Alaska Film Archives
- The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development (DANSRD) hosted a series of panel discussions and presentations collectively titled “The Impact of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) on Alaska 1971-2011.” The event was held in the Wood Center Ballroom on the UAF campus on October 5 and 6, 2011, in observation of the 40th anniversary of the passage of the act, and resulted in nine DVD recordings. Part eight (AAF-18183) includes introductions by Master of Ceremonies Sharon McConnell followed by reflections and analysis of the impact on Alaska Native culture, education and leadership as a result of ANCSA, with panelists Dr. April Laktonen Counceller , Dr. Sven Haakanson, Jr., Agatha John-Shields, and Dr. Rosita Worl. Following the discussion are images showing photos and biographies of April Laktonen Counceller, Sven Haakanson, Jr., Panigkaq Agatha John-Shields, and Rosita Worl.
- The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development (DANSRD) hosted a series of panel discussions and presentations collectively titled “The Impact of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) on Alaska 1971-2011.” The event was held in the Wood Center Ballroom on the UAF campus on October 5 and 6, 2011, in observation of the 40th anniversary of the passage of the act, and resulted in nine DVD recordings. Part nine (AAF-18184) includes introductions by Master of Ceremonies Sharon McConnell, and comments by John Borbridge, Jr. and Mike Williams. This is followed by continued discussion on the impact on Alaska Native culture, education and leadership as a result of ANCSA, with panelists Dr. John Weise and Maj. Wayne Don. Following closing comments by Sharon McConnell are images showing photos and biographies of the two final panelists.
- Marvin "Muktuk" Marston, former commander of the Native Scouts utilized by the Alaska Territorial Guard during World War II, gives his personal views of Native life. Marston shows scenes of Eskimo whaling and festivals, fishwheels and preserving fish in pits along the Yukon River, sternwheelers, and a dog playing with bear cubs. Diomede Island footage includes Eskimo men climbing cliffs and harvesting bird eggs as well as a hunter catching birds using decoys and a long pole with a small net. Nunivak Island footage includes funeral services for a departed elder. Additional footage includes Governor Gruening's recruitment of Alaskan Natives into the Alaska Territorial Guard, construction of Alaska Territorial Guard facilities by Eskimo women, Marston and Sam Mogg travelling by dogsled to recruit members of the Alaska Territorial Guard, and use of reindeer to replace sled dogs. Additional footage includes Russian pilots and American Lend-Lease aircraft painted in Russian colors in Nome, Alaska Territorial Guard soldiers, Nome street scenes, a propeller driven snowmachine, dogs pulling a three-wheeled cart, Eskimo children, and portraits of several people.
- 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).
- In this film, title screens and diagrams explain how observations of sea ice were performed and how data were interpreted. The University of Alaska Sea Ice Radar System was a 3-CM, X-Band ship’s radar used to sense natural reflecting surfaces on the ice. It was mounted on a tower about 12 meters above sea level and typically operated at a scanning range of three nautical miles, or 5.5 kilometers. Data acquired by the radar system were recorded by a camera which photographed the radar display at 3-minute intervals, and the resulting film could then be shown as a time-lapse motion picture showing sea ice movement. The area under observation was the Chukchi Sea coast just north of Barrow. The time lapse radar images include dates during which observations were made. Conclusions and unusual events are noted in title screens. See also AAF-11495 and AAF-11497, which contain images related to this study.
- A group of American senators travel to the Soviet Union to visit new hydroelectric facilities. They conclude that the Soviet Union will pass the United States in industrial output. According to the film, the only way to prevent this development is for the United States to commit to large scale hydroelectric projects such as the proposed Rampart Dam.
- A group of American Senators travels to the Soviet Union to visit new hydroelectric facilities. They conclude that the Soviet Union will pass the United States in industrial output. According to the film, the only way to prevent this development is for the United States to commit to large scale hydroelectric projects such as the proposed Rampart Dam.
