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: Rhoda Edwards Collection

COLLECTION NUMBER: B2015.019

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Dates: 1978-1980

Extent: 127 items

Language and Scripts: The collection is in English.

Name of creator(s): Rhoda Edwards

Administrative/Biographical History:
Rhoda Edwards worked as a nurse in the Alaska Native Health Service from 1978-1980. She
worked in the rural areas of Tanana and Dillingham. She died in 2015.

Scope and Content Description:
The collection consists of 98 color 35mm slides, 28 color prints, and one diary, all created by
Rhoda Edwards during her nursing service in Tanana and Dillingham in 1978-1980. For more
information, see Detailed Description of Collection.

Arrangement: Arranged by format.


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:
Rhoda Edwards Collection, Anchorage Museum, B2015.019

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Acquisition and Appraisal Information
Donated by Edwards’ stepson, Charles Kite, in June and July 2015.

Processing Note
Eleven prints discarded as duplicates, six slides discarded as blurry.

RELATED MATERIALS
Jeanne Schaver Boone Collection, B1991.046
Martha Quimby Photographs, B2001.036
Clarence and Winona Gronning Slides, B2005.013
Katherine G. Kane Manuscript, My Twenty Seven Years in Alaska and the Aleutians, B2013.049

SUBJECTS
Edwards, Rhoda
Alaska Native Health Service
Public health nursing—Alaska
Rural health services—Alaska
Hospitals—Alaska—Tanana
Koyukon Indians—Alaska—Tanana
Tanana (Alaska)
Yukon River (Yukon and Alaska)
Dillingham (Alaska)
Sitka (Alaska)

Detailed Description of the Collection

F1
Diary, July 2-September 3, 1978
Entries concern health services, medical cases, village life, race relations, individuals, weather


