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Fort William H. Seward Photographs, ca. 1908-1909

 Collection
Identifier: PCA 578

Scope and Contents

Many of the photographs are of soldiers from the 22nd Infantry, A and F Company, at Fort William H. Seward in Haines, Alaska, 1908-1909. The images include portraits of the soldiers, the men reading and playing cards in their barracks, and the 22nd Infantry Regimental Band and their instruments. One photograph is an image of Co. F leaving March 27, 1908 for Treadwell, Alaska, for duty in connection with a miners’ strike there.

Dates

  • ca. 1908-1909

EAD

PCA0578

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is unrestricted.

Historical

Fort William H. Seward, located in Haines, was the first permanent Army post in Alaska. Its construction began in 1903 and by the time construction was completed, Fort Seward consisted of approximately 90 buildings scattered over 4,000 acres. The Fort was named in honor of the U.S. Secretary of State responsible for the purchase of Alaska from the Russians in 1867. Fort William H. Seward was later renamed Chilkoot Barracks to avoid confusion with the town of Seward. At the end of World War II Chilkoot Barracks was decommissioned. Five veterans of World War II bought the old fort and in 1947 renamed it Port Chilkoot. In 1970 Port Chilkoot became part of the City of Haines and in 1972 it was designated a national historic site and officially renamed Fort William H. Seward.

Information from: “A History and Walking Tour: Fort William H. Seward, Haines, Alaska” and “Ft. William H. Seward” by Brenda Wilcox, Artic Soldier, Winter 1991

Extent

41 items : 41 glass plates

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The glass plates were retrieved by Ron Klein from a Quonset hut on Douglas Island owned by Ferrall Campbell. Mr. Campbell may have acquired the glass plates from George Meacock of Haines. Accession# 1989-055.

Existence and Location of Copies

The photographs in this collection have been digitized and are available to view via VILDA.

Processing Information

The glass plates were resleeved and numbered. The glass plates have been scanned and reference prints made.

Title
Finding aid for the Fort William H. Seward Photographs, ca. 1908-1909
Status
In Progress
Author
Processed by: Jacki Swearingen, Nov. 2014 ; Revised by: Jacki Swearingen, Dec. 2016 ; ArchivesSpace finding aid by: Sandy Johnston 2019 August ; Inventory added by: Sandy Johnston
Date
2020 April
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Alaska State Library - Historical Collections Finding Aids Repository

Contact:
PO Box 110571
Juneau AK 99811-0571 US
907-465-2920
907-465-2925
907-465-2151 (Fax)