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, Archivist

TITLE: CIHS Clifton – Orah Dee Clark Collection

COLLECTION NUMBER: B1963.006

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Dates: 1962-1963

Extent: 6 items

Language and Scripts: The collection is in English.

Name of creator(s): Cook Inlet Historical Society

Administrative/Biographical History:
Educator Orah Dee Clark (1875-1965) was born in Firth, Nebraska. She came to Alaska in 1906
and taught in Kodiak, Tanana, and Anvik before coming to Anchorage in 1915. She organized
the first school in Anchorage and became Anchorage's first superintendent and principal. After
developing the Anchorage school system she worked to develop schools in Wasilla, Eska,
Fairview and Matanuska. During her career as a teacher she taught in many other locations in
Alaska. She retired in 1944, while teaching at Moose Pass.

Scope and Content Description:
The collection consists of three black-and-white photographs taken on Orah Dee Clark Day,
August 25, 1962. The day was sponsored by the Cook Inlet Historical Society, and held on
Clark’s 87th
/ birthday, at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. There is also a four-page typescript
biography of Clark. For more information, see Detailed Description of Collection.

Arrangement: Not applicable



CONDITIONS GOVERNING ACCESS AND USE

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

Physical Access: Original items in good condition.

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:
CIHS Clifton – Orah Dee Clark Collection, Anchorage Museum, B1963.006

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Acquisition and Appraisal Information
Donated by Robert and Dorothy Clifton to Cook Inlet Historical Society in February 1963.
Transferred to Anchorage Museum. Accession B1963.002 added to B1963.006.

Processing Note
Guide created from card catalog data and accession file inventory; photographs not physically
consulted at time of writing.


RELATED MATERIALS
Orah Dee Clark Certificate, B1980.181


SUBJECTS
Clark, Orah Dee, 1875-1965
Cook Inlet Historical Society
Women educators—Alaska

Detailed Description of the Collection
 1 — Orah Dee Clark, 1/1/63. As told to Robert B. and Dorothy I. Clifton by Orah Dee Clark on several visits. [four-page typescript]
 2a — Orah Dee Clark Day, August 25, 1962. Her birthday at the Providence Hospital, Anchorage, Alaska [Clark with Olga Doheny, Vanny Davenport, Myrtle Stalnaker, Hilma J. Niemi Saario, Win Ervin, Robert B. Clifton]
 2b — Cook Inlet Historical Society presenting its 1 st scroll of honor to Miss Orah Dee Clark on “her” day. Anchorage, Alaska, Aug. 25, 1962. Left to right: Olga Doheny, Vanny Davenport, Myrtle Stalnaker, Hilma Niemi Saario, Win Ervin, Robert B. Clifton [3 copies]
3 — Robert B. Clifton, president of the Cook Inlet Historical Society, presenting the Society’s “Scroll of Honor” to Miss Orah Dee Clark. The scroll was presented to her on “Orah Dee Clark Day” in Anchorage, Alaska, August 25, 1962. The scroll read as follows: “The Cook Inlet Historical Society presents its ‘Scroll of Honor’ to Orah Dee Clark. Charter member of our society and teacher in the Territory of Alaska schools. Presented in recognition and appreciation of the many years of service and noteworthy contribution to the welfare and educational development of our Great Land. Alaska is deeply indebted to you.” [Clark and Clifton. Same image as B1963.014.16]
 4 — Orah Dee Clark Day, August 25, 1962, Providence Hospital, Anchorage, Alaska [Clark, Grace Matson, Clifton, and Ervin] Guide updated: August 3, 2016