Libraries, Archives, Museums: Whaling in Alaska primary sources: Alaskan Archives

Whaling in Alaska

This guide consists of collections of primary source material held by Alaskan archives, libraries, and museums which relate to whaling in Alaska. This guide is an overview of collections containing significant amounts of material relating to whaling and is not meant to be comprehensive or include every collection containing material related to the topic.

Click on the linked collection names for more detailed descriptions of the collections. Not every collection listed has a description online. For more information about a collection, please contact the institution that owns the collection.

SLED also has a general purpose guide which includes primary and secondary sources relating to whaling in Alaska. Other institutions outside of Alaska, such as the New Bedford Whaling Museum in New Bedford, Massachusetts, may also hold records relating to whaling activities.

Alaska's Digital Archives has digitized photographs and documents relating to whaling in Alaska, some of which are from collections listed below. The Digital Archives contains moving images, audio, photographs, and documents from various repositories in the state of Alaska and is not its own repository. Please contact the appropriate holding institution for more information about an item or to request an item found on Alaska's Digital Archives.

If you represent an institution that holds primary source material related to whaling activities in Alaska and you would like to see it included in this guide, please contact the UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections.

Alaska Moving Image Preservation Association

The Alaska Moving Image Preservation Association, located in Anchorage, Alaska, may have audio, film, and video in their collections relating to whaling in Alaska. Please contact them for further information.

Alaska State Archives

The collections listed below are available in the Alaska State Archives in Juneau, Alaska. Further information regarding the collections listed below is by searching the State Archives online catalog using the records group name (i.e. "RG257").

RG251. Office of History and Archaeology. Series 1347: Historic Project files. 79086 Whaling Study.
RG257. Commissioner of Fish & Game. Series 537: Subject and correspondence files.
RG257. Commissioner of Fish & Game. Series 538: Foreign and international fisheries negotiations.
RG257. Commissioner of Fish & Game. Series 539: Reading files.
RG268. Boards Support Section (Board of Fisheries, Board of Game).
RG626. United States District Court, First, Second, Third and Fourth Divisions [NARA RG21]. Series 1828—United States District Court Miscellaneous records, 1894-1960, Juneau. Includes licenses for Pacific Coast Steamship Company and Pacific Steam Whaling

Alaska State Library Historical Collections

The collections listed below are available in the Alaska State Library Alaska Historical Collections in Juneau, Alaska. A majority of the collections listed have links to collection guides that provide further information regarding the contents of those collections.

Alaska, Yukon Territory and British Columbia postcards, ca. 1890.
PCA 0145. This collection contains postcards that depict many subjects, including a folder with postcards that depict whaling.
David Brower Photograph Collection, ca. 1930s.
PCA 262. This collection includes photographs of a whaling crew and Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station in Barrow.
Papers of Helen D. Blair, 1938-1973.
MS 4-4-13. The collection includes letters received by George Blair from C. Rusty Huerlin of Barrow, which describe a whale hunt.
Heritage of Alaska Moving Image Collection.
AV 12. #13 - The Story of Alaskan Whaling Host: Elmer Rasmuson.
Hal Meredith Postcard Album.
PCA 562. This collection contains postcards that depict many subjects, including postcards that depict whaling.
Daniel S. Neuman Papers, 1895-1921 (bulk 1911-1921).
MS 162. The Daniel S. Neuman papers consist in large part of the Paul Silook journals possibly told to or transcribed by or for Dr. Neuman by Silook. The journals include stories and legends related to whales.
Papers of a medical missionary in Alaska, 1911-1928.
MS 106. This collection contains the letters and writings of Dr. Albert Newhall from his time in Barrow. Included in the collection are letters which document whale processing in Akutan.
Ted Pedersen Photograph Collection, 1910-1988.
PCA 377. The photographs in this collection show the Pedersen family and family homes, as well as the White Whale (whale boat) and whaling.
Charles Melville Scammon papers, 1849-1911.
0045 MFMS. The collection contains microfilm copies of two journals that document whaling voyages.
Reverend Samuel Spriggs Photograph Collection, Point Barrow, Alaska, 1899-1908.
PCA 320. The bulk of the collection relates to whaling and other activities associated with the hunt, such as preparation for the hunt, butchering, and celebration following the hunt.
United States. Coast Guard Photograph Collection, ca. 1886-1967.
PCA 187. Several photographs in this collection depict whaling operations of the American Pacific Whaling Company at Akutan.
United States. National Marine Fisheries Service. Alaska Map Collection, 1889-1928.
MS 30. Map #57 shows whaling and halibut stations operated in SE Alaska in 1911.
Whaling Activities in Alaskan Waters, 1924-1939.
MS 98. This collection consists of photocopies of logbooks from whaling vessels active in Port Hobron and Akutan fisheries. The original collection is located at the University of Washington Suzzallo Library.

Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center

The collections listed below are available at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, located in Anchorage, Alaska. The collections listed have links to collection guides that provide further information regarding the contents of those collections.

CIHS Anderson; 1919.
B66.10. In this collection are photographs of Beluga whales and whaling scenes.
Arthur Eide Glass Lantern Slide Collection; circa 1910-1919.
B1955.003. Arthur Eide was a Presbyterian minister and teacher in Alaska in the 1900s. While in Alaska, Eide worked on Little Diomede as a teacher. Photographs in this collection depict omiaks, whaling camps, and whale processing.
Fred Henton Collection; circa 1898-1940s.
B1965.018. Fred Henton was born in 1889/1890. He travelled Alaska as a mail carrier, game guide, prospector, explorer, and dog musher. This collection contains photographs of whaling crews, boats and ships, and supplies.
McBride Collection; undated.
B1996.009. This collection contains a photograph album and throughout the album is the text of “Story of a Whale Hunt” by Susan R. Bernardi. Bernardi was a teacher at Wales and Nome, Alaska some time before 1910.
Morris Reese Slides; 1958-1977.
B2000.017. The collection consists of 327 personal and commercial color slides (35mm and 120mm) taken or collected by Morris Reese in Alaska during the period circa 1962-1974. Included in the collection are images of a Point Hope whaling festival in 1972.
Nathan L. Smith Photographs; 1930-1936.
B2001.038. Nathan L. Smith was a schoolteacher in Alaska in the 1930s. He was an amateur photographer, and photographed people and activities in the communities he served. There are several images of a whale hunt included in this collection.

Inupiat Heritage Center

The Inupiat Heritage Center, located in Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow), Alaska, has multiple taped interviews of individuals, as well as photographs and film of whaling festivals and whale harvesting. Descriptions of these items can be found by searching their catalog.

UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections

The collections listed below are available at the UAA/APU Archives and Special Collections in Anchorage, Alaska. The collections listed have links to collection guides that provide further information regarding the contents of those collections.

Glenn H. Bowersox papers; 1930-2004.
HMC-0731. This collection contains papers and photographs of a radio operator aboard the USMS Boxer and the USMS North Star in Alaska. Included in the collection are images of the Akutan Whaling Station.
Edward William Laird article and film; 1930-1934, 1992.
HMC-1168-AHS. This collection contains film footage of Ketchikan and the surrounding areas. The footage depicts whale harvesting.
Christian Theodore Pedersen papers; 1920-1966.
HMC-0197. Papers of a whaler, fur trader, and businessman, originally from Norway, who worked primarily in Alaska and Canada. The collection contains the records of Pedersen's various fur trading and farming businesses, including the Northern Whaling and Trading Company.
Michael Philip papers; 1932-1933.
HMC-0430. This collection mostly relates to the production of the movie, Eskimo. The collection contains photographs of whale hunting off the coast of Siberia and Point Hope.
Gilbert Stevens photograph album; 1901-1903.
HMC-0769. This collection contains photographs taken in and around Nome, including images of a whaling camp.

University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska and Polar Regions Collections and Archives Historical Manuscript Collections

The collections listed below are available at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska and Polar Regions Collections and Archives located in Fairbanks, Alaska. For more detailed collection descriptions, please visit StarArchives, the catalog for archival collections at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and search for the collections using the search box on the main page.

