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 Collection

COLLECTION NUMBER: B1963.014

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Dates: 1952-1963

Extent: 1 box; 0.2 linear feet

Language and Scripts: The collection is in English.

Name of creator(s): Robert and Dorothy Clifton, Jim Balog, John Ekemo, Floyd Reeves,
Robinson Studio

Administrative/Biographical History:
Robert Clifton (1915-1979) and his wife Dorothy Clifton (1918-1998) were residents of Valdez,
Alaska. Robert was the town’s unofficial historian. Dorothy worked as a teacher as well as
court recorder.

Scope and Content Description:
The collection consists of 4 color and 41 black-and-white photographs and postcards, primarily
depicting the towns of Unalaska and Anchorage as well as Pioneers of Alaska people and
activities. Unalaska images show businesses, public buildings, and people (.37-45). Anchorage
photographs include scenes of the Statehood celebrations in 1958 (.1-13) and employees at
the Anchorage International Airport (.14-18). Pioneers of Alaska photos include photos of
officers and members of Igloo #15 and Auxiliary #4 from 1962-1964 (.19-21, .24-35). There are
also over forty pieces of printed ephemera collected by the Cliftons. For more information
about the photographs, see Detailed Description of Collection. A list of ephemera is available
in the collection accession file.


Arrangement: Loosely arranged by subject


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 Collection, B1963.014


ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Acquisition and Appraisal Information
Donated by Robert and Dorothy Clifton to the Cook Inlet Historical Society in February 1963.
Transferred to Anchorage Museum.

Processing Note
Photograph .16 and text label .17 discarded due to deterioration [after 1986?].
Guide created from card catalog data and accession file inventory; materials not physically
consulted at time of writing.


RELATED MATERIALS
Clifton-Sayan-Wheeler Collection, B1976.168
CIHS Clifton – Orah Dee Clark Collection, B1963.006


SUBJECTS
Anchorage International Airport—Employees
Pioneers of Alaska. Igloo 15. Auxiliary 4
Anchorage (Alaska)
Valdez (Alaska)

Tok (Alaska)
Unalaska (Alaska)


