| | Image: |  Title: | Description: | Identifier: |
| | |  | Abacus used in the office of the Russian America Company in Sitka. | Description: wood; beads; metal; glass beads
Descriptive Narrative: Abacus (Russian: shchety). 12 rows of beads strung on metal tubes. The first 7 rows, row 10, row 11 have 10 beads. Row 8 & row 12 have 4 beads each. Row 9 has no beads. 2 black beads are in the center of each of the rows that have 10 beads. There is a hole at the center of one end for the purposes of hanging the board. The back board is cracked down the center.
Exhibition: Russian America 1990-1992
Dimensions: L: 15.25 in, H: 9.75 in | ASM-III-R-83 |
| | |  | Alaska Native Brotherhood "overseas" hat. | Accession Number: 91-50-1
Description: felt; red; yellow
Descriptive Narrative: Alaska Native Brotherhood "overseas" hat of maroon and yellow felt, with yellow ANB monogram and tassel
Used: Herbert G. Johnson; Angoon
Inscription: "ANB"
Dimensions: L: 10.5 in, W: 4 in
| ASM-91-50-1 |
| | |  | Alaska Native Brotherhood sash of leather with cloth backing; embroidered in red. | Accession Number: 91-50-2
Description: sash; leather; cloth; embroidered
Descriptive Narrative: Alaska Native Brotherhood sash of leather with cloth backing; embroidered in red
Maker: Elizabeth Dick
Used: Herbert G. Johnson; Angoon
Inscription: "ANB" "C/ NO. 7"
Exhibition: Vancouver exhibit 1994
Dimensions: L: 33.75 in, W: 7 in
| ASM-91-50-2 |
| | |  | Artillery shell believed to be associated with the shelling of Angoon in 1882. | Accession Number: 98-1
Model: 4.2" Dahlgren projectile
Descriptive Narrative: Explosive shell casing made of a steel (rusted); approx. 4" in diameter and 8.25" from end to end. One end is rounded, the other tapering. The rounded end has five raised flanges. The side has 4 rectangular lugs. A hole is drilled through the side to the interior (an early attempt at removing explosives from interior cavity.
Notes: Excavated by Civilian Conservation Corps workers in Angoon, Alaska, 04/21/1938; located on the side of town facing Chatham Strait, in Lot 9, U.S. Survey No. 1567; buried to a depth of 16 inches. Believed to be associated with the shelling of Angoon in 1882 by federal forces under the command of E.C. Merriman, U.S. Navy.
Dimensions: L: 8.25 in, DIAM: 4 in | ASM-98-1-1 |
| | |  | Bear mask by Nathan Jackson, 1973. | Tlingit bear mask carved of wood and painted. Mask is hollowed out with an adze from a single piece of wood. 32 inset shell teeth; abalone pupils. Ears show bear profiles and are each edges with 12 wooden pegs which secure a tuft of dark red-brown human hair. The back of the mask is made from 3 strips (2.5" x 3") of brown bear hide tied together by buckskin thongs. The face is painted black, red, and turquoise, with some unpainted wood.
Inscription: inside mask: Nathan Jackson '73 | ASM-II-B-1683 |
| | |  | Board game, "Horsman's Game of the Klondike". | Accession Number: 96-61 a-k
Made: New York
Description: cardboard; printed; ink; wood; metal; paint
Title: Horsman's Game of Klondike
Descriptive Narrative: A board game, "Horsman's Game of the Klondike", consisting of a playing board (part A) and a small lidded cardboard box (parts B & C) containing instruction sheet (part D), spinner (part E), 5 wooden playing pieces (parts F-J) and imitation gold nugget (part K). The playing board depicts a fanciful color map of Alaska and the Klondike with numbered circles along the route from St. Michael through the Klondike, ending at Juneau; the board folds in half for storage (folded size 14.25" x 20.25"). The cover of the box has a black & white engraving depicting prospectors with sleds and horses packing equipment over a mountain pass.
Dimensions: L: 28.5 in, H: 20.25 in.
| ASM-96-61-1 |
| | |  | Brass baptismal box. | Descriptive Narrative: A small brass box with embossed cover containing two metal vials for annointing oils, a small scissors, annointing brush, and sponge. Cover is engraved with crucifixion scene.
