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.

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: [Developing Alaska's resources and agriculture]; Program AAF-8361 is titled "Developing Alaska's Resources - The Role of the University of Alaska Fairbanks,” and “Developing Alaska's Agriculture - The Role of the School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management." Program contains images of the University of Alaska Agricultural Experiment Station in Fairbanks, greenhouse interiors, cows in barn and in a pasture at UAF, and forestry studies. Those interviewed include: Dean of the School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management James Drew, Professor of Plant Physiology Don Dinkel, Charles Knight of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Assistant Professor of Animal Science Fred Husby, Robyn White, Richard Feia, Extension Forester and Instructor of Forest Management Tony Gasbarro, and Assistant Professor of Agricultural Education Carla Kirts. Program was produced in 1982 by the University of Alaska Public Affairs Office in cooperation with KUAC-TV, with producer and narrator Karen Cedzo.

: McCall Glacier Project; AAF-20835: “McCall Glacier Project,” copyright 1974 by the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska, was presented as a contribution to the International Hydrological Decade. The film covers scientific studies on the McCall Glacier, and includes detailed explanations of scientists’ activities, equipment used, and data analyzed. Director of photography and editing is Milan J. Alexander. Narration by William Huhn. Sound by Steve Browne. Music by David J. Rychetnik and Gary Westcott. Studies on McCall Glacier were supported by grants from the Atmospheric Science Section, National Science Foundation. Senior Scientists were Gerd Wendler and Carl Benson. One title screen reads as follows: "We express our appreciation to the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory, Point Barrow, for logistic support, the Air National Guard for two excellently executed air drops, and the skillful Alaskan Bush pilots Chuck Meggill, Lowell Thomas Jr., Mike Van Hutten, Merrill Wien, Richard Wien and Al Wright.” According to Dr. Carl Benson in 2016, the film includes scenes of departure from Fairbanks and a flight to the Romanzof Mountains in the Brooks Range, the McCall Glacier on Mount Hubley, and scientists – including University of Alaska Fairbanks professors Will Harrison and Gerd Wendler, graduate students Dennis Trabant and Charlie Fahl, Yuji Kodama of the National Institute of Polar Research in Tokyo, and scientists from the Institute of Low Temperature Science at Hokkaido University in Japan – using instruments to study weather conditions and glacier depths.

: [1947 Nalukataq whale feast at Barrow]; Reed Bovee interviewed filmmaker Bill Bacon in 2010, and the following information about these films is based on Bovee's notes from that interview: “Barrow, Nulakatuk, 1947. After a successful whaling season they have a Nulakatuk celebration which is to celebrate the parting of the whales soul so there is no hard feeling to the whales so they will come again the next year. All the whaling captains get together and have this celebration and if there are a lot of whales killed that season they may have two or three celebrations on different days.", From the Alaska Film Archives, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks., From the William W. Bacon III collection. APR Collection Number 2015-203., AAF-20,079 transferred in 2016 by Reflex Technologies of Burbank, California, to Blu-ray Disc, DVD, and Mac-format external hard drive. Some light and color corrections may have been applied to Blu-ray disc and DVD by Reflex Technologies., Filmmaker's original labeling scheme has film AAF-20,079 numbered as Bacon 17, and titled “1947 Nulakatuk Whale Feast, Barrow.” Film contains scenes of whale and muktuk being distributed at the Nalukataq whale feast at Barrow, people eating and celebrating, blanket toss, men in military uniforms, Alaska Native dancers and drummers, children running and chasing after large vehicle, and more blanket toss.

: [People and parties]; AAF-11485 consists of one reel of 8mm film labeled “People and Parties” and contains footage of various locations throughout Alaska, a sign for ‘Evelyn’s'; footage of a dog; footage of the Traveler’s Inn in Fairbanks; footage of a number of well-dressed women exiting a building and showing off their clothing to the camera; a number of various scenic views of Alaska landscapes; images of people and couples dancing indoors at an unidentified location; a party or family gathering at a home; and footage of a woman and a baby playing together.