Detailed Description of the Collection

Photographs
 1 — Federal Building, 2:30 PM, June 30, 1958. Statehood bill just signed. The 49 th star. F & G street [Anchorage Fourth Avenue, statehood celebration]
 2 — Federal Building, 2:30 PM, June 30, 1958. Statehood bill just signed. A.M. The 49 th star [with Janice Howard Heyerdahl]
 3 — Federal Building, 2:30 PM, June 30, 1958. Statehood bill just signed.
 4 — Federal Building, 4 th Ave. F & G streets, June 30, 1958, 2:30 PM. Statehood bill just signed.
 5 — Statehood bonfire, park strip, 9 th Ave., Anchorage, Alaska
 6 — Statehood bonfire, park strip, 9 th Ave.
 7 — Statehood bonfire, 1958
 8 — Statehood bonfire file, 1958
 9 — Statehood bonfire, 1958
 10 — Statehood bonfire, 1958
 11 — Just set fire to the Statehood bonfire pile, 1958
 12 — Crowd at the Statehood bonfire, 1958
 13 — Statehood bonfire, 1958
 14 — Summer, 1962. Taken in the baggage claim area of the Anchorage International terminal building (lower level). July 1962. Security and Fire Dept. employees [names on verso:] Gary R. Crouse, Arthur A. Dixon. Jr., Herbert M. Schlereth, Richard A. Repp, Howard F. Poch Jr., Robert B. Clifton, Richard E. Baker, Jack N. Jensen, Leonard L. Krise, Ira Frank Thayer, Earl E. Hopp, John T. Hynes, Harold L. Maxwell. [Jim Balog, photographer]
 15 — #2, Summer, 1962. Taken at International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. Loyal E. Steele, F.G. (Supervisory) was on leave at the time this picture was taken so is not in this group. $70,000.00 crash-rescue truck immediately in background. Behind the truck is the control tower. July 1962. *F.G. is firefighter-guard. [names on verso:] Robert B. Clifton, Harold L. Maxwell, John T. Hynes, Ira Frank Thayer, Earl E. Hopp, Richard E. Baker, Jack N. Jensen, Leonard L. Krise, Arthur A. Dixon Jr., Howard F. Poch Jr., Ricard A. Repp, Herbert M. Schlereth, Gary R. Crouse [Jim Balog, photographer]
 16 — [same as B1963.006.3. Deaccessioned]
 17 — [text card for .16. Deaccessioned]
18 — Taken at International Airport, summer 1962. Robert Beauford “Boots” Clifton, Anchorage, Alaska [Clifton in front of "Anchorage, Alaska, 'Crossroads of the air world'" sign at Anchorage International Airport. Jim Balog, photographer]
 19 — Regents tea, Pioneer Hall, 1963 [Pioneers of Alaska event during Anchorage Fur Rendezvous. Women identified as: Mildred Enberg, Sidney Jean Raynor Hassman, Virginia Hansen, Patricia James, Clara Downing, Selma Smith, Paula Wells]
 20 — [Regents tea, Anchorage Fur Rendezvous 1963. Missing]
 21 — Regents tea, Pioneer Hall, 1963 [Pioneers of Alaska event during Anchorage Fur Rendezvous. People identified as: Bill Stolt, Fred Broadwell, Marie Silverman, Harry Watson, Lillian Watson, Oscar Anderson, Lois Paderson, Clifford Smith, Mattie Lockwold, Paula Wells, Ethel Olson]
 22 — Seasons Greetings from Alaska [Christmas card. Jim Balog, photographer]
23 — Valdez, Alaska, school, fall 1926. Richard L. Clifton & family lived in the house in the background. Missing in the picture are George Ashby, Ted Johnson, John Wilcox, & Bill Zharkoff. Photo was taken by John Ekemo and not one of the students as had first thought [Students identified on verso:] Sitting in front, left to right: Ida Nelson, Aubunanne Knudson, Janet Ashby, John Gilson, David Cuddy, Joe Deringer, Owen Johnson, John Ekemo, John Kelsey, Dan Cuddy, George Devinney. First row standing, left to right: Mary Mashegan?, Katie Holland, Emma Schultz Nelson, Junior Kelsey, John Dimond, Pearl Ekemo, Ruth Meals, Marie Dimond, Lillian Sullivan, Betty Chase, Marian Sullivan, Lloyd Johnson. Second row, standing: Walter Phillips, George Gilson, Roy Deringer, Bill Egan, Dick Reed, Frank Egan, Jim Cook, Jack Cook, Louise Meals, Marie Whalen, Frances Meals, Mable Cook, Marguerite Ekemo, Ethel Patterson. Last row: Lynn Phillips; Chester Clifton; Richard L. Clifton, teacher and principal; Robert Beauford Clifton ("Boots"); Jeanette MacDonald, teacher; Nancy Sanderson Meals, teacher; Mrs. "Grandma" Kelsey, teacher; Harve Ashby; Ted (Goodlatah) Jackson; Walter Swanson; Charles Wilcox; Henry Swanson.
 24 — Pioneers Regent tea [some people identified, including Aline Strutz, Selma Smith, Sophie Lottsfeldt, Venetia Hahn, Paula Wells, Orah D. Clark. Floyd Reeves, photographer]