Culture: Russian
History: Collected and/or used by Father A.P. Kashevaroff, founding curator of the Alaska Historical Library and Museum in Juneau. Kashevaroff was a Russian Orthodox priest who served in Angoon, Sitka, Kodiak, Nuchek, and Juneau. Purchased by the museum from Natasha Calvin, a granddaughter, in 2001.
Dimensions: L: 9.80 cm, W: 7.00 cm
| ASM-2001-10-4 |
| | |  | Bronze medal. | Accession Number: 81-3-3
Descriptive Narrative: Bronze medal. Octagonal shape (oblong with corners cut). Bust of man in military uniform on one side, sailing vessel and Russian inscription on reverse.
Notes: Bronze medal issued by Alexander I in honor of the first Russian voyage around the world, the Neva in 1803-6. Yurii Lisiansky and Ivan Krusenstern commanded the first Russian voyage to circle the globe, aboard the ships Neva and Nadezhda. Its purposes were to re-supply trading posts and missions in Alaska, to chart the North Pacific, and to collect scientific data. The expedition sailed to Easter Island, the Marquesas, Hawaii, Sitka, Kodiak, Japan, China and Kamchatka. While in Sitka in 1804, Lisiansky and Alexander Baranov fought the Tlingit Indians to reestablish a trading headquarters there, replacing a fort that the Tlingits had destroyed two years earlier. The expedition also carried Nikolai Rezanov to Japan in 1804, where his efforts to negotiate were unsuccessful (he was imprisoned there for a time).
Dimensions: H: 3.90 cm, L: 2.70 cm
| ASM-III-R-349 |
| | |  | Carved ivory billiken figure with features incised in black. | Notes: The original "billiken" was a small plaster statue with the inscription "Billiken--God of Things as They Ought to Be," patented by Florence Pretz of Kansas City in 1908. The Buddha-like billiken was adopted as an official "patron saint" of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909. A traveler apparently brought one to Nome soon after, where it was copied (without its inscription) by the carver Happy Jack. Later, Happy Jack and other carvers replicated billikens by the hundreds.
Dimensions: H: 1.10 cm | ASM-98-7-60 |
| | |  | Censer. | Descriptive Narrative: An elaborate cast metal censer used for burning incense during Orthodox services. In three pieces, and missing a pair of chains from which it was originally suspended.
Culture: Russian
History: Collected and/or used by Father A.P. Kashevaroff, founding curator of the Alaska Historical Library and Museum in Juneau. Kashevaroff was a Russian Orthodox priest who served in Angoon, Sitka, Kodiak, Nuchek, and Juneau. Purchased by the museum from Natasha Calvin, a granddaughter, in 2001
Dimensions: DIAM: 9.60 cm | ASM-2001-10-9 |
| | |  | Certificate attesting the giving of a Christina name to Naushket, a Sitka chief. | Descriptive Narrative: 1 certificate attesting the giving of a Christina name to Naushket, a Sitka chief. Bears red seal which is disintegrated.
Descriptive Narrative: A Russian certificate presented to a Tlingit leader of Sitka, commemorating his receipt of a Christian name, signed and sealed by Mathew Muraviev, chief administrator of the Russian-American Company in Alaska. The handwritten text, in Cyrillic writing, is translated as "The Sitka Chief Naushket requested that he be given a Christian name, wherefore he was named "Mathew" and at this request he was given this certificate bearing seal of the governor of the Colonies in America." The document is dated April 28, 1823, and signed by Governor Mathew Muravief.