: [Chatanika, narrow-gauge, Gilmore]; AAF-784 images include F.E. gold camp at unidentified location, Jess Bryant with glasses, hat and cigar, Joseph Romig in dark suit with cigar, Davidson Ditch, Chatanika River, Chatanika siphon, Ella Romig next to pipe, hydraulic giants, Dredge Number 6 under construction at Gilmore, Alaska Railroad narrow-gauge train on original track from the Tanana Valley Railroad at Chatanika, unidentified people, and completed dredge at work.

: [KTVF news stories from Fairbanks during 1973 - 1]; AAF-6026 contains television news stories that were aired on KTVF-TV in Fairbanks, Alaska, during January and February, 1973. Scenes include a Mrs. Matthews being interviewed about developing bike trails in Fairbanks (1/1/73), and local survey results on the subject (1/1/73); people pumping gas into cars and man speaking about unleaded gas (1/4/73); Larry Holmstrom demonstrating exercise equipment at a Fairbanks health spa; fire damage at Lathrop High School (1/3/73); members of the Pioneers of Alaska at a reception (1/6/73); firefighters fighting fire in small building (1/6/73); Main Junior High fire alarm system and upgrades being discussed by Principal Chuck Smith (1/6/73); George Attla hooking up and running his dog team and talking about his sponsor (1/6/73); Hutchison Career Center during construction in Fairbanks (1/9/73); unidentified man being interviewed about the work release program at the correctional center, and jail superintendent Tom Drake being interviewed (1/11/73); Alaska State Senate in session with story by Larry Holmstrom (1/13/73); crowd at Teamsters meeting (1/23/73); BLM offices on Aurora Drive with Smokey-the-Bear (1/26/73); carbon monoxide test equipment being demonstrated (1/27/73); teacher for the hearing-impaired being interviewed about new hearing aid (1/27/73); American Legion Flag story about flying the flag until all POWs are returned from Viet Nam (1/30/73); story about using sodium vapor lights at Fairbanks intersections (2/7/73); Henry's Yarn Shop on College Road (2/10/73); and Libertarian Party candidate Hospers.

: [Chalkyitsik films - part 1 of 2]; These notes are from Jennifer Jolis of Fairbanks and UAF Prof. Stanley Edwin of Fort Yukon, who viewed this film in the Alaska Film Archives offices at the Rasmuson Library, UAF, on November 21, 2017. Jolis was a VISTA volunteer and Edwin was a 6-year-old growing up in Chalkyitsik, Alaska, during 1966-1967, when Jolis and others shot these films. AAF-13933 begins with images taken in January 1967 by Jolis’ father (Bernard Jolis) and sister (Gillian Jolis), who visited Chalkyitsik; father and sister snowshoe in front of Isaac and Sally Henry’s cabin; Bill Fredson on snowshoes; snowmachine; muskrat trapping; mushing; scenes from Wien or Wright Airlines flight from Fairbanks to Fort Yukon to Chalkyitsik; first snowmachine in town belonged to Edison Peter; Jolis’ house belonged to the Episcopal Church; group of cabins includes homes of Mimi and William Salmon, Ben and Julia Thomas, Mary Thompson, Belle Herbert, Charlie and Sharon Thomas, Paul Thomas, and the Community Hall; caches belong to the Salmon Family; Jolis’ father and sister, and Bill Fredson; owl on pole erected for radio reception; two unidentified children; breakup of the Draanjik or Black River; Stanley Edwin as a child; Eagle-the-dog who was originally from the town of Eagle; Community Hall; Johnny Edwin standing to left of dog; Spring Carnival; Sam Herbert; teacher Marianne Nicholson in red coat; Simon Francis Jr. in center; Johnny Edwin standing to left of person wearing bib #5; Sam Herbert standing in center under banner; Ladies’ snowshoe race during Spring Carnival; Sam Herbert in parka on left; Bill Fredson in group; elders Henry and Sarah Williams on left; David Salmon’s wife in red skirt; Patty Salmon in white coat and checked scarf, on right; Woody Salmon standing next to Patty Salmon; Patty Salmon’s face; Abraham Henry behind sled with parka; Johnny Edwin; Sam Herbert in overalls; moose in boat; hunting scenes were maybe filmed by Bill Fredson in fall 1966; Sam Herbert in bow of boat; and also in boat are Paul Herbert, Johnny Edwin, and Woody Salmon.