- Filmed during Ed Borders' ski trip from Fairbanks to Hazleton, British Columbia. He travels through wilderness on one of the proposed routes for the Alcan Highway. Contains some title frames and map references Footage includes Donald MacDonald with a map, aerial views of mountains, a gold placer mining operation, gold clean-up, a small cat train, cross country skiing, dog mushing, a trapper and camp, cabins in winter, a Pacific Alaskan Airways (PAA) airplane landing, a woman with a dog team, a PAA airplane taking off, a man and woman with a dog team, camp cooking, a hunter on snowshoes, glaciers, sunsets, an Native camp, mountain sheep, an animal kill site, a village with cabins, hitching up freight sleds and dog teams, skiing, a village, Native children playing on skis, a camp, wilderness scenes, a pack dog, a title frame reading "April 23... 91 days from Fairbanks," camping, travel with pack dogs, mountains, a group of people and cars, the U.S. Border in Washington State, Seattle, and Donald MacDonald typing.
- Dr. Michael Krauss of the Alaska Native Language Center begins a presentation about the history and status of Alaska's languages. He frequently refers to a map that depicts the regions where different Native languages are spoken. Produced for the Alaska Native Language Center; Irene Reed, 1979, at Media Services, U of A, Anchorage.
- Dr. Michael Krauss and Jane McGary of the Alaska Native Language Center discuss the history of the Alaska Native Language Center's library and archives. Dr. Krauss also gives a tour of their manuscript holdings. Produced for the Alaska Native Language Center; Irene Reed, 1979, at Media Services, U of A, Anchorage.
- Eliza Jones from Huslia, Mary Polasky from Nulato, Madeline Solomon of Galena, and Curt Madison of Manley Hot Springs discuss the Koyukon Athabascan language. See also AAF-10225, which contains unedited video footage of this segment. Produced for the Alaska Native Language Center; Irene Reed, 1979, at Media Services, U of A, Anchorage.
- University of Alaska Fairbanks graduate student Charles Natkong Sr. of Hydaburg, Linguist Jeff Leer of the Alaska Native Language Center, 90-year-old Selina Peratrovich of Ketchikan, and Haida language consultant Nat Edenso of Craig discuss the Haida language. See also AAF-10224, which contains unedited video footage of this segment. Produced for the Alaska Native Language Center; Irene Reed, 1979, at Media Services, U of A, Anchorage.
- Ron Scollon and Eliza Jones of the Alaska Native Language Center discuss differences between the communication styles of Native Alaskans and non-Natives. Chad Thompson and Mary Polasky also appear in this production. Produced for the Alaska Native Language Center; Irene Reed, 1979, at Media Services, U of A, Anchorage.
- Linguist Dr. James Kari of the Alaska Native Language Center presents an overview of the Dena'ina language and shows several historical photos of the people and villages of the Cook Inlet region. Dr. Kari interviews Native speakers Shem Pete and Billy Pete of Willow. Shem Pete performs the Chikalusion Mourning Song and a Love Song. See also AAF-10224, which contains unedited video footage of this segment. Produced for the Alaska Native Language Center; Irene Reed, 1979, at Media Services, U of A, Anchorage.
- Inupiaq Eskimo from the Kobuk River Area to the Seward Peninsula. Linguist Dr. Lawrence Kaplan of the Alaska Native Language Center, Ruthie Sampson, and Irene Katchatag of Unalakleet discuss the Inupiaq language as it is spoken in various areas of Alaska. Produced for the Alaska Native Language Center; Irene Reed, 1979, at Media Services, U of A, Anchorage.
- This program takes place in Arctic Village. Katherine Joseph Peter speaks about her life in Arctic Village and about the Gwich'in or Kutchin Athabascan language. Chief Walter John of Venetie is interviewed about the history of the area and the importance of his Native language. Historic photos are shown. Produced for the Alaska Native Language Center; Irene Reed, 1979, at Media Services, U of A, Anchorage.
