History Project, his family genealogy, and travel. Files have been kept in original order within folders.
Box/Folder | Description | Date |
1/45 | Blacks in Alaska research files & project records | 1992-2000 |
1/46 | Blacks in Alaska research files & project records | undated, 1990-2004 |
1/47 | African-American Historical Society correspondence | 1988 November 3 |
1/48 | Louvenia Bradley research files (1 of 3) | undated, 1942-1997 |
1/49 | Louvenia Bradley: Gold Star Mothers records (2 of 3) | undated, 1930-1956, 1987-1999 |
1/50 | Louvenia Bradley: Gold Star Mothers records (3 of 3) | 1985-1999 |
1/51 | Oise-Aisne trip records | 1978-1999 |
2 | Boxes 1-3 computer disks [unreadable] | undated |
2 | Box 4 computer disk [on server] | |
2/1 | Cade family records | undated, 1993 June 4 |
2/2 | Harper family records | undated, 1993 June 4 |
2/3 | Anderson family records | undated, 1993 June 4 |
2/4 | Booker family records | undated, 1993 June 4 |
2/5 | Bradley family records | undated, 1989-1993 |
2/6 | Census data | undated, 1940-1993 |
2/7 | Family genealogy records | 1941, 1986-1988 |
2/8 | Cade family reunion records | 1993 |
2/9 | Family genealogy correspondence | 1985-1988 |
2/10 | Family photographs and negatives | undated, 1948-1954 |
2/11 | Roots – Historical photographs and negatives | undated |
2/12 | Bloodlines newsletter | 1987-1994 |
2/13 | Mormon listing | undated |
2/14 | Family genealogy correspondence | 1979-1988 |
2/15 | Historical genealogy documents | 1923-1948, 1965-1987 |
2/16 | Roots listing | 1989 December 9 |
2/17 | Genealogy book draft | circa 1988 |
2/18 | “The Family of George T. Harper 1996 Print” | 1996 |
2/19 | Family genealogy notes | undated, 1986-1988 |
2/20 | Vincent Bradley notes | 1941, 1979-1987 |
2/21 | Obituaries and family correspondence | 1964-2002 |
2/22 | Booker genealogy records | circa 1987-2000 |
2/23 | London/Paris trip records | 1986-1999 |
2/24 | Family photographs and negatives | undated |
2/25 | Alaska tourism records | undated, circa 1989-1995 |
2/26 | Unlabeled records | undated, 1983 |
OSF 1 | Charcoal drawings of Harper’s relatives, and Blacks in Alaska timeline. | undated |
Series 3: Slides; 1964-1995. 3.3 cubic feet. This series contains slides and slide shows Harper created. It includes presentations on God in Creation, Blacks in Alaska, and travel. Folder names are taken from slide boxes or trays unless in brackets. Original order of slides in maintained wherever possible.
Box/Folder | Description | Date |
2/27 | Slide index and descriptions | undated, 1985-1993 |
2/28 | Tray A-1 | 1964-1965, 1975 |
2/29 | Tray A-2 | 1964-1974 |
2/30 | Tray A-3 | 1974 |
2/31 | Tray A-4 | 1974 |
2/32 | Tray A-5 | 1974 |
2/33 | Tray A-6 | 1964, 1974 |
2/34 | Tray A-7 | 1972 |
2/35 | Tray A-8 | 1966 |
2/36 | Tray B-1 | 1967 September |
2/37 | Tray B-2 | 1964, 1967 September |
2/38 | Tray B-3 | 1963-1965 |
2/39 | Tray B-4 | 1950, 1964-1965 |
2/40 | Tray B-5 | 1963-1964 |
2/41 | Tray B-6 | 1970, 1974 |
3/1 | Tray 1 | 1972 |
