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Shell Simmons Photograph Collection, ca. 1929-1996

 Collection
Identifier: PCA 356

Scope and Contents

Photographs cover the subjects of Alaska aeronautics , the history of Alaska Airlines and Alaska Air Transport, Inc., bush pilots of Alaska, accidents,.

Dates

  • ca. 1929-1996

Conditions Governing Access

The photos may be viewed. However the images may not be photocopied.

Conditions Governing Use

Request for permission to publish or reproduce material from the collection should be discussed with the Librarian.

Biographical

Sheldon B. Simmons. Pioneer aviatory, Shell Simmons was born Oct. 8, 1908 in Clearwater County, Idaho. Simmons was one of Alaska’s pioneer aviators, known as a “mercy pilot” who made daring rescues and contributed to commercial aviation. In 1935 he started Alaska Air Transport, a commercial air carrier business which merged with Marine Airways in 1939 to create Alaska Coastal Airlines. In 1962 the company joined with Bob Ellis’ Ellis Airlines from Ketchikan to become Alaska Coastal-Ellis Airlines, the largest scheduled airline exclusively operating amphibians. Later they merged with Alaska Airlines and Simmons was made a board member until 1981 when he was named director emeritus. Shell Simmon died [Juneau Empire, Nov. 16, 17, 1994]

Extent

32 Linear Feet : 2,113 photographs, 1 box slides ; slide viewing equipment

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was donated by the Sheldon B. Simmons Trust, Nina L. Brown, trustee in February 1995.

Existence and Location of Copies

Photographs digitized and available for viewing via Alaska's Digital Archives: 0001, 008, 0055-0067b, 0069-0073, 0082-0084, 0099, 0103, 0106-0108a, 0123-0125, 0131-0132, 0137-0139, 0143-0144, 0146-0148, 0153, 0176-0177, 0182-0183, 0193, 0201, 0212-0213, 0228, 0230-0237, 0240, 0242, 0249, 0251, 0264-0265, 0271, 0277, 0292, 0298, 0300, 0305, 0310, 0316, 0326, 0345, 0348, 0350, 0352-0353, 0356, 0360, 0366, 0368-0369, 0382, 0396, 0407, 0412, 0418, 0424-0426, 0491-0493, 0584, 0655, 0660, 0664, 0685, 0703-0704, 0972, 0976, 1003-1005, 1010-1013, 1017-1022, 1025-1026, 1028-1030, 1032-1035, 1039, 1042-1-1044, 1046-1050, 1055, 1057-1059, 1063-1064, 1066, 1070, 1073, 1075, 1082, 1087-1090, 1093, 1095, 1097, 1099, 1117, 1126-1127, 1199, 2001, 2002, 2026, 2050-2051, 2055, 2084-2085, 2097, 2101, 2103, 2104, 2314-L , 2315-R, 2316-R, 2317-L, 2318-L, 2319-R, 2320-R, 2323-L, 2324-L, 2325-R

Related Materials

Manuscripts form a separate collection, MS 144.

Processing Information

The photos are numbered; a series of color slides have not been processed as of 8/98. Folder level inventory available.

Title
Finding aid for the Shell Simmons Photograph Collection, ca. 1929-1996
Status
In Progress
Author
Processed: 7/1998 by: Debbie Finley and India Spartz ; Inventory: M.C. Harris, 11/1999 ; ArchivesSpace finding aid by: Sandy Johnston
Date
2019 May
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)