: [Chalkyitsik films - part 2 of 2]; These notes are from Jennifer Jolis of Fairbanks and UAF Prof. Stanley Edwin of Fort Yukon, who viewed this film in the Alaska Film Archives offices at the Rasmuson Library, UAF, on November 21, 2017. Jolis was a VISTA volunteer and Edwin was a 6-year-old growing up in Chalkyitsik, Alaska, during 1966-1967, when Jolis and others shot these films. AAF-13934 contains scenes of Eagle-the-dog; slough where fall fishing and ice fishing happened; Bobby Moses as a boy; Alice and Carl Moses cutting moose; Marianne Nicholson; Patty Salmon in canvas-covered canoe; summer of 1966 scenes; cabins with poles sticking up for radio reception; cabins; greenhouse and the old school, which was replaced in 1967 because of flooding; Bob Mott’s barge; Fort Yukon boat; Bill Fredson changing stovepipe; children playing on oil barrels include Stanley Edwin, Darryl Salmon, Robert Moses, Paul Edwin, and Agnes Herbert (wearing a scarf); unknown boy on swing; girl on swing is Isabelle Salmon wearing red; Bill Fredson with hand over face; scenes from flying over Chalkyitsik – possibly in Wien airplane – when Jolis was first arriving in 1966; fall time of year; Red Bluff, so called because of the reddish color of the soil; Johnny Edwin and possibly Woody Salmon in plaid shirt (maybe Paul Herbert shot this portion of the film); and Bill Fredson at lake.

: North of the Arctic Circle: Human Values and the Land; AAF-13935 is a program about changes in the communities of Point Hope, Kaktovik, Arctic Village and Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, due to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Filmed and written by Billie and Sam Wright. Film made possible by the Alaska Humanities Forum and the Tasseraluk Institute of Brooks Range, Alaska., In 1968, Samuel A. and Billie Wright moved to Alaska’s Brooks Range, where they built a cabin they named “Koviashuvik” at the edge of Bob Johnson Lake north of Bettles. That same year, they founded the non-profit Tasseraluk Institute, headquartered in the Brooks Range, for “educational, religious, scientific and literary research and development in social and human values.” The Wrights made films about wilderness life, continued Robert Marshall’s research on northern white spruce migration, published a journal titled “View from the Top of the World,” authored several books, and produced a report and documentary film titled “North of the Arctic Circle: Human Values and the Land.” Both were ordained Unitarian Universalist clergy, and Sam was a minister for congregations throughout the United States, including Anchorage, Alaska, from 1970 to 1974.

: [Bill Bacon KAKM interview]; KAKM-TV interview with filmmaker Bill Bacon on the program "Something to Say." Program 110. Recorded on November 24, 1980. Air date was December 18, 1980. Produced and hosted by Carroll Hodge, and produced and directed by Ron Eagle. Copyright 1980 KAKM. Bacon talks about filming wildlife, Walt Disney, overcoming camera challenges, doing stunt work, working on Mount McKinley (Denali) with dog teams, his early life in Pennsylvania, his experiences after being in the Navy during World War II, meeting pilot Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan, his arrival in Alaska, learning the art of filmmaking, being a freelance filmmaker, operating cameras in cold weather, working for the Alaska Oil and Gas Association, communicating between Alaska Natives and oil companies, filming scenes of whaling for the Eskimo Whaling Commission, his support of subsistence hunting, and being stranded on the St. Augustine volcano.

