Guide to the William F. McDowell papers
1961-1972
Collection number: HMC-1212.
Creator:
McDowell, William F.
United States. Air Force.
Title: William F. McDowell papers.
Dates: 1961-1972.
Volume of collection: 1.0 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Photographs related to White Alice sites.
Biographical note:
William F. McDowell was a civil service engineer at Elmendorf Air Force Base from the late 1950s into the 1970s.
Collection description:
The collection consists primarily of photographs of White Alice Communications System (WACS) sites across Alaska. Most of the photographs are official U.S. Air Force photographs. Photographs depict buildings, structures, property items, and some personnel.
Arrangement: Collection materials are in the order they arrived at the Archives.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Air Force photographs are in the public domain. Other collection materials may be subject to copyright restrictions as the photographer is not identified.
Preferred citation: William F. McDowell papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Separated materials: Published materials in the collection have been moved to the Rare Books collection.
Related materials: The Archives holds a number of collections with materials related to WACS, many of which are listed in the Communications systems subject guide.
Acquisition note: The collection was given to the Archives by Patricia A. McDowell, William McDowell’s daughter, in 2015.
Processing information: This collection was described by Arlene Schmuland in 2015. The titles of volumes of photographs were transcribed into the collection list below. Loose photographs were placed in enclosures.
Container list:
| Folder | Description |
| 1 | Integrated Communications System, Alaska, FY 1961, military construction program, picture justification folder. Sites depicted: Granite Mountain, Anvil Mountain, Bear Creek, Sparrevohn, Cold Bay, Unalakleet, Indian Mountain, Cape Romanzof, Tatalina |
| 2 | Representative pictures of stations of the White Alice Communications System real property volume 1 of 5. Includes map of White Alice Communications System. Sites depicted: Adak, Aniak, Anvil Mountain, Aurora, Bear Creek, Beaver Creek, Bethel, Black Rapids, Big Mountain |
| 3 | Representative pictures of stations of the White Alice Communications System real property volume 2 of 5. Sites depicted: Boswell Bay, Campion, Cape Lisburne, Cape Newenham, Cape Romanzof, Clear, Clam Gulch, Diamond Ridge, Donnelly Dome, Duncan Canal, Fort Yukon |
| 4 | Representative pictures of stations of the White Alice Communications System real property volume 3 of 5. Sites depicted: Gerstle River, Glenallen, Gold King Creek, Granite Mountain, Hoonah, Indian Mountain, Kalakaket Creek, King Salmon, Kotzebue, McCallum, Murphy Dome |
| 5 | Representative pictures of stations of the White Alice Communications System real property volume 4 of 5. Sites depicted: Naptowne, Neklason Lake, North River, Northeast Cape, Ocean Cape, Paxson Lake, Pedro Dome, Pillar Mountain, Rabbit Creek |
| 6 | Representative pictures of stations of the White Alice Communications System real property volume 5 of 5. Sites depicted: Sawmill, Sheep Mountain, Shemya, Smuggler Cove, Soldotna, Sparrevohn, Starisky Creek, Tahneta Pass, Tatalina, Tin City, Tolsona, Tok Junction, Yakataga |
| 7 | Representative pictures of stations of the White Alice Communications System, diesel electric generators. Sites depicted: Diamond Ridge, Indian Mountain, Hoonah, Yakataga, Neklason Lake, Smuggler Cove, Granite Mountain, Pedro Dome, Anvil Mountain, Starisky Creek, Paxson, Kalakaket Creek, Adak |
| 8 | FY 1963 White Alice Communication System, military construction program, project justification photographs. Sites depicted: Granite Mountain, Bear Creek, Kalakaket Creek, Tatalina, Sparrevohn, Anvil Mountain, Aniak, Cape Newenham, Cape Romanzof, Big Mountain |
| 9 | White Alice Communications System, Alaska Communications Region (AFCS), FY 68-72 military construction program. Includes project descriptions and photographs. Sites depicted: King Salmon, Indian Mountain, Northeast Cape, Anvil Mountain. |
| 10-11 | Loose photographs, including Northeast Cape, Campion, Indian Mountain Shemya, Tin City, Point Campbell, Fire Island, Cape Newenham, Galena, Kalakaket Creek, Cape Lisburne, Tatalina, Murphy Dome, Cape Romanzof, Sparrevohn, Aniak, and other White Alice sites. |