Guide to the Donald Arthur Post slides
1953-1959
Collection number: HMC-0917.
Creator: Post, Donald Arthur.
Title: Donald Arthur Post slides.
Dates: 1953-1959.
Volume of collection: 0.4 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: Photographic slides from a CAA and FAA employee in Alaska.
Biographical note:
Donald Arthur Post was born in Harvey, Illinois on February 10, 1931 to Thomas Arthur Post and Clara May Hubbart Post. He enlisted and served in the US Air Force from March 22, 1951-January 31, 1955. His rank was Staff Sergeant. He earned the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He was an engineer draftsman for the military both during and after his military service. He was 5’ 7” tall, 135lbs, brown hair, brown eyes. He was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, Anchorage and the Brotherhood of St Andrew.
On April 23, 1957, Donald Post was sent by the US Civil Aeronautics Administration to assist Resident Engineer Abbott on record drawings at the CAA Station at Cape Yakataga, Alaska. On September 3, 1957, he was sent by the CAA to Nome, Alaska to assist CAA resident engineer, Joseph Walsh to make the necessary drawings and compile data as needed on the Nome Field Rehabilitation Project.
Donald Post was also active in community theater in Anchorage. He was in the receiving line at a reception for 300 people given to honor Will Rogers Jr. He was active in the Anchorage Little Theatre Group which was established in 1946. In 1958, Donald Post is listed as being on their Board of Directors. In February 1958, he was on the staging staff of Sammy Mogg and his Inupiat Dancers from the Diomede and King Islands. October 25, 1958 found Donald Post and Donna Sawyer receiving the best dressed couple’s price at the International Ball for their Siam Dancers costumes. In the July 23, 24, 25 performances of the Anchorage Community Theatre Workshop’s Teahouse of the August Moon, Don Post was involved in set construction and program development. In the Alaska Little Theatre of Anchorage on January 31 & February 1, 2, 1959, Don Post had the role of Sol Schwarts, a musician in The Tender Trap. He was producer of their production of Amal and the Night Visitors and light designer for the production of Salvation on Saturday. He received applause from the audience as he left the stage, though his lines were few.
In the 1957 and 1958 Fur Rendezvous, Donald won the Black Beard award. He also won Honorary Mention in the 1957 Fur Rendezvous Photo Contest, Color Division. Donald Post voted at the election held on August 26, 1958 at which the Alaska Statehood referendums were presented to the people.
Donald Post died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 28 on July 18, 1959 in Anchorage, Alaska. His funeral services were held at St Aidan’s Episcopal Church, Blue Island, Illinois with the Rev Thomas P. Logan officiating. Interment followed at Skyline Memorial Park, Monee, Illinois. He was survived by his mother, Clara Post Higgins, of St Petersburg, Florida, his father, Thomas A. Post, of Ft Worth, Texas, his sister, Beverly Post Casson of Hazel Crest, Illinois, two nephews, Joseph Casson and David Casson and one niece, Wendy Casson, all of Hazel Crest, Illinois. He was an employee of the Federal Aviation Administration at the time of his death. [biography written by David Casson.]
Collection description:
The collection consists of 1,052 color 35mm slides taken by Donald Arthur Post as he traveled to and around Alaska. Subjects include Anchorage, the Kenai peninsula, Sitka, Palmer, Fairbanks, Nome, Unalakleet, Cordova, Wasilla, and other towns. Events include Alaska Native dances, sled dog races, hunting and fishing trips, the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, statehood celebrations, and his travel up the Alaska Highway when he moved from Chicago to Anchorage.
Arrangement: The images are arranged in rough chronological order.
Digitized copies: Digital copies of 187 of the slides are available online in the Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Copyright to these materials is held by Archives & Special Collections.
Required citation: Donald A. Post, photographer. Donald Arthur Post slides, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: This collection was given to Archives by David D. Casson, Donald Post’s nephew, in 2007.
Processing information: This collection was described by Arlene Schmuland in 2007.