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C. Earl Albrecht Papers

Guide to the C. Earl Albrecht papers
1906-1997

Collection number: HMC-0375.
Creator: Albrecht, C. Earl
Title: C. Earl Albrecht papers
Dates: 1906-1997
Volume of collection: 4.3 cubic feet
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English
Collection summary: Papers of a Matanuska Colony doctor, health commissioner, and circumpolar health advocate

Biographical note:
Conrad Earl Albrecht was born in Bruederheim in Alberta, Canada in 1905. He received degrees from the Moravian College and Seminary (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) in 1926 (B.A.) and 1928 (B. D.), and completed medical school at Jefferson College in Philadelphia in 1932. Albrecht then served as an intern and chief resident physician at Abington Memorial Hospital from 1932-1935. He came to Anchorage, Alaska in June 1935 to serve as assistant superintendent at the Alaska Railroad hospital under Dr. John H. Romig. Albrecht went to Palmer, first to assist in a medical emergency, and then to serve as physician for the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation’s Matanuska Colonization Project and medical director of the Matanuska Valley Hospital from 1935-1941. He was called into active military service in December 1941 and served four years at Fort Richardson, attaining the position of post surgeon and commanding officer of the 183rd Station Hospital. Governor Ernest Gruening appointed Albrecht Commissioner of Health, a position he held from 1945-1956. In 1956, Albrecht left Alaska to take the position of Assistant Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Hygiene and Correction which he held until 1958. He also served as Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health (1958-1963) and Professor of Preventive Medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia (1963-1970). Albrecht returned to Anchorage in 1970 and maintained a private practice there until 1975 after which he retired and served as a medical consultant. Dr. Albrecht was also a member of the University of Alaska Board of Regents (1949-1957), a member of the board and president (1966-1967) of the Arctic Institute of North America, founder and participant in the International Symposium for Circumpolar Health (1967-1997), and a president and board member of the American Society for Circumpolar Health (1980-1997). The Albrecht/Milan Foundation at the University of Alaska Anchorage was dedicated in his honor in 1991. C. Earl Albrecht died in Bradenton, Florida in 1997.

Collection description:
The collection consists of papers and publications documenting C. Earl Albrecht’s career in medicine and public health administration, primarily in Alaska. The bulk of the papers relate to Albrecht’s various professional positions, including papers documenting the Matanuska Colony, especially focusing on medical service in the colony, from 1935-1985, papers relating to Albrecht’s service at 183rd Station Hospital at Fort Richardson in 1944, as Commissioner of Health for the Alaska Department of Health, and on the University of Alaska Board of Regents, and papers relating to his work with circumpolar health from 1955-1995. The collection also contains personal papers, including Albrecht’s personal correspondence, interviews, memorabilia, personal and professional writing, speeches and lectures, and other material. There are also subject files kept by Albrecht that document various aspects of his public health work in Alaska and American Samoa. Additionally, the collection contains photographs documenting Albrecht’s work and personal life, as well as motion picture films of his travels and other subjects.

Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into the following series:

Series 1: Personal and professional papers; 1909-1997
Series 2: Matanuska Colony papers; 1935-1985
Series 3: 183rd Station Hospital, Fort Richardson papers; 1944
Series 4: Alaska Department of Health papers; 1943-1977
Series 5: University of Alaska papers; 1949-1982
Series 6: Circumpolar health papers; 1955-1994
Series 7: Health related subject files; 1938-1989
Series 8: Audiovisual materials; 1906-1991

Digitized copies: Selected photographs from this collection are available in the Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining digital copies of any collection materials, please contact Archives and Special Collections.

Rights note: Archives and Special Collections owns copyright to the materials authored or created by C. Earl Albrecht only.

Preferred citation: C. Earl Albrecht papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Related materials: Interviews with C. Earl Albrecht are available in the Nancy Jordan Strohmeyer interview recordings, HMC-1273.

Separated materials: The Consortium Library’s Rare Books collection contains published materials removed from the collection.  