3/2 | Tray 2 | 1971-1972 |
3/3 | Tray 3 | 1971-1972 |
3/4 | Tray 4 | 1971-1973 |
3/5 | Tray 5 | 1962-1964 |
3/6 | Tray 6 | 1970 |
3/7 | Tray 7 | 1970 |
3/8 | Tray 8 | 1970 |
3/9 | Tray 9 | 1970 |
3/10 | Tray 11S R1 God, the Creator | circa 1967-1973 |
3/11 | Tray 12S L1 God, the Creator | circa 1967-1973 |
3/12 | Tray 13S R2 God, the Creator | circa 1967-1973 |
3/13 | Tray 14S L2 God, the Creator | circa 1967-1973 |
3/14 | Tray 15S R1 The Animals Have the Right of Way | 1974 |
3/15 | Tray 16S L1 The Animals Have the Right of Way | 1974 |
3/16 | Tray 17S R2 The Animals Have the Right of Way | 1974 |
3/17 | Tray 18S L2 The Animals Have the Right of Way | 1974 |
3/18 | Tray 19 Assateague Island; 5/75 | 1975 |
3/19 | Part One, Tray 1-A Southeast Alaska | 1980 |
3/20 | Part One, Tray 1-B Alaska- Skagway to Delta Junction; 1980 | 1980 |
3/21 | Part One, Tray 2 Alaska- Kenai Fjords NP | circa 1982-1986 |
3/22 | Part One, Tray 3 Alaska- Mt. McKinley NP | circa 1980-1987 |
3/23 | Part One, Tray 4 Alaska- McNeil River bears, etc.; 1985 | circa 1984-1986 |
3/24 | Part Two, Tray 1 Alaska- Dalton Highway, 1990 | 1990 |
3/25 | Part Two, Tray 3 Alaska wildflowers | 1981-1982 |
3/26 | Part Two, Tray 4 Alaska- Balloons, PWS, Portage, Animals, etc. 1983-1986 | 1982-1986 |
3/27 | Tray 10: Part Two, Tray 5 Eagle Spot- Eagles Feeding; 1990 | 1990 |
3/28 | God II, R2 Bryce Canyon NP, Grand Canyon, NP, Hoover Dam; 1975 | 1975 |
3/29 | God Part II Right Side Chimney Rock, Ft. Laramie- NHP, Rocky Mtn. NP, Colorado NM | 1975 |
3/30 | God Part II Bryce Canyon, Deadhorse Pt, Arches, Glenn Canyon 1975 | 1975 |
3/31 | God II- Right Side Bryce Canyon NP | 1975 |
3/32 | Demo. Trip to Wash. D.C.; 7/1976 | 1976 July |
3/33 | Copper Canyon, Mex 1995 | 1995 |
3/34 | Oregon FTW- “Our Computer” 1976 | 1976 |
4/1 | Travel Slides; 1963 2/10/73 God the Creator, Box PJ2-A R2 | 1963, 1973 |
4/2 | Portraits | 1976-1980 |
4/3 | Friends | 1950-1974 |
4/4 | June 1969 – Busch Gardens, Los Angeles, CA | 1969 June |
4/5 | Friends, 1975-1989 | 1975-1989 |
4/6 | Relatives | 1982, 1984 |
4/7 | Title Slides | 1972-1973 |
4/8 | Trip to Nassau – 1964 | 1964 |
4/9 | Europe; 1970 | 1970 |
4/10 | First trip West; 1969 | 1969 |
4/11 | Unlabeled | 1962-1976 |
4/12 | Western Tour; 1972 | 1972 |
4/13 | Africa; 1974 | 1974 |
4/14 | Family | 1962-1970 |
4/15 | [Family and friends] | 1961-1963 |
4/16 | [Family and friends] | 1964-1967 |
4/17 | [Family and friends] | 1968-1971 |
4/18 | “Secretarial Guide” binder 1 | 1969-1972 |
4/19 | “Secretarial Guide” binder 2 | 1963-1973 |
4/20 | Unsorted | 1965-1992 |
4/21 | Slide show – Museum show | 1992 |
4/22 | Ice Fog, 10 Below | 1981-1982 |
4/23 | Hawaii, 83-01 to 83-03 | 1983 April |
4/24 | Kenai trip moon shots, 83-04 | 1983 May |
4/25 | Valdez pipeline, Liberty Falls, 83-05 | 1983 April-June |
4/26 | Round robbin [sic] trip, 83-06 | 1983 June |
4/27 | Trip to Circle, 83-07 to 83-08 | 1983 June |
4/28 | Trip to Homer, 83-09 | 1983 August |
4/29 | Round robbin [sic] trip, 83-10 | 1983 September |