: [Finish glaze work]; Film contains close-up scenes of a 1976 Machetanz painting.

: [Fall, winter and summer of 1958 and 1959]; Footage includes Jan Koslosky with a large polar bear hide, Fred and Sara Machetanz with dogs and cutting firewood, downhill skiers, a snowplow, a plane on skis at High Ridge Lake, Ernest Gruening on an Anchorage street, High Ridge, an Eskimo woman dancing, Fur Rendezvous dog races, a merry-go-round, and dog weight pull. Additional images include reindeer on rope, Dr. Vic Hessler, a weaver at the loom, a moose in High Ridge Lake, Chilkat dancers at Haines, Sara eating strawberries, Sara and children feeding a moose calf, ski planes on High Ridge Lake, a party at Atwood home in Anchorage, airliners at Anchorage International Airport, a choral group, a moose on the road and High Ridge Lake, aerial view of High Ridge Lake, Alaska Railroad tracks and trains during winter, a snowplow, Healy coal mine, Mount McKinley, Alcan Highway, sign forest on Alcan Highway, Miles Canyon, highway scenery, oil drill rig, water well drill rig, George Sundborg at teletype, statehood celebration in Fairbanks, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner presses, Riverboat Discovery operation, logs on conveyor at mill, fish camp and birch bark basket construction, Fred and Sara at fish camp, gold dredge and loggers.

: Alaska 49th state : [part 2]; This film was used for lectures by the Machetanzes when they travelled outside Alaska. Footage includes Open North American dog sled races in Fairbanks and Dr. Roland Lombard wearing bib number one. Additional images include travel on the Alaska Railroad during winter, a man with a reindeer in Fairbanks, downtown Fairbanks, a party at the Atwood home in Anchorage, international travelers arriving at the Anchorage International Airport and Bob Reeve at the airport, a musical conductor and choral group, KTVA television studios and Norma Goodman, and shoppers in a grocery store. Southeast Alaska images include glaciers and travel by ship, amphibious aircraft taking off in Juneau, loggers cutting and hauling trees, Ketchikan Pulp Mill, salmon in a stream, purse seiner and cannery. Additional images include two men going upstream in a canoe and fishing for grayling, and campus buildings at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.

: [KTVF news stories, Cordova, 1977 mushers]; Some segments of film contain a soundtrack, others are silent. Specific dates and other information noted on original film are given here in parentheses. Footage features views of a nighttime rocket launch (no date or description) (silent). Aerial views of Fort Wainwright (no date or description) (silent). A commercial for Nerland's Warehouse Store on Illinois Street with views of the furniture store and the downtown Fairbanks area (no date) (sound). An Alaska Railroad engine painted in a red, white and blue color scheme (no date or description) (silent). A woman interviews Moe Samuelson about his race boat (no date) (sound). Men and women at a pancake feed in Fairbanks (no date) (sound). A man demonstrates goldpanning to a crowd in a J.C. Penney's parking lot in Fairbanks (no date) (sound). Women try on Golden Days-style hats (no date) (sound). Ralph Migliaccio speaks about his candidacy for city council and about a failed Fairbanks water project and traffic problems (no date) (sound). Views of men and women at an airport baggage claim, trucker Sam Little among crowd of people, people waiting in line and holding Teamsters paperwork, airport scenes (segment is titled "Union Call and Airport") (no date) (silent). People go through a banquet line at potlatch, Native Dancing at Lathrop High School Gym (no date or description) (sound). Men and women speak at meeting about the borough assembly's cutting of the school budget (no date) (sound). Two girls congratulated by adults (segment is titled "Spelling Bee") (no date) (silent). Views of Cordova harbor and town streets, story about town's history and economic struggles (no date) (sound). Two KTVF promos (no date ) (sound). Aerial view of a road, sign at the road link-up site at the South Fork Koyukuk River Valley, pipeline workers celebrate (no date or description) (sound). Spectators watch as dog mushers start and end a race in Fairbanks (notes accompanying film identify Marvin Kockrine, Roxi Brooks Wood, and George Attla), mushers Carl Huntington and George Attla are interviewed (segment is titled "1977 Mushers") (sound). Woman is interviewed (segment is titled "Marge Pentland") (no date) (silent). Views of children and the elderly (segment is titled "Pioneer Home") (no date) (silent). A woman talks to a girl (segment is titled "SS - Mae and Kid") (no date) (silent). A woman talks on phone and performs office tasks (segment is titled SS - Receipt") (no date) (silent).

