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RUBEN GAINES (1912-1994). Papers; n.d., 1952-1983. 2.8 cu. ft.
Ruben Gaines was born in 1912. During World War II, he worked in Hollywood, California, as a radio broadcaster. He came to Alaska around 1946 to work in radio broadcasting in Fairbanks, and moved to Anchorage in 1950. He is best known for his daily five-minute radio program, “Conversations Unlimited,” in which he presented readings of his stories about life in Alaska. He published several books of poetry, including On Distance and Recall, and A Chugach Album and On Youth - Verse by Ruben Gaines. He served as Alaska State Poet Laureate from 1973 to 1978. Ruben Gaines died in Anchorage in 1994.
The collection consists of the papers of Ruben Gaines relating to his work as an author and radio broadcaster. The collection is divided into five series: papers and published works; slides of story illustrations; reel-to-reel audiotapes; phonograph albums; and oversize documents. The papers include correspondence from Gaines to Alaskan artist Rusty Huerlin; copies of Gaines’ published books; Gaines’ unpublished manuscripts of novels, plays, and poetry; scripts for “Conversations Unlimited” radio programs; scripts for other programs including “Pop” and “Beluga Bugle”; artwork and illustrations for “Conversations Unlimited” and other presentations; and reference materials and a six Gold Rush era photographs. The 311 color slides illustrate episodes of “Beluga Bugle” and other stories. The 30 reel-to-reel audiotapes are recordings of “Conversations Unlimited,” “Pop,” “Beluga Bugle” and other stories and poetry, along with 28 CDA master discs and 28 reference audiocassettes of those recordings. The four published LP phonograph albums consist of three different volumes of “Conversations Unlimited” stories and “Chilkoot Charlie Writ’n’Reed by Ruben Gaines.”
The collection was presented to the archives by Ruben Gaines in 1986. Papers were added in 1987 and 1991. A deed of gift was signed in 1987. Copyright is retained by the donor’s family. Two phonograph albums were transferred to the archives from the Technical Services Department. Two phonograph albums were acquired by the archives in 2001.
HMC-0110
JAS (10/2004)
Box and Folder list:
Box 1
Series 1. Papers and Published Works; n.d., 1952-1979.
1. Correspondence with Rusty Heurlin; n.d., 1970, 1974.
2. Book - Conversations Unlimited (compilation); n.d., 1972. Autographed by Ruben Gaines to Louella Ausman, Pioneer Home.
3. Book - A Chugach Album and On Youth - Verse by Ruben Gaines; 1979.
4. Book - On Distance and Recall by Ruben Gaines; 1980.
5. Unpublished manuscript - The Amazing Daisies and Other (Mostly Alaskan) Verse by Ruben Gaines; n.d.
6. Unpublished manuscript - Vigil on the Hill, An Alaskan Novel by Ruben Gaines (folder 1); n.d.
7. Unpublished manuscript - Vigil on the Hill, An Alaskan Novel by Ruben Gaines (folder 2); n.d.
8. Unpublished manuscript - Vigil on the Hill, An Alaskan Novel by Ruben Gaines, cover and loose pages; n.d.
9. Unpublished manuscript - Coho by Ruben Gaines; n.d.
10. Unpublished manuscript - Adam's Harvest by Ruben Gaines; n.d.
11. Unpublished manuscript - Adam's Harvest (cover) by Ruben Gaines; n.d.
12. Unpublished manuscript - Goodbye, Proxy...A Drama in 5 Scenes by Ruben Gaines; n.d.
13. Unpublished manuscript - American Album by Ruben Gaines; n.d.
14. Unpublished manuscript - Dictionary by Ruben Gaines; n.d.
15. Unpublished manuscript - poetry by Ruben Gaines (enclosed with a letter to Louella Ausman, Pioneer Home; ca. 1972.
16. Scripts – “Conversations Unlimited” by Ruben Gaines; n.d.
17. Scripts – “Beluga Bugle” by Ruben Gaines; n.d.
18. Scripts – “Beluga Bugle” cover; n.d.
19. Scripts – “Pop - A Ruben Gaines Cartoon”; n.d.
20. Other papers - Poetry by other authors; n.d.
21. Other papers - Recollections of Leroy N. McQuesten - Life in the Yukon 1871-1885 (copied from the original in the possession of the Yukon Order of Pioneers, June 1952).
