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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 8 of 8 Objects
[Miscellaneous commercials]
[Miscellaneous commercials]
Footage includes scenes and outtakes from commercials for United Way, Sourdough Heating, Fairbanks Security Service, and Arctic Pancake House (undated) (silent).
[1971 KTVF news stories]
[1971 KTVF news stories]
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. Footage includes a man speaking to a large gathering of people (undated) (silent), a student named Michael being interviewed about being expelled from school because of his refusal to cut his hair (story titled "Breeze") (1971) (sound), a man working with a radio antenna, men looking at an Alaska map, a man describing the Geophysical Institute's Biomedical Program and explaining how medical aid stations in Alaska villages can get medical information over the radio network (December 6, 1971) (sound), a story about Eneput Children's Center, women cooking, children playing (December 4, 1971) (sound), a man being interviewed about construction delays at the new Yak Estates Apartments in Fairbanks (December 7, 1971) (sound), students standing outside on a cold day, Nanooks basketball game scenes (1971) (silent), a man being interviewed about an Alaska Supreme Court Case involving charges of incompetence and immorality against a school principal (undated) (sound), children posing in a Nativity scene at First Baptist Church (1971) (sound), a story about a new training program for carpenters and journeymen (undated) (sound), men in a meeting (undated) (silent), statuettes of a gold panner being handed out at a ceremony, a story about an Alaskaland celebration (undated) (sound), children lining up to see Santa at Alaskaland Civic Center (undated) (sound), a man being interviewed about a court case involving charges against a school principal (undated) (sound), men being interviewed about police training, Lathrop High School students being interviewed about a student trooper program (1971) (sound), people in a meeting (1971) (silent), a man being interviewed about MUS Power Plant operations as men work at a coal chute and control panel (undated) (sound), people decorating a Christmas tree, men working on the pipeline, the BP building, and a cook making a meal menu (story titled "Arctic Christmas") (undated) (silent).
[KTVF television news stories and footage from 1971]
[KTVF television news stories and footage from 1971]
Footage contains several news stories and silent footage from 1971. In order, the segments are: reporter Larry Carpenter reporting on the dedication of the Lawrence Irving building at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (8/12/71), silent footage of Captain McQueen of the Alaska State Troopers (8/13/71), reporter Phil Deisher reporting on flooding at seven and a half mile on Old Richardson with resident E. R. Riddle (8/14/71), reporter Phil Deisher reporting on a firemen's competition, silent footage showing a motorcycle and automobile accident site (8/17/71), an unidentified speaker talking about pollution in waterways (8/17/71), the official ground-breaking for a Mormon church in Fairbanks (8/17/71), U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Westmoreland talking about the military's impact on the environment in Alaska and being questioned by Ted Lehne (8/19/71), and Westmoreland speaking about the strategic importance of Alaska (8/17/71). The final story, which is by reporter Larry Carpenter, is about the dedication of the new wing of the Arctic Health Research Center on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, Senator Ted Stevens speaking at the Arctic Health Research Center dedication, and Congressman Nick Begich speaking at the Arctic Health Research Center dedication (8/21/71).
[KTVF television 1971 raft race story]
[KTVF television 1971 raft race story]
Footage includes a news story about the 1971 Raft Race in Fairbanks and a drowning that took place during the event. Reporter Larry Holmstrom interviews John Sauer about swamping a canoe during the race. He also interviews Ron Sloan, Steve Goldizen, and Mark Roberts about the accident on their raft that took the life of Brian Kendall. In addition, Holmstrom interviews race founder Merritt Helfferich about the future of the race.