4/30 | Clouds | 1983 |
4/31 | Trip to Fairbanks, 84-1 | 1984 June |
4/32 | Trip to Eagle, 84-2 | 1984 June |
4/33 | Trip to Cordova, 84-3 | 1984 June |
4/34 | Bad slides, green tint, 84-4 | 1984 June |
4/35 | Trip to Cordova, 84-5 to 84-7 | 1984 August |
4/36 | Katmai, 10,000 Smokes, 84-8 | 1984 September |
4/37 | McKinley, 84-10 | 1984 September |
4/38 | Scienic [sic], 84-11 | 1984 September |
4/39 | Dogs, 84-12 | 1984 September |
4/40 | Mat G., 84-13 | 1984 September |
4/41 | Unlabeled, 84-14 to 84-15 | circa 1984-1985 |
4/42 | Hawaii, Fall color shots, Denali Hyway [sic], 84-15 | circa 1984 |
5/1 | Hawaii, 85-01 + unlabeled | 1985 January |
5/2 | Bears, Katmai, AK, 85-03 to 85-06 | 1985 June |
5/3 | Kenai Fjords, 85-08 | 1985 August |
5/4 | Trip to Liberty Falls, 85-09 | 1985 August |
5/5 | Denali Park, 85-10 | circa 1985 August-September |
5/6 | Sidney and Maurice | 1985 |
5/7 | Katmai Fjords, 86-01 | 1986 June |
5/8 | Katmai, Columbia Glacier, 86-02 | 1986 June |
5/9 | Hatcher Pass wildflowers, 86-03 | 1986 July |
5/10 | ARR trip to Denali, 86-04 | 1986 August |
5/11 | Kenai trip, 86-05 | 1986 August |
5/12 | Turnagain Arm, 86-06 | 1986 August |
5/13 | Crow Pass, 86-07 | 1986 September |
5/14 | Trip to Seward, 86-08 | 1986 September |
5/15 | Portage Pass trip, 86-09 | 1986 September |
5/16 | Doris trip, 87-01 and 87-03 to 84-04 | 1987 June |
5/17 | Demo Fed. B., 87-02 | 1987 June |
5/18 | Trip to Denali, 87-05 | 1987 August |
5/19 | Kenai trip, 87-06 | 1987 September |
5/20 | Anchorage ship, 87-07 | 1987 September |
5/21 | Trip to Salvoria [Seldovia?], 88-01 | 1988 June |
5/22 | Glacier National Park | 1989 June |
5/23 | Portland, OR trip | 1989 July |
5/24 | Washington, GA | 1989 |
5/25 | Portage Glacier trip | 1989 August |
5/26 | [Unlabeled] | 1989 |
5/27 | [1990], 90-01 to 90-13 | 1990 |
5/28 | Haul road tour | 1991 |
5/29 | [1991], 91-01 to 91-05 | 1991 |
5/30 | Alaska trip and Oregon trip | 1991 |
5/31 | Alcan | 1978, 1992 |
5/32 | Display trip 1992 | 1992 |
5/33 | Nome/Teller | circa 1993 |
5/34 | Barrow/Nome 1993 F | circa 1993 |
5/35 | Hawaii | 1992-1993 |
5/36 | St. George, St. Paul | 1993 |
5/37 | Cincinnati Zoo | 1993 July |
5/38 | Hawaii sea floor, Sub trip North Slope | 1993 |
5/39 | Red Rock, Las Vegas- 1995 (24 slides) 95-01 | 1995 |
5/40 | Mexico’s Copper Canyon; slideshow with notes and title slides | 1995 |
5/41 | Copper Canyon, Mexico Tour; 1995, 95-02, 95-10 | 1995 |
5/42 | Denali trip conf. | circa 1997 |
5/43 | MLK memorial bust June 1998 | 1998 June |
5/44 | Alaska views | 1981-1990 |
5/45 | Me in Alaska | 1981-1986 |
5/46 | Me | 1981-1987 |
5/47 | [Unlabeled], Me too?, Gold Rush | 1976-1995 |
5/48 | [Unlabeled] | 1979-1995 |
5/49 | To be filed | 1964-1988 |
Series 4: Photographs and albums; 1930-2002.2.4 cubic feet. This series contains photographs of Harper’s travels, his life in Alaska, photographs album of his family and life, and scrapbooks of certificates and Christmas cards. Folder titles are largely created by the describer.