22. Other papers - Alaskan photographs; n.d., 1898 (6 b&w prints).
1. “Klondikers camping at Lake Bennett, June 1st 1898.”; Larrs & Duclos Photos, Dawson; Copyright 1898 (5.75 X 8 inch).
2. “Kieth and Wilson Mine on French Hill”; E. A. Hegg photo; n.d. (5 X 7 inch).
3. “Lower switch-back, Thompson Pass, Valdez-Fairbanks Trail”; P. S. Hunt photo; n.d. (4 X 6 inch).
4. Winter street scene; n.d. (3 X 8 inch).
5. Winter scene of horses, sleds and men climbing mountain pass; n.d. (3.75 X 6.25 inch).
6. View of glacier field from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain near Valdez; n.d. (3 X 5 inch).
23. Other papers - truck rodeo program booklet; 1952.
24. Other papers - clippings (laminated); n.d., 1978. (oversize).
25. Other papers - clippings entitled “A-67”; n.d., 1952, 1953, 1968.
Series 2. Slides of Story Illustrations; n.d. (311 color slides, 35mm).
1. “Beluga Bugle” illustrations, episodes 1-20; n.d. (139 slides).
2. “Beluga Bugle” illustrations, episodes 21-32; n.d. (110 slides).
3. Miscellaneous illustrations; n.d. (62 slides).
Boxes 2(Original Audiotapes) & 2.5 (CDAs and audiocassettes)
Series 3. Reel-to-Reel Audiotapes; n.d., 1961, 1966-1968, 1981-1983 (30 reel-to-reel audiotapes, .25 inch, 28-7 inch, 2-5 inch; 28 CDA master discs; 28 reference audiocassettes) (No CDAs or audiocassettes exist for duplicate tape D4 or blank tape D14).
Subseries 3b. “Conversations Unlimited”; n.d., 1966-1968 (12 reels, 7 inch).
A1. Tape #1; October 12, 1966.
A2. Tape #2; October 12, 1966.
A3. Album #2 in the series, Master #1, side 1 - Cuts 1 (8:02), 2 (10:52), 3 (4:50); recorded January 5-6, 1967. (1/4 inch track).
A4. Album #2 in the series, Master 2, side 2 - cuts 1 (4:47), 2 (7:56), 3 (7:00), 4 (6:15); January-February 1967.
A5. “Conversations Unlimited” #3, master album #3, side 1 - cuts 1 (7:40), 2 (6:20), 3 (7:01), 4 (5:10); September 1967. (1/4 inch tape - 7 1/2 IPS).
A6. “Conversations Unlimited” #3, master album #3, side 2 - cuts 1 (5:31), 2 (10:32), 3 (8:04); September 1967.
A7. “Conversations Unlimited” #4 master, side 1 - cuts 1, 2, 3; March-April 1968.
A8. “Conversations Unlimited” #4 master, side 2 - cuts 1 (6:56), 2 (8:39), 3 (8:47); March-April 1968.
A9. “Conversations Unlimited” #2; n.d.
Abercrombie (2:55); Abercrombie (2:25); Mosquitoes (3:04); Folsom Poem (3:08); Dog (3:10); Rich. Hiway (3:07); Gruening (3:49); Chilkoot (3:18); Pat O'Donnel (3:19); Kenai Penins. (2:07); Kenai Penins. (2:37); Home Flight (3:28); Bering (2:23); Dolly V. Trout (2:40); Loons (2:50).
A10. “Conversations Unlimited” #3; n.d.
