The collection includes about 300 photos taken in interior and northwestern Alaska in 1911-1914 by Governor Parks when he worked for the U.S. Land Office. These include views of villages, mining operations, and vessels on the Yukon. The first 92 views (album) in the collection record a trip taken during May and June of 1928 by Governor Parks, Malcolm Elliott, President of the Alaska Road Commission and R.J. Sommers, Territorial highway engineer. A portion of the trip was in a one-engine airplane, piloted by A. A. Bennett. The trip of 2,500 miles to northern and interior Alaska was the first extensive trip that an Alaskan governor had made by airplane. There are some official photos of cabinet members; also formal and informal views of the 1929 U.S. Navy Alaska Aerial Survey Expedition.