: Films North; Film contains scenes of artist Fred Machetanz beginning work on a painting in his studio, outside in winter stacking firewood, and in his studio finishing a painting of polar bears.

: [Machetanz original]; Footage features close-up images of animals and human subjects in Machetanz paintings.

: [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.

: [Machetanz paintings]; Film contains close-up images of animals and human subjects in Machetanz paintings, including paintings from 1967 and 1970

: [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]; 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 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.

: [Art class]; Film contains scenes of a classroom full of artists sketching and painting as a male model sits in a chair at the front of the classroom. Fred Machetanz sketches and paints, and he instructs other artists at their easels or as they look over his shoulder. Fred Machetanz looks at and talks about a display of sketches, swatches and paintings with labels such as “1935 Alaska Unalakleet” and “Materials, Pigments, Glazing,” etc.

: Children of Akiachak; This film was produced by the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, Juneau Area Office, to examine the pilot study of a community child development program in the Alaska village of Akiachak. The bilingual program trained parents to use various methods for teaching their own preschool children. The program emphasized development of language and motor skills in preparation for elementary school.

: [Family activities]; This film contains images of a family gathering at Christmastime, a boy and dog playing, a dead wolf, a mining operation, an airport, children dressed as cowboys, travel scenes outside Alaska, a parade outside Alaska, and the Hoover Dam.

: [Scenes from around Alaska]; This film contains images of a dead wolf, bulldozers, a man and woman and two boys, people sledding on a hillside, blowing snow along Steese Highway, Circle Hot Springs in winter, a mining operation, men working in sluice box as children play, fall landscape, caribou, winter landscape, summer landscape, Cat train moving over snowy ground, Ocean Van Line trailer, tractor trailers hauling supplies, a bulldozer plowing a path through trees, scenes in northern Alaska, a dog team, a dead seal, an Alaska Native family posing for the camera outside of a wall tent, a Cat train, an airport, tractor trailers, a bulldozer plowing snow, a Cat train, and men working to free a vehicle that has fallen though ice.

: [Mining operations]; This film contains images of a mining operation, a bulldozer pushing muck, sluice box cleanup, a snowy landscape, children playing, a truck loaded with logs, a man operating a hydraulic giant, Wien aircraft, a parade and other travel scenes outside Alaska, a Boeing VC-137B Air Force One aircraft painted in white-and-red color scheme at an airport outside Alaska.

: [UAF fire department 1980 to 1981]; This film contains footage of a large group of people swimming and playing in a backyard swimming pool during cold weather and warm weather as well as footage of a firefighting competition which includes firefighting races and fires being extinguished by groups of firefighters.

