Ethel M. (Clayton) Montgomery, collector and promoter of Native arts and crafts, docent, and well-known Juneau hostess, was born on March 12, 1896 in northeastern Nebraska, Montgomery graduated from Wayne State Normal. She taught elementary school in Nebraska and married Ivil J. Montgomery in 1917. The Montgomerys had three children -- Jean, Chloe, and Neil C. After they arrived in Juneau, Alaska in 1949, Ethel Montgomery actively promoted the sale of products, handmade by Native artisans, through the Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Clearinghouse, later renamed the Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Cooperative Association, Inc., known from its inception as ANAC. Montgomery was advisor and volunteer at the ANAC Cache, an outlet for Native arts and crafts in Juneau. She was a well-known docent at the Alaska State Museum and led local tours for local groups such as the Juneau Chamber of Congress. Montgomery remained active until her death on January 31, 1989, in Juneau.

: ETHEL M. (CLAYTON) MONTGOMERY

1896 Born in northeastern Nebraska as Ethel M. Clayton, March 12

1916-1917? Graduate of Wayne State Normal, taught elementary school Volunteer work of various kinds, including Red Cross hospital, in Nebraska and Massachusetts

1917 Married Ivil James Montgomery in Nebraska. Children: Jean, Chloe and Neil

1917-1948? Husband, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, 1941 Husband, Superintendent of Schools, Wilber/Blair, Nebraska Husband, Director of Merit System of Nebraska

1949-196? Arrived in Juneau, Alaska, with husband, from Lincoln, Nebraska, July Husband, first Director of Merit System for the Territory of Alaska, until statehood. Husband, Director of Certification for the Alaska Department of Education until retirement

1949-1950's Volunteer in the Government Hospital; visits patients' relatives in cities and villages

1968 Husband died, May 9 in Juneau

1949?-1961 Volunteer and advisor for Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Cooperative

1961-1975? Manager of ANAC Cache

1949-1989 Tour guide at the Alaska State Museum, beginning when Edward Keithahn was director (top floor of the Old Federal Building now State Capitol Building) Co-organizer of the Shank, Ship and Shutter Club Active with husband in Juneau Methodist Church, later Northern Light Church Active in Salvation Army (board member) Member for 50 years of PEO and Eastern Star Member of Daughters of the American Revolution Member of Igloo #6 Alaska Pioneers Member of American Legion Auxiliary

1971 Woman of the Year, Juneau Rotary Club

1984 Adopted by Jennie Thlunaut into the Kaagwaan Taan Wolf Clan of the Eagle Tribe (Tlingit) in Haines; given Tlingit name Naats Klaa

1984 Awarded Citizen's Choice Beautification by Juneau, for her home, "Heen Ku Hit," and its grounds, covered by native plants

1984?-1989 Elected chaplain of the Yin Waashaa, Kaagwaan Taan Women's Society

1985 Received Governor's Volunteer Award from Governor Bill Sheffield

1986 Celebration of 90th birthday, by Friends of the Museum, Alaska State Museum, Monday, March 3 Celebration of 90th birthday by her family, hosted by her daughter, Jean Berg, in Seattle, March 9

1988 State Legislature recognized her long-term community service

1989 Died, January 31 in Juneau

: ALASKA NATIVE ARTS AND CRAFTS COOPERATIVE, INC.

1937-1938 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), a federal agency, set up the Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Clearing House (ANAC) in Juneau Arts and Crafts Division set up by Alaska Native Service (ANS), a branch of the BIA. BIA superintendent Claude M. Hirst appointed Virgil Farrell, a Nome BIA teacher, as the first supervisor of the native arts and crafts clearing house.

1939 Government trademark issued for Alaskan native products to guarantee authenticity

1940 BIA appointed Virgil Farrell superintendent of the ANS BIA appointed Harvey Starling, Kotzebue BIA teacher, Supervisor of Arts and Crafts

1944 BIA assigned Harvey Starling to the newly-established position of Arts and Crafts Manager Don C. Foster, ANS superintendent, at the recommendation of Harvey Starling, appointed Don Burrus as an assistant and general manager of ANAC and added some of Harvey Starling's previous duties to his own

1945 Harvey Starling was transferred Supervisor of Arts to the Education Division as Supervisor of Education for the ANS

1947 Responsibility for ANAC was redesignated from the Education Division of ANS to the Native Resources Division

1949 Adopted ANAC trademark

1950 Eliminated 2% service charge on merchandise and implemented conventional retail mark-up policy

1952 ANAC became self-supporting

1956 April 23, the ANAC severed its ties to government and became a private, cooperatively-owned, self-supporting, nonprofit corporation under the Laws of the Territory of Alaska; the Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Clearing House (ANAC) became Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Cooperative Association, Inc., (still known as ANAC)

1958 Direct mail, common during the early years, was publicized and increased to combat the influx of fraudulent misrepresentations and imitations appearing in retail outlets

1961 ANAC Cache, retail shop in Juneau, opened under the management of Ethel Montgomery ANAC received loan from BIA; discontinued consignment policy and began to purchase directly from members

1968 Alaska State Legislature introduced Bill No. 535 to create the Alaska Native Crafts Corporation to promote and market Alaska native crafts

1972-1973 Moved general operations to Anchorage; ANAC Cache continued to operate 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 were sold; wholesale and retail operations were consolidated in a single gallery space in downtown Anchorage

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

[Time line was constructed from Ethel Montgomery's notes, the recollections of Don Burrus, former manager of ANAC, and Guide to the Historical Records of the Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Clearing House by Christina F. Kreps.]