Acquisition note: The collection was presented to the Archives by C. Earl and Margery Albrecht in 1994 and 1995. A deed of gift was signed in 1995. Additional materials were given to the Archives by Jane Albrecht Graf in 2005.

Processing information: This collection was arranged and described by Jeffrey A. Sinnott in 2005. The guide was revised, some published materials removed, and additional materials arranged and described by Megan K. Friedel in 2010. The collection was rehoused and additional materials removed by Arlene Schmuland in 2017.

Container list:
Series 1: Personal and professional papers; 1909-1997. 1.7 cubic feet.
This series contains Albrecht’s personal notes, correspondence, articles, personal and professional writings, and speeches and lectures. Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Box/Folder Description Dates
1/1 Alaska news clippings (photocopies from original scrapbook) 1945-1959
1/2-3 Articles and clippings about C. Earl Albrecht 1926-1996
1/4 Awards and honors 1948-1997
1/5 Biographical information and profiles 1936-1988
1/6, OSF1 Certificates and diplomas 1905-1997
1/7-2/7 Correspondence, including letters to parents 1935-1996
2/8 Correspondence with Richard K. Mellon 1966-1969
2/9 Correspondence with Terris Moore 1952-1981
2/10 Curriculum vitae including lists of personal publications 1964-1987
2/11 Identification cards and licenses 1945-1988
2/12 Interviews with C. Earl Albrecht 1977, 1983
2/13 Memorabilia 1945-1985
2/14 Military orders 1923-1965
2/15 Obituaries and funeral materials 1997
2/16 Papers related to Frontier Physician: The Life and Legacy of Dr. C. Earl Albrecht, by Nancy Jordan, including publishing agreement, correspondence, reviews, and notes 1994-1996
2/17 Professional papers, State of Ohio, Department of Mental Hygiene and Correction papers 1956-1957
2/18 Professional papers, Pennsylvania Department of Health papers, including documents, clippings and notes 1957-1962
2/19 Professional papers, Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Department of Preventive Medicine papers 1963-1969
2/20 Professional papers, Pennsylvania Health Council papers, including meeting minutes, agenda, programs, news release, committee lists, and statements 1964-1968
2/21 Personal writing, “Over the Alaska Highway – 1948 (typescript personal account of automobile trip, 24 pages) 1948
2/22 Professional writing, published articles by C. Earl Albrecht relating to public health and alcohol abuse in Alaska 1948-1984
2/23 Professional writing, published articles by C. Earl Albrecht relating to the Ohio Department of Mental Hygiene 1956-1957
2/24 Professional writing, published articles about public health by C. Earl Albrecht, written during his tenure as Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health 1959-1961
2/25 Professional writing, published and unpublished articles written by C. Earl Albrecht while he was Professor of Preventive Medicine at Jefferson Medical 1963-1967
2/26 Professional writing, published and typescript articles by C. Earl Albrecht relating to public health in the Arctic 1967-1985
2/27 Religious papers, Moravian Church papers, including articles written by C. Earl Albrecht and church publications 1948-1988
2/28 Religious papers, Alaskan Church papers, including papers on Methodism and Presbyterianism in Alaska 1948-1980
2/29 Scrapbook of newspaper clippings kept by C. Earl Albrecht during his tenure as assistant director of the Ohio Department of Mental Hygiene and Correction 1956-1957
2/30 Speeches and lectures, Anchorage Health Center and the Branch Office of the Territorial Department of Health, Ohio Citizen’s Council, 45th Annual Meeting of the Ohio Citizens’ Council Health and Welfare, Communicable Disease Center, Jefferson Medical College, the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania Convention, and other venues 1944-1960
2/31 Speeches and lectures, Pennsylvania Tuberculosis and Health Society Annual Meeting, Conference for School Nurses, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Tenth Annual Neuropsychiatric Institute at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Second Annual Conference on Health Records, 93rd Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, 5th International Symposium On Circumpolar Health, American Society for Circumpolar Health Foundation, and other venues 1962-1991
2/32 Speeches and lectures, statements and testimony before the United States Congress 1947-1955
2/33 Speeches and lectures, remarks before the House Finance Committee, 102nd General Assembly of Ohio 1957
2/34 Travel brochures for Alaska tours personally escorted by C. Earl Albrecht, including tour member list for 1970 1964-1977
2/35 Other biographical papers including a typescript draft of “C. Earl Albrecht and the Struggle against Tuberculosis in Alaska,” by Robert Fortuine 1926-1932

