Angoon and Killisnoo Papers, 1878 -1911

Collection

Identifier: MS 193

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Papers focus on several Tlingits from Angoon on Admiralty Island beginning at the time when the Navy was in charge of the territory in 1878-1884 and on through the early 20th Century. Two letters and the "Lost" note relate to the bombardment of Angoon by the Navy vessel U.S.S. ADAMS in 1882. Others mention a coal mine discovery on Admiralty Island and the Indian Police Force. Several of these letters can be termed "skookum papers," since they provide a testament to the good character of the bearer. Names of authors and others either mentioned or associated with this collection include John G. Brady, E.C. Merriman, William A. McDougal, Charles W. Bartlett, Edward deGroff, Alaska Salmon Company, Governor James Sheakley, L. C. Dennis, R. Willoughby, Kokesh, Kaajaakwtí, Alexis Kahaoochkoo, Peter and Anna Thomas, Carl Spuhn, and Rev. A.P. Kashevaroff.

The Papers total 16 items, some with accompanying envelopes. All except for the last three items are original documents. The thirteen original (holograph) documents are arranged chronologically, beginning in 1878.

Dates

1878-1911

Conditions Governing Access

Copies of the collection are available to researchers. Originals are stored separately because they are fragile. Under no circumstances may the originals be photocopied.

Conditions Governing Use

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

Extent

16 items

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Alaska State Library purchased the collection from Kootznoowoo, Inc., in October 2001, with a signed agreement regarding policies. Kootznoowoo, Inc., purchased the collection from Emily Williams, widow of Father J. Michael Williams. Previously, in 1984, Emily Williams gave the Library a typescript catalogue of these documents (MS 4-6-8).

General

Background Note

Kootznoowoo, Inc., is the for profit native organization established under ANSCA in 1970. Its home base is the city of Angoon on Admiralty Island in Southeast Alaska. Kaajaakwtí* was one of the chiefs in Angoon during the latter half of the 19th Century. His name is translated into English as "Manslayer." Several of the letters identify him as a Tlingit chief of the Kootznoowoo (Huchinew or Hootchenoo) tribe or the Killisnoo or the Neltuskin Village.

Processing Information

There was no original order to the collection. The items were numbered by staff and housed in mylar. For additional security, the items were scanned by Kootznoowoo, Inc., and placed on a CD-Rom by Art Sutch. The document scan number from the Kootznoowoo CD-Rom is noted in the inventory. The two photocopied items were re-copied onto acid free paper.

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Finding aid for the Angoon and Killisnoo Papers, 1878 -1911
Status: In Progress
Author: Processed by: Kay Shelton, Oct. 2001 ; Updated by: Connie Hamann, Aug. 2018 ; Updated by: Jacki Swearingen, Sept. 2008 ; ArchivesSpace finding aid by: Sandy Johnston
Date: 2019 June
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: Undetermined
Script of description: Code for undetermined script
Language of description note: English