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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.

391 to 420 of 752 Objects
[Fred and Sara Machetanz]
[Fred and Sara Machetanz]
Film contains scenes of Fred Machetanz working on a 1975 painting and signing his name in the corner, driving on a snowy road, and painting in his studio. This is followed by scenes of Sara Machetanz skiing with a white dog and snow-covered mountains near Palmer.
[Fred Machetanz]
[Fred Machetanz]
Film contains scenes of artist Fred Machetanz at work in his studio, sign for “Hilscher Highway – Private Road,” scenes of driving along a snowy road as seen from inside a car, and signs pointing toward Machetanz property.
[Fred Machetanz outdoors and indoors]
[Fred Machetanz outdoors and indoors]
Film contains scenes of Fred Machetanz and another man using a chain saw and ax to fell and cut up trees for firewood, men driving along a snowy road, and Fred Machetanz stacking firewood then painting in his studio
[Fred Machetanz painting]
[Fred Machetanz painting]
Film contains scenes of Fred Machetanz’s studio and the artist at work inside his studio. He uses his fingers to blend color on a painting, draws with charcoal, and applies color to another painting.
[Ft. Richardson and ATG and Lend-Lease aircraft with Russian markings at Nome, Turnagain by the Sea development and ATG... 3]
[Ft. Richardson and ATG and Lend-Lease aircraft with Russian markings at Nome, Turnagain by the Sea development and ATG... 3]
Part 3 (AAF-1544) footage includes a sternwheeler, Eskimo dancers, a bear cub, Eskimo men gathering eggs and catching birds in flight, a tent, umiaks, loading freight in Nome, hauling meat with dog sleds, Governor Gruening swearing in Alaska Territorial Guard members, ATG members with rifles and during marching drills, Muktuk Marston, a snowblower in Nome, ATG headquarters in Nome (image reversed), Governors Gruening and Dewey, title screens and a map, a dog team and reindeer hooked to a sled, Muktuk Marston with a puppy and swearing in ATG members, dog team travel, aerial views of mountains, captive bear cubs, Governor Dewey in a red parka, and more aerial views of mountains.
[Fur Rendezvous, dog races, Fairbanks, Anchorage and Matanuska Valley]
[Fur Rendezvous, dog races, Fairbanks, Anchorage and Matanuska Valley]
Footage includes a merry-go-round and a wolf dance at the Fur Rendezvous, the World Championship sled dog races in Anchorage, the Open North American sled dog races in Fairbanks, Roland "Doc" Lombard with a trophy, giant cabbages, Chilkat dancers in Haines, High Ridge, downtown Fairbanks, the University of Alaska campus in Fairbanks, Dr. Vic Hessler, an ice bridge across University Avenue in Fairbanks, a man tying reindeer to a truck bumper, a fur auction, dog races and an Eskimo Wolf Dance at the Fur Rendezvous, a radar site, soldiers eating a meal in a field during winter, military base housing, berries, harvesting grain, dogs, an Anchorage sign, a small well-drilling truck in High Ridge, Ernest Gruening, a health clinic, a mechanic working on a truck, a ski plane being moved and taking off from High Ridge lake during winter, Sara Machetanz paintings, Traeger Machetanz, a statehood headline, fly fishing, an Air France plane, glaciers in the Southeast, and men taking a canoe upriver to fish for grayling.
[Fur Rendezvous, polar bear, Kotzebue, Nome, Unalakleet, kayak races]
[Fur Rendezvous, polar bear, Kotzebue, Nome, Unalakleet, kayak races]
Footage features an Alaska Native dance demonstration in front of a crowd on an Anchorage baseball field, a blanket toss, and dog mushers racing across a flat area; polar bears on ice in Northern Alaska; the Kotzebue waterfront, fish drying on racks, children, the post office, the trading post, the Wien Arctic Hotel, a whalebone, and Alaska Native women and a man with closeup views of their faces; Native dancing in Nome with King Island Chief Aulaġana (John Olarana or Olaranna) and others, a blanket toss, and fish drying on racks; the Unalakleet waterfront with kayaks and an airplane on floats, kayak races, and a demonstration of a kayak roll by a man wearing a gutskin parka. The film is made from three shorter reels of film spliced together. The original boxes are labeled as follows: 1) Fur Rendezvous – 100’ $30.00 - #60013. 2) #54 Polar Bear - $15.00. 3) #28 Kotzebue, Unalakleet, Nome, Kayak Races.
Gardening is great in the north
Gardening is great in the north
This film contains tips about gardening in the North. It includes scenes of man mushing dogs to a cabin, a man and woman talking about hunting and farming, a woman making a phone call using a rotary phone, Virgil Severns of Cooperative Extension Service, gardening site selection tips, vegetable variety tips, a demonstration of starting seeds in foam cups, people shoveling soil and talking about soil sample kits, a man using a roto-tiller in a small garden area, people discussing fertilizer, a man demonstrating how to prepare potatoes for planting, a demonstration of garden planting techniques, hoeing and weeding, a family harvesting vegetables from their garden, and a demonstration of techniques for storing carrots. The credits are as follows: Photographer and editor, Reginald Emmert of UAF Rasmuson Library Media Services, animation and art by Dolores Hutchison, audio by Kevin Hamel, music by Helen Hansen, production assistance by Kathy Kollodge, special thanks to Claire Fejes and Gary Stein and Virgil Severns, and supported by The Alaska Native Human Resource Development Program. A list of gardening publications appears at the end.
