Guide to the David Ramseur papers
1989
Collection number: HMC-1358.
Creator: Ramseur, David.
Title: David Ramseur papers.
Date: 1980-2016.
Volume of collection: 3.0 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Records related to the Exxon Valdez oil spill and Alaska-Russia relations.
Biographical note:
A longtime Alaska resident, David Ramseur was a reporter for the Fairbanks News-Miner. He served as press secretary to Governor Cowper during 1986 to 1990. In that role, he traveled with Cowper three times to the USSR and visited Russia about 15 times between 1988 and 2018.
Collection description:
The collection consists of David Ramseur’s personal file of Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) related materials and research materials on Alaska-Russia relations used in writing his book: Melting the Ice Curtain. The EVOS materials include news releases, media stories, memoranda to state officials, and accounts of visits to locations affected by the spill. The Alaska-Russia relations materials include materials gathered regarding Alaska-Soviet relations while he was press secretary and subject research files gathered in preparing his book.
Arrangement: The materials have been retained in the order in which they arrived at the Archives. The Russia-Alaska research materials are generally in alphabetical order by file name.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Copyright to materials authored by David Ramseur is held by the Archives.
Preferred citation: David Ramseur papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Related materials: The official Governor’s office records for this time frame are held by the Alaska State Archives. For more collections regarding the Exxon Valdez oil spill held at the UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, see our subject guide to 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill collections.
Acquisition note: The Exxon Valdez oil spill documents and seven folders of materials related to the Soviet Union were given to the Archives by David Ramseur in 2020. The Alaska-Russia relations materials were given to the Archives by Andrew Crow in 2024 on behalf of David Ramseur.
Processing information: This collection was initially described by Arlene Schmuland in 2020. Description for the 2024 addition was provided by Andrew Crow.
Container list:
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/1 | Abramovich, Roman: Russian oligarch and former Chukotka president visited Alaska in 2000 at invitation of Gov. Knowles. Letters of invitation, schedule, news clips | 2000 |
| 1/2 | Alaska Chamber of Commerce Mission: the Chamber was active in Alaska-Russia relations in late 80-90s. Newsletters, schedules of Russian visits, protocol between AK and Russian legislators. | 1980-2000 |
| 1/3 | Alaska-Russia background: briefing papers from state international office, news clips of early interactions. | Undated |
| 1/4 | American-Russian Center: documents of founding of UAA institute, newsletters, progress reports, news clips about activities | Undated |
| 1/5 | Aviation-Alaska Airlines: documents of early Ak-Russia aviation interaction, Alaska Airlines’ 1970s and 90s business in Russia, Ak Airlines newsletters, transcripts of interviews with aviation officials | Undated |
| 1/6 | Belcher, Dixie: documents about Juneau peace activist, interview transcript, interactions with Govs. Hammond and Cowper | Undated |
| 1/7 | Bering Bridge Expedition: documents from 1989 ski expedition between Russia and Alaska, international protocols, program from proposed International Dateline meeting, interview transcripts, news clips | 1989 |
| 1/8 | Bering Bridge tunnel: documents about proposed tunnel connection between Alaska and Russia, consulting reports, feasibility studies in English and Russian | Undated |
| 1/9 | Beringia: documents and letters about creation of international park spanning Alaska and Russia, protocols, early state legislative reports, interview transcripts, proceedings of Alaska-Russian meetings, news clips | Undated |
| 1/10 | Business development : documents about joint business development between Alaska and Russia, agendas and background of joint meetings, journals of US-USSR Trade and Economic Council, news clips | Undated |
| 1/11 | Chukotka: documents about Russian region closest to Alaska, proposed trade agreements, studies on status of Russian indigenous peoples, report by state of Alaska trade office, Chukotka Native family tree, reports of Eskimo Society of Chukotka | Undated |
| 1/12 | Chukotka trip: documents about June 2016 boat trip in Chukotka by David Ramseur and others seeking to document ties between Alaska and Russian Native peoples, Russian permits | 2016 |