F2
Slides
 1 — Barbara, RN [woman wringing out wet clothing on beach next to small docks, boat in foreground, driftwood in background; print date Jun 78]
 2 — Mike, RN, Tanana [man sitting in skiff on River, reading letter; print date Jun 78]
 3 — Joyce [woman and dog sitting in skiff on River, buildings on far shore; print date Jun 78]
 4 — Mike & Joyce, fish table [man and woman standing next to wooden table on shore of river; print date Jun 78]
 5 — Joyce & Barb @ Mike’s [two women cooking fish over camp fire on beach; print date Jun 78]
 6 — Water skiing on Yukon [bird’s eye view of motor boat preparing to pull skier off small dock, children gathered on dock; print date Jun 78]
 7 — Swimming in Yukon [bird’s eye view of two people in water, one with inner tube, other people standing on dock at left; print date Jun 78]
8 — 2 cuties, Tanana [two Athabascan children standing outside log cabin; print date Jun 78. At AFN 2015, identified as Cheryl Roberts Wright (left) and Sharon Roberts (right)]
 9 — C & M, July ’78 [Cindy and Marina swimming in river; print date Aug 78]
 10 — Cindy, Marina, Rhoda, swimming, ’78 [three women in river; print date Aug 78]
 11 — Marina, Cindy & Rhoda [three women swimming; print date Aug 78]
 12 — Paula with pike [woman posed with large fish; print date Aug 78]
 13 — Paula Reigel [woman standing in boat with large fish; print date Aug 78]
 14 — Mark [man sitting in boat at dock on river; print date Aug 78]
 15 — Mark [man standing in back of boat, can of Coca-Cola on seat; print date Aug 78]
 16 — Father Bill [bearded man wearing sunglasses and hat leaning against log building; print date Aug 78]
 17 — Mary Lou Thompson [with] clunker [woman sitting in driver’s seat of truck; print date Aug 78]
 18 — Mary Lou [woman standing next to truck, storage silos in background; print date Aug 78]
 19 — Picnic, summer ’78 [woman holding tray of food standing outdoors next to building, buffet table at left with food and drinks, three people seated at right]
20 — May & Brian [woman with young boy wearing striped shirt with “Hosp.” written on it, standing next to building. Cf. .44. At AFN 2015, identified as May Musser and Brian Dick]
 21 — Picnic, James going, Bunce new [children and adults gathered around buffet table set up outside building, party for outgoing hospital administrator]
 22 — Gerry & James’ son, 7/78 [two boys sitting in grass next to building, both with plates of food]
 23 — Mary Lou, Mrs. James, 7/78 [two women and two boys sitting on wooden bench in grass, third boy in background, automobiles parked along gravel road beside river]
 24 — Grace & Paula [two women sitting in grass, both with plates of food, river in distance]
 25 — Hosp. picnic, 7/78 [adults and children sitting and standing in grass next to building]
 26 — Chow line, picnic, July ’68 [i.e. ’78] [people holding plates standing in line in front of building]
 27 — Going awake [i.e. away] picnic, James, Ellers [people filling plates at buffet table set up next to building]
 28 — John & Alicia, summer ’78 [man and woman sitting on grass, baby in metal stroller at right]
 29 — Eller family [four people posed on empty cable spool, one woman holding canister of Weld-On[?], one boy wearing hard hat and safety goggles, metal barrels and dilapidated truck in background]
 30 — The Ellers [four people posed on empty cable spool, one woman holding canister of Weld-On[?], one boy wearing hard hat and safety goggles, basketball hoop and dilapidated truck in background]
 31 — Mary Lou, Becky, Alice [two women sitting on wooden bench at picnic, one woman sitting in grass, plates of food on bench, buffet table in background next to building, one woman wearing nursing uniform; print date Sep 78]
 32 — Mary Lou, Marina, Becky, Alice, 9/78 [two women sitting on wooden bench at picnic, one woman sitting in grass, bicycle on grass at left, fourth woman in back right holding camera, river in background; print date Sep 78]
 33 — Alice [woman wearing nursing uniform sitting on wooden bench at picnic, holding plate of food, people sitting on grass at right, river in background; print date Sep 78]
 34 — Marina at mission [woman standing in doorway of log and wood shingle-sided building, possibly St. James’ Episcopal Church; print date Jul 78]
 35 — Paula Reigel [woman sitting on Honda all-terrain vehicle outside hospital building, Tanana]
 36 — May Musser [woman holding coffee can, picking berries in bushes]
 37 — Paula [woman carrying bucket through brush, berry picking]
 38 — May, summer ’78 [woman holding coffee can standing in bushes, berry picking]
 39 — Blueberries [woman, possibly Marina, standing in bushes; print date Aug 78]
