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: Richard Huff Photographs

COLLECTION NUMBER: B2005.006

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Dates: 1950

Extent: 2 items

Language and Scripts: The collection is in English.

Name of creator(s): Audrey and Frank Morgan

Administrative/Biographical History:
Little Diomede Island, Alaska, is the smaller of the two Diomede Islands located in the middle
of the Bering Strait between the Alaskan mainland and Siberia. Big Diomede Island, across the
International Date Line to the west, belongs to Russia. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union
established a military presence on Big Diomede, and villagers were prohibited from travelling
between the islands.

According to Arthur Eide in his 1952 memoir, Drums of Diomede, the Eskimos objected
violently to the presence of white teachers on Little Diomede, and had forcibly removed the
teachers who served immediately prior to Eide’s arrival.

“In 1953 Gerald F. and Donna Carlson were assigned to Little Diomede Island where they were
the only teachers for all grades K–12. At that time there were 130 Inupiat on Little Diomede –
35 were students from K-8 in a one-room schoolhouse. The schoolhouse also served as the
Carlson’s home – it being the only square building on the island except for a small Catholic
church, St. Jude's, built by Father Tom Cunningham.” [“Diomede,”
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ak/state/diomede.html. Retrieved June 16, 2011]


The school year 1953-1954 in Little Diomede Island was adapted to better serve the local
needs. The teaching took place through the holidays and also some weekends to complete the
180 days of class time before the walrus migration started in the Spring. The annual walrus hunt
meant major supply and income possibilities for the villagers, and everybody's help was
needed. The primary language at the time was Inupiat, and students were also taught English.
The only way of communication with the outside world was by amateur radio. The non-existing
health care was somewhat upgraded with a basic medication knowledge by seasonal teachers.
[“Diomede, Alaska.” In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 16, 2011]

Audrey and Frank Morgan co-wrote the photo essay “Alaska’s Russian Frontier: Little
Diomede Island,” which was published in National Geographic magazine in April 1951. The
two images included in this collection were not included in that article.

Scope and Content Description:
Collection consists of two black-and-white mounted photographs of student activities on Little
Diomede Island.

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:
Materials copyrighted by photographers. No reproductions.

Preferred Citation:
Richard Huff Photographs; Anchorage Museum, B2005.006

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Acquisition and Appraisal Information
Donated by Richard Huff in 2005.


SUBJECTS
Eskimos—Alaska—Diomede
Eskimos—Education—Alaska—Diomede
Diomede (Alaska)
Little Diomede Island (Alaska)



Detailed Description of the Collection
1 — Typed caption on back: Alaska, Little Diomede Island. Under a canopy of crepe paper and colored lights, you would never guess this to be a group of Diomede Eskimo enjoying a “white dance” to the music of a phonograph. Date stamp: Rec’d Oct 30 1950. [at AFN 2014, location tentatively identified as Nome High School gym, individuals identified as, left to right: Theresa Omiak?, John Iyapana, [unknown], Cecilia Omiak, James Iyapana, [unknown], Sophie Omiak, [unknown couple], Albert Iyahuk, Annie Iyapana Iyahuk, [unknown couple]]
2 — Typed caption on back: Alaska, Little Diomede Island. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are taught in the Government school; but bringing in the game from the Polar Pack and skin sewing is still more important than schooling to the future existence of these young citizens on Diomede Island. Date stamp: Rec’d Oct 30 1950. Guide updated: October 29, 2014