Akin, Floyd Photograph Collection. 19402-1970s.
USUAFV4-282. This collection contains photographs that depict life at Point Barrow and Barter Island. Some of the photographs depict Naluqataq [Nalukataq], which is the annual whaling festival.
Alaska Historical Photographs Collection. circa 1897-circa 1965.
USUAFV4-204. The Alaska Historical Photographs Collections is an ongoing collection of photographs of Northern Alaska. The collection contains photographs relating to whaling.
Aldrich, Herbert L. Photographs. circa 1887.
USUAFV4-288. This collection contains photographs which document the daily life of the Inupiat between Port Clarence and Barrow. Some of the photographs depict whaling crews and ships.
Amalga, Alaska and Aleutian Photo Collection. circa 1890-circa 1920.
USUAFV3-347. The collection contains photographs of various points in Alaska, especially of the Aleutian Islands and Valdez, the Bering Sea, and the Mackenzie River. Photographs depict many subjects, but also include commercial whaling and whaling crews and boats.
Bernardi, S.R. Photographs. circa 1905 (Lusk Album; Gertrude Lusk Whaling Album; Story of a Whale Hunt).
USUAFV6-540. The photographs in this collection document a whale hunt in Wales, Alaska.
Breton, Marie Elie Photographs. 1918-circa 1920s.
USUAFV6-828. The Marie Elie Breton Photographs contain 39 photographs on postcard stock with images of people, scenery, towns, villages, animals, whaling activities and fishing taken in various locations in Alaska.
Burch, Ernest S. Jr. Papers. 1960s-2010.
USUAFV6-627. The Ernest S. Burch, Jr. Papers consist of the personal and anthropological research papers of Dr. Ernest "Tiger" Burch. The collection includes files regarding whaling in Alaska.
Call, Samuel Photograph Collection. circa 1897-1981.
USUAFV4-142. The Samuel Call Collection contains early images of the North Slope and the Western Arctic coast of Alaska along with photographs of Siberia. Included in the collection are photographs that depict people related to the Whalers Relief Expedition, as well as the Overland Relief Expedition to Point Barrow where Call and others rescued stranded whalers caught by the ice.
Geist, Otto W., Papers. 1927-1963.
USUAFV146. Otto Geist (1888-1963) was a paleontologist and a member of the University of Alaska faculty, who participated in archaeological fieldwork on St. Lawrence Island. The collection includes ethnological notebooks that discus whaling and whales.
Hughes, Charles C. Papers. 1940-1984.
USUAFV4-105. The Charles C. Hughes Papers contain primarily material relating to work among the St. Lawrence Island Eskimos. Included in the collection are journals with descriptions of whaling.
Koenig, Franz Heinrich Papers. 1954-1908.
USUAF375. This collection contains correspondence and letters, diaries, journals, and log books, as well as records of the Koenig Trading Post and related business enterprises, reports, publications, newspaper clippings, photographs, ships' logbooks and ephemera. Including in the letters and correspondence is information regarding whaling at Point Hope.
Memoirs and Reminiscences Collection. ca. 1900-present.
USUAFV6-573. The Memoirs and Reminiscences Collection is an artificial collection created by the Alaska and Polar Regions Collections and Archives. The collection contains some reminiscences of people that pertain to whaling.
Michel, Karen and Roger McPherson Papers. 1969-1983. (McPherson, Karen and Roger Collection; Michel, Karen Photograph Collection; McPherson, Roger Photograph Collection).
USUAFV3-237. This collection contains photographic transparencies, photographs, contact sheets, and negatives. A majority of the photographs feature Barrow and Nulato with some depicting the whaling festival in Barrow.
Newport (Steamboat) Pilot House Logbook. 1899. (Pacific Steam Whaling Company Pilot House Log Book).
USUAFV6-486. The collection contains a logbook for the steamboat, Newport¸ which was sailing for the Pacific Steam Whaling Company in 1899.
Oliver, Ethel Ross Collection. 1914-1988.
581. The Ethel Ross Oliver collection consists of correspondence, journals, manuscripts and publications, World War II related materials, newspaper clippings, photographs and other materials relating to Ethel Ross Oliver's life and work in Alaska. Some of the photographs in the collection depict whaling activities.
Peterson, Grace and Fred papers. 1933-1952.
USUAFV6-60. The Grace and Fred Peterson Papers contain personal papers regarding their life in Alaska. The collection includes Grace's handwritten reminiscences about the American Pacific Whaling Co. station at Port Hobron, Alaska.
Reverend Alwin Reiners photograph collection. 1955-1975.
USUAFV6-555. The Reverend Alwin Reiners photograph collection consists of 14 photographic transparencies taken in Kotzebue and Point Hope, Alaska of dancing and whaling.
Waugaman, Candace. 1889-
USUAFV3-124. The Candace Waugaman Collection consists of historical manuscripts, photographs, memorabilia, and ephemera donated by private collector and local historian Candace Waugaman. The collection focuses upon the history of Alaska and the Yukon Territory, with particular emphasis upon the Fairbanks, Alaska, region. It is continually receiving new additions. The collection includes photographs that depict whaling.
Whaling at Point Hope Photographs. 1969.
USUAFV5-92. Photographs taken in Point Hope in 1969 during the spring whale season. The photographs depict the whale hunt and processing.
Wood, Elizabeth Albums. Ca. 1902-1914.
USUAFV6-93. The Elizabeth Wood albums contain photographs taken by Wood, as well as photographs taken by O.D. Goetz, Frank H. Nowell, B.B. Dobbs, and A.L. Bell. The photographs depict a variety of subjects, including commercial whaling activities.