 40 — Fish girls [two women standing at wooden table on small dock, one wearing chest waders and making notes, one wearing hip waders and holding net]
 41 — Linda & Nancy [two women standing at wooden table on small dock, one wearing chest waders and holding clipboard, one wearing hip waders and holding net full of fish]
 42 — Fish tagging, to be measured [two women standing at wooden table on small dock, one wearing chest waders, one wearing hip waders and placing fish on table]
43 — Good ole’ boys [Alaska Native men sitting along building wall, equipment yard along river in background, Tanana. At AFN 2015, identified as (left to right) Michael Albert, possibly James Johnson Sr., Joe John, Arthur Matthew, and David Henry]
 44 — Brian, Sam, pt [young boy wearing striped shirt with “Hosp.” written on it, standing next to large piece of driftwood, river in background. Cf. .20]
 45 — Butz [man and woman sitting on log on beach, two children standing next to blanket laid with food at right, picnicking; print date Sep 78]
 46 — John & Murph[?] [woman and man on beach along river, person walking out of frame at left near boat; print date Sep 78]
 47 — Sarah Albert, ’78 [Alaska Native woman standing in yard between houses, outbuildings in background; print date Sep 78]
 48 — Sarah & Jimmy Albert [Alaska Native man and woman standing in yard between houses, outbuildings in background; print date Sep 78]
49 — [Sarah and Jimmy Albert posed with two young Alaska Native men, standing on dirt road in front of house; print date Sep 78; at AFN 2016, man at left tentatively identified as last name Woods, man second from right as Alberts’ adopted son]
50 — Cuties [young Alaska Native girl holding puppy standing in dirt road; print date Sep 78. At AFN 2015, tentatively identified as Sharon Roberts]
51 — 2 Tanana girls [two young Alaska Native girls standing on riverbank; print date Sep 78. At AFN 2015, tentatively identified as Denise Swenson (left) and Mabelina George (right]
 52 — Snooks [woman sitting in snow next to dilapidated structure; print date May 79]
 53 — Verne & Joyce [people playing in snow in cleared area, possibly right-of-way, dog at right; print date May 79]
 54 — Snow picnic [people and dog playing in snow in cleared area, possibly right-of-way; print date May 79]
 55 — Verne & Joyce [man and woman playing in snow; print date May 79]
 56 — Verne & Joyce, snow picnic [man and woman playing in snow; print date May 79]
 57 — Verne & Joyce [people and dog playing in snow; print date May 79]
58 — Misha & Tony [Alaska Native man and young boy sitting on snowmachine, man wearing sunglasses and fur-lined hat with earflaps; print date May 79. At AFN 2015, identified as Misha Charles]
 59 — Snow picnic [people and dog in snow; print date May 79]
 60 — Verne & Joyce [people and dog playing in snow; print date May 79]
 61 — Snow picnic [people outdoors in winter near pine trees, boy wearing fur-lined hat with earflaps facing camera; print date May 79]
 62 — Snow picnic [people and dogs in snow; print date May 79]
 63 — Snow picnic, Joyce, Verne, Robert, Snooks [people playing in snow, boy at left holding two toy guns; print date May 79]
 64 — Snow picnic, Snooks, Verne, Joyce [people playing in snow; print date May 79]
 65 — Joyce Anders [woman standing with bicycle on riverbank, ice in river in background, probably breakup; print date May 79]
 66 — Jeanette & Jim Butz near quarters [man, woman, and dog standing on walkway near building, communications dishes in middle ground, small greenhouse next to large building in background, river at right; print date Jul 79]
 67 — Ben on bike [man sitting on motorcycle, carrying brown paper bag, communications dishes in background; print date Jul 79]
 68 — St. Patrick’s party, Judy, Trish, Brian, Dan, Katie [group sitting indoors; print date Apr 79]
 69 — Aaron & sled [young girl standing behind sled in snow; print date Apr 79]
 70 — Aaron, sled, Barney [young girl and dog with sled on plowed trail; print date Apr 79]
 71 — Ann, Barb, shopping sled [two women pulling small sled loaded with groceries; print date Apr 79]
 72 — Fred, Ann, Barney [man and woman on steps of building in winter, dog at right, second dog on porch, woman in doorway holding binoculars; print date Apr 79]
 73 — Fred, Ann, Mitsy, Taners [man and woman on building steps with two dogs; print date Apr 79]
 74 — Trish, Nancy, Stan, Mrs. Bayer, Katie, Paula [four people sitting at dining table in kitchen, two people sitting on chairs at right; print date Apr 79]
 75 — Katie, Paula [two women sitting on chairs next to window with houseplants; print date Apr 79]
 76 — Stan, Paula, Katie [man sitting at dining table, two women sitting next to window in background; print date Apr 79]