[KTVF news stories, Native Claims Settlement Act interviews, KUAC studio, Goldpanners, Boy Scouts, Tanana]
[KTVF news stories, Native Claims Settlement Act interviews, KUAC studio, Goldpanners, Boy Scouts, Tanana]
Some segments of film contain a soundtrack, and others are silent. Specific dates and other information noted on the original film are given here in parentheses. The film includes man-on-the-street interviews, men and women being interviewed at a shopping mall and at the Fairbanks Native Welcome Center about their thoughts on the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (no date) (sound), a story about KUAC-TV, the new educational television station at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, interviews with two station managers (no date) (sound), firefighters responding to a structure fire, construction equipment that was damaged in the blaze (no date or description) (silent), scenes from a Goldpanners baseball game (July 7, 1971) (silent), wildfire crews battling forest fires, a story about Fairbanks area wildfires (July 8, 1971) (sound), a wheelchair accessible van being demonstrated (July 8, 1971) (silent), scenes of a hospital's construction (July 8, 1971) (silent), a group of men waiting in a parking lot and inside a building (segment is titled "B-Menus") (July 16, 1971) (silent), Boy Scouts and leaders assembling for a photograph and then riding a train (July 24, 1971) (silent), the aftermath of a two-car collision (July 20, 1971) (silent), scenes from another Goldpanners baseball game (July 4, 1971) (silent), the Tanana Post Office, Northern Commercial Company buildings, views of the town of Tanana, Ted Stevens and other men in suits touring the area (no date or description) (silent), a Golden Days celebration, women dressed as dance hall girls, the Golden Days jail wagon, people in costume visiting Eielson Air Force Base (July 19, 1971) (sound), Don Dickey of the State Chamber of Commerce speaking in Fairbanks about the Native Claims Settlement Act and the pipeline (July 6, 1971) (sound), a structure damaged in a fire (no date or description) (silent), a story about flood damage due to the Tanana River along Richardson Highway (no date) (sound), and a man and woman in a pharmacy being interviewed about the substances used by children and teenagers to get high (no date) (sound).
[1971 Fairbanks news stories]
[1971 Fairbanks news stories]
This film contains news stories from 1971. Footage and stories include Larry Holmstrom interviewing tourists in a motorhome caravan and at Norlite Campground. Larry Carpenter presents a story on Manley Hot Springs that aired in July 1971. Footage includes the springs, the town, and several residents. Residents identified include Gus Benson, Bob Lee, and Bob "Whitey" Yule. Additional footage includes a report on a water project in Hamilton Acres in Fairbanks, a story about life in Mekoryuk village on Nunivak Island, and adult bicycle riding in Fairbanks in September 1971. People identified in the bicycle story include C.B. Bettisworth, Carol Bettisworth, Alexander Bettisworth, Amy Bettisworth, Andy Kleinfleld, Dr. William James, Geraldine James, Adam James, John James, and Mrs. James.
[Yukon River Bridge construction and hovercraft]
[Yukon River Bridge construction and hovercraft]
Footage includes aerial views of the Yukon River Bridge under construction, a hovercraft with tractor-trailer trucks crossing the Yukon, and aerial view of a construction site. Additional footage includes Senator Mike Gravel being interviewed in an airplane, viewing a hovercraft, sitting on the pipeline, and welding a pipe.
Piegans: Lord of the Plains
Piegans: Lord of the Plains
Earl Old Person, tribal chairman, narrates the history of the Blackfoot Indians and demonstrates how tribal elders are working to keep traditional culture alive. The film contains scenes of bison herds, drawings and sculptures, Montana landscapes, traditional dances, healing ceremonies, and other cultural activities. The film is copyright 1971 by University of Alaska and the National Endowment for the Humanities. It was produced by James R. Ludwig (Young Eagle), University of Alaska. It is narrated by James R. Ludwig and Earl Old Person, Chairman of the Blackfeet Tribe and president of the National Congress of American Indians. Sound is by Jack Stonnell. The film includes original recordings of traditional Blackfeet music. The program was filmed, written, and edited by James R. Ludwig, University of Alaska, with production assistants Bill Clark, Barbara Ester, W. Scott Parr, and Jack Stonnell. The film was administered by the University of Alaska and made possible through grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Grotto Foundation of St. Paul, Minnesota, and the University of Alaska. The producer acknowledged the assistance of: Bob Barber, National Bison Range, Moiese, Montana; Blackfeet Art Foundation, Browning, Montana; Rice and Omie Crawford, Heart Butte, Montana; Frank Darnell, University of Alaska; Bettye Fahrenkamp, Fairbanks North Star Borough; Alfred George, University of Alaska; Ramon Gonyea, Museum of the Plains Indian; Bill Haw, East Glacier Park, Montana; A.A. Heckman, Grotto Foundation, St. Paul, Minnesota; Richard Hedrich, National Endowment for the Humanities, Washington, D.C.; Louis W. Hill, Jr., St. Paul, Minnesota; Charles Keim, University of Alaska; Lester and Ruth Johnson, St. Mary, Montana; Linda J. Ludwig, Rochester, New York; Albert Racine St. Mary, Montana; Lynn Triplett, Browning, Montana; and Jane Williams, University of Alaska. The producer dedicated this film to the Blackfeet elders, including Louis and Maggie Plenty Treaty (Bear Child).