REFERENCE CODE: AkAMH

REPOSITORY NAME:
Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center
Bob and Evangeline Atwood Alaska Resource Center
625 C Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: 907-929-9235
Fax: 907-929-9233
Email: resourcecenter@anchoragemuseum.org

Guide prepared by: Sara Piasecki, Photo Archivist

TITLE: Nellie C. Marsh Letter

COLLECTION NUMBER: B2013.024

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Dates: 1899

Extent: 1 item

Language and Scripts: The collection is in English.

Name of creator(s): Nellie C. Marsh

Administrative/Biographical History:
Emma Josephine Cargain (called Nellie) and H. Richmond Marsh were Presbyterian
missionaries in Alaska. Richmond also served as Commissioner and Postmaster at Point
Barrow in the period 1899-1901.

Scope and Content Description:
Three-page manuscript letter signed Nellie C. Marsh to “Dear Friends,” dated at Pt. Barrow,
Alaska, Sept. 6, 1899. In the letter, Nellie writes about the Marshes’ eleven-month-old son,
Loren Cargain Marsh; the new schoolteacher, Mr. S.R. Spriggs and his wife; a July trip “down
to the deer herd for three weeks”; and a local Inupiaq girl who is living with the Marshes. Of
the latter, she writes: “We still have Alarea with us. Her folks got her away from us this spring
but through the captain of the “Bear,” of whom all the natives are afraid, we have her back
again and I don’t think they will try it any more.”

An accompanying letter from Betty Herries to Ruth indicates that the letter was addressed to
Herries’ grandmother. Also included is a portion of a newspaper clipping about the rescue of
whaling ships caught in the ice off Barrow circa 1899.

Arrangement: Not applicable


CONDITIONS GOVERNING ACCESS AND USE

Restrictions on Access: The collection is open for research use.

Physical Access: Original item in fair condition. Limited photocopying.

Technical Access: No special equipment is needed to access the materials.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use:
The Anchorage Museum is the owner of the materials and makes available reproductions for
research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Anchorage
Museum before any reproduction use. The Anchorage Museum does not necessarily hold
copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may
require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation:
Nellie C. Marsh Letter, Anchorage Museum, B2013.024

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Acquisition and Appraisal Information
Donated to the Museum by Elmer and Mary Louise Rasmuson. Given to Elmer Rasmuson by
Barbara Cox (Mrs. Ralph F. Cox).

Processing Notes
Newspaper photocopied and discarded.

RELATED MATERIALS


SUBJECTS
Marsh, Nellie C. (Emma Josephine Cargain)—Correspondence
Marsh, H. Richmond (Horatio Richmond), 1874-
Spriggs, Samuel
Inupiat--Alaska—Barrow
Presbyterians—Alaska—Barrow
Missions—Alaska—Barrow
Barrow (Alaska)

Guide written: March 13, 2013