Series 2: Matanuska Colony papers; 1935-1985. 0.3 cubic feet.
This part of the collection contains papers relating to C. Earl Albrecht’s service as physician for the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation’s Matanuska Colonization Project in Palmer, Alaska and as medical director of the Matanuska Valley Hospital. It includes correspondence, medical service contracts, Matanuska Valley Hospital papers, Matanuska Valley Farmers Cooperating Association reports, Matanuska Colony publications, and other items. Series 8: Audiovisual materials also contains related materials.

Box/Folder Description Dates
2/36 Artifacts, sweepstakes ribbon from the Matanuska Valley Fair Association and 50th Anniversary Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation (ARRC) coins or “bingles” 1937, 1985
2/37 Correspondence – Letter written by F.L. Kerzie to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper, entitled “Collier’s Matanuska” (on Matanuska Valley Hospital stationery) undated
2/38 Correspondence, letters regarding C. Earl Albrecht’s prospective book on the Matanuska Colony Project (correspondents include Wessel Smitter, Edward C. Aswell, and Edward C. Howell) 1939-1941
2/39 Farm and Home Extension School, Grange Hall, Palmer, Alaska announcement, schedule, and menu 1941 January 27-30
2/40 Matanuska Colonization Project reunion materials 1975-1985
2/41 Matanuska Valley Farmers Cooperating Association reports 1940-1941
2/42 Matanuska Valley Hospital, Matanuska Colonization Project papers, including correspondence from C. Earl Albrecht to H. Milton Colvin and others 1937-1941
2/43 Medical Service contracts and related documents 1935-1941
2/44 Other medical articles, reports, and plans 1936-1939
2/45 Publications, Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Corporation bulletins 1939-1940
2/46 Publications, “Matanuska: an experiment in rehabilitation” by Grant Heilman, Swarthmore College (paper on the Colony project.) 1941 March
2/47 Publications, newspaper and magazine articles (photocopied) from a scrapbook kept by C. Earl Albrecht 1935-1985
2/48 Cabbages and Commissars article draft by Ted Leitzell undated
2/49 Publications, Palmer Community Chorus musical program for concert directed by C. Earl Albrecht undated
2/50 Publications, United Protestant Church, Palmer, Alaska 1978, undated

Series 3: 183rd Station Hospital, Fort Richardson papers; 1944. 0.05 cubic feet.
This series consists of materials from during C. Earl Albrecht’s service as post surgeon at the 183rd Station Hospital at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Series 8: Audiovisual materials also contains related materials.

Box/Folder Description Dates
2/51 Instructions for emergency treatments and tetanus immunization, with notes on hospital supplies undated
2/52 Text of speech given by C. Earl Albrecht at the dedication of a Red Cross building in Anchorage undated

Series 4: Alaska Department of Health papers; 1943-1977. 0.15 cubic feet.

Box/Folder Description Dates
2/53 Historical papers 1968-1971
2/54 Correspondence, reports, and other papers 1945-1961
2/55 Health Department report for Lyons, rough drafts undated
3/1 Tuberculosis control report 1949
3/2 Letter from C. Earl Albrecht to Byron A. Gillam, regarding additional payment of funds for the Cordova Community Hospital 1955 November 14
3/3 Alaska Board of Health meeting, Anchorage, Alaska agenda, exhibit items and minutes 1956 January 6-8
3/4 News releases and resolutions 1956 January
3/5 Alaska shell egg regulations 1956 February 1

Series 5: University of Alaska papers; 1949-1982. 0.5 cubic feet.
This series includes records related to C. Earl Albrecht’s time as a Regent on the University of Alaska’s Board of Regents. Includes correspondence, reports, budget documents, and materials related to On College Hill, a book on the history of the University of Alaska by Neil Davis.