Exhibition: ASM Alaska's Attic 5/92-10/92
Dimensions: H: 16 in, W: 12.5 in
| ASM-III-R-248 |
| | |  | Certificate presented by Mathew Murav'ev, Chief Manager of the Russian-American Company, to Matvei Naushketl, a Tlingit chief. | Exhibition: ASM 7-8/70
Descriptive Narrative: A certificate presented by Mathew Murav'ev, Chief Manager of the Russian-American Company, to Matvei Naushketl, a Tlingit chief. The certificate was given along with a silver medal "Soiuznye Rossii" (Allies of Russia), on October 19, 1825. The text is translated as follows: "CERTIFICATE of Fleet Captain Second Rank and Cavalier Murav'ev, Chief Manager of the Colonies in America of the Russian-American Company, which is under the highest protection of His Imperial Majesty." "By the power vested in me I award Koliuzh toyon Matvei Naushket a silver medal with the inscription "Allies of Russia," to be worn around the neck, for his devotion to and friendship with the Russians and for his obedience to the local authorities; this token of distinction will serve to bring him respect and aid from Russian subjects. This certificate is issued at the port of Novo-Arkhangel'sk on the shores of Northwestern America, under my signature and with application of the seal of the Chief Manager of the Russian Colonies in America October [19th, 1825]." "[signed] Captain Second Rank of the Fleet of His Imperial Majesty my most gracious Sovereign, Chief Manager of the Russian-American Company, which is under the highest protection of His Imperial Majesty, and Cavalier Matvei Marav'ev" "[signed] Secretary Nikolai Gribanov" [another hand added the following to the document, after the death of Matvei Naushket in April 1833] "On the death of the above toyon the medal was returned to the Company, but I am leaving the papers with his brother as a keepsake. [signed] F. Wrangell" Note: the bracketed date is reconstructed. The day and year on the document is obscured by a melted wax seal, but the date of presentation was recorded in company records on microfilm. Translated by Katherine L. Arndt, 1993
Notes: After the death of Chief Naushket the medal was returned to the Russian American Company, but the certificate remained with the Chief's brother.
Dimensions: H: 13 in, W: 18.5 in
| ASM-III-R-228 |
| | |  | Chilkat robe | Descriptive Narrative: Small Chilkat robe. Design is an eagle.
Notes: Per Maria Miller 1/12/1987: All yarn in this piece is
commercial yarn. The fringe is wool and jute twine.
Dimensions: W: 19 5/8 in, H: 22 1/2 x 14 in
Accession Number: 70-61 | ASM-II-B-1543 |
| | |  | Cribbage board carved from a walrus tusk. | Accession Number: 98-7-213
Description: ivory; carved
Descriptive Narrative: Cribbage board carved from a walrus tusk. The tusk sits on a base with freely-turning wheels. Attached to the top side of the tusk are carved sculptures of a man driving a sled with two dogs, seal and fish. The scoring peg, chain, and sliding ring are carved as a unit from a single piece of ivory, and slides along the side rail. 10 loose pegs are stored in a compartment in the large end of the tusk.
Dimensions: L: 61.00 cm | ASM-98-7-213 |
| | |  | Divine Liturgy. | Found: St. Paul
Photo: negative, black and white
Description: hand-lettered
Accession Number: 57-10
Descriptive Narrative: Hand-lettered Divine Liturgy of the Russian Orthodox Church. Text in Church Slavonic.
Exhibition: ASM 1/71-6/72
Notes: Copied circa 1855 - 1867 by an Aleut trained by Father Veniaminov. Presented by Father Makary Baranoff, the Ecclesiastical Superintendent of the Pribilof and Aleutian Islands. May 12, 1957
Dimensions: L: 5 in, W: 7 in
| ASM-III-R-208 |
| | |  | Double-headed eagle plaque of cast bronze. | Descriptive Narrative: Double-headed eagle plaque of cast bronze. Crowns on each eagle head, symbols of power held in the talons; on eagle's breast is octagon shape with figure of St George. One wing tip is missing.
Exhibition: object traveled to Sitka for display at Battle of 1804 commemoration event, Oct. 2, 2004.
Notes: Specimen list reads: "1 double-headed Russian Eagle, an insignia of the Russian Imperial Crest"card with artifact reads: "Russian Coast of Arms. During the winter Baranov became better acquainted with the natives. The Sitka head chief, Skautlelt, was particularly befriended and presented with gifts. As a mark of distinction a replica of the Russian Coat of Arms, made out of brass, was given to him. He was also given an open letter by which Baranov had witnessed that the grounds occupied by the Russian fort were voluntarily ceded by the chief and his clan for a remuneration, and that the chief had expressed his devotion to Russia, for which the Russians promised to provide him with the necessary supplies and to defend him from attacks of neighboring hostile peoples. (Translated from K. Khlebnikov's biography of A.A. Baranov, p. 53-54.)"
Dimensions: W: 8.5 in, H: 9.5 in
| ASM-III-R-150 |
| | |  | "Gold" medal (Novadel) with head of Alexander I. | Accession Number: 81-3-5
Descriptive Narrative: "Gold" medal (Novadel) with Man's head (Alexander I ) on one side; Russian inscription on reverse. Contains nickel and copper with small amounts of gold and silver.
