Gastineau Channel Historical Society

Juneau Civil Rights Actions of Alaska Native Brotherhood & Sisterhood in 1940

2011-11-23T14:35:00.005-09:00

Recently the Sealaska Heritage Institute's blog featured a post about historic civil rights actions occurring in Juneau in 1940 by the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood. Below is the post from the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (re-posted here with the permission of Sealaska Heritage Institute)

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The detailed history of racial discrimination against Southeast Alaska Natives remains to be written. Fortunately the late Dr. Walter A. Soboleff (1908-2011), Tlingit philanthropist and cultural leader, saved his correspondence, meeting minutes, and other records while an active and leading member of the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB), which served to document the historic civil rights actions of ANB and ANB’s counterpart, the Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS). The materials he saved, amounting to 37 boxes of historic documents stored at Sealaska Heritage Institute, detail this effort on many levels, and are available to the public for educational research.

Recently, I reviewed the 1939-1945 ANB/ANS Camp 2 meeting minutes ledger. Reading over the joint ANB and ANS meeting for February 12, 1940, I encountered documentation speaking to civil rights actions undertaken in Juneau by ANB and ANS.

Under the direction of ANB Camp 2 President William S. Wanamaker (1889-1944) (Tlingit of the Kiks.ádi Clan), the meeting minutes record Cyril J. Zuboff, Sr. (1892-1869) raising the issue of the Juneau Sports Arena refusing to allow Alaska Natives entrance. Minutes then record proposals to address this situation, which included; 1) engaging in efforts that encouraged people from “refraining from patronizing” the arena, 2) the creation of a four member committee (two ANB men and two ANS women) to address the issue, and 3) that this committee “present a written protest at the next [Juneau] Chamber of Commerce meeting.”

These two short pages (provided below) from this old ledger speak a great deal about the history of civil rights and the reasons ANB and ANS fought for the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945 and additional efforts.

The Juneau History Grant Applications Available

2011-05-24T09:37:00.002-08:00

The Juneau History Grant Applications Available Now via the Juneau-Douglas City Museum.

Deadline for submissions: June 13, 2011.

Students, teachers, organizations and individuals of all ages are encouraged to apply for up to $1,000 to assist them in the completion of a project which will document, preserve or improve access to the history of the Juneau-Douglas area. Projects may include, but are not limited to: live performances, public presentations, research papers, recordings, videotape, use of computers or other media.

The 1980 Juneau Centennial Committee set aside an endowment to help fund projects each year. Each year, up to $2,500 is available to be divided among successful applicants.

A committee will read and judge proposed projects on the following criteria:

Historical value to the community
Can be accomplished within the stated timeline
Realistic and balanced budget
Historic accuracy and objectivity, as indicated by proposed sources and methodology; and
Will produce a tangible product to be shared with the community

Projects for 2011/2012 are currently being accepted now through June 13, 2011.

Click here to view the application form.For more information about the Juneau History Grant call 586-3572 or email Alysia.

Click here to view a complete listing of Juneau History Grant Projects 1992 to Present.

Photograph credit: Cabinet card photograph reading “Indian City at Juneau,” photo by Edward de Groff, circa 1880s. Size 7 x 4.25 inches. Image shows a view of Tlingit homes and canoes on the beach along the Gastineau Channel, near present-day Willoughby Ave, Juneau. Credit: Richard Wood Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Sealaska Heritage Institute.

SENTINEL ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE CRUISE & KEEPER’S LUNCH

2010-07-29T08:28:00.003-08:00

On August 7, 2010 the Gastineau Channel Historical Society will host the Sentinel Island Lighthouse Cruise and Keeper’s Lunch. This event entails a cruise to Sentinel Island (courtesy of Gastineau Guiding) where attendees can learn about the history of Sentinel Island Lighthouse, view the recent renovation work on the lighthouse, explore the island flora, and enjoy Renee’s famous picnic lunch of ribs, prawns, corn, potatoes, and other tasty foods. The vessel will depart Auke Bay at 10:30am, and return from Sentinel Island at 2:30pm. Proceeds from this event are put toward preservation of the Sentinel Island Lighthouse.

If you would like to attend make your reservations soon, as seating is limited to 26 people. Tickets are $175 per person ($150 for GCHS members). For more information and to secure reservations call 907-586-5338.

Jim Geraghty to speak on March 20th

2010-03-10T08:17:00.003-09:00

On March 20th Jim Geraghty will speak on the old Log Cabin Church, which was also a school, brewery, and other over time. A picture of this building is featured below. Geraghty will speak on the 20th of March at Fireweed Place from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. For more information contact the GCHS. Hope to see you there.