Box/Folder Description Dates
3/6 Correspondence, including letters regarding land grant convention in 1952 November 1949-1952
3/7-9 Correspondence 1953-1954
3/10 Correspondence – Anchorage Community College 1954 January-March
3/11-14 Correspondence 1955-1964
3/15-27 Minutes, agenda, and agenda items 1953-1957
3/28 Executive committee meeting minutes 1953-1955
3/29 Agreements and resolutions issues by the Board of Regents 1954-1956
3/30 Alaska state legislative bills regarding the University of Alaska 1954-1955
3/31 Proposals regarding the Arctic Research Laboratory at Point Barrow and the Mount Wrangell Inter-University Research Observatory 1953-1955
3/32 Reports, including progress reports, information reports, interim reports, and reports on student evaluations, faculty matters, Mount Wrangell Inter-University Research Observatory, and community colleges within the University of Alaska 1952-1970
3/33 University of Alaska budget documents and correspondence, including operating, construction, and department heads’ budgets and budget requests 1951-1953
3/34 Notes, drafts, interview transcripts of On College Hill including interview transcripts with Terris Moore and C. Earl Albrecht. 1953-1982

Series 6: Circumpolar health papers; 1955-1994. 0.5 cubic feet.
Includes records related to C. Earl Albrecht’s research and presentations on circumpolar health, the Arctic Institute of North America, the International Symposia on Circumpolar Health, the American Society for Circumpolar Health, and the International Union for Circumpolar Health. Primarily arranged by organization. Series 8: Audiovisual materials also contains related materials.

Box/Folder Description Dates
3/35 Correspondence 1967-1983
3/36 Correspondence 1984-1994
3/37 Trip to Finland for lecture at the University of Oulu Medical School, itinerary and newspaper clippings 1967-1968
3/38 Trip to Soviet Union – Circumpolar Health Exchange papers 1979-1987
3/39 Correspondence, narrative description, and information sheet for C. Earl Albrecht’s proposal to the National Institutes of Health to travel to Russia and Northeast Siberia for the purpose of studying the delivery of health care, specific health problems, and human adaptation to northern latitudes. 1979-1980
3/40 Arctic Institute of North America, correspondence 1955-1969
3/41 Arctic Institute of North America, minutes of the Research Committee, Army and Navy Club, Washington, D.C. 1956 November 24
3/42 Arctic Institute of North America, field research support application form from William L. Boyd for funds “to study the ecological and taxonomic distribution of marine and terrestrial microorganisms in the area of Point Barrow, Alaska” undated
3/43 International Symposia on Circumpolar Health, Symposium on Circumpolar Health Related Problems (1967 July 23-28 in Anchorage, Alaska), news release, report, newspaper clippings, and other materials 1966-1967
3/44 International Symposia on Circumpolar Health, Second International Symposium on Circumpolar Health (1971 June 21-24 in Oulu, Finland), preliminary information, abstracts of papers, articles presented at the conferences, and C. Earl Albrecht’s planning and meeting notes, opening keynote address, and other papers 1968-1972
3/45 International Symposia on Circumpolar Health, Third International Symposium on Circumpolar Health (1974 July 8-11 in Yellowknife, Yukon Territories, Canada), C. Earl Albrecht’s symposium remarks 1974
3/46 International Symposia on Circumpolar Health, IVth International Symposium on Circumpolar Health (1978 October 2-7 in Academic City, Novosibirsk, Siberia) documents 1978-1980
3/47 International Symposia on Circumpolar Health, 5th International Symposium on Circumpolar Health (1981 August 9-13 in Copenhagen, Denmarkplanning reports, meeting minutes, lectures, and reports by C. Earl Albrecht 1979-1982
3/48 International Symposia on Circumpolar Health, 6th International Symposium on Circumpolar Health (1984 May 13-18 at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel, Anchorage, Alaska), announcement, newspaper clippings, journal articles and address by C. Earl Albrecht 1984-1985
3/49 International Symposia on Circumpolar Health, 7th International Congress on Circumpolar Health (1987 June 8-12 in Umea, Sweden)—Announcements, lists of participants, abstracts of papers, addresses, papers, symposium article, notes, including address by C. Earl Albrecht and article by Robert Fortuine 1987
3/50 International Symposia on Circumpolar Health, IX International Congress on Circumpolar Health; (1993 June 20-25 in Reykjavik, Iceland), announcements 1992-1993
4/1 American Society for Circumpolar Health, correspondence 1980-1993
4/2 American Society for Circumpolar Health, constitutions and amendments 1980, 1993
4/3 American Society for Circumpolar Health, minutes: Annual meetings 1980, 1982
4/4 American Society for Circumpolar Health, minutes and/or agenda: Executive board meetings 1986-1987
4/5 American Society for Circumpolar Health, minutes and/or agenda: Board of directors meetings 1984-1993
4/6 American Society for Circumpolar Health, candidate information for society officers 1984-1995
4/7 American Society for Circumpolar Health, Albrecht/Milan Foundation papers 1991
4/8 International Union for Circumpolar Health, correspondence, statutes, meeting minutes, press releases, brochures, position announcements, legislative bills, and papers relating to “Circumpolar Journal” and the first meeting of the IUCH in Stockholm, Sweden, 1986 March 18-19 and General Assembly on 1987 June 11 1983-1991

