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Alaska Film Archives

About the Collection

Over the past half century, the University of Alaska Fairbanks has built the largest collection of archival films in and about Alaska. The collection combines hundreds of donations of film and videos to UAF by individuals, organizations and institutions. Materials range from professional productions to amateur home-movies, made in and about Alaska from the earliest days of filmmaking through today. Since 1993 these materials have been held by the Alaska Film Archives, a unit of Alaska and Polar Regions Collections & Archives in the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library. Films and videos selected for this portal project are a sampling of the thousands available for checkout on DVD through the Rasmuson Library. Unless otherwise noted, items are presented here in their entirety, unedited and uncut. Short, popular clips from the collection can be viewed on our YouTube channel. Read more about the Alaska Film Archives.

1 to 3 of 3 Objects
[Fire fighters at Vundik Lake]
[Fire fighters at Vundik Lake]
This film gives a detailed view of many aspects of fighting the Vundik Lake forest fire in the Yukon Flats. Footage includes fire fighters lying and detonating long rope-like explosives along the moss, helicopters delivering supplies, a flying boxcar airplane dropping retardent, fire fighters using waterbags and branches to beat back fire on the ground, a helicopter with a water bucket dropping water on the fire, a sign reading "Welcome to Vundik Lake", a fire fighters' camp, aerial views of a PBY Catalina water bomber scooping water from Vundik Lake, and aerial views of the fire line and fire fighters.
[KTVF news stories from Fairbanks between 1970 and 1976]
[KTVF news stories from Fairbanks between 1970 and 1976]
Footage includes a musher on a trail, a sled, a dog truck, a musher hooking up dogs and riding on a trail (1974), musher Harvey Drake being interviewed about sled dogs by reporter Chuck Benson (1974), Jerry Evans being interviewed by reporter Chuck Benson after winning a snowmachine race (1974), basketball trophy presentations, sled dog races and spectators at a dog mushers' track on Farmers Loop Road, short segments of film with Andy Warwick and Tom Fink endorsing Warwick for Lieutenant Governor, Joe Redington being interviewed by reporter Jay Lewis after finishing second place in the 1976 Open North American sled dog race, Harvey Drake being interviewed by reporter Jay Lewis after winning the 1976 open North American sled dog race, dog race spectators (1976), a blanket toss during the dog races (1972), and a sled dog weight pulling contest.
[KTVF news stories, sports, snowmachine races, drag racing, motorcycle racing, firefighters and fires]
[KTVF news stories, sports, snowmachine races, drag racing, motorcycle racing, firefighters and fires]
Some segments of film contain audio, and others are silent. Specific dates and other information noted on the original film are given here in parentheses. The footage includes snowmachine races and spectators (story titled "Tok Races") (undated) (silent), scenes from stock car races (July 5, 1971) (sound), scenes from a car show and drag races (July 5, 1971) (silent and sound), Golden North Bowhunters at target practice (July 5, 1971) (silent), scenes from motorcycle races (story titled "Motocycle Races and Mini-Bike Races") (July 5, 1971) (sound), Grandma Minnie Tucker being honored on her 111th birthday, Minnie Tucker singing (undated) (sound), a military man speaking about Soviet military strength (undated) (sound), Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey being welcomed at the airport, Hubert Humphrey speaking at a fundraiser for Nick Begich (undated) (sound), a vehicle being dusted for fingerprints, a crime scene at an apartment building (undated) (silent), a meeting between Fairbanks city officials and visiting Russian mayors, vodka toasts and a gift exchange (undated) (sound), a story about a stray kitten wreaking havoc in a newsroom (undated) (sound), scenes of Pioneers of Alaska being welcomed to the 55th session of the Grand Igloo at the Alaskaland Pioneer Hall (undated) (silent), scenes of a huge fire at the Vertecs Corporation, a foam and insulation plant owned by Fairbanks Mayor Harold Gillam (August 27, 1975) (sound), scenes of Fairbanks firefighters battling a blaze (undated, possibly 1976 or 1977) (silent), the aftermath of a fire (undated) (silent), firefighters battling a fire at B&B Automotive (undated) (some sound), fire in a field (1976) (silent), the aftermath of a school fire (story titled "Chena School Fire") (1975) (silent), the aftermath of a fire at a North Pole school (undated) (silent), and scenes of small fires (story titled "Trash Fires") (March 10, 1976) (silent).