Image used with permission of the Alaska State Library Historical Collections. Photograph by Winter & Pond, circa 1900. (ASL-P87-0966).

GCHS and two things of importance

2009-10-09T10:23:00.002-08:00

Two important things recently occurred for the GCHS.

The Sentinel Island Lighthouse was recently featured in VIA Magazine, the magazine of the AAA. In an article by Josh Sens entitled “Beautiful Beacons: Lighthouses of the Pacific Coast,” a short history of the light house was discussed. The adjacent scan shows an image of the lighthouse as it appeared in the print version of VIA Magazine.

Next, the Simone Machamer Charitable Fund donated $500 to the GCHS through the Juneau Community Foundation. This funding will be put toward preservation work at Sentinel Island Lighthouse. The GCHS is very grateful to both the Simone Machamer Charitable Fund and the Juneau Community Foundation for their generosity. If you would also like to contribute to helping preserve the lighthouse, please contact the GCHS.

Annual Meeting & Buffet Luncheon Oct. 18, 2009

2009-10-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

Come to the Gastineau Channel Historical Society Annual Meeting & Buffet Luncheon.

Location: Ladd Macaulay Salmon Hatchery (DIPAC)

Time: Sunday, October 18, 2009, 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

Cost: $20 for members; $30 for non-members

In addition to great food, Rich Mattson will give “A Short History of DIPAC”, and there will be a silent auction of Alaskana books, door prizes, and good company. Bring a souvenir of something old and Alaskan to share with the group.

Reservations are required by Oct. 15: Call Marlin Babcock at 789-9423 or email malbabcock ‘at’ aol.com to reserve your place.

Two Upcoming Events this Fall

2009-09-04T09:09:00.002-08:00

On September 19, 2009 from 1 pm to 3 pm, the Gastineau Channel Historical Society will host a program entitled “History of the Minnie Field Home and School,” with presentations by Dee Williams and Marie Darlin. Dr. Walter A. Soboloff will also present a plaque honoring Minnie Field at this event. It will be held at Firewood Place on Willoughby Ave., Juneau.

On October 18, 2009 from 1 pm to 4 pm, the GCHS Annual Meeting will be held at DIPAC. At this meeting Rick Mattson will present a history of the DIPAC hatchery, there will be a silent Alaskana book auction, a ‘show and tell’ segment wherein attendees are asked to bring something of historical interest to share, door prizes will be awarded, and the annual report of activities of the Society will be given. There will be a catered brunch at the meeting, and cost for brunch will soon be announced.

The Gastineau Channel Historical Society looks forward to seeing you there!

GCHS FinnFest Activities on May 20, 2009

2009-05-12T13:21:00.003-08:00

In conjunction with FinnFest USA 2009, the GCHS is co-host of FinnFest’s 2009 activities Juneau on May 20, 2009. The primary activities for the public begin at 1:00pm at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall on Willoughby Avenue. At 1:00 p.m., FinnFest registrants, and Finnish-Alaskans from the Juneau area, are invited to the Alaskan Native Brotherhood Hall for a program celebrating shared Finnish heritage. Participants will be greeted by Rep. Beth Kerttula, Democratic Minority Leader for the Alaska State House of Representatives, who is of Finnish ancestry. In addition to welcome particpants, Kerttula will share some of her family's personal and political history and answer questions from FinnFest participants.

Additional activities include promoting the sharing of Finnish-Alaskan family histories, which will enlarge the story about Alaska and Finns. Attendees can gain more insight on this from a panel organized by members of the Gastineau Channel Historical Society wherein several local experts will highlight notable residents of Finnish descent. For a preview of this local history, click here and search for names like Aalto, Maki, Niemi, Savikko, Reinikka, Pietilainen, or Ruotsala. This website contains the first of three published volumes of life history narratives from area families.

For more information about the activities see the FinnFest USA 2009 website by clicking here. We hope to see you there.

GCHS offers a tour of the Jensen Olson Arboretum on May 30

2009-05-12T09:31:00.003-08:00

On May 30, 2009 from 1pm to 3pm the GCHS will host a tour of the Jensen Olson Arboretum, Juneau, Alaska. Arboretum Manager Merrill Jensen will lead a tour of the facility and members of the GCHS will present information about Caroline Jensen who bequeathed the facility to the city. The Arboretum is located at Mile 23 Glacier Highway. For more information about this event contact the GCHS at 1-907-586-5338 or the Jensen Olson Arboretum. Directions and contact information for the Jesen Olsen Arboretum can be found by clicking here. We hope to see you there!

