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H. A. “Red” Boucher papers

Guide to the H.A. “Red” Boucher papers
1967-2001

Collection number: HMC-0420.
Creator: Boucher, H. A.
Title: H.A. “Red” Boucher papers.
Dates: 1967-2001.
Volume of collection: 13.7 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: The papers of an Alaskan legislator.

Biographical note:
Henry Aristide “Red” Boucher was born in New Hampshire in 1921. He attended high school in Massachusetts and served in the U.S. Navy from 1937 to 1957. In 1958, he moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, where he operated a sporting goods store. He also managed the Alaska Goldpanners baseball team for eleven years. “Red” Boucher was a member of the Fairbanks City Council (1961-1964) and mayor (1966-1970). He served as Lieutenant Governor from 1971-1974 under Governor William Egan. Thereafter, he became involved in various business activities. He later unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Anchorage and was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives where he served from 1984 to 1990. Boucher developed an interest in computers and telecommunications in the early 1980s and became a strong proponent of their development and use.

Collection description:
The vast majority of this collection contains papers and files relating to the public career of H.A. “Red” Boucher. Included are records regarding the Alaska Statehood Commission, the Commission on the Future of the Permanent Fund including local hearings audio recordings, the D-2 lands project, the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), subsistence, telecommunications, campaigns and elections, and other legislative matters.  The collection contains the personal photographs of Boucher, which depict a Christmas party, vacations, unidentified people, and people and planes on an aircraft carrier. The collections also includes five scrapbooks with clippings, photographs, and ephemera pertaining to Boucher’s political career and events in Alaska.

Arrangement: The records are arranged in the following series:
Series 1: Committee for the Future of the Permanent Fund and subsistence subject files; 1978-1982, 1989-1990
Series 2: Subsistence subject files; 1978-1990
Series 3: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) subject files; 1986-1991
Series 4: D2 subject files; 1977-1981
Series 5: Alaska Statehood Commission subject files; 1980-1983
Series 6: Anchorage mayoral campaign records; 1985-1990
Series 7: Alaska election records; 1974-1981
Series 8: House campaign records; 1984.
Series 9: Alaska Hire records; 1983-1990
Series 10: Legislative session records; 1989-1991
Series 11: Anchorage School District instructional technology committee records; 1995
Series 12: Telecommunications subject files; 1975-2001
Series 13: Photographs; 1972-1990
Series 14: Scrapbooks; 1967-1974

Digitized copies: Digital copies of collection material not available online. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.

Use restrictions: Constituent correspondence in Series 10: Legislative session records, may include personally identifiable information (PII). Copies may not be made of materials in those folders until PII has been redacted.

Rights note: Mr. Boucher transferred copyright to the collection materials to the Archives. Archives and Special Collections does not hold copyright to collection materials created by others.

Preferred citation: H.A. “Red” Boucher papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Related materials: Alaska online: conversations with Red Boucher are the video recordings of episodes of weekly statewide public affairs program featuring interviews with prominent Alaskans and hosted by Red Boucher. The recordings of this show are available through the Alaska Moving Image Preservation Association.

Acquisition note: The collection was given to Archives by Red Boucher in 1994 and 1998.  Mr. Boucher signed a deed of gift in 1994. The photographs were transferred to Archives from the Alaska Moving Image Preservation Association (AMIPA) in 2016. The scrapbooks were transferred to the Archives from the Anchorage Museum in 2018.

Processing information: The first part of the collection was initially arranged and described by Michele Wellck in 1995 and updated by Dennis Walle in 1997.  A box and folder list to the whole collection was created by Frank Grubbs in 2009 and additional description was provided by Arlene Schmuland in 2010. The photographs were added to the collection and described by Veronica Denison in 2016. The scrapbooks were added to the collection by Gwen Higgins in 2018. The collection was rehoused, duplicates and publications removed, by Arlene Schmuland in 2020.