- The Fairbanks Children's Theater present a play titled "The Would-Be Musicians" to children in Kotzebue, Teller, Unalakleet, Savoonga, Bethel and many other Alaska villages during its 1973 Winter Tour. The actors talk about their experiences on the tour as scenes from rehearsals and performances are shown. The program also contains views of activities and people in Alaska villages during the wintertime.
- AAF-20588 is a film titled “Thinking Cold," an informative program about Husky Oil operations and the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. A film by Pendleton Productions, Inc., of Anchorage Alaska, and presented by Husky Oil N.P.R. Operations, Inc. Directed by George E. Lukens, Jr. Principle photography by George Lukens, Jeff Mart and Bill Bacon. Contains scenes of Alaska's North Slope, maps of Alaska, workers and construction camps, James Dowden and Phil Jeans of Husky Oil, cargo airplanes, mess hall in a construction camp, food service operator Bill Jenkins, administrative coordinator Sally Van Horn, the moving of portable camps across snowy landscape, Arnold Palenske of Tetra Tech, technicians in the field searching for oil drilling sites, geophysics manager Alan Balby, Carroll Livingston of Husky Oil, offices and managers in Anchorage, environmental director John Schindler, caribou, surveyors at work, archaeological workers, archaeologist Mike Kuntz of the Bureau of Land Management, helicopters flying low over the terrain and hauling cargo, oil drills, pipe-yard, airplanes landing on snowy runway, medic Bobbie Hendricks, transportation manager James Schwartz, construction manager Thomas Brooks, construction of ice roads, environmental specialist Philip Smith, installation of drill pad and drill rig, Rolligon, drilling manager Jack McCarthy, geology manager Sam Hewitt, lab and office scenes, and wintry Cat train scenes.
- This film has title screens and shows highlights from a five-month tour of Alaska. It includes footage of Juneau, the Hills Brothers Coffee shop, Territorial Governor George Parks, Dr. W. W. Council, the Mendenhall Glacier, Lynn Canal and Skagway, Chilkoot Barracks Army Post, White Pass and Yukon Railway travel, Whitehorse, the White Pass Hotel, the steamship "Yukon," Larry Higgins at Miles Canyon, Whitehorse Rapids on the Yukon River, the steamship "Keno" pushing a barge, the sternwheeler "Casca," passage through Five Fingers Rapids, loading of cord wood or firewood onto a steamship, travel downriver with brief stops for wooding up and at Dawson City, and the towns of Eagle, Circle, Fort Yukon, Rampart, and St. Michael. Travel continues across the Bering Sea to Unalakleet and Nome with several views of the town. Footage in Nome includes Noel Wien fueling and hand-propping the Hisso Standard J1 biplane "Fairbanks.” This is followed by travel from Nome to Seattle on the steamer "Victoria” with a stop at Akutan whaling station in the Aleutian Islands. Travel resumes from Seattle to Ketchikan with several views of the fishing town. Enroute to Wrangell, the ship passes a tug towing a salvaged ship. There are views of Wrangell. Travel continues to Juneau, Skagway, Sitka , through the Gulf of Alaska in bad weather with high seas, then on to Cordova. From Cordova, travel continues on the Copper River and Northwestern Railway with scenes of the two million dollar bridge, Miles and Childs Glaciers, Abercrombie Rapids on the Copper River, Koskulina [Kotsina?] Canyon bridge, Chitina River, Railroad Superintendent Fred A. Hansen, purchasing agent W. B. Sprague, the town of Chitina, Long Lake, a farm near McCarthy, Kennecott Mine, Valdez, Seward, Seldovia, the steamer "Admiral Evans," Captain Gilje, pilot Obert, purser "Jiggs" Rowland, Alitak Cannery on Kodiak Island, Kodiak, Seward Railroad Depot, Kenai Lake, the loop section and tunnels on the railway, Spencer Glacier, Turnagain Arm, and Cook Inlet. Views of Anchorage include buildings and streets, customer A.A. Shonbeck, and Alaska Railroad employees Joe Elmes and Tod Cunningham. Travel on the Alaska Railroad includes Wasilla, an overnight stay at the Curry Hotel, Hurricane Gulch, Broad Pass, Cantwell, McKinley Park, Healy, and Nenana, where Tom DeVane is preparing to leave for Ruby with his launch "Dorothy.” Travel continues to Fairbanks with views of the college, the Elmes Mining Company at Ester, travel on a railroad "gas car" and travel on the Tanana Valley Railroad narrow gauge portion of the ARR to Fox Gulch and Chatanika. Travel continues from Fairbanks on the Alaska Railroad using a "speeder.” Travel continues from Juneau on the launch "Ventura" with a final brief view of Sitka.