Press Release: Juneau Museum Day on May 16, 2009

2009-05-07T11:43:00.003-08:00

Juneau Museum Day; Area Museums and Historic Sites Celebrate Art, Culture and History

At the beginning of each summer season, Juneau’s museums and historic sites invite the community to enjoy a full afternoon of new exhibition openings and activities for the whole family in celebration of Juneau Museum Day. This year Museum Day will be held on Saturday, May 16 from noon to 5 p.m.

The Alaska State Museum, House of Wickersham, Juneau-Douglas City Museum, Last Chance Mining Museum, and the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church will be open with free admission and a host of family activities. Additional Museum Day festivities will also be held at the Canvas Art Studio and the Friends of the Alaska State Museum Store on Seward Street. Free shuttle service between the sites will be offered all afternoon, and there is plenty of parking available at the State Museum if participants chose to park there and ride the shuttle.

At the Alaska State Museum two exhibitions and a new permanent gallery installation will be featured. “The Way We Genuinely Live: Masterworks of Yup’ik Science and Survival looks at the technology and scientific principles underlying Yup’ik culture and allows visitors hands-on exploration of traditional tools used in the harsh sub-arctic environment of Southwest Alaska. The second exhibition which opened earlier this month, titled Self Constructions, is a mixed media, sculpture and photography solo exhibition by Fairbanks artist DaKaXeen Mehner.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to view a new installation to the permanent galleries called Science on a Sphere. SOS is a six-foot diameter globe developed by NOAA that shows animated planetary imagery and data. The Friends of the Alaska State Museum will host a reception on the lawn mid-afternoon and kids will have the opportunity to make snow goggles and Yup’ik visors.

At the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, basketball is the theme of the summer exhibition and visitors will have opportunities to shoot some hoops, view the exhibition of Hoop Time: Gastineau Channel Basketball Through the Years, and take a historic downtown walking tour at 1:30 p.m. free of charge.

The House of Wickersham will be re-opening this summer after a multi-year renovation. The house is still a work in progress but will feature interpretive information on Judge James Wickersham, items from the Wickersham collection and architecture from the early 20^th century.

At the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, volunteers will be on hand to share information on the oldest original Russian Orthodox Church in Southeast Alaska and offer an opportunity to view the beautiful iconography and learn about the history of this Juneau treasure.

Museum Day guests are invited to pan for gold and wander through the old mine ruins at the Last Chance Mining Museum. The day at Last Chance will begin with a flag-raising and the singing of the Alaska Flag Song at noon. Visitors are advised to wear rubber boots if you plan to pan for gold.

On Seward Street, the Canvas Art Studio, will offer a collage-making project based on Juneau historic buildings, and the Friends of the Alaska State Museum Store will host artist demonstrators in their gallery.

We look forward to seeing the community at these Juneau Museum Day festivities.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Lisa Golisek

Phone (907) 465-2901 Fax (907) 465-2976

lisa.golisek@alaska.gov

www.museums.state.ak.us

SENTINEL ISLAND TODAY

2009-03-25T08:18:00.003-08:00

Sentinel Island Lighthouse continues to guide mariners along Alaska’s Inside Passage. The light is solar powered and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1998 the lighthouse was leased to the Gastineau Channel Historical Society to preserve and provide public access. In 2004 the National Park Service selected the Society for transfer of ownership under the National Historic Preservation Act of 2002.

Volunteers have been rehabilitating the buildings and structures that remain at Sentinel Island. Funding has come from Historic Preservation Fund Grants offered by the Alaska Office of History and Archaeology, fund raising activities, and corporate and individual donations. If you would like to contribute or become involved contact the Gastineau Channel Historical Society.

Current Photos by Renee Hughes, Photographer

GCHS Presents "Women at the Constitutional Convention."

2009-02-25T13:47:00.004-09:00

To commemorate and celebrate 50 years of Alaskan statehood, the Gastineau Channel Historical Society is hosting a meeting on "Women at the Constitutional Convention," which will be held Saturday March 7, 2009, from 2-4 pm, at Fireweed Place, 415 Willoughby Ave, Juneau. Parking will be available across the street at DEC and 2009 dues will be accepted. For more information contact the Gastineau Channel Historical Society at 907-586-5338 or glrrlg@alaska.net. Come and enjoy the evening and learn about the activities of women at Alaska's Constitutional Convention.