Container list:
Series 1: Committee for the Future of the Permanent Fund and subsistence subject files; 1978-1982, 1989-1990. 2.4 cubic feet.
Includes public hearing minutes and audio recordings, legislative records, reports, and correspondence.

Box/Folder Description Dates
1/1-2 Public hearings minutes, Anchorage 1989 September 15
2 Cassette tapes of Anchorage hearings, 8 audiocassettes 1989 September 15
1/3-4 Public hearings minutes, Juneau 1989 September 30
2 Cassette tapes of Juneau hearings, 8 audiocassettes 1989 September 30
1/5-7 Public hearings minutes, Barrow 1989 October 7
2 Cassette tapes of Barrow hearings, 8 audiocassettes 1989 October 7
1/8-10 Public hearings minutes, Anchorage 1989 October 14
2 Cassette tapes of Anchorage hearings, 8 audiocassettes 1989 October 14
1/11 Public hearings minutes, Bethel 1989 October 21
2 Cassette tapes of Bethel hearings, 2 audiocassettes 1989 October 21
1/12-13 Public hearings minutes, Ketchikan 1989 October 28
3 Cassette tapes of Ketchikan hearings, 6  audiocassettes 1989 October 28
1/14-15 Public hearings minutes, Nome 1989 November 4
3 Cassette tapes of Nome hearings, 6 audiocassettes 1989 November 4
1/16-18 Public hearings minutes, Kenai 1989 November 11
3 Cassette tapes of Kenai hearings, 4 audiocassettes 1989 November 11
1/19-21 Public hearings minutes, Fairbanks 1989 November 18
3 Cassette tapes of Fairbanks hearings, 12 audiocassettes 1989 November 18
1/22-24 Public hearings, Juneau 1989 December 2
1/25-29 Public hearings, Anchorage 1989 December 9
1/30 Testimony by Louis H. Baim Undated
3 “House State Affairs” audiocassette recording (tape 75) 1990 January 25
3 “Red’s PFComm Floor Speech” audiocassette recording 1990 January 31
3 “House State Affairs” audiocassette recording (tape 84) 1990 February 15
1/31 CFPF draft report, second draft 12 December, 1989
1/32 Bill drafts, correspondence, and notes 1987, 1989, 1990
1/33 “Inflation proofing Dividend reversal” bill draft and notes 1990
1/34 “Sustained yield” resolution draft and memo 1990
1/35 Statute changes 1990
1/36 Earnings reserve account 1990
4/1 HB564, “Payout” notes and research 1990
4/2 Bill drafts and correspondence 1985, 1990
4/3 Bill drafts and notes 1989
4/4 Bill drafts and correspondence 1989-1990
4/5 Testimony and forms 1988-1989
4/6 “All deductions listed” HB 563, bill drafts, correspondence, and notes 1989-1990
4/7 $1.5 million reimbursement, HB 511, draft bills, correspondence and notes 1989-1990
4/8 Testimony to CFPF presented by Louis H. Baim Undated
4/9 Graphic breakdown of hearings testimony Undated
4/10 “Solving Alaska’s long-term puzzle”, Alaska PFD Corp. Board of Trustees 1989
4/11 Report of the CFPC, presentation speech, chairman’s recommendations, copy of final report, and “Should we change management practices relating to the Permanent Fund?” by Jay Hammond 1989-1990
4/12 House Research Agency memos, fund balances, testimony 1986-1989
4/13 “Speaker packet” 1989?
4/14-16 “The Alaska Permanent Fund master documents and other pertinent items,” volumes 1-2 1989 January
4/17 “Permanent Fund legislation, Second Session, 16th Legislature, HB 589/Payout rule” 1990?
4/18-19 “Laws affecting the Alaska Permanent Fund and research reports” prepared for the CFPF 1989 September 8
4/20 Meeting documents 1989
4/21 Research reports 1990
4/22 “The Commission on the Future of the Permanent Fund” 1989 September, 1990 February

Series 2: Subsistence subject files; 1978-1990. 0.2 cubic feet.
Includes legislative records, correspondence, and reports.

