Papers of Frank C. Nichols while in Alaska, 1898-1902

Collection

Identifier: MS 13-2-5

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Manuscript items include letters written by Frank Nichols to his parents in Fall River Mass., and newspaper articles or letters to the PROVIDENCE JOURNAL and FALL RIVER EVENING NEWS in 1898 describe the Rhode Island and Alaska Mining Trading and Transportation Company activity. Various members of the company wrote to the newspapers. The file includes a hand drawn map of the Koowak [Kohuk] River showing a winter trail of the natives and prospecting area. Photographs of mining activity and N and A Company personnel are located in PCA 256.

Dates

1898-1902

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.

Biographical / Historical

In 1898, the Rhode Island and Alaska Trading and Transportation Company formed for the purpose of purchasing a ship to transport men to Alaska to search for gold.

The bark MERMAID was purchased in San Francisco and Frank Nichols sailed to Alaska aboard her, coming by way of the Bering Sea to St. Michael.

After reaching Alaska, Frank Nichols and several friends formed the N and A Company with Mr. Nichols as auditor. Claims were started near Council on the Seward Peninsula. In 1902 Mr. Nichols was mining at Elkhorn Creek, northwest of Council.

Extent

2 Volumes : 2 folders

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated in 1985 to the Alaska State Museum by Anna Muriel Hurd, Frank Nichols' niece. It was then transferred to the Alaska Historical Library.

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Finding aid for the Papers of Frank C. Nichols while in Alaska, 1898-1902
Status: In Progress
Author: Processed by: Staff ; ArchivesSpace finding aid by: Sandy Johnston
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