 25 — Installation of officers & the installing officers, January 1962, Pioneers of Alaska Igloo and Auxiliary, Pioneer Hall, 6 th & F Street [people identified as: Paula Wells, Elizabeth Bliss, Elsie Hager, Bill Stolt, Jim Dodson, Ken Porter, Victoria Amundsen, Marie Brayford, Sol Urie, Jo Porter, Marie Miller, Eleanor Bell, Carol Shellhorn, Bill Rager, Francis Bowden, Gerald Williams, Lois Padersen, Dora Jean Longacre Dennis, Frances Lahti, Sophia Lottsfeldt, Carl Lottsfeldt, Louis Strutz, Robert Hansen, Earl Blinzler]
 26 — Pioneers Regent tea, King & Queen 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 [with 1959 Fred Boardwell and Marie Silverman, 1960 Harry Watson and Lillian Watson, 1961 Mr. Johnson and Elizabeth Landstrom Johnson, 1962 Oscar Anderson and Lois Paderson]
 27 — Pioneers officers and installing officer, Jan. 1962, Frances Lahti treasurer [people identified as: Frances Lahti, Auxiliary 4; William Rager, Igloo 15; Dora Jane Dennis, Aux. 4; Sol Urie, Grand Igloo; Elsie Hager, Aux. 4; William Stolt, Igloo 15]
 28 — [Pioneers of Alaska, identified as Carol Shellhorn, Frances Lahti, Bill Rogers, Dora Jane Longacre Dennis, Elsie Hager, Bill Stolt, Sol Urie. Floyd Reeves, photographer]
 29 — [Pioneers of Alaska, identified as Robert B. Clifton, Dorothy Clifton, Mabel Holbrook, Bertha Meier, Virginia Hansen, Tillie Reeve, Ed Dodd, Ken Porter, Sol Urie, Jo Porter, Ben Kaufman, unknown. Floyd Reeves, photographer]
 30 — [Pioneers of Alaska, identified as Louis Strutz, Robert Hansen, Earl Blinzler, Bill Stolt]
 31 — Pioneer Auxiliary #4, Anchorage, Alaska. Some of the officers that were installed in Jan. 1963. Upstairs in the Pioneer Hall at 6 th and F streets. [two other people installed at later meetings. People identified as: Lillian Watson, Virginia Hansen, Victoria Amundsen, Frances Lahti, Carol Shellhorn, Paula Wells, Elsie Hager (Past Pres.), Margaret Krogstad]
 32 — Igloo #15 charter on wall, Pioneer Hall 6 th and F St. Incoming presidents for year Jan. 1963-64, Paula Wells and Jim Dodson, Anchorage, Alaska
 33 — Installing officer, Carl Lottsfeldt #3 (left to right) Paul Wells (Mrs. Cecil V) incoming president [of Auxiliary], and Jim Dodson incoming pres. of Igloo, Jan. 1963-64
 34 — Incoming officers for the year 1963-1964. Pioneers of Alaska Igloo #15, Anchorage, Alaska. L to R offices they hold are chaplain, hist[orian], installing officer, sergeant-at-arms & secretary, treasurer, 2 nd vice, president, 1 st vice, trustee (pres. last year). Other trustees not in picture are Bill Rager (pres. 1961) and Bob Reeve. Pioneer Hall 6 th and F St., upstairs in January 1963 [people identified as: Robert Hansen, Earl Blinzler, Carl Lottsfeldt, Louis Strutz, Iver Amundsen, Ned Shelton, Francis Bowden, Jim Dodson, Ken Porter, Bill Stolt]
 35 — Pioneer officers Igloo #15 & Aux. #4, Anchorage, Alaska, for year of Jan. 1963-Jan. 1964. Pioneer Hall upstairs 6 th & F St. *Installing officers. Back row l-r: Ivar Amundson, Ned Shelton, Robert Hansen, Jim Dodson, *Carl Lottsfeldt, Ken Porter, Earl Blinzler. 2 nd row, men: Francis Bowden, Bill Stolt, Louis Strutz. 2 nd row, women: Virginia Hansen, Lillian Watson, *Selma Smith, *Ethel Olsen, *Sophie Lottsfeldt. Front row: Lois Amundsen, Frances Lahti, Carol Shellhorn, Paula Wells, Elsie Hager, Margaret Krogstad.
 36 — 128-E. Tok Lodge. Robinson [postcard. Automobile outside roadhouse]
 37 — Margaret Anne Howard, Unalaska, Alaska, 1952 [woman standing near Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Ascension, skiff visible]
 38 — “Pops” Bar (Pop Hartman), Unalaska, Alaska, 1952
 39 — “Pat” Patterson’s bar, Unalaska, Alaska, closed for now 1952 [Blue Fox Bar]
 40 — Mr. Max Fancher, Mrs. Margaret Alice MacNeice with mail in front of post office, Unalaska, Alaska, 1953
 41 — Mt. Newhall, old barge in front of “Pops” bar now towed away. Mary Howard, 1952
 42 — Taken from A.C.S. station back at Unalaska, Alaska, 1952
 43 — An old house, Unalaska, Alaska, 1952
 44 — P-1378. The Tavern, Unalaska [postcard]
 45 — P-1389. “Broadway” in Unalaska [postcard. Buildings along boardwalk] Guide updated: August 4, 2016