Box/Folder | Description | Date |
5/50 | George Harper and George Harper, Jr. photographs | undated, 1963-1979 |
5/51 | Africa photographs | 1976 |
5/52 | Unlabeled military photographs | undated |
5/53 | Negatives and contact sheets | undated |
5/54 | Roots historical photographs | undated, 1932-1988 |
5/55 | Pride display at the Anchorage Loussac Library | 2001 |
6/1 | Charles Trenton Coleman gravesite photographs | undated |
6/2 | Historical family photographs | undated, 1949 |
6/3 | Historical family photographs | undated |
6/4 | Historical family photographs | undated |
6/5 | Travel photographs by Harper and portraits | undated, 1962-1983 |
6/6 | Slide show titles prints | undated |
6/7 | Alaska travel photographs | circa 1986 |
6/8 | Picketing the Bureau of Land Management negatives | 1987 |
6/9 | Oregon photographs | undated, 1989-1991 |
6/10 | Pipeline visit photographs | undated, 1989-1990 |
6/11 | 90-02 to 90-11 photographs | 1990 |
6/12 | Skagway photographs | 1995 September |
6/13 | Travel photographs | circa 1979-1994 |
6/14 | Trip #2A and Trips 3 & 4 photographs | 1995 July-August |
6/15 | Mexico trip photographs | 1995 |
6/16 | Blacks in Alaska exhibit photographs | undated |
6/17 | Blacks in Alaska exhibit photographs and negatives | circa 1986-1997 |
6/18 | Home photographs | undated, circa 1991 |
6/19 | Unidentified travel photographs | undated |
6/20 | ML King program photographs | 1992 January |
6/21 | Trip # 2 photographs | 1995 July |
6/22 | Trip #3 and my yard photographs | circa 1995 |
6/23 | Childs Glacier trip photographs | undated |
6/24 | Blacks in Alaska exhibit Polaroid photographs | undated |
6/25 | Unidentified Polaroid photographs | undated |
6/26 | Figure skating photographs | undated |
6/27 | Model train photographs | undated |
6/28 | George Harper gravesite in France photographs | 1999 |
6/29 | USCGC Healy commissioning photographs | 1999 |
6/30 | Home inventory photographs and negatives | undated |
6/31 | Bear photographs | undated |
6/32 | Unsorted photographs and slides | circa 1981-1992 |
6/33 | Christmas card photographs | 1988-1999 |
6/34 | Unsorted photographs | 1972-1991 |
6/35 | Unsorted photographs | undated, 1992-2002 |
6/36 | Unsorted photographs and negatives | circa 1997 |
6/37 | Unsorted photographs | undated, 1976 |
6/38 | Photographs of buildings | undated |
6/39 | Unsorted negatives | undated |
6/40 | Unsorted travel photographs and negatives | undated |
6/41 | Unsorted photographs and negatives | undated |
6/42 | Unsorted photographs and negatives | undated, 1965, 2001-2002 |
6/43 | Unsorted photographs and negatives | undated, 2002 |
6/44 | Unsorted photographs | undated |
6/45 | “Friends and relatives of Annie Lee (Booker-Harper) Angel” photograph album 1 | undated |
6/46 | “Friends and relatives of Annie Lee (Booker-Harper) Angel” photograph album 2 | circa 1951-1960 |
6/47 | “Friends and relatives of Annie Lee (Booker-Harper) Angel” photograph album 3 | circa 1960-1975 |
7/1 | “Book 1: All in the Family” photograph album | circa 1930-1970 |
7/2 | Anderson-Booker-Bradley-Cade-Hooper descendants photograph album | undated |
7/3 | “Book 2: High School Days” photograph album | circa 1945-1950 |
7/4 | Military career photograph album | circa 1952 |
7/5 | Military career photograph album | 1953-1955 |
7/6 | “My Friends at Sperry Univac” photograph album | undated |
7/7 | “Book 6: All the King’s Men” photograph album | circa 1955-1978 |
7/8 | “Book 7: My Christmas Cards” photograph album | 1963-1994 |
7/9 | Africa photograph album | circa 1974 |
7/10 | Unidentified wedding photograph album | undated |
7/11 | “My First Year in Alaska” photograph album | circa 1981-1982 |
7/12 | Alaska photograph album | undated |
7/13 | Blacks in Alaska exhibit and figure skating photograph album | circa 1989-1991 |
7/14 | Thank you letter scrapbook | 1974-1978 |
7/15 | Certificates and awards scrapbook | 1935-1998 |
OSF 1 | Oversize photographs and certificates | undated |
Series 5: Artifacts; undated, 1972-2002. 0.25 cubic feet and 19.8 MB. This series contains name tags from Harper’s various jobs and volunteer positions, his pin and button collection, his patch collection, and digital images of awards and plaques gifted to Harper.
Box/Folder | Description | Date |
7/16 | Patch collection | undated |
7/17 | Pin and button collection | undated, 1972-1996 |
7/18 | Fur Rondy button collection | 1985-2002 |
7/19 | Name tag collection | undated, 2000-2002 |
server | P & S Club president gavel | 1972 |
server | Alaska Computer Society vice-president plaque | 1986 |
server | Alaska Computer Society president, vice-president, and director plaque | 1991 |
server | Alaska Black Caucus Media Services award | 1991 |
server | North to the Future Business and Professional Women’s Organization plaque | 1992 July |
server | Psalm 147:7 plaque | undated |
server | Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church plaque | undated |
server | United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service plaque | undated |