- This film has title screens and shows highlights from a five-month tour of Alaska. It includes footage of Juneau, the Hills Brothers Coffee shop, Territorial Governor George Parks, Dr. W. W. Council, the Mendenhall Glacier, Lynn Canal and Skagway, Chilkoot Barracks Army Post, White Pass and Yukon Railway travel, Whitehorse, the White Pass Hotel, the steamship "Yukon," Larry Higgins at Miles Canyon, Whitehorse Rapids on the Yukon River, the steamship "Keno" pushing a barge, the sternwheeler "Casca," passage through Five Fingers Rapids, loading of cord wood or firewood onto a steamship, travel downriver with brief stops for wooding up and at Dawson City, and the towns of Eagle, Circle, Fort Yukon, Rampart, and St. Michael. Travel continues across the Bering Sea to Unalakleet and Nome with several views of the town. Footage in Nome includes Noel Wien fueling and hand-propping the Hisso Standard J1 biplane "Fairbanks.” This is followed by travel from Nome to Seattle on the steamer "Victoria” with a stop at Akutan whaling station in the Aleutian Islands. Travel resumes from Seattle to Ketchikan with several views of the fishing town. Enroute to Wrangell, the ship passes a tug towing a salvaged ship. There are views of Wrangell. Travel continues to Juneau, Skagway, Sitka , through the Gulf of Alaska in bad weather with high seas, then on to Cordova. From Cordova, travel continues on the Copper River and Northwestern Railway with scenes of the two million dollar bridge, Miles and Childs Glaciers, Abercrombie Rapids on the Copper River, Koskulina [Kotsina?] Canyon bridge, Chitina River, Railroad Superintendent Fred A. Hansen, purchasing agent W. B. Sprague, the town of Chitina, Long Lake, a farm near McCarthy, Kennecott Mine, Valdez, Seward, Seldovia, the steamer "Admiral Evans," Captain Gilje, pilot Obert, purser "Jiggs" Rowland, Alitak Cannery on Kodiak Island, Kodiak, Seward Railroad Depot, Kenai Lake, the loop section and tunnels on the railway, Spencer Glacier, Turnagain Arm, and Cook Inlet. Views of Anchorage include buildings and streets, customer A.A. Shonbeck, and Alaska Railroad employees Joe Elmes and Tod Cunningham. Travel on the Alaska Railroad includes Wasilla, an overnight stay at the Curry Hotel, Hurricane Gulch, Broad Pass, Cantwell, McKinley Park, Healy, and Nenana, where Tom DeVane is preparing to leave for Ruby with his launch "Dorothy.” Travel continues to Fairbanks with views of the college, the Elmes Mining Company at Ester, travel on a railroad "gas car" and travel on the Tanana Valley Railroad narrow gauge portion of the ARR to Fox Gulch and Chatanika. Travel continues from Fairbanks on the Alaska Railroad using a "speeder.” Travel continues from Juneau on the launch "Ventura" with a final brief view of Sitka.
