Clarence J. Tjernagel Photograph Collection, 1906-1909
Scope and Contents
The images show the areas around Mary’s Igloo and Teller, including schools, classrooms and students. Also shown are reindeer, Eskimos (many are identified), fishing activity, a cemetery, native housing, Teller reindeer station and the Lutheran Mission construction. The first 33 photos were taken in the Teller area (PCA0138-1 through PCA0138-33), the remaining were taken in Mary's Igloo (PCA0138-34 through PCA0138-115).
Dates
- 1906-1909
EAD
PCA0138Conditions Governing Access
The collection may be viewed, however, the photographs may not be photocopied.
Conditions Governing Use
Requests for permission to publish material from the collection must be discussed with the Librarian. Photocopying does not constitute permission to publish.
Biographical Note
At the age of 19, Clarence J. Tjernagel became the first teacher to conduct formal public school classes in Mary's Igloo (also known as Igloo) opening a school in 1906. He also taught in Teller, was a miner, did construction work and managed one of the Lomen Bros. stores. Tjernagel stayed in this region until around 1909 and came back to the Aleutians during World War II as a freight handler for the U.S. Army.
His uncle, H.M. Tjernagel, was a pastor and missionary at the Lutheran Mission in Mary’s Igloo from about 1900 to 1913. Clarence Tjernagel died at age 92 in Mt. Vernon, WA.
Mary’s Igloo was a mining camp on the Seward Peninsula, 40 miles southeast of Teller and 80 miles north of Nome. First settled in 1899, it served as a distribution point for goods going to the gold fields in the Kougarok (or Kugruk) Mining District.
Extent
1 boxes : 115 photographs
4 Reels : (1,200 feet), 8 mm film, black and white, color, ca. 1945.
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was given to the Historical Library in July, 1975, as part of an agreement with Human Environmental Resources (H.E.R.S.) Inc. and the Imuruk Project (Laurel Bland, Director).
Existence and Location of Originals
4 reels of 8mm film, black and white, color, ca. 1945. (Located in Room 227A in the Vault)
There is no identification on the film carton to associate with the following information from donor files:
[1] Reindeer dogs, white whale, salmon (2 copies made by Loman about 1945 for the Polar Explorers.) Drying Arctic Terns, baby into and out of parka [400 ft.]
[2] Nome – flowers, business district, Tom Copping residence, July 4th blanket toss. [200 ft.]
[3] Golovin, WHite Mountain, Elim, Koyuk, Teller, moving day King Island. [300 ft.]
[4] Launching tugs, launching barges, litering [?] Kotzebue [300 ft.]
Existence and Location of Copies
Photographs digitized and available for viewing via Alaska's Digital Archives: #100
Processing Information
The photographs are sleeved in Mylar. They were placed in acid free folders and then into an archival box. The films are stored separately in Room 227A in the Vault. The collection was misnamed “Tjernagle” until 2008, based on misspellings in all transferring paperwork and correspondence. His signatures and census information are clearly “Tjernagel”.
- Title
- Finding aid for the Clarence J. Tjernagel Photograph Collection, 1906-1909
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by: Staff, 1975. Revised by: Staff, 9/21/2004. ArchivesSpace Finding Aid by: Freya Anderson; Inventory added by Jack Kovaleski, July 2020 ; Revised by: Jacki Swearingen, Nov. 2020
- Date
- 2020 July
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Alaska State Library - Historical Collections Finding Aids Repository
PO Box 110571
Juneau AK 99811-0571 US
907-465-2920
907-465-2925
907-465-2151 (Fax)
asl.historical@alaska.gov