Box/Folder Description Dates
5/1 H.A. “Red” Boucher comments before State House of Representatives during special session on subsistence 3 July 1990
5/2-3 Correspondence 1990
5/4 ANWR, packet of subsistence information 1990
5/5 “Subsistence: a position paper”, AK Dept. of Fish and Game 1980 November 24
5/6 “Perceptions of subsistence and public policy formation in Alaska,” Thomas D. Lonner Undated
5/7 “Questions and answers about subsistence” draft, AK Dept. of Fish and Game Undated
5/8 “Review and comments on the report of the Special Committee on Subsistence by minority members of that Committee” Undated
5/9 “Subsistence in Alaska: a summary”, Division of Subsistence, AK Dept. of Fish and Game 1990 February 26
5/10 “Temporary subsistence management regulations for public lands in Alaska”, Fish and Wildlife Service 1990
5/11 “Title VIII, Subsistence management and use”, Public Law 96-487 1980 December 2
5/12 Publications and policies 1978-1982

Series 3: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) subject files; 1986-1991. 0.5 cubic feet.
Includes reports, legislative packets, bills, and correspondence.

Box/Folder Description Dates
5/13 Alaska legislative digest, no. 8/87 1987 March 9
5/14 “ANWR: America’s energy future”, packet for legislators 1990
5/15 “ANWR coastal plain: keystone of a national energy policy”, packets for “a-team participant” Red Boucher and ? 1991
5/16 “ANWR executive summary” 1991 October 7
5/17 “ANWR fact sheet and chronology” 1990
5/18 Bills, resolutions, and correspondence 1987, 1991
5/19 Citizens Advisory Commission on federal Areas, annual report, including cover letter to Boucher 1986, 1987 January 30
5/20 Correspondence 1986-1987
5/21 “Decision: the future of the coastal plain Arctic National Wildlife Refuge”, prepared for Rep. Sam Cotton, co-chair, House Resources Committee, Alaska State Legislature by Ned Farquhar, committee staff: 1987 November
5/22 “Estimated jobs created by ANWR development at peak production in 2005” 1990 May
5/23 Charts and graphs Undated
5/24 National energy strategy-first edition 1991/1992″, packet for editors? 1991
5/25 ANWR/ oil and gas-ANWR-15 DNR 9.2 Undated
5/26 Oil and gas, natural gas pipeline 15 DNR 9.3 Undated
5/27 Oil and gas, royalty, 15 DNR 9 .4 Undated
5/28 Oil and gas, oil export ban, 15 DNR 9.5 Undated
5/29 “Opening the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration and development: assertions and realities” 1991?
5/30 “The potential of the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge”, by Walter J. Hickel 1991 14 October
5/31 “ANWR and other items”, “A review of the state of Alaska’s oil and gas management policies” 1987 January 27
5/32 “Rise and decline of Alaska oil: the impact without ANWR”, Division of Oil and Gas 1991 July
5/33 Testimony before Various committees and subcommittees 1991
5/34 John Katz, ANWR 543 micro dictating cassette 1991 October 10
5/35 Videocassette, “AOGA Alaska Oil and Gas Association, ANWR ‘A closer look’ 1 x 14 minutes Undated

Series 4: D2 subject files; 1977-1981. 1.8 cubic feet.
Includes correspondence, research materials, clippings, editorials, bill files, and reports.

