Webmaster note: This list was found on the Alaska State Libraey site (www.library.state.ak.us/hist/hist_docs/finding_aids/PCA189.doc). I assume copys of the photos can be obtained through them.

Alaska Historical Collections

U.S. Office of Territories

U.S. Office of Territories Photograph Collection, 1935

PCA 189

Matanuska colony development and
Alaska Rural Rehabilitation corporation activity, 1935.

INTRODUCTION:

This selection of photographs was obtained from the National Archives and Records Service, Washington, D. C. and are part of their Record Group #126. The views show the colonists' construction of homes and other buildings. Work activities include farming and gardening. Most views are designated as official ARRC photographs for the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation which governed colony activities and development. Photos are by Willis T. Geisman, ARRC Photographer. Corrections and additional identification of descriptions were made by Jim Fox, March 11, 1992. See Master File for original descriptions.

1 Colonists' arrival [smiling young woman, Elvi Kerttula, leaving train; toddler, her daughter Dolly, beside her; men on tracks, right and left]. (#44)

2 Transients (sic) carpenters that built the experimental log cabin office. Left to right: Dewey B. Cumings, Earl A. Gushman, John M. McKuhen, Edward F. Young, Martin Skiff (sitting), Paul C. Nettle, Arnold J. Merten, crew leader. 6 20 35. (#258)

3 Raising Old Glory for the first time over the hospital May 19, 1935, [three men, including 2 soldiers raising flag. Madeleine de Foras, Red Cross nurse on right]. (#283)

4 [Colonists singing at 4th of July celebration, 1935. Don Irwin addressing crowd.] (#310)

5 Claude Hesse, Minn colonist sharpening his axe...[man seated on step]. 1935. (#403)

6 Dr. J. R. Murdock and Dr. R. G. Davis [full length portrait of men in work clothes and mosquito netting]. 1935. (#428)

7 Ed Moss, colonist, sharpening his axe... [seated at grindstone]. 1935. (#432)

8 Log cabin construction at Camp 5. [six men working in front of unfinished cabin with old settler’s cabin on left]. 1935. (#482)

9 Col. Hunt on cabin site inspects the works [Hunt, center, foreground; 2 men above on cabin roof[. 1935. (#485)

10 Henry Jensen, Minnesota colonist, painting window sills on house. 1935. (#490)

11 Johan Johnson, (Mich), colonist, puts in his time in the community gardens at Camp 2 with a cultivator [man pushing hand cultivator]. 1935. (#811)

12 Interior of cabin 31...second floor room [unfinished]. 1935. (#521)

13 An old settler's cabin and garden at Camp 4. Oats in the background. 1935.(#553)

14 Additional stacks of wild hay put up by the Corporation on Cottonwood Flats [row of 4 stacks]. 1935. (#651)

15 [Old settler’s wood barn; tent on left with horses beside tent]. 1935. (#657)

16 [New frame cottage #36 surrounded by stacks of hay]. 1935. (#660)

17 Cutting and storing hay at the experimental farm [2 men unloading hay beside silo]. 1935. (#673)

18 Wm. Taylor, third from right, chief plumber, and plumbing crew of the construction crps. [6 men; one oiling a pipe]. 1935. (#675)

19 Bake shop, transients’ camp. Construction Corp. [2 large stoves]. 1935. (#680)

20 Bread oven in bake shop, transients’ camp, Construction Corps [4 loaves of bread on open oven door]. 1935. (#681)

21 [Colonists attending first social affair held in community center warehouse. Fred Larson, far left.]. 1935. (#687)

22 Col. Hunt (center), and Mr. Ross Sheely, hat in hand, at the entertainment held in the community center warehouse [other people also in view[. 1935. (#688)

23 Sheaves of grain in field ....back of Palmer [colonists' tents in background]. 1935. (#708)

24 Town scene.... in Palmer [horse drawn wagon with milk cans - near tent city warehouse]. 1935. (#716)

25 Hay mower at work in corporation hay field [horse drawn mower]. 1935 (#728)

26 Mrs. Grace Anderson of Wisconsin chopping wood [3 children in background]. 1935. (#777)

27 Cabin 55 [exterior view of log house]. 1935. (#802)

28 Col. Hunt and the Matanuska school marms. Left to right: Margery Potter, Janet Borges, Lorina Ward, Col. Hunt, Mildred Ferguson, Margaret Pimberton, Zelda Kling. 1935. (#821)

29 Emil “Shorty” Kircher...with an armful of Danish Bortsfeldt turnips .... 1935. (#826)

30 [5 men standing on sidewalk; unidentified building beyond. Leo Jacobs, ?, Stu Campbell, ?, Col. Ohlson.].

31 [3 men; one behind a camera on a tripod; sign to right reads F.E.R.O. Palmer, Alaska.

32 [Men operating a sawmill near the Butte.]

33. [3 men near saws cutting logs].

34. Grant Keuser filling tank of gas iron; boy on either side].

35. [Don Irwin, General Manager, ARRC, seated beside a desk].