Location on shelf: CS 32, B6
Completed by JD; 1/26/2009
WOLFE COLLECTION. (Located in Small Collections File) Photos. 1 file folder in
.15 cu.ft. 1950s.
B81.9 Inventory.

Esther (Heverling) Wolfe was born in Veronica, Oregon on April 5, 1903. She and her
sister, Ruth Dodd, came to Anchorage on July 31, 1931 to work as a nurse with Doctor
Joseph Romig for the Alaska Railroad Hospital. She married Ray Wolfe in 1934. Ray
Wolfe was born September 22, 1905 in West Liberty, Iowa. He came to Alaska in
January 1927 to work at his uncle’s sheet metal store, Pioneer Sheet Metal, which was
located at the intersection of 5^th
/ Avenue and C Street in Anchorage, Alaska. Ray and his
twin brother Robert purchased the business and opened Wolfe’s Department Store. Ray
Wolfe served as mayor of Anchorage from 1944 to April 9, 1945, with a single term in
office. Ray Wolfe unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the US Senate in 1960. Ester Wolfe
was the superintendent of Sunday School at First Presbyterian Church, and was also a
member of the Anchorage Women’s Club and the Mother’s Club. Ray Wolfe died in
Anchorage on October 5, 1977. Esther Wolfe died in Anchorage on April 6, 2006.

The Wolfe Collection consists of one folder containing 10 photographs. The photographs
are black and white and are primarily of Anchorage in the 1950s. The majority of the
photographs are of Wolfe’s Department Store and of Pioneer Sheet Metal, both of which
were located at the intersection of 5^th
/ Avenue and C Street in Anchorage.

This collection was donated to the Anchorage Museum in 1981.


Location on shelf: CS 32, B6
Completed by JD; 1/26/2009
WOLFE COLLECTION. (Located in Small Collections File) Photos. 1 file folder in
.15 cu.ft. 1950s.
B81.9 Inventory.



INVENTORY

BOX 1/Folder 1 – Photographs


Photographs

B81.9.1
Interior view of Wolfe’s Hardware.
“Wolfe’s Hardware, furniture and appliances. 5^th
/ & C. ca. 1950.
From original by Mrs. Wolfe.”

B81.9.2
Exterior view of Wolfe’s Hardware
“Wolfe’s Hardware, furniture & appliance. 5^th
/ & C. ca. 1950. Copy
from original from Mrs. Wolfe.”

B81.9.3
Exterior view of Wolfe’s Hardware
“Wolfe’s Hardware, furniture & appliance. 5^th
/ & C. ca. 1950.
Photo by Robinson Studios. Original owned by Mrs. Wolfe.”

B81.9.4
Interior view of Wolfe’s Hardware
“Wolfe’s Hardware, furniture & appliance. 1950’s. Corner 5^th
/ & C.
Photo by J. Malcolm Greany. Original loaned by Mrs. Wolfe.”

B81.9.5
Interior view of Pioneer Sheet Metal, two men pose inside
“Pioneer Sheet Metal, 5^th
/ & C. Original loaned by Mrs. Wolfe.”

B81.9.6
Interior view of Pioneer Sheet Metal, two men pose inside
“Pioneer Sheet Metal, Corner 5^th
/ & C. Original loaned by Mrs.
Wolfe.”

B81.9.7
Exterior view of Pioneer Sheet Metal during winter
“Pioneer Sheet Metal, 5^th
/ & C. Next building – 5^th
/ Ave. Rooms.
Original loaned by Mrs. Wolfe.”

Location on shelf: CS 32, B6
Completed by JD; 1/26/2009

B81.9.8
Group of men posing outside of the Anchorage Fire Department
“Anchorage Fire Dept. Loaned by Mrs. Wolfe.”

B81.9.9
Baseball diamond in Anchorage
“Baseball Diamond. 6-7- B-C. Bieri house in background over
fence. Loaned by Mrs. Wolfe.”

B81.9.10
Photo of Latouche, Alaska. Waterfront view of town of Latouche
and harbor with mountains in background.
Same image as ASL-P44-06-107
“Loaned by Mrs. Wolfe.”