 77 — Barb, Joyce, Louise, Taners, Barney on river [three women posed with two dogs on frozen river; print date Apr 79] [Slides from original box labeled “Dillingham”]
 78 — [woman and dog in snow; print date Jun 80]
 79 — [woman posed outdoors in winter, sticking her tongue out to camera; print date Jun 80]
 80 — [scenic of view across to mountains; print date Jun 80]
81 — [scenic, view down winter road to town buildings; print date Jan 80. At AFN 2015, identified as road to Dillingham, with North Shore, Aleknagik, in distance]
 82 — [three women sitting in living room, plate of food on end table; print date Jan 80]
 83 — [people sitting in living room, Christmas tree at right; print date Jan 80]
 84 — [woman sitting in living room, houseplants in foreground; print date Jan 80]
 85 — [Russian blockhouse in winter, automobiles parked in foreground, Sitka? print date Jan 80]
 86 — [close-up of exterior of St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral, Sitka; print date Jan 80]
 87 — [people sitting indoors, framed prints hanging on walls; print date Jun 80]
 88 — [people sitting indoors, framed prints hanging on walls; print date Jan 80]
89 — [people sitting indoors, framed prints hanging on walls; print date Jan 80]
 90 — [people sitting indoors, framed prints hanging on walls; print date Jun 80]
 91 — Yukon [scenic of river taken from boat, with wake; print date Sep 79]
 92 — Bay, Dlg. [scenic of sunset over water; print date Sep 79]
 93 — [scenic of sunset over water; print date Sep 79]
 94 — Snake Lake [scenic with clouds, mountains; print date Sep 79]
 95 — [scenic, view across bay to town; print date Sep 79]
 96 — Geologists [group of people standing outdoors, tents in foreground, helicopter in background, one man carrying two backpacks, one man carrying camera; print date Aug 79]
 97 — [man and woman posed next to lilac bushes, man wearing T-shirt reading “Starve with dignity, be a nurse,” woman holding camera; print date May 84]
 98 — [same man as in .97 standing on patio of house overlooking river; print date May 84] Prints [From original folder labeled “Dillingham 1981”]
 99 — Hospital, 20 bed plus clinic [Kanakanak Hospital, building exterior; print date Dec 1979]
 100 — Nurses quarters [building exterior; print date Dec 1979]
 101 — Court bldg. [exterior, with dumpster; print date Oct]
 102 — Post office, apartments to the left [automobiles and people outside buildings; print date Oct]
 103 — City Hall [trucks parked outside building next to dumpster; print date Oct]
 104 — [exterior of Dillingham Public Library; print date Oct]
 105 — School, 1979 [Dillingham High School exterior, truck parked at left, child running at right, bicycle propped against school wall, Alaska state flag on pole; print date Oct]
 106 — New gym building [exterior, with children playing on court in foreground, swing set at right; print date Oct]
 107 — Bank [automobiles parked outside National Bank of Alaska; print date Oct]
 108 — Pizza parlor, owned by Greeks, good pizza but $27 for large “everything” pizza [exterior of Pizza Mia Restaurant and Jim’s Ice Cream Parlor, with Coca-Cola sign, large tanks against wall; print date Oct]
 109 — Main street [view down dirt road lined with buildings, stop sign in foreground; print date Oct]
 110 — Street scene, Dillingham [same image as .109; print date Oct]
 111 — Bar, one of two, social center [automobiles parked outside Sea Inn, with Miller High Life sign, trailers parked at right, with dumpster and large tanks; print date Oct]
 112 — Cannery, sold to Japanese [view from docks to cannery complex; print date Oct]
 113 — Dillingham dock [same image as .112; print date Oct]
 114 — Dock [trucks parked next to piles of freight and supplies; print date Oct]
 115 — Loaded dock, most big stuff came by barge in summer, otherwise had to be flown in [hoisting equipment next to pile of freight; print date Oct]
 116 — Across bay is Ekok, near point on right [scenic; print date Oct]
 117 — Dillingham from hospital (7 miles via road) [view across bay to town; print date Oct]
 118 — [scenic from dirt road to mountains in distance; print date Dec 1979]
 119 — [scenic across tundra to mountains in distance; print date Dec 1979]
 120 — [scenic across tundra to mountains in distance; print date Oct]
 121 — [scenic across bay, road in middle ground; print date Dec 1979]
 122 — Snake Lake, about 15 miles from hospital [scenic; print date Oct]
 123 — [scenic of landscape; print date Oct]
 124 — [scenic of landscape; print date Dec 1979]
 125 — [scenic of landscape and clouds; print date Oct]
 126 — [scenic of water at breakup, with chunks of ice piled near shore; print date Jun 1979] Guide updated: October 26, 2016