University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Film Archives

The list below includes collections held by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Film Archives located in Fairbanks, Alaska.

[1947 Nalukataq whale feast at Barrow]; 1947.
AAF-20079. Contains Contains scenes of whale and muktuk being distributed at the Nalukataq whale feast at Barrow, people eating and celebrating, blanket toss, men in military uniforms, Alaska Native dancers and drummers, children running and chasing after large vehicle, and more blanket toss.
[1979 Barrow elders conference]; 1979.
AAF-9700 to AAF-9757. Topics discussed on the videorecordings include whaling cycles and whaling at Point Hope.
Alaska Native Magazine #28; 1975.
AAF-5948. Host Moe Wassillie interviews whaling captain Guy Okako Sr. of Barrow about how early whalers prepared each year. Following the interview the film A Time For Whaling is shown in its entirety. After the film Mr. Okakok shows whaling tools and compares tools used in Gambell and Barrow.
[Alaska scenery and wildlife, whale camp scenes, movie out-takes]; [between 1959 and 1969].
AAF-8647. Film clips and out-takes from scenes used in several of filmmaker Victor Rovier's finished productions. Images include whaling camp scenes, people pulling whale onto ice, and umiaks.
Anaktuvuk chapel, Barrow life, Barrow, etc.]; [between 1947 and 1965].
AAF-7950 to AAF-7956. Footage depicts a whaling celebration, the service of muktuk, and whalers hauling out whale with block and tackle.
[Barrow and NARL landing craft, Whaling festival at Wainwright]; [between 1955 and 1957].
AAF-2992. Part 2 (AAF-2992) images include people on the beach, blanket toss, people picking up small parcels, drummers, dancers, blanket toss, a group of boys and girls looking at the camera blowing bubbles with their gum, man handing out something to kids, possibly candy, children dancing, and more shots of children.
[Barrow whaling festival]; between 1949-1955.
AAF-2236. Contains scenes of a blanket toss, Alaska Native women and children eating by whaling boat, Alaska Native dancing, small animals, and Alaska Native men and women butchering caribou.
[Barrow and whaling festival, Aleutian cemeteries, Kotzebue and Selawik, caribou hunt, whaling and skiing and military, Eskimo activity and burned plane]; [between 1940 and 1961].
AAF-1528. Part 1 (AAF-1528) includes images of a beluga being pulled to shore, people gathering for whaling festival and eating, muktuk being passed out, and men with guns and harpoon.
Barrow Whaling Festival, Pt. 2; 1958
AAF-1151. Film is also titled "1958 Whaling Nolokotuk." Footage include people launching a fishing boat, whale hauled ashore, beached whale, people butcher whale. People haul whale ashore with ropes. Children, men and women in groups. Village scenes and wood frame buildings, blanket toss. People leave church yard. Cargo barge. Fishing boat. Crane unloads supplies from barge. Fishing boat leaves full of people, Cats haul supplies into village, equipment and supplies. Tug-of-war between men and women, fishing boats return to village, people meet the boat. Beached whale.
[Barrow, American Pacific Whaling Company]; [between 1945 and 1955].
AAF-91. Scenes include American Pacific Whaling Station and whale being processed.
[Eskimo whaling]; between 1917 and 1919.
AAF-26. The film depicts Alaska Natives and dog teams pulling sleds of whale meat, butchering of the whale, cleaning of baleen, a blanket toss, and a whale camp.
Eskimo whaling: [part 1]; between 1917 and 1919.
AAF-24. Depicts Alaska Natives with dog teams pulling sleds of oomiaks and supplies to open water. Pick axes, axes and ice-testers are used to chop ice for the path. Alaska Natives chop hole in ice, and pull out and butcher whale.
Festival of the whale; 1976.
AAF-5201. Footage of a whaling ceremony at Point Hope following the taking of a bowhead whale. Traditional activities include butchering and cooking whale meat, working on skin boats, and celebrations.
