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Alfred P. Swineford papers

Guide to the Alfred P. Swineford papers
1885-1912
an Alaska Historical Society collection

Collection number: HMC-1015-AHS.
Creator: Swineford, A. P. (Alfred P.), 1834-1909.
Title: Alfred P. Swineford papers.
Dates: 1885-1912 (bulk).
Volume of collection: 0.2 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: Documents created by and regarding an Alaska territorial governor and newspaperman in Southeast Alaska.

Biographical note:
Alfred P. Swineford was born in Ohio in 1836. He became a printer’s apprentice in 1851 and was thereafter involved in that field. He became a lawyer in 1857. He was territorial governor of Alaska (1885-1889) and inspector general of the U.S. Land Office (1893-1898). He was also publisher of the Ketchikan Mining Journal (1901-1905) and the Daily Miner (1907-1908). Swineford, a proponent of territorial status for Alaska, died in Juneau, Alaska, in 1909.

Collection description:
This collection consists of original and copied letters and documents; publications; photographs; and miscellaneous copied documents. Most of the letters were written to his daughter, Nellie, and to his granddaughter, Ruth. The early correspondence (1885-1889) concerns Alaskan matters while that of later letters relate to family and personal matters. Other items include a draft of an article concerning his trip on the Revenue Cutter Thetis (1888), a proclamation on the treatment of the Chinese (1886), and several Winter and Pond photographs.

Arrangement: The collection is arranged primarily by record type.

Digitized copies: Some material has been digitized, however it is not available online. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.

Rights note: Collection materials authored by Alfred P. Swineford are in the public domain.

Preferred citation: Alfred P. Swineford papers, Alaska Historical Society Collections, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Related materials: The Alfred P. Swineford letters, HMC-0689, consists of two letters written by the Governor to his wife.

Acquisition note: This collection was donated to the Alaska Historical Society.  The Society retains ownership of the collection and has placed it on deposit with Archives and Special Collections.

Processing information: This collection was described prior to 1990.

Location of originals:  Many of the materials in this collection are copies of originals.  The location of the originals is unknown.

Container list:

Series 1: Original and copied manuscripts; 1885-1912, 1949. 62 items.

Box/Folder Description Dates
1/1 Copied correspondence.  Correspondents include William F. Vilas and Nellie Flower (nee Stafford) Orr.  39 letters. 1885-1889, 1912, 1949
1/2 Original correspondence. 20 letters. 1888, 1900-1910
1/3-4 Typed draft of article. A cruise of ten thousand miles in Alaskan waters. 45 pages. 1888 May 27-July 27
1/5 Autograph. Undated

Series 2: Print materials; 1886-1920. 39 items.

Box/Folder Description Dates
1/6 Governor’s proclamation. 1886 August 9
1/7 Report. Alaska: territorial government. U.S. House of Representatives. Committee on the Territories. 1906 February
1/8 Alaska pamphlets and brochures. 3 items. Undated, 1916
1/9 Newspaper clippings. 6 items. 1906-1920
1/10 Rand-McNally map of Alaska. 1897

Series 3: Photographs; undated, 1898, 1905. 11 items.

Box/Folder Description Dates
1/11 Winter and Pond photograph albums. Types of Alaska Natives and Totems of Alaska. 1905
1/12, OSF1 Photographs. Undated

Series 4: Copied publications; undated. 6 items.

Box/Folder Description Dates
1/13 Publications, articles, and clippings. Undated

 

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