Box/Folder Description Dates
5/36 Organization of steering committee, EE, contracts, minutes 1978
5/37 “Free Alaska” project, advertising 1978-1980
5/38 Memos, staff meetings 1979
5/39 Correspondence, general 1978-1980
5/40 National Conference of Editorial Writers 1979
5/41 Fact sheets (Suddock & Murphy) 1978-1980
5/42 Form letter requesting editorial copies 1979
5/43 Interview form undated
5/44 Form letters from Red Boucher 1978-1980
5/45 Forms, poll of editors 1979
5/46 Forms, thanks for editorial Undated
5/47 Alaska lands news service releases 1979
5/48 Newspaper poll tally sheets 1979
5/49 List of newspapers by state (#2) 1979
5/50 List of newspapers (cir.100,000+) 1979 September
6/1 Newspapers, list of key contacts 1979
6/2 Newspapers, record of visits 1978-1980
6/3 Photo of Red Boucher (4 copies, b/w 5×7) Undated
6/4 Photos of Gov. Jay Hammond Undated
6/5 “Public lands and the resource crisis: appeal for new federal-state partnership”, speech by Jay S. Hammond at Phoenix Chamber of Commerce 1979 September 26
6/6-9 Press packet Undated
6/10 Press packet, U.S. Senate 1979 September
6/11 Printing, covers for article packets Undated
6/12 Printing, newspaper packet #2 Undated
6/13 “Myths and facts about the Alaska lands legislation” 1979?
6/14 National monument regulations 1979
6/15 “Summary: Alaska lands act (P.L. 96-487) 1979?
6/16 Roadless area review and evaluation (RARE) II 1978-1979
6/17 “Summary of 1979 House-passed Alaska lands Bill-HR39”, prepared by Bill Hom, minority consultant, Alaska lands 1979?
6/18 Target states, Senate effort Undated
6/19 Telephone campaign analysis Undated
6/20 Subsistence, ANILCA D2 lands Battle of 1979 and 1980, packet of Information 1980
6/21 Correspondence and analyses 1980
6/22 HJR39, suggested language and analysis 1983
6/23 Slideshow Undated
6/24 Newspaper mastheads 1978-1980
6/25-28 Articles (pro Alaska) 1978-1980
6/29 Articles (pro HR39) 1978-1980
6/30 Editorials (pro Alaska) 1980
6/31 Editorials (pro HR39) 1978-1980
6/32 Articles and editorials 1977-1981
7/1-2 Steering council contracts and proposals 1978-1980
7/3-28 D2 Lands project billing records 1978-1980

 Series 5: Alaska Statehood Commission subject files; 1980-1983. 0.9 cubic feet.
Includes administrative records, correspondence, reports, and research files.

Box/Folder Description Dates
7/29 Alaska Statehood Commission bylaws and rules 1980
7/30 Proposed goals and objectives Undated
7/31 Draft statement of policy Undated
7/32 Proposed revised draft statement of policy Undated
7/33 Commission background Undated
7/34 List of basic questions and schedule Undated
7/35 Letters of appointment and membership List 1980
7/36 Letter of resignation, H. A. Boucher 1982
7/37 Executive director position announcement and application 1980
7/38 Commission member photographs Undated
7/39-60 Meeting minutes 1980-1983
7/61 Committee reports 1980-1981
7/62-65 General correspondence 1980-1983
7/66 Requests for proposals Undated
7/67 “The Division of States Under the Constitution” 19841
8/1 Lands legislation Undated
8/2 Newspaper articles 1980-1982
8/3-6 Research reports Undated
8/7 ASC file index Undated
8/8 KAKM proposals Undated

Series 6: Anchorage mayoral campaign records; 1985-1990. 0.3 cubic feet.
Includes correspondence, position papers, media records, and research files.

Box/Folder Description Dates
8/9-10 Correspondence 1990
8/11 Polling 1986-1990
8/12 Issues: labor relations 1989-1990
8/13 Issues: public safety 1988
8/14 Issues: administration 1969-1990
8/15 Position papers 1987-1990
8/16 Debate preparation 1990
8/17 Media tv and radio 1990
8/18 Media print 1990
8/19 Mystrom 1985-1990
8/20 Fink 1987-1990
8/21 Planning 1987-1990

 Series 7: Alaska election records; 1974-1981. 0.15 cubic feet.
Includes correspondence, recount tally sheets, clippings, and reapportionment plans.