Inscription: To Tamari (Kaumualii) ruler of the Sandwich Islands, in recognition of his friendship (reverse)
Notes: Struck in 1814 for King Kaumaualii (Kaumuali'i) of Kauai Hawaii by Alexander I
Dimensions: DIAM: 5.10 cm | ASM-III-R-351 |
| | |  | Group of ivory billiken figures. | Notes: The original "billiken" was a small plaster statue with the inscription "Billiken--God of Things as They Ought to Be," patented by Florence Pretz of Kansas City in 1908. The Buddha-like billiken was adopted as an official "patron saint" of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909. A traveler apparently brought one to Nome soon after, where it was copied (without its inscription) by the carver Happy Jack. Later, Happy Jack and other carvers replicated billikens by the hundreds. | ASM-98-7-1 |
| | |  | Icon of Holy Mother and Christ Child. | Descriptive Narrative: Icon of Holy Mother and Christ Child.
Found: Three Saints Bay
Dimensions: L: 8.75 in, H: 10.5 in
| ASM-III-R-203 |
| | |  | Lacquered box. | Accession Number: 98-11
Made: Russia
Used: Sitka
Found: Sitka; Finland
Description: wood; painted; lacquer
Descriptive Narrative: Box, wooden or paper mache. Lacquer: black on outside, red on inside. Rectangular shape. Painted scene on top: 2 figures, man and woman. Top hinged to back side.
Subject: Russian America
Id Locn: Back, bottom corner
Collection Name: History
Notes: possibly Siberian originThis box was donated in the memory of Jakl Enckell
Dimensions: L: 6.25 in, H: 3.5 in, W: 3.75 in
| ASM-98-11-1 |
| | |  | Leaflet dropped over Japanese-occupied Kiska and Attu during the Aleutian Campaign of World War II. | Accession Number: 96-26
Descriptive Narrative: Paper cut-out in the shape of a paulownia leaf, printed in gold, black and green. Background printed on each side is a photographic reproduction of a leaf in gold and black. In the center is a black rectangle with green border around Japanese characters.
Inscription: inscription in Japanese
Notes: Loose translation of Japanese text: "Leaves of paulownia tree will drop--an ill omen--Japanese military government will be destroyed. Sorrow and sadness forever. Before spring comes, American bombs will fall like leaves, bringing in much sadness and unhappiness."These leaflets were dropped over Japanese-occupied Kiska and Attu during the Aleutian Campaign of World War II by Patrol Squadron VP45 USN.
Dimensions: H: 6.25 in, W: 5 in
| ASM-96-26-1 |
| | |  | Lincoln Totem. | Descriptive Narrative: Section of totem pole. Figure of Abraham Lincoln
Notes: "The so-called Lincoln Totem Pole from Tongass Island was, according to a report by judge Wickersham, a figure of Abraham Lincoln. The carving of the pole was allegedly sponsored by Tlingit slaves in commemoration of President Lincoln's roll in ending slavery. More current reports by William Paul, Sr., Tlingit Indian born near Tongass Village, (published in the Alaska Journal, summer issue, 1971) gives the name as 'The Proud Raven Pole' and the top figure as representing 'The first white man seen by the Tongass Island People.' However, there is little doubt that a photograph of Lincoln was indeed used for the model of the top figure representing 'The first white man.' In the Alaska State Museum, there is on display the original Lincoln which was atop the totem. It was replaced by a new one as the old one was decaying." Source unknown (from a newspaper article)
Dimensions: H: 72 in, W: 18 in, D: 20 in
| ASM-II-B-833 |
| | |  | Mask by Nathan Jackson with earrings by Emma Marks, titled "Haida Woman" or "Salmon Dancer". | Descriptive Narrative: Carved wooden mask by Nathan Jackson with earrings by Emma Marks. The natural color of the wood shows through on most of the mask except where hair, eyebrows, and eyes are painted in black, and nostrils and lips in red. A labret, inlaid with abalone, is represented in the lower lip. A pair of long ear ornaments of red yarn dangles from holes in ear lobes. The yarn is banded near top with a black wool fabric band decorated with six abalone buttons.
History: Museum Purchase. Mask originally commission by Peter Corey of Sitka, who asked Jackson to carve a mask in the style of a 19th century Haida carver that Corey likes. Such earrings were used in Tlingit memorial feasts (koo.éex' or "potlatch") for the Motion or Sway Dance (also called the Yarn Dance). Two Tlingit terms for the dance have been recorded: yoo kuwahangi héik ("spirit who sways") and yoo koonákk ("standing and swaying in place"). This joyous dance usually takes place following the mourning phase of the memorial, and is performed by women, who dance while spirit songs are sung. The yarn tassels are worn from the ears, or attached to headbands and hanging in front of the ears. The yarns accentuate the swaying motion of the dance. See Dauenhauer and Dauenhauer 1990:62.