: [Family scenes, Alaska Highway travel, winter carnival]; Film contains images of cars driving down a street, an aproximately 1-year-old girl outside of a red house climbing stairs and playing, the same girl indoors, sheep in a field, a group of people standing in the field, a group of people dressed up at an outdoor gathering, people sitting in a group in chairs outdoors in a social gathering, the exterior of a red house, children swimming in what appears to be a lake, a child aproximately 1-year-old walking, views of a beach and a sign that says "Indian Village" on it, scenic Alaska wilderness with a rainbow, children running through a sprinkler and playing with a hose on the lawn in front of a red house, a family standing in front of cars, children playing with a cat, children playing outside in the snow in the winter, adults and children standing for a group photograph, outdoor winter scenery, the Watson Lake Signpost Forest along the Alaska Highway in Yukon Territory of Canada, mountain scenery, a moose in winter in a field of snow, children being pulled on a sled, caribou pulling a dog sled, a Fairbanks Winter Carnival parade with parade floats, kids on a snowy beach throwing rocks into the water near a glacier, a parade in summer with a man riding in the parade and women marching in the parade, flowers in a garden, a barn in winter, well dressed people standing outside in winter with a bunch of cars in front of a church outside of Alaska, people pushing wagon wheels in the snow, a little girl opening presents next to a Christmas tree, a woman holding a baby, a Christmas tree, presents under a tree, a man with children on his lap, children sitting on a couch, children opening Christmas presents, children playing with toys, and children roughhousing and tumbling.

: [Family activities, Circle Hot Springs]; This film contains footage of a little girl walking with help from woman, a woman holding a baby in her lap, a man holding a baby in his lap, a small child walking, a small child in a chair playing with toys, a small girl in a winter coat walking indoors, a small child playing with toys and a table, a 1st Birthday party, a child in a rocking chair, an airplane taking off over water, a scenic view of mountains, a group of people outside (possibly a picnic), children walking on a lawn, the Santa Claus House in North Pole, people lighting a wooden structure on fire and then driving through it with cars and bikes (possibly a stunt show?), an airplane (Boeing B-47 Stratojet) flying overhead, a woman with a very small baby, a horse-drawn wagon, Circle Hot Springs Hotel and gardens, a bridge with driftwood caught against it, mining operations, a dragline and conveyor at work in mining operations, two well dressed women walking outside, two children opening presents, two children playing with toys, a Christmas tree, views of the inside of a house decorated for Christmas with Christmas cards on the wall, a soft water company's storefront, a large group of elementary age children digging in dirt or sand, a large group of elementary age kids playing on a playground and sliding down a slide, children riding ponies, children on a spinning amusement park ride (airplanes suspended by cables), boats moving fast on the water, people at a formal sit-down dinner, a group of people posing for a group photograph, a woman walking around outside with a baby, a parade outside Alaska in the summer that includes a marching band and small cars and parade floats, a child's 2nd birthday party with lots of small children in attendance, a child opening presents, a birthday cake with two candles, children reading books while sitting together on a couch, children playing with each other indoors, and a little girl spinning around for the camera.

: [Family activities, scenes inside and outside Alaska]; This film contains footage of two women standing outside of an Aeronca Sedan airplane in the snow, women washing a car, a wildfire, two women standing in front of a house with a small dog, a group of boys putting on heavy backpacks being handed to them out of the back of a truck, airplanes on floats on a lake, people water skiing on a lake, children playing next to a lake, a Christmas tree and Christmas presents, people opening Christmas presents, Spooks' Nook at Chitina, a waterfall, views of the mountains, children playing in the snow, a family gathering with a baby in a long (baptismal?) gown, children playing on a swings, a small child looking at a baby in a woman's arms, a Christmas tree, people opening Christmas presents, a child playing with a toy horse, a baby looking at toys, a parade outside Alaska with large floats, horse drawn carriages, motorcycles, old cars, a marching band, a person driving a tractor in a film superimposed over footage of a baby walking, footage of a family gathering, people posing for photographs superimposed over footage of a child walking on grass, men on horses herding cattle (likely not in Alaska), women standing in front of a car with a dog, children playing outdoors, people sitting on the grass, the sternwheeler Riverboat Nenana in Fairbanks, men in a boat on the water, and men next to a river and swimming in the river, a small child playing in the snow, and a family picnic outdoors.

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