Researching Alaska-related topics can be fun and challenging. Although most Alaska sources are available in books, a lot of information is buried in primary source materials available only in archives, newspapers or special collections. Before undertaking an in-depth Alaska related research project, plan ahead and be prepared to spend more time and effort locating and analyzing the sources that you may need.
Researchers should have a basic understanding of Alaska history before undertaking any research. A timeline of Alaska history is helpful because it helps to identify trends in Alaska history. For example, prior to Alaska becoming a Territory in 1912, basic record keeping was extremely limited and early vital records such as marriage, birth, death and divorce certificates are almost impossible to find. Sources such as Alaska newspapers are a wealth of information for early Alaska research while personal papers (manuscripts, corporate records and diaries) are often the only known source or historical record for a particular region or topic.
Let's navigate through the Alaska resources at the UAF Rasmuson Library:
The Alaska and Polar Regions
Department:
Located on Level 2 , the Alaska and Polar Regions Department (APR) is the world's
largest Alaska collection. The APR department acquires, preserves and provides
access to materials that document the past and present of Alaska and the Polar
Regions. This material includes books about Alaska and the Polar Regions, Alaska
Periodicals and special collections such as manuscripts, photographs, rare books
and maps, oral histories and films. APR holds most of the Rasmuson Library's
special collections.
* Note that Alaska-related books and periodicals are in ‘open stacks’
and accessible during regular library hours. The archival materials must
be requested and viewed in the APR Research Room.
Alaska Reference Collection
Located at the entrance to Level 2, the Alaska Reference section is a
good place to start your Alaska research. This collection contains dictionaries,
encyclopedias, gazetteers, indexes, bibliographies of Alaskana, Arctic
and Antarctic regions, and current phone books for most Alaska towns and
cities, that provide answers to quick questions and facts. The spectrum
of authoritative works in the Alaska Reference collection includes the Dictionary
of Alaska Place Names, Alaska Trees and Common Shrubs, Guide to the Birds
of Alaska, Russian America: A Biographical Dictionary; A Guide to Historical
Photographs in the Alaska and Polar Regions Department, Handbook of North
American Indians, The Alaska Almanac, Alaska Historical Documents Since 1867;
Yupik Eskimo Dictionary; Shipwrecks on the Alaskan Shelf, Whaling Logbooks
& Journals, 1613-1927, and more.
* Note: Reference books do not circulate.
Alaska Book Collection:
Located on the East wall, the Alaska book collection is one of the largest of
its kind and covers all aspects of Alaska and the Polar Regions. These books
are cataloged in the Library Catalog,
and are an excellent place to find secondary source materials on Alaska.
* Note: the Alaska book collection circulates.
Alaska Newspapers:
Alaska’s newspapers contain a wealth of Alaska information. Current Alaska
newspapers are located in hanging files near the Level 2 entrance. Back
issues of the newspapers are on microfilm and stored in cabinets located on
the North wall, near the entrance to APR's Research Room. Although the Rasmuson
Library collects Alaska newspapers, the guide,
Alaska Newspapers on Microfilm, 1866-1998, is helpful for finding
Alaska newspapers (a hard copy is located on top of the microfilm cabinets).
Note that not all newspapers listed in the guide are held at the Library and
may require interlibrary loan.
* Microfilmed newspapers require a microfilm reader/printer. Machines
are readily available on Level 2 and accommodate printing.
Alaska Periodicals:
APR holds paper copies of most Alaska Periodicals, which are located on
the West wall near the level 2 entrance. In particular, articles have been
indexed into the Alaska Periodical
Index
and cover articles on Alaska and Polar subjects from over 500 magazines
and journals received by the Library.
* Note: The Alaska Periodicals Index only provides citations to journal articles.
Using the Special Collections at the APR Research Room (the inner Sanctum):
Using the special collections at APR requires special protocols. Be prepared to sign a register and follow the Rules for Using the Research Room.
Located on the West wall of level 2, the APR Research Room is open during
the following hours:
10-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday
1-5 p.m. Saturday
The Special Collections include the following materials that are available at the APR Research Room only:
Historical Photograph Collections:
The Historical Photograph Collections contain over 700,000 images from the 1870s
forward. Reproduction services for historical prints, slides and digital images
are available from our photo lab. Except for the Arve Wahto and Butler
Brothers' Collections, the historical images are only available for viewing
in the Research Room.
Oral History Program:
Located in the Alaska and Polar Regions Department Research Room, the
Oral History Program has over 8,000 hours of recordings with Alaskans of
different cultures and experiences from the 1940s to the present. The Oral
History Program also produces Project Jukebox, a series of multi-media oral
history databases on CD-ROM. Access to Project Jukebox is provided
through a workstation in the Research Room and will soon be available at
a workstation on Level 5.
* Note: Taped copies are available for checkout and interlibrary loan.
Staff is available to assist with searches.
Rare Books and Maps:
The Rare Book Collection has over 5,000 volumes of
early exploration accounts and studies of Alaska and the Polar Regions from
the 15th to early 20th centuries. It is one of the world's leading collections
on Russian America.
* Note: Most of the Alaska rare books are on microfilm.
The Rare Map Collection is especially strong in maps of Alaska from 16th century speculative cartography to the gold rush era. 200 of the rarest items are available on the WWW at Collections from the University of Alaska : Maps .
The Manuscript Map Collection consists of more than 18,000 maps, plats, and charts emphasizing 20th century Alaskan development. Topics include mining claims, cannery sites, and land use planning.
Film Archives
The Film Archives has moving images on film or videotape detailing many
aspects of life in the North dating from 1925, including both amateur and
professional footage. Copies are available for checkout and interlibrary
loan.
UAF Archives:
The University Archives contain historically significant administrative
records that date from the beginning of the University as the Alaska Agricultural
College and School of Mines in 1917.
Wenger Eskimo Database:
This electronic, full-text database contains 260 books and articles pertaining
to the first contacts and first observations of Inuit/Eskimo groups in Chukotka,
Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. The database can be searched by keyword or subject,
and includes images. The database is available at a CD-ROM workstation
near the Rasmuson Library Reference Desk on Level 5 . The Wenger Eskimo
Database will soon be available on the WWW. For accessing the database
via the WWW, Internet Explorer 5.0 (or higher) or Netscape 6.0 (or higher) web
browsers are recommended. See Updating
Your Browser for information on browser upgrades.
Material may be quoted or reproduced for educational purposes without prior permission, provided appropriate credit is given. Any commercial use of the material is prohibited without prior permission from the Rasmuson Library.
Created: 08/01, I. Spartz; Revised Jan. 05, 2005 for S.
Hahn by imk