Breakup (2:41); Gus, dogs (3:10); Contemplators (2:45); Air View (3:25); Smoke Spiral (3:03); Oracle (2:46); Kenai Lakes (3:01); Cook Inlet (3:00); Grayling (3:12); Moose (2:47); Geese (2:57); Iditarod Poem (2:42); The Arrow Poem (2:33); Tom's Creek (2:42); Ice Sounds (2:54); Sheep (2:30).
A11. “Conversations Unlimited”; n.d.
Bush Pilots (3:42); Anchorage (2:38); Buildings (2:55); Alex. Lake (2:41); Outhouses (2:28); Owls (2:48); Year 2077 (3:04); Indian Calendar (3:06); Cloudy McKinley (2:32); Salmon (3:28); Fishwheel (3:12); Tunes for Skunked Fishermen (2:24); Moon (2:20); Ball in Ketch. (2:20); Percy DeWolfe (3:25); Sheenjac Sheep (2:30).
A12. “Conversations Unlimited”; n.d.
Ducks (3:17); Iliamna Wind (3:15); Garden 1 (1:52); Garden 2 (1:50); Snowfall (3:24); Shismaref (2:37); Fog-McK. (2:30); McK. (2:54); Ak. Names (2:26); Butterfly Lake (3:16); Falling Down (3:25); D-2 Prodigy (1:59); Jean Lake (2:27); Winding Creek (2:17); Good Posture (2:42).
Subseries 3b. “Beluga Bugle”; n.d. (2 reels, 7 inch).
B1. “Beluga Bugle”; n.d.
Dolly V. Trout (:57); Bulba Sleeky (1:00); Belshazzar (1:00); Weather (:45); Gardening (1:00); Boink (:47); Portage Gl. (:48); Cornerstone (:54); Fishing Season (:55); Boink (1:02); Battle of Big Horn (:53); Gardening (:55); Nickname (:58); Spenard Rd. (1:03); Queen Mary (1:02); SST (:53); Misc. (:50); Boink (:50); Nickname (:51); Wild Game (:44).
B2. “Beluga Bugle”; n.d.
Wild Game Dinners; Weather Rep't; Miscellaneous; J. Abendego Boink; Births at Intersections; Opportunity State; Zoo Trades; Traffic; Plantimals; Alaskan Menu; Gardening; Miscellaneous; J. Abendego Boink; Traffic; Miscellaneous; Detour; State Naming; Xmas Tree.
Subseries 3c. “Pop”; n.d. (1 reel, 7 inch).
C1. “Pop”; n.d.
Subseries 3d. Tapes of Unknown Origin; n.d., 1961, 1962, 1981-1983 (15 reels, 13-7 inch, 2-5 inch).
D1. Cole to Gaines; 1962 (5 inch reel).
D2. Klondike Master; n.d.
D3. Verse; n.d.
Whaler (:59); In Waiting (:37); Remembrance (:27); Lake Music (:41); Prospecting (:41); Beaches (:33); Creek (:30); Private (:24); 2 Passings (:30); Anticipation (:29); Ak Springtime (:59); Iliamna (:53); Silence (1:00); Hills and Time (:29); Fox (:51); Dawn (:23); Dawning (:25); Grove (1:00); Nite Scene (:59); Investment (1:02); Dump Truck (:55); Baranof (2:00).
D4. Haworth to Gaines; December 1961 (Poor quality copy of tape D5).
D5. Haworth to Gaines; December 1961.
D6. Unidentified; n.d.
Chilkoot - Guess Who, 2/26; Iliamna - The Chutes, 3/31; Expatriate Alaskans, 3/2; Totem Poles, 3/3; Abandoned Cabin (poem), 3/4; Sears, 3/5; Abandoned Car, 3/8.
D7. Alaska State BK; 1983 Vacation (“Conversations Unlimited?”); n.d.
Pile Bay, Winter, 10/10; Indian Chiefs, 10/11; Cat at Big Bear Lake, 10/12; Pictures on My Wall, 10/13; Sears Catalog, 10/14; Hypnosis Happening, 10/17; Ted O'Shea, 10/18; Mouse on Pile-B-Tacoma, 10/19; Nahcritany, 10/20; Gazer in Chch, 10/21.
