Alonzo Rawson Papers, circa 1898-1900
Scope and Contents
The manuscript collection includes Alonzo Rawson’s diary from 1898-1900, correspondence, primarily to his fiancée, Gertrude in Des Moines. One letter is written by Gertrude after her arrival in Nome, October 1900. Also included is a story by Rawson, clippings, and Rawson’s obituary. Most of the above were transcribed by the donor; the arrangement follows his transcription and is chronological.
Dates
- circa 1898-1900
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is unrestricted.
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
Alonzo Rawson, of Des Moines, was born on November 18, 1864 and graduated from Iowa State University with a law degree in 1888. He worked in Seattle area until he went to interior Alaska as the legal representative of the North American Transportation and Trading Co. The Company sent him to set up a post on the Yukon River at Melozikakat, which is north of Ruby on the north side of the river. In June 1899 he floated down the Yukon to St. Michaels expecting to return home. As there were no other attorneys there he stayed to practice law. After the Nome gold strike he was appointed U.S. Commissioner and soon thereafter, first municipal judge in the district of Nome. Rawson was also the first mayor of Nome. His fiancee, Gertrude Witmer jointed him in Nome in the fall of 1900 where they were married. He returned to Des Moines to attend to business, became ill and died there on May 20, 1904 at age 39.
Extent
1 boxes (10 Folders)
Language of Materials
English
Acquisition
The collection was donated by Ted Stubbs, grandson of Alonzo Rawson. (Acc. # 1999-50)
Existence and Location of Copies
The donor provided a transcript of the diary, correspondence, and “The Arrival of the Storekeeper on the Yukon.” Transcript is located in Folder 9 of this collection.
Processing Information
Documents were arranged according to transcript created by the donor. A folder level inventory is available.
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Alonzo Rawson Papers, circa 1898-1900
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Processed by: Gladi Kulp, December 1999 ; Inventory by: Loraine Spear, December 1999 ; Revised by: Gladi Kulp, February 2000 ; ArchivesSpace Finding Aid by: Connie Hamann
- Date
- 2019 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
PO Box 110571
Juneau AK 99811-0571 US
907-465-2920
907-465-2925
907-465-2151 (Fax)
asl.historical@alaska.gov