- The filmmaker's original labeling scheme has AAF-20466 numbered as Bacon 132-02 and titled “B wind dupe neg, Brian Production, ‘Trial of the Jeff-A’: DN-800 feet." It contains scenes of the hovercraft "Jeff A" in operation in the Harrison Bay area of Alaska's North Slope in winter, repair and testing of the craft, and interviews with officials related to the project. Ballad of the "Jeff A" is written and sung by Karsten Rodvik.
- Original film taken by John Logan of travel with Slim Williams from Fairbanks to Washington State overland in 1939 on BSA motorcycles. The two men were promoting the idea of a highway connecting Alaska to the Lower 48 states. Footage includes their departure from Fairbanks, Tanana River travel, visiting the RCMP in Dawson City Yukon Territory, difficulties encountered along the trail, constructing a boat to cross the Klappan River, travel with the horse pack train of Alfred and Elma Milotte, arrival at the Canada - U.S. Border, and travel in Washington state.
- This film reel is made up of 6 smaller reels. Reel 1 is labeled "West Point, World's Fair New York 1939," and it contains scenes of men doing calisthenics, men boxing, men fencing and wrestling, men in uniform and marching, and scenes from the world's fair. Reel 2 is labeled "New York to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, June and July 1939," and it contains footage of New York City streets, a West Point gathering, and Puerto Rico. Reel 3 is labeled "July 1939, Trip to Clearwater with Jim Ryan and Ray Henderson 193[?]," and it contains views of children playing, a pilot climbing into a biplane, people with a captive bear cub, Hap Arnold's B-10 Bomber flight from Washington D.C. landing at Weeks Field and pilots in Fairbanks in August 1934, a military aircraft at Weeks Field, a boy's birthday cake, children playing in a garden, and a boat on the Tanana River traveling to the Delta Clearwater River. Reel 4 is labeled "July and August 1939, Plymouth, Washington D.C., Marengo, Black Hills, Seattle, Juneau, Fairbanks," and it contains footage of Washington D.C., people at home, people swimming, farm scenes, a man in a boat, a family gathering, Mt. Rushmore, Elkhorn Mountain, camping, a family eating watermelon along the roadside, Columbia River, boats and fishing, Juneau, and trucks on the Richardson Highway. Reel 5 is labeled "Fort Riley - Marengo," and it contains scenes of men in uniform, children playing, a family gathering, farm scenes, a waterfront and ships, totem poles, glaciers and icebergs, a car towing a trailer, travel along the Richardson Highway, a glacier, "Devil's Elbow," a family at Christmas, hay being loaded, and women getting into a car. Reel 6 is labeled "Bear, Sunset, Village of Ruby, Caribou, Mendenhall Glacier," and it contains footage of the Ruby waterfront, wildlife, the Black Rapids Glacier near Richardson Highway during its advance in the 1930s, and scenery.
- 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.
- Film contains footage of the Ladd Field Post Cafeteria sign, a man and a woman walking together, a man welding, large machinery, boats on the Chena River, flooded areas in downtown Fairbanks, 1st Avenue Dress Shoppe, swimming pool, Wells Alaska Motors, flooding in a neighborhood, flooding around houses, flooding in the woods, men in a boat, men walking through flood waters, boating in flood waters, Northern Commercial Company power plant with a sternwheeler riverboat parked along bank, Samson Hardware and Mining Machinery, a sunrise in the woods, large pieces of mining equipment, a dredge, men working with hydraulic giants, men working a sluicebox, people around a campfire, people in the woods camping, large mining machinery, farmland (potatoes?), a large dredge bucket, a dragline, two men in a little yellow raft on the water, men walking on the Davidson Ditch pipe, Discovery Claim Felix Pedro sign, people gold panning, a group shot of people showing off goldpans with gold and gold nuggets in them, the landscape surrounding the mining area, KFAR building and tower, the Rapids Meals and Rooms building, Rapids Hunting Lodge (Black Rapids Roadhouse), a group of men on and around a truck, and a large building on fire.