D8. Unidentified; n.d. (“Conversations Unlimited?”); n.d.
Grayling, 11/17; Place Names, 11/18; Ester, 11/19; Glaciers, 11/20; Late Winter, 11/23; Talkeetna Poem, 11/24; Mrs. Maloney, 11/25; Moose on Alex. Creek, 11/26; Silence, 11/27; Dictionary, 11/30.
D9. Unidentified; n.d.
L. Johnson, Cussing, Dogs, 4/22; Edwin Way Teale, 4/23; Skeets Herfurt, 4/26; Dowser, 4/27; Garden, 4/28; Emil Jannings, 4/29; Guiness, 4/30; Place Names, 5/3.
D10. Unidentified; 1983.
Russian Fisherman, 1/24; Mt. St. Augustine, 1/25; Loons, 1/26; Bears, 1/27; Snow, 1/28; Killer Whales, 1/31; Norseman, 2/1; Place Names, 2/2; Quiet Inlet, 2/4; Exaggeration, 2/4; Guiness, 2/7.
D11. Unidentified; 1982.
Potholes, 3/30; Lost Moose, 3/31; Murie - Verse, 4/2; Booze - Revolution, 4/5; Sears, 4/6; Waters #1, 4/7; Waters #2, 4/8; Couglin, 4/9; Wineries, 4/12; Sears-R, 4/13; NZ-Poem, 4/16; Lakes-Trees, 4/19; Cliches, 4/20; Portland Trolleys, 4/21.
D12. Unidentified; 1983 Vacation.
Polar Bear (and poem), 10/24; Sea Otters, 10/25; Geese, 10/26; Oldtimers, 10/27; Guiness, 10/31; The Bear - The Sophia, 11/1; Cliche Zoo, 11/2; Cold Snap, 11/3; Veniaminoff, 11/4.
D13. Unidentified; 1981.
Birches (with poem), 9/11; Iliamna Weather, 9/14; Park's Bear (with poem), 9/15; Place Names, 9/16; Home Reminiscences (W.P.), 9/17; Schwatka, 9/18; Garland (Stampeder), 9/21.
D14. Unidentified: blank; n.d. (5 inch reel).
D15. Unidentified; n.d.
Box 3
Series 4. Phonograph Albums; n.d., 1966-1968 ( 4 long playing discs, 33.33 rpm).
1. "Chilkoot Charlie Writ'n'Read by Ruben Gaines"; n.d.
2. "Conversation Unlimited with Ruben Gaines" vol. 1; ca. 1966.
3. "Conversation Unlimited with Ruben Gaines" vol. 3; ca. 1967.
4. "Conversation Unlimited with Ruben Gaines" vol. 4; ca. 1968.
Flat Cabinets
Series 5. Oversize Documents; n.d., 1967.
1. Facsimile reproduction of the program used at Ford's Theatre the night Abraham Lincoln was shot/reward poster following Lincoln's assassination; n.d.
2. Clipping from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner with a reproduction of a mural by Rusty Heurlin entitled “Getting Away,” and the article, “Alaska's Big Picture.” Laminated; May 27, 1967.
3. Drawing entitled, “From the Coolidges - Jewel Lake”; caption reads “Ruben, We Are Shore Glad to Have You back at the Diggin's Again”; n.d.
4. “Conversations Unlimited” drawing, yellow chalk on black construction paper; n.d.
5. Block print of a man and bear, black ink on rice paper. Written in pencil is “Proof AEP”; n.d.
6. Chalk drawing, caption reads “Mrs Maloney, Written and Narrated by Ruben Gaines, Produced by Frank Brink Productions, Anchorage, Alaska”; n.d.
7. Chalk drawing, caption reads “Chilkoot Charlie - Writ `N' Read by Ruben Gaines, produced by Frank Brink Productions, Anchorage, Alaska”; n.d.