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: Porter Anchorage Photograph

COLLECTION NUMBER: B1963.018

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Dates: 1917

Extent: 1 item

Language and Scripts: The collection is in English.

Name of creator(s): unknown

Administrative/Biographical History:
Dogsled mail saw limited use in the northern parts of Alaska and Canada during the first half of
the 20th century. In the early years of Alaska settlement, there was no regular mail service to
the interior post offices during the winter months (October to May). In the 1930s, airplanes
began to be used for mail transport, but postmasters were still allowed to use dogs for
"emergency mail service", and in the 1940s cachets were produced reading "Alaska Dog Team
Post" and depicting a team.

Scope and Content Description:
One black-and-white photograph, labeled “The last mail to leave Anchorage by dog team,
March 28, 1917. Buildings are left to right: post office, city bldg., marshal’s office & jail. This is
⁴th
Avenue between F and G Street on the side where the federal building now stands (1963)”.

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:
Porter Anchorage Photograph, Anchorage Museum, B1963.018

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Acquisition and Appraisal Information
Donated to Cook Inlet Historical Society by Ken Porter in July 1963. Transferred to Anchorage
Museum.

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


SUBJECTS
Dogsled mail—Alaska
Postal service—Alaska
Anchorage (Alaska)

Guide written: July 6, 2016