Skip to main content

Dr. Frank Robertson Collection, ca. 1944-1946

 Collection
Identifier: PCA 525-7

Scope and Contents

Color slides of Alaska scenes, primarily Southwestern Alaska, ca. 1944-1946. Photographs (black and white) and papers related to the February 1946 S.S. Yukon wreck, rescue, and medical care of survivors.

Dates

  • ca. 1944-1946

EAD

PCA0525-07

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is unrestricted.

Conditions Governing Use

Request for permission to publish or reproduce material from the collection should be discussed with the Librarian. Photocopying does not constitute permission to publish.

Biographical

Dr. Frank G. Robertson was born December 20, 1915. His family moved to Arkansas in 1921. There he graduated from Benton, AR High School in 1933. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1937 and the U. of A. in 1941. He served as an intern and resident physician in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1943 and 1944. He went into the army in 1944 and was honorably discharged in 1946. He served in Alaska in the Medical Corps from Dec. 1944 until honorably discharged in 1946. Dr. Robertson spent much of his time in Alaska at Fort Richardson, but also had temporary duty in Galena, Alaska, after a flood there. Dr. Robertson was one of two military doctors sent out to minister to the survivors of the sinking of the S. S. Yukon. He was also dispatched to Unga Island for medical treatment of diphtheria cases. Moreover, Dr. Robertson delivered the first baby at 183rd Station Hospital after dependents were allowed to come to Alaska after WWII was over. The rest of his career he spent as an Obstetrician/ Gynecologist in St. Louis. He and his first wife had four children. He re-married after his wife died.

Extent

3 Volumes : 3 folders ; 340 Color slides ; 35 black and white photographs ; Personal Correspondence (2 pages) ; Newspaper issues and clippings

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was donated by Dr. Frank Robertson to the Alaska State Library Historical Collections.

Related Materials

Letter written by Dr. Robertson describing the S.S. Yukon wreck site and taking the injured survivors to Ft. Richardson Station Hospital (2 pages, laminated)

Newspaper accounts of the wreck (12 pages, photocopied)

Issues (2) and clipping concerning wreck

Issue (1) of the Army newspaper North Star (November 5, 1945), includes Aldiv Picture Supplement

Processing Information

This collection has been described at the item level. All items have been placed in Mylar and into pH-neutral folders.

Title
Finding aid for the Dr. Frank Robertson Collection, ca. 1944-1946
Status
In Progress
Author
Processed by: Alea Oien, May 2009 ; Revised by: Anastasia Tarmann ; Revised by: Sandy Johnston, May 2014 ; Updated by: Jacki Swearingen, June 2014 ; ArchivesSpace finding aid by: Sandy Johnston 2019 June ; Inventory added by: Sandy Johnston
Date
2020 July
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)