The Alaska Journal of Martin Bjornstad: The Excelsior Diary of 1898

Collection

Identifier: MS 13-8-1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The journal is the account of two trips to Alaska in 1898 by Martin Bjornstad. The first trip, which began in January, is a trip to the Klondike including Skagway and Dyea; Bjornstad stopped short of the gold fields when he realized he was ill-prepared. For the second trip, Bjornstad joined a U.S. Army expedition, led by Capt. W.R. Abercrombie, to explore the Copper River area, from April to November.

Dates

1898

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

Martin Bjornstad, Norwegian-born in 1854, came to America as a young man and worked at painting houses in Boston. In 1890 he moved to Bremerton, WA where he was a house painter and restaurateur. Later he moved to Walla Walla, WA and bought an apple orchard; this business venture failed because of a drought. Bjornstad married Katherine (Kate) Jorgensen of Copenhagen. They took in Norwegian orphans from the Seattle area including Ann Birgitte (Ann B.) Bjornstad Hullfish, grandmother of the donor. Bjornstad died in 1933. A more complete biography is included in the journal transcript.

Extent

3 items (The 3 volumes are a typescript, a photocopy, and the original diary.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Acquisition

A typescript and photocopy of the manuscript was donated to the Alaska State Library by Robert W. King, great-grandson of Martin Bjornstad in March 1999 (Acc. # 99-7). The original diary was added to the collection in February of 2009, donated by Robert King (Acc. # 2009-05).

Processing Information

The typescript and photocopy of the original diary were added to the manuscript collection. The original diary was later added to the collection and placed in a Mylar sleeve.

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Finding Aid for the Alaska Journal of Martin Bjornstad: The Excelsior Diary of 1898
Status: Completed
Author: Processed by: Gladi Kulp, January 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