Gathering together: bilingual curriculum creation at the Lower Kuskokwim School District
Gathering together: bilingual curriculum creation at the Lower Kuskokwim School District
This videotape is labeled "Gathering Together Master 2/11/97." The program was produced by the Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) in 1997. It contains chapters on LKSD and its mission, bilingual programs at LKSD, the Yup'ik Language Immersion School, the Summer Institute Home School Link, and Materials Production.
[Geology]
[Geology]
The original Betamax videotape is labeled “Geology.” The video contains footage of mountains and rock formations in the Western United States, and it briefly shows Portage Glacier in Alaska while a man (likely geologist C. L. Sainsbury) discusses each feature.
[George Steck collection 01]
[George Steck collection 01]
This footage includes downhill ski races at Skiland on the Steese Highway, views from Cleary Summit during summer, a Ski Patrol competition at Skiland, a Goldpanner baseball game at Growden Park, people skydiving and testing a parachute on the ground, and a black bear hide. Footage at Murphy Dome includes antennae and dishes covered with hoar frost, an Aktiv Fischer Snow Trac operating, a snowman, buildings, Caterpillar tractors, and husky dogs playing.
[George Steck collection 02]
[George Steck collection 02]
This footage from Nenana includes the tripod on the Tanana River, a bridge, Nenana Ice Poll Tower and Watchman's building, and town scenes.
[George Steck collection 03]
[George Steck collection 03]
Scenes from the Miss Fairbanks contest in March of 1968. The footage also features singing and ballet performances.
[George Steck collection 04]
[George Steck collection 04]
Footage includes winter scenery near Murphy Dome, very snowy streets and cars at Second and Cushman in Fairbanks, mushers preparing for sled dog races downtown, and sled dog races on Second Avenue.
[George Steck collection 05]
[George Steck collection 05]
Footage includes the opening ceremony and activities for the Eskimo Olympics filmed inside the Gold Dome at Alaskaland.
[George Steck collection 06]
[George Steck collection 06]
Footage features Women's North American sled dog racers starting from the Alaska Dog Mushers Association on Farmers Loop.
[George Steck collection 07]
[George Steck collection 07]
Footage from around Fairbanks includes participants in a Safe Driving Auto Rodeo held in the Penneys parking lot on Cushman Street.
[George Steck collection 08]
[George Steck collection 08]
This footage features scenes from the Big Dipper ice arena in March of 1969. It includes ice show performers and Olympic medal winner Jo Jo Starbuck.
[George Steck collection 09]
[George Steck collection 09]
Footage includes skiers, rope tow, and Roger Evans throwing snowballs at the camera. Notes on the original film can say "May 67, Skiland view from head of tow, closeup of group including Bob Parrish, tow shack operator hans Fischer about to make a run, Frank Marion making run down bowl, group at bottom of bowl, Keith Harris skiing with case of beer, GP on hill throwing snowballs"
[George Steck collection 10]
[George Steck collection 10]
This footage features various people waterskiing on Birch Lake in July of 1967.
[George Steck collection 11]
[George Steck collection 11]
This film was recorded shortly after the opening of the Alaska 67 Exposition Park, A-67, and prior to the August 1967 flood. Footage includes perspectives from the Ferris Wheel, an upside down perspective from the Ferris Wheel, a hammer ride, a nurse fashion parade, views of the park and people in costumes, and a hot air balloon launch.
[George Steck collection 12]
[George Steck collection 12]
Footage featuring A-67, including equipment and people panning for gold at the mining village, people in costumes, views of park buildings, the Riverboat Nenana, and a band.
[George Steck collection 13]
[George Steck collection 13]
Footage includes the Binley Family Riverboat Discovery I, a group of people traveling down the Tanana River to Nenana on the Discovery, and people stopping for a picnic and to look at old buildings along the way.
[George Steck collection 14]
[George Steck collection 14]
Footage includes a parade in Fairbanks for the opening day of Alaska 67 Exposition A-67, an opening day ceremony with a boy scout color guard and military band, Captain Jim Binkley at a podium with dignitaries (including Governor Wally Hickel and Burl Ives), a ride around the park on an A-67 train, scenes from around the park, a woman on stilts, and a hot-air balloon being launched
[George Steck collection 15]
[George Steck collection 15]
Footage includes views of First Avenue in Fairbanks, Immaculate Conception Church and St. Joseph Hospital, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner building, a parade on Cushman Street, a baseball team (the Goldpanners) at the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce building on First Avenue, people along the banks of the Chena River watching the start of the Yukon 800 Marathon boat race, Goldpanners baseball practice, and construction at Growden Park.
[George Steck collection 16]
[George Steck collection 16]
Footage includes sled dog races at the Alaska Dog Mushers Association track on Farmers Loop Road in Fairbanks, Alaska.
[George Steck collection 17]
[George Steck collection 17]
Footage includes scenes at A-67 and Fairbanks just prior to the 1967 flood. Scenes include people making sand bags and the Chena River rising.
[George Steck collection 18]
[George Steck collection 18]
Footage features Fairbanks just after the flood waters receded and people started cleaning up the damage.
[George Steck collection 19]
[George Steck collection 19]
Footage shows the U.S. Air Force Blue Angels flying at Ft. Wainwright.
[George Steck collection 20]
[George Steck collection 20]
Footage features Fairbanks, the Cushman St. bridge, A-67 Exposition, and a Turtles concert at Bartlett Plaza.