Hunting the largest game in the world; 1912.
AAF-336. Images include loading deck mounted cannon with harpoon, whale is shot, flukes are removed, blubber is stripped and rendered into oil.
The Last Anchor; [1977?].
AAF-5775. Presents the case for subsistence hunting of bowhead whales as essential to the Inupiat people for providing nutritional needs and preserving their culture.
[Point Hope scenes]; [between 1965 and 1968].
AAF-8620. The footage depicts men in umiaks, muktuk and the processing of muktuk, and whaling camps.
[Point Hope whaling activity]; [between 1975 and 1979].
AAF-1792. Images include moving whaling boats, old sod homes, cemetery, putting flags on poles, cutting flipper, cooking and distributing meat, blanket toss and sewing skins together on umiak frame.
[Point Hope whaling festival]; [between 1964 and 1966].
AAF-8542. Images depict people praying before whale feast, meat in tub, villagers eating, and men cutting whale flippers.
[Point Hope, whaling festival, Anvik]; [between 1964 and 1967].
AAF-8561. Images include Alaska Natives dancing at a whaling festival and whale meat being handed out to villagers.
[Point Hope whale hunt]; [between 1965-1968].
AAF-8621. Footage includes men in umiaks, whale camps, whale processing, and pulling whales ashore.
Star in the North: Whale Hunters of Tiagara; 1966.
AAF-8513. Footage taken during a spring whale hunting trip to Point Hope, Alaska.
Utkeagvikmiut, the Barrow Eskimo : [part 3]; between 1955 and 1965.
AAF-97. Footage of whale hunters, umiaks, and whale butchering.
[Wainwright and wolf hunt and Barrow, Barrow whaling]; [between 1949 and 1955].
AAF-6710. Part 2 (AAF-6710) images include bowhead whale being towed on shore, whaling boats, and Barrow.
[Whale processing]; between 1935 and 1945.
AAF-35. Whaling station activity including men working on harpoon gun, whale winched up ramp, butchering process including skinning whales, blubber cut in chunks and put in large vat of boiling whale oil.
[Whaling and Nome and Alaska Territorial Guard]; [between 1952 and 1945].
AAF-277 and AAF 278. Parts 1 and 2 depict whalers in umiaks.
[Whaling festival, sled dog races, dances, and basketball]; [between 1972 and 1982].
AAF-10589. The film is labeled as "05946 Rothman Roll #1" on the film leader and is a composite reel that includes scenes of the Pt. Hope whaling festival.
Whaling people; [1980?].
AAF-5378. Several Alaskan Native whaling captains talk to Dept. of Interior officials about fears that noise and pollution associated with offshore oil development will jeopardize this important food resource. Biologists speak of protecting the whale during oil search operations. Film ends with scenes of the taking of a whale and the feast that follows.
[Wien Pilatus Porter at Point Hope, whaling camp near Point Hope]; [between 1966 and 1967.]
AAF-5700—AAF-5701. Part 1 (AAF-5700) images include Wien Alaska Air Pilatus Porter airplanes at Point Hope, aerial views of village, people on snowmachines at village runway and Pilatus Porter airplane landing. Part 2 (AAF-5701) images include whaling camp on ice, snowmachines, Air Force cargo airplane stuck in snow (?) at Point Hope, waterfowl flying by and tents and umiaks.
[Youth and elders conference in Barrow, tapes 1 to 10]; 2012.
AAF-16978 to AAF-16987. On tape AAF-16980, a man talks on being part of a whaling crew and shows a diagram of the traditional distribution of the parts of a bowhead whale in Barrow, Alaska. Two men provide detailed information about whale hunting, including etiquette toward other whaling crews. They also show the group video clips and pictures from whaling trips. Other men also contribute by sharing a wealth of tips and information about whaling.

Credits

This guide is supported in whole or in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Alaska State Library.