Box/Folder Description Dates
8/22 General election, Egan executive order and Attorney General instructions 1974
8/23 General election, hand recount tally sheets 1974
8/24 General election press coverage 1974
8/25 Reapportionment plan 1981
8/26 Elections organization, registration, general information undated

Series 8: House campaign records; 1984. 0.15 cubic feet.
Includes correspondence, brochures, signs, and research files.

Box/Folder Description Dates
8/27 Division of Elections correspondence 1984
8/28 Media files: printed brochures, newspaper ads, cards, stationery, signs 1984
8/29 Press: questionnaires (Times/News etc) 1984
8/30 Phone bank: calling instructions 1984
8/31 Position papers: Boucher 1984
8/32 NAG’s newsletter 1984
8/33 Position papers: questionnaires 1984
8/34 Political action groups: questionnaires 1984
8/35 Speech file: speeches/research material 1984

Series 9: Alaska Hire records; 1983-1990. 1.0 cubic feet.
Includes draft legislation, reports, clippings; studies; and project records.

Box/Folder Description Dates
9/1-3 Alaska Department of Labor studies 1984-1986
9/4 Alaska Department of Labor reports 1984-1986
9/5 Press clippings 1984-1986
9/6-8 Case histories to date 1984-1986
9/9-10 Studies 1986
9/11 Legislation 1985
9/12-13 Governor’s Council 1986
9/14-17 Social problems 1986
9/18 Non-resident hire and social ills associated with chronic unemployment undated
9/19 Legislative analysis undated
9/20 Governor’s Council 1984-1990
9/21 Ensearch Alaska construction 1984-1990
9/22 Legal matters 1983-1990
9/23 Nonresident work study 1986
9/24 House bill 367 1986

Series 10: Legislative session records; 1989-1991. 1.4 cubic feet.
Includes subject files, speeches, presentations, bill files, and constituent correspondence. Some materials related to Red Boucher’s legislative work will also be found in other subject series. Note restriction: The constituent correspondence may include personally identifiable information (PII). Records with PII may not be duplicated.

Box/Folder Description Dates
10/1 Tanana Chiefs Conference 1989-1990
10/2 Wyoming Preference Act 1989-1990
10/3 Surveys and questionnaires 1989
10/4 Anchorage–Juneau move December 1989
10/5 Construction contracts 1989-1990
10/6 Calista report 1991
10/7 Speeches 1989-1990
10/8 Budget graphics 1989-1990
10/9 Information management strategy 1989-1990
10/10-11 Guide to Data Center Services–Division of Information Services 1989-1990
10/12-15 Legislative ethics undated
10/16-17 Boucher bills, passed, Second Session, l6th Legislature undated
1018/ Boucher bills, Second Session, 16th Legislature undated
10/19-21 Deregulation subject file Undated
10/22 Clippings 1990
10/23 Photographs of Red Boucher and correspondence 1989-1990
10/24-11/4 Constituent correspondence [note restriction in series description above] 1989-1990
11/5 Dept. of Administration reorganization (includes two audiocassette tapes) 1989
11/6 Office computers and software 1989-1990
11/7 Public utilities and fisheries research file 1990
11/8 Dept. of Administration mainframe packet 1989
11/9 Request for computer anti-virus research 1988

Series 11: Anchorage School District instructional technology committee records; 1995. 0.2 cubic feet.

Box/Folder Description Dates
11/10-12 Reports, correspondence, and research files 1995

Series 12: Telecommunications subject files; 1975-2001. 3.0 cubic feet.
Includes reports, correspondence, clippings, and materials relating to the Alaska State Legislature’s Special Committee on Telecommunications. Additional telecommunications records may be found in series 10.