Membership

2009-02-25T13:45:00.007-09:00

Membership within the Gastineau Channel Historical Society brings an abundance of opportunities. Membership includes a subscription to our newsletter, Gastineau Heritage News, a discount on admissions to GCHS events, invitations to programs and fundraisers, and a 10% discount on all direct retail purchases of GCHS publications. Individual membership is $15, family membership is $20, business $25, a supporting membership $100, and other special contributions to special undertakings, such as funding toward the Sentinel Island Lighthouse, are most welcome. If you would like to join the Gastineau Channel Historical Society please contact the contact the Society at 907-586-5338, glrrgl 'at' alaska.net, or by mail at PO Box 21264, Juneau, AK 99802.

Publications

2009-02-25T13:45:00.006-09:00

The Gastineau Channel Historical Society promotes the study of the Gastineau Channel area and has produced a number of books on varying subjects. These include History of Mines and Miners (1988), I Remember Treadwell (1992), In the Miners Footsteps (1992), Old Gold (1998), Quilts of Alaska (2000), and Alaska Souvenir Spoons & the Early Curio Trade (2004). These books are available at finer Alaska bookstores, via Taku Graphics by clicking here, or by contacting the Gastineau Channel Historical Society at 907-586-5338 or glrrlg 'at' alaska.net.

About the Gastineau Channel Historical Society

2008-09-22T08:41:00.003-08:00

Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Juneau, Alaska, the Gastineau Channel Historical Society (GCHS) is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote the history of the Gastineau Channel area, operate the Last Chance Mining Museum, and care for the Sentinel Island Lighthouse. The GCHS also seeks to promote the preservation of historic buildings, monuments, markers, and other historic edifices in the Gastineau Channel area. The GCHS produces newsletters, publications, and programs, as well as organizes activities and host of other events assocated with the history of the Gastineau Channel area.

Volunteering with GCHS

2008-09-22T08:21:00.001-08:00

The GCHS’s activities, such as caring for the Sentinel Island Lighthouse or serving at the Last Chance Mining Museum, are often accomplished with the help of volunteers. Volunteers have long played a valuable role in the stewardship of Gastineau Channel area and we seek to work with individuals, community organizations, universities, and local businesses. If you would like to volunteer or learn more about what opportunities are available please contact the GCHS by phone at 1-907-586-5338 or by email at glrrlg 'at' alaska.net.

The Last Chance Mining Museum

2008-09-19T10:41:00.005-08:00

The Gastineau Channel Historical Society also operates the Last Chance Mining Museum located at Juneau, Alaska. The Museum is located in the former Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company’s historic Compressor Building, which was used by the mining company from 1912 until 1944. Concerning displays and what you can expect when visiting the Museum, visitors will encounter one of the world's largest mining air compressors, a host of industrial mining tools and artifacts associated with hard rock gold mining, as well as electric locomotives and rail cars which hauled men to the mine and ore to the mill. Access to the Museum is via a short hike up a scenic hill on a trail of uneven terrain, but is well worth the effort. The Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Alaska Gold Rush Properties. The Museum is open daily from mid May to late September from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, then from 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm. The admission fee is $4. For additional information about the Museum or about visiting the Museum, contact the Last Chance Mining Museum at 907-586-5338 or glrrlg@alaska.net, or by mail at 1001 Basin Road, Juneau, AK 99801.

Sentinel Island Lighthouse Transferred to GCHS

2008-09-19T10:41:00.004-08:00

The Gastineau Channel Historical Society has been caring for the Sentinel Island Lighthouse since 1998. In 2004 official ownership of the Sentinel Island Lighthouse was transferred to the Gastineau Channel Historical Society under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 (for press releases about this click here or here). The lighthouse dates back to 1902 and is situated on the north end of Sentinel Island on a 6.5 acres lot, and features an art deco lighthouse, shop, boat house, dock, and tramway. During this time the Society has been working to preserve, protect, and restore the lighthouse to its original glory. The Society organizes annual member trips to Sentinel Island to clean and repair parts of this important Gastineau Channel treasure. Upon advanced request, the Society can arrange overnight stays and/or helicopter or boat tours to enjoy the spectacular views of the Gastineau Channel and the lighthouse. For additional information about the Sentinel Island Lighthouse or about visiting the lighthouse, contact the Gastineau Channel Historical Society at 907-586-5338 or glrrlg@alaska.net.