Series 7: Health related subject files; 1938-1989. 0.2 cubic feet.
This series consists of subject files kept by C. Earl Albrecht that relate to various aspects of his public health work both in Alaska and American Samoa. It contains correspondence, reports, legislative acts and bills and other papers relating to alcohol abuse, prostitution, tuberculosis, and legislative acts supporting mental health services in Alaska, as well as papers documenting Albrecht’s trip to American Samoa in November 1964 to January 1965 as a consultant in the design of the new hospital on the island of Pago Pago. Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Box/Folder Description Dates
4/9 Alcohol abuse, correspondence 1980-1984
4/10 Alcohol abuse, articles and papers by C. Earl Albrecht 1980-1982
4/11 Alcohol abuse, “The Alaska Title 4 Alcohol Local Option Law for Municipalities” poster circa 1981-1982
4/12 Alcohol abuse, State of Alaska report of alcoholic beverages distributed or sold, photocopies of articles and letters to the editor about alcohol in Alaska, and information about liquor licenses in Ketchikan 1981-1982
4/13 American Samoa, correspondence (includes 1 p. narrative of trip) 1964 January-1966 July
4/14 American Samoa, “Report to the Honorable H. Rex Lee: Plan for Medical Services in the New Hospital,” by C. Earl Albrecht 1964
4/15 Conferences and conventions, papers relating to a conference with Dr. Korff concerning Mount Wrangell Observatory (December 1953), Curbstone Conference at the 14th Annual Health Conference (1965 August), and the 81st Annual Meeting of the Conference of State and Provincial Health Authorities of North America (1967 October) 1953-1967
4/16 Legislative and legal papers, Alaska Mental Health Act (H.R. 6376) papers, including reports and correspondence on the need for a mental health hospital in Alaska 1946-1985
4/17 Prostitution and venereal disease, correspondence, memos, and report regarding brothels in Seward, Alaska 1944-1945
4/18 Tuberculosis control, reports, articles, papers, newspaper clippings, conference programs, and state budgets regarding control of the disease in Alaska 1938-1989
4/19 Violent Crimes Compensation Board, correspondence and meeting minutes 1975-1976

Series 8: Audiovisual materials; 1906-1991. 0.9 cubic feet
This series includes photographs and motion picture film documenting C. Earl Albrecht’s life and professional career. Subjects of the photographs include: Matanuska Colony, 183rd Station Hospital at Fort Richardson, Alaska Department of Health, University of Alaska Board of Regents, Ohio Department of Hygiene and Correction, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Matanuska Colony reunions, circumpolar health meetings, and the Albrecht family. The series is arranged by media type and the photographs within by subject.

