The Alaska Historical Society is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization dedicated to the promotion of Alaska history by the exchange of ideas and information, the preservation and interpretation of resources, and the education of Alaskans about their heritage. If you would like to join us, visit our membership page.

Government Affairs

The cultural agencies of the State of Alaska include the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums in the Department of Education and the Office of History and Archaeology in the Department of Natural Resources. The Alaska Historical Society supports these programs and annually contacts the Governor and members of the State legislature about them.

2002 Annual Meeting

The Alaska Historical Society and Museums Alaska are holding their joint annual meeting in Fairbanks September 18-21.  Dermot Cole, the informative and entertaining Fairbanks Daily News-Miner columnist, will present a keynote address focusing on the history of Fairbanks on the 100th anniversary of Felix Pedro's gold discovery.  Other AHS presentations will recount the lives of colorful and important Alaskans and the history of Interior gardening, homesteading, Rampart Dam, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and more.

Registrations includes all AHS and Museums Alaska sessions, an opening reception at the University of Alaska Museum (Sept. 18) and two lunches (Sept. 19 and 20) and one dinner (Sept. 20) at the historic Pump House restaurant.  Registration for AHS members is $180 ($210 for non-members) for requests postmarked by August 23.  Prices are $20 more after August 23.  The AHS and MA also offer two additional treats--an AHS/MA dinner cruise on the sternwheeler Tanana Chief (Sept. 19; $39) and a 2-hour tour of Ft. Knox gold mine (3 and 4 p.m. Sept. 21; $21; transportation to the mine will be furnished).  Sign up for all the fun.  To register for the conference and sign up for the cruise or mine tour, mail checks payable to the Tanana-Yukon Historical Society at P.O. Box 71336, Fairbanks, Alaska   99707-1336.  For a convenient registration form, click here.  For additional information, contact Candy Waugaman at candy@mosquitonet.com.

For lodging in Fairbanks contact the Westmark Hotel and Conference Center (1-800-455-0970), the meeting host.  Room rates are $69+tax per night single/double Aug. 17-21.   Reservations must be made prior to Sept. 1.  For additional lodging information, contact the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Center (www.explorefairbanks.com).  Other hotels convenient to the Westmark are the Golden Nugget and the Regency.

Alaska Airlines is offering discounted conference fares Sept. 15-24 at 1-800-445-4435.   Mention meeting #CMA 0353.

Information to researchers: Those interested in researching the archives, oral histories, rare books, and maps in the Alaska and Polar Regions Department of Rasmuson Library should be aware that those documents will not be available for two weeks beginning Monday, September 23 because of planned library renovations.  Open-stack Alaska books,periodicals, and microforms will not be affected. For additional information on research at the Alaska and Polar Regions Department, call 907-474-6400 or contact fyapr@uaf.edu.

Awards

The Alaska Historical Society will announce this year's award winners at the annual meeting in Fairbanks in September.  The following awards may be given.

Esther Billman Certificate of Excellence (for a state or local society, museum, government agency, or other organization which has completed a project or series of projects contributing to the preservation and understanding of Alaska history during the past year)

Evangeline Atwood Award (for an individual in recognition of significant long-term contributions to Alaska state or local history)

Historian of the Year Award (for an Alaskan resident for publication of notable new material about Alaska during the past year)

Pathfinder Award (for an individual or several individuals who have indexed or prepared guides to materials that have not been accessible)

Local Historical Society Newsletter Award (for the best newsletter published by a local historical society over the past several years)

Submitting Papers to Alaska History
Alaska History welcomes submission of papers on the history of Alaska and related northern topics. Articles should be original in subject matter and/or interpretation and should be thoroughly documented. Refer to the 14th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style for style guidance. Manuscripts should be submitted in triplicate to: James H. Ducker, Editor, Alaska History, Alaska Historical Society, P.O. Box 100299, Anchorage, Alaska 99510-0299. Provide an email address, if available; this will facilitate follow up communications. Submissions published in Alaska History are eligible for the Alaska History Award. This award is presented annually to the author of the article or photo essay deemed the best by the journal's Editorial Advisory Board. The award comes with a prize of $500.

Alaska Historical Society Archives

The University of Alaska Anchorage houses the archives of the Alaska Historical Society. For a description of the holdings, visit the UAA Archives website by clicking this link.

Alaska Historical Society Board Candy Waugaman, President, Fairbanks candy@mosquitonet.com Kay Shelton, Vice President, Juneau Kay_Shelton@eed.state.ak.us Karl Gurcke, Treasurer, Skagway karlgurcke@nps.gov Phyllis Movius, Secretary, Fairbanks pdmovius@gci.net Geoffrey Bleakley bleakley@alaska.net Mike Burwell, Anchorage mburwell@gci.net Mike Dunning mike.dunning@uas.alaska.edu Steve Haycox AFSWH1@uaa.alaska.edu Robert King, Juneau bob_king@gov.state.ak.us Gretchen Lake glake@alaska.net Dee Longenbaugh, Juneau deelong@alaska.com Mike Martz, Bethel doublem49@hotmail.com Dorothy Moore dmmoore@cvinternet.net Barbara S. Smith barbarassmith@gci.net Vicki Wisenbaugh, Tenakee Springs wisentenakee@juno.com Jo Antonson, Assistant to the President joa@dnr.state.ak.us