BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Donald Burrus was born in Alta, Iowa in 1904, and educated in Washington State, with a BA from Spokane University in 1931 and an MA in education from Washington State in 1935. He became the manager of Alaska Native Arts & Crafts in 1944, retiring on December 31, 1971 at the age of 67.

Prior to arriving in Alaska, Burrus climbed both Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams in 1939. Upon arriving in Juneau he continued to climb and ascended most of the peaks in the Juneau area. He build a cabin in the Lena Beach area with his wife and friends.

Burrus traveled in northern coastal Alaska on the Alaska Native Service vessel North Star and in interior Alaska with several of the famous bush pilots, photographing the communities which he visited.

HISTORICAL NOTE

The clearing house was established in Juneau in 1938 as the marketing arm and the collection and wholesale agency of the Arts and Crafts Division of the Alaska Native Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs. It supplied raw materials, worked to preserve Native art forms, and encouraged conservation of natural material resources such as ivory. The clearing house later became the Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Cooperative Association (1956). It was reorganized in 1984 to become the Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Association, Inc.

CHRONOLOGY

1937 - 1938 Arts and Crafts Division was set up by Alaska Native Service in Juneau, Alaska. Virgi1 R. Farrell appointed supervisor, Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Clearing House established in Juneau.

1939 Government trademark issued for Alaskan Indian/Eskimo products to guarantee authenticity.

1940 Indian Arts and Crafts Board based in Washington, D.C. appointed arts and crafts demonstration teacher to position in Nome, Alaska.

1944 Managerial position instituted at Clearing House, salary furnished by ClearingHouse earnings.

1947 Clearing House redesignated from Education Division of A'l a sk a Native Service to Native Resource Division.

1949 Adopted Alaska Native Arts and Crafts trademark.

1950 Eliminated 2% service-charge on merchandise and implemented con-ventional retail mark-up policy.

1956 Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Cooperative, Association, Inc., formed.

1961 ANAC received loan from Bureau of Indian Affairs. Discontinued policy of taking arts and crafts on consignment and began to purchase work directly from members.

1972 – 1973 Moved genera1 operations to Anchorage, Alaska. ANAC Cache continued to do business in Juneau.

1974 Constructed warehouse which served as office headquarters and wholesale outlet, and opened retail gallery in downtown Anchorage.

1975 ANAC Cache in Juneau and Anchorage warehouse sold. Wholesale and retail operations consolidated in single gallery space into downtown Anchorage.

1984 Corporate structure changed from Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Cooperative Association, Inc., to ANAC Association, Inc.