Box/Folder Description Dates
4/20, OSF1 Matanuska Colony, early photographs of Palmer, Alaska 1931-1991
4/21 Matanuska Colony, Matanuska Valley Hospital in Palmer photographs taken by Ordway Photo Shop circa 1936
4/22 Matanuska Colony, photographs taken by Hewitt’s Photo Shop 1935-1937
4/23 Matanuska Colony, C. Earl Albrecht at Matanuska Valley Hospital 1935-1951
4/24 Matanuska Colony, other Palmer and the Matanuska Valley Colony photographs 1935-1939
4/25 183rd Station Hospital, Fort Richardson, photographs taken by the Army Signal Corps 1944
4/26 183rd Station Hospital, Fort Richardson, Olivia DeHavilland’s visit to Fort Richardson, hospital, and C. Earl Albrecht’s home photographs circa 1944
4/27 183rd Station Hospital, Fort Richardson, C. Earl Albrecht at the hospital photographs 1943
4/28 Alaska Department of Health, M.S. Hygiene photographs circa 1948
4/29 Alaska Department of Health, Mobile Health Units photographs circa 1945-1956
4/30 Alaska Department of Health, Seward Sanitarium photographs circa 1945-1956
4/31 Alaska Department of Health, Mount Edgecumbe Medical Center, Sitka, Alaska photographs circa 1945-1956
4/32 Alaska Department of Health, General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s visit to Alaska photographs 1947 August
4/33 Alaska Department of Health, Parran Health Survey Team photographs 1952
4/34 Alaska Department of Health, photographs by J. Malcolm Greany circa 1945-1956
4/35 Alaska Department of Health, other photographs circa 1945-1956
4/36 University of Alaska Board of Regents photographs 1949-1955
4/37 Ohio Department of Mental Hygiene and Correction photographs circa 1956-1957
4/38 Pennsylvania Department of Health photographs circa 1958-1963
4/39 Selective Service Company, Pennsylvania Army National Guard photographs 1965
4/40 Photographs of C. Earl Albrecht’s visit to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to deliver commencement address 1964 May
4/41 Photographs of Matanuska Colony reunion and C. Earl Albrecht’s 80th birthday party 1978-1985
4/42 Photographs relating to circumpolar health 1967-1991
4/43 Other personal and family photographs 1906-1991
4/44 Postcards circa 1940s-1978
4/45-47 35mm film negatives, film positives, contact sheets, and contact prints of C. Earl Albrecht’s trip from Pennsylvania to the Matanuska Colony in 1935, life in Palmer and the surrounding area from 1935-1938, and a trip outside Alaska circa 1950 1935-1950
4/48 Color slides taken by C. Earl Albrecht of hunting, fishing, travel, and vacations in Alaska, his service as health commissioner for Alaska and with the board of regents of the University of Alaska, and trips to Denmark and Finland concerning circumpolar health matters 1942-1975
4/49 VHS reference access and MiniDV digital transfers of:
Film 1: Jane and Jack Albrecht (from original 16mm color film)
Film 2: Juneau, Haines, Matanuska Valley, Kenai Peninsula, Fairbanks, University of Alaska, Point Barrow, and Jane and Jack Albrecht (from original 16mm b&w and color)
Film 3: “Hunting the Monster” (from original 8mm color films)
Film 4: “Homer, Bushes’ Boat, Margie Fishing” (from original 8mm color films)
Film 5: “Alaska Tour #1 plus Alaska Fall and Winter” (from original 8mm color film)
1939-1977
Cold storage Originals of films 1-5, 3 additional 16 mm film reels. Unavailable for access at this time. Please consult an archivist for details. undated, 1939-1977

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