Jim Ruotsala Photographs, 1934-2005

Collection

Identifier: PCA 469

Staff Only

Alaska's Digital Archives : Jim Ruotsala photographs, 1934-2007. ASL-PCA-469

Scope and Contents

Materials in the collection include images primarily related to aviation history and maritime activity in Alaska, particularly the Southeast region. There are 71 negatives of the Goldstein Building and the Coliseum Theatre/Apartments fires.

Dates

1934-2005

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is available for viewing, however; the photographs may not be photocopied.

Conditions Governing Access

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

Biographical

Juneau resident James "Jim" A. Ruotsala was born in 1934, and a third-generation Douglas and Juneau resident. At the age of nine, he began to frequent the Alaska Coastal Airline Seadrome where he developed his lifelong interest in Alaskan Aviation.

He joined the Alaska State Defense Force and Civil Air Patrol. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951-56 and as a tank gunner in the Army Reserves from 1958-1963.

Considered one of Alaska's foremost aviation historians, Jim was selected for the 2000 Alaskan of the Year and received the prestigious Denali Award. First published in 1980, Ruotsala has written scores of magazine articles on Southeast and aviation history.

He published two major works in his lifetime; Pilots of the Panhandle: Aviation in Southeast Alaska (in 1997,) and its follow-up, Alaskan Wings: Aviation in Southeast Alaska, volume 2 (in 2002.)

He kept an aviation photograph collection totaling over 4000 images, many of which were copied from the personal collection of notable Alaska aviators. He also maintained a strong interest in maritime history and kept an extensive collection of historical maritime photographs.

He was a member of many organizations including Pioneers of Alaska, Gastineau Channel Historical Society, Moose Lodge 700, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.

Jim Ruotsala died May 27, 2007 at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, Alaska.

Extent

4 boxes : 3.0 linear ft. ; Photographs: black and white, some col.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Records were donated to the Alaska State Library Historical Collections by Mr. Jim Ruotsala himself in an ongoing accession process (Acc#2005_13 ongoing).

Existence and Location of Copies

Photographs digitized and available for viewing via Alaska's Digital Archives: (1-01-)01-30; (1-02-)01-35; (2-02-)20, 22; (2-04-)66-67, 70-71; (2-06-)59-60, 75, 86; (2-11-)01, 07, 18

Processing Information

The initial donation was split into two collections, MS 231 and PCA 469. This collection has been processed at the series-level. Original order was maintained when possible. Some items have been transferred to pH-neutral folders and all items were transferred into archival containers.