Governor Lyman E. Knapp Papers, ca. 1889-1894

Collection

Identifier: MS 142

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers center around Lyman Knapp’s tenure as governor of territorial Alaska, 1889-1893. They include correspondence, speeches, writings, subject papers, programs, proclamations, orders, periodicals, and other memorabilia. Correspondents include Sheldon Jackson, William Duncan, Taku Sub-Chief Annatlas, James Sheakley, A.P. Kashevaroff, and Sol Ripinsky. Photographs may be viewed at PCA 438.

Dates

circa 1889-1894

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is unrestricted.

Biographical / Historical

Lyman Enos Knapp was the third territorial governor of Alaska from 1889-1893 in Sitka. He was born in Somerset, Vermont, November 5, 1837. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1862 and fought in the Civil War. After the war he was editor of the Middlebury Register for13 years. He was admitted to the Vermont bar in 1876. He received an M.A. and L.L.D. from Whitman College in 1893. Governor Knapp was probate judge in Addison County, Vermont, 1879-1889. In 1889 President Harrison appointed Knapp governor of Alaska; he served until 1893.

He married Martha A. Severance in Washington, D.C., January 23, 1865. They had four children: George, Edwin, Frances, and Mary (May). Governor Knapp was founder and first president of the Anti-Saloon League of Washington. He was also founder and first president of the Alaska Historical Society. He died in Seattle, October 9, 1904.

[For more detailed information on Governor Knapp’s early life, see Folder 1, #5]

Extent

1 boxes (18 folders) : Approximately 311 items

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Knapp papers were donated to the Alaska Historical Collections by Richard L. Kelly, great-grandson of Governor Lyman E. Knapp. Documents arrived in several parts during 1994-1995. Items in folder 18 were loaned in 2006, by Richard and Ann Kelly, and photocopied by the Alaska Historical Collections library.

Related Materials

Photographs form a separate collection. See PCA 438: Lyman E. Knapp Photograph Collection, ca. 1890s

Processing Information

The papers are in fair-good condition. Some fragile documents were housed in Mylar for better preservation. Copies of fragile documents were made for use by researchers so originals will not be subjected to further breakage.

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Finding Aid for the Governor Lyman E. Knapp Papers, ca. 1889-1894
Status: In Progress
Author: Processed by: Gladi Kulp, Dec. 2002; Revised by: Sandy Johnston, July 2014; Revised by: Jacki Swearingen, Nov. 2016; ArchivesSpace Finding Aid by: Jacki Swearingen
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