| 1/13 | Climate change: documents about climate change being experienced in Alaska and Russia, President Obama’s 2015 climate change visit to Ak | Undated |
| 1/14 | Cold War: documents about Cold War between Alaska and Russia, Alaska’s militarization against Soviet aggression | Undated |
| 1/15 | Cowper Moscow trip: documents and letters about Gov. Cowper’s May 1990 trip to Moscow and England, Cowper speech to Moscow trade council | 1990 |
| 1/16 | Cowper on Russia: documents and reports about Gov. Cowper’s interactions with Russia, transcripts of interviews with Cowper about era, 1988 Friendship Flight between Alaska and USSR | Undated |
| 1/17 | Cowper USSR Far East trip 1989: documents in English and Russian about Gov. Cowper’s 2-week trip across Russian Far East in Aug/Sept. 1989, Russian language news clips, protocols, news releases, photos of Cowper and Russian officials | 1989 |
| 1/18 | Cox swim: documents about 1987 swim between Diomede Islands by Lynn Cox, interview transcripts, press kit from Cox, international news clips | 1987 |
| 1/19 | Defections: documents about 1989 defection of two Soviet journalists to Alaska, interview transcripts of those involved, press release from US Immigration Service | 1989 |
| 1/20 | Doug Drum: interview transcripts, news clips about Anchorage meat processor deeply involved in Russia, helping there with reindeer processing | Undated |
| 1/21 | Fischer, Vic: documents about Russian involvement of Fischer and his Office of Soviet Relations, interview transcripts, interactions with Sen. Ted Stevens about Russia | Undated |
| 1/22 | Gerasimov, Gennadi: background on Gorbachev’s spokesman active in opening Alaska-Russia | Undated |
| 1/23 | Gore-Chernomyrdin: documents about joint US-Russia cooperation conference, Gov. Knowles’ 1996 speech to meeting, Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer’s speech to 1998 meeting | Undated |
| 1/24 | ISER background: documents about ISER’s early work on Alaska-Russia, transcript of Ramseur interview with Gunnar Knapp | Undated |
| 2/1 | Knowles, Tony: documents about Gov. Knowles involvement in Russia including 2002 meeting with Russian governors, transcript of Ramseur interview | Undated |
| 2/2 | Magadan: documents about Alaska’s relationship with Russian Far East community of Magadan, includes transcripts of interviews with former Russian Gov. Kobets, Anchorage Mayors Rick Mystrom and Tom Fink | Undated |
| 2/3 | Mala, Ted: documents about Dr. Mala and early interactions with Russia, 1988 memo for joint cooperation, news clips, transcript of Ramseur interview | Undated |
| 2/4 | Northern Sea Route: documents about proposed commercial sea route between Alaska and Russia including 1993 legislative report, Army Corps study | Undated |
| 2/5 | Rock Business Anchorage 1988: documents and news clips about first large Russian visit to Anchorage in 1988 including rock concert by Russian bands | Undated |
| 2/6 | Sakha relations: documents about Alaska’s relationship with Russian Sakha Republic including 1998 flood relief, creation of Russian “Permanent Fund” and Northern Forum | Undated |
| 2/7 | Sakhalin: documents about Alaska’s relationship with Russian Sakhalin region including Knowles’ 1997 visit, correspondence between Knowles and his Russian counterpart, interview transcripts with Alaskans involved with Sakhalin | Undated |
| 2/8 | St. Lawrence Island: documents about involvement of Alaska Natives from St. Lawrence with Russian counterparts, news clips, interview transcript | Undated |
| 2/9 | Surveyor: documents about 1987 visit of US vessel Surveyor to Provideniya, Russia, transcript of Ramseur interview with crew member, photo of ship | 1987 |
| 2/10 | Talbott, Strobe: documents about 2000 visit of Deputy Secretary of State to Alaska and observations about Russia | 2000 |
| 2/11 | Visa-Free Travel: documents about establishment and operations of visa-free travel between Alaska and Russia by Natives of the region, government reports, correspondence | Undated |
| 2/12 | UA exchanges: documents about exchanges involving Russian students at University of Alaska, partnerships with Russian universities, transcripts of Ramseur interviews with UA officials including Brian Rogers, Donna Anger, Lee Gorsuch, Jerry Komisar | Undated |
| 2/13 | Yakutsk: documents about Alaska relations with city of Yakutsk including journalist exchanges, sister-city relations with Fairbanks, 1997 meeting of Northern Forum | Undated |
| 2/14-20 | Soviet Union press secretary files: materials gathered regarding visits to and from Alaska with representatives of the Soviet Union | 1988-1990 |
| 2/16-3/15 | Exxon Valdez oil spill: news releases, media stories, memoranda to state officials, and accounts of visits to locations affected by the spill | 1989 |