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Alaska Capital Move Records, 1959-1983

 Collection
Identifier: MS 4-21

Dates

  • 1959-1983

Conditions Governing Access

Request for permission to publish or reproduce material from the collection should be discussed with the Librarian.

Conditions Governing Use

The collection is unrestricted.

Biographical / Historical

In 1900, Congress moved Alaska’s territorial legislature from Sitka to Juneau which became the official capital in 1912. In 1913, the Legislature debated moving the capital to a more central location in the Territory. Referendums and other measures to move the capital continued to surface until 1929, when the state began constructing a capitol building in Juneau. After that time, talk of moving the capital did not resurface until the 1940s. Attempts to relocate state government to Palmer were defeated in 1947 and 1956. A ballot measure was rejected in 1960 and again in 1962, but in 1974, Alaskans voted to move the capital from Juneau to Willow, Alaska. However, in 1978, the FRANK Commission [Fiscally Responsible Alaskans Needing Knowledge] was created, which required that voters know and approve the cost of such a move and in 1982 voters rejected by 77% the estimated $2.8 billion a capital move would cost. [From: “Capital grab then and now,” Juneau Empire, Oct. 20, 2002, by Timothy Inklebarger. Folder 6.]

The debate continues and as of the November 2002 election, the issue has been brought before the voters and rejected six times.

Extent

.2 Linear Feet (1 box) : 8 folders

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Clippings, reports, newspaper and magazine articles documenting the capital move issue in Alaska from 1959 to 2002 and ongoing. Items are added as they are received. Folder 8 added from Accession # 2014-039.

Related Materials

Folder 8 added from Accession # 2014-039

Processing Information

Folders are arranged chronologically.

Title
Finding Aid for the Alaska Capital Move Records, 1959-1983
Status
In Progress
Author
Processed by Staff ; Revised by S. Lanksbury.
Date
2008 march
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

Contact:
PO Box 110571
Juneau AK 99811-0571 US
907-465-2920
907-465-2925
907-465-2151 (Fax)