Box/Folder Description Dates
11/12-18 Anchorage Telephone Utility (ATU) project for the Municipality of Anchorage volumes 1-4 1993-1994
11/19 Rural Alaska Television Network (RATNet) report 1990
11/20 RATNet correspondence and email 1995
11/21 RATNet shutdown 1995 June
11/22 Telephone utilities correspondence Undated
11/23 Monitoring report Undated
11/24 Telecommunications hearing 1997
12/1 Final Report on Telecommunications 1989 March 1
12/2 Telecommunications Information Council meeting records 1989
12/3 Telecommunications regulation manual 1988
12/4 Research papers 1990-1991
12/5 Center for Information Technology, University of Alaska Anchorage correspondence 1990-1992
12/6 Chugach Conference planning documents 1989-1992
12/7 Research file 1987-1990
12/8 RATNet 1987-1989
12/9 RATNet /Earth Sats/Costs 1981-1989
12/10 MIT Media Lab letter 1989
12/11 Distant delivery of education 1981-1991
12/12 Computers in education 1991-1992
12/13 Distant delivery of education, Apple project Undated
12/14 MOA-ATU project 1993-1994
12/15 Com 21 system, Anchorage Telephone Utility 1994
12/16 RATNet report 1985
12/17 RATNet information packet 1975-1989
12/18 RATNet Council meetings and correspondence 1989
12/19 Report to the Alaska Public Utilities commission 1995 October
12/20 Keynote Speech, “The Road to the Future” 1994 August
12/21 Speeches and correspondence 1994-1995
12/22 ATU contract and articles 1993
12/23 Proposal -Strategic Policy Research to MOA to conduct ATU interexchange feasibility study RFP 3 7-94 1994
12/24 ATU performance audit 1993 October
12/25 Legislative history on Telecommunications information Council 1987
13/1 National information infrastructure 1993
13/2 U.S. West Seminar in current topics 1991-1992
13/3 Telecomm legislation correspondence and briefing papers 1992-1993
13/4 Lifeline rates 1988
13/5 Draft legislation–telecom–Universal Services 1988
13/6 Telecommunications policy reports 1977-1988
13/7 Public Utilities Commission 1988-1989
13/8 University of Alaska Anchorage, Larry Pears consulting contract and billing records 1986-1989
13/9 Private operational microwave service 1988
13/10 Competition and systems for people with disabilities 1988-1989
13/11 Telecommunications Information Council 1988-1989
13/12 State Division of Telecommunications reports 1987-1989
13/13 Public access to information background reports 1988-1990
13/14 CDRom project 1986-1989
13/15-16 State Department of Administration procurement 1988
13/17-19 Public television, the start of telecommunications 1987
13/20 Reports 1979-1989
13/21 Computer conference 1985
13/22 Chugach Conference 1988-1989
13/23-24 Mainframe issue 1989
13/25 Proposed UAA Center for Applied Telecommunications 1989
13/26 RATNet 1989
14/1 RATNet, MIT Project 1988-1989
14/2 Telecommunications Information Council 1989
14/3-6 Alaska 2001 Advisory Committee report 1994-2001
14/7 MIT Papert project 1989
14/8 Alaska Telephone Association briefing book 1988
14/9-11 State Department of Administration mainframe purchase 1989
14/12 State Department of Administration payroll software purchase 1989
14/13 Internet correspondence 1981-1982
14/14 Statewide information management strategy 1990-1991
14/15 Telecomm legal news 1993
14/16 MIT media lab 1992-1993

Series 13: Photographs; 1972-1990. 0.2 cubic feet.

Box/Folder Description Dates
14/17 110 format mounted slides: family events, staff, travel, computing equipment 1972-1990?
14/18 35 mm slides: state buildings and vehicles, Fairbanks baseball game 1975
14/19-20 120 format mounted slides: U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, family photos Undated

Series 14: Scrapbooks; 1967-1974. 1.5 cubic feet.
Oversize scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings, photographs, letters, invitations, event programs, and publications relating to issues in Alaska and Red Boucher’s political career.

Oversize container Dates
1-5 1967-1974

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