Guide to the Edward Coyle photographs
1954-1956
Collection number: HMC-1499.
Creator: Coyle, Edward Cormic.
Title: Edward Coyle photographs.
Dates: 1954-1956.
Volume of collection: 0.6 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in the collection are in English.
Collection summary: Photographs taken and collected by a Army Corps of Engineer Master Sergeant stationed at Fort Richardson.
Biographical note:
Master Sergeant Edward Cormic Coyle, of the Army Corps of Engineers, was stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska form 1954 to 1954. Coyle, along with his wife and two young children, were some of the first to occupy the newly constructed family housing on base. He trained soldiers in cold-weather construction techniques, particularly the building of metal bridges to withstand Alaska’s low temperatures. His work took him all over Southern Alaska, and event to Little Diomede Island. In 1956, he was reassigned to Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington.
Collection description:
The collection consists of photographic prints and slides taken and collected by Edward Coyle. There are five black and white prints, dating from 1954 of an intersection in Anchorage; Main Street in Palmer; a Palmer farmers’ market; scenery around Eklutna; and downtown Seward. The 107 color slides are dated 1955 to 1956 and include bridge construction and a snow runway in Talkeetna; Green Lake on Elmendorf Air Force Base; Lake Louise; Matanuska Glacier; Sheep Mountain; Valdez Bay; Bird Creek; buildings and scenery at Fort Richardson; Fur Rendezvous; Portage Glacier; Founders Day in Palmer; Chugiak Spring Carnival; Otter Lake; Wales, Alaska; Whittier; Valdez; and Little Diomede. The slides also include some commercial slides by Harold W. Johnson and Stewart’s Photo Shop. The collection also includes a panoramic photograph of Fort Richardson, on which certain features have been labeled or numbered, as well as a group photograph of Coyle’s unit, Company “C” 42nd Engineers Battalion, both by E.O. Goldbeck.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged chronologically, with undated photographs at the end.
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 created by Edward Coyle has been transferred to Archives & Special Collections. Materials not created by Coyle may be subject to copyright not held by the Archives.
Preferred citation: Edward Coyle photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Acquisition note: The collection was given to Archives & Special Collections by Karen Coyle, daughter of Edward Coyle in 2025.
Processing information: This collection was described by Gwen Higgins in 2025.