Dimensions: H: 26 in, W: 12 in | ASM-98-26-1 |
| | |  | Model of a steam whaling ship made entirely of walrus ivory, bone (foremast) and twisted reindeer sinew . | Accession Number: 98-7-197
Description: ivory; bone; sinew; carved
Dimensions: L: 29.00 cm
Note: ship model is possibly a representation of the steam whaler BELVEDERE, built in 1880 | ASM-98-7-197 |
| | |  | Oil painting. Framed oil painting depicting Wrangell c. 1891, with three totem poles standing before two Native houses on the shore of a small bay. | Notes: Painted by Martha S. Knapp, wife of Gov. Lyman Knapp, 3rd Governor of Territory of Alaska. Presented by Mrs. Frances Morgan, daughter of Gov. & Mrs. Knapp, to the State of Alaska. Sen. Ernest Gruening presented the painting for Mrs. Morgan to Gov. William Egan, who in turn presented it to Edward L. Keithahn for the Alaska Historical Museum in a ceremony held in the Governor's Office Dec. 30, 1959. (Mrs. Morgan was 90 years old at the time of the presentation.)
Exhibition: Friends art exhibit 12/82-1/83; Gov's Mansion 2/83-2/88.
| ASM-V-A-43 |
| | |  | Old Kasaan, watercolor painting by Theodore Richardson. | Descriptive Narrative: Watercolor painting showing Haida community houses and totem poles from the beach at Old Kasaan, on Prince of Wales Island
Exhibition: ASM 7-10/84; ASM Gentle Craft Exhibit 3-10/90 see exh. catalog
Dimensions: H: 10 in, L: 14 in | ASM-V-A-338 |
| | |  | Old Witch Totem Pole | Accession Number: 74-55-1
Description: wood; carved
Descriptive Narrative: Totem pole carved of cedar.
Found: Sukkwan
Label: The Waasgo Totem Pole (or "Old Witch Totem Pole") Kaiikani Haida, Sukkwan Village Carved by Kitkoojawus (Dwight Wallace), circa 1880 Donated by Belle Simpson in memory of her husband, Dr. Robert Simpson Alaska State Museum II-B-1632 Totem poles of the Northwest Coast are monumental representations of the history and spiritualism of Native lineages. Poles can represent supernatural occurrences from mythological times or relatively recent historical events. The carved figures are the owned crests of Native clans, and today, totem pole carving remains a vital part of Native life in Southeast Alaska. This totem pole originally stood in the Haida village of Sukkwan near the southern end of the Alaska "panhandle." It was carved in the late 1800s for the Quit'aas clan, and was mounted in front of their cedar plank house. Dr. Robert Simpson later purchased the pole and displayed it in front of The Nugget Shop, a famous Juneau curio store. According to Haida elder John Wallace, this pole depicts characters from two traditional Haida stories. The top two figures represent a Haida man atop a bullhead, from a story about an encounter between a clan ancestor and the Chief of the Bullheads. The remaining figures relate to another story about a young man with special powers obtained from a supernatural creature called the Waasgo. This powerful water creature is depicted on the pole in human form lifting two whales. The Waasgo is repeated at the base of the pole with a shrimp in its mouth. In another version of the story, a young man acquires the power of the Waasgo and uses it to help feed his village while at the same time humiliating his vain mother-in-law. In reference to this mean woman, the pole is known locally as the "Old Witch Totem Pole." | ASM-II-B-1632 |
| | |  | Painted wooden box. | Accession Number: 98-11
Made: Russia
Used: Sitka
Found: Sitka; Finland
Description: wood; painted; lacquer
Descriptive Narrative: Box, wooden or paper mache. Lacquer: black on outside, red on inside. Rectangular shape. Painted scene on top: 2 figures, man and woman. Top hinged to back side.
Subject: Russian America
Notes: possibly Siberian originThis box was donated in the memory of Jakl Enckell.
Dimensions: L: 6.25 in, H: 3.5 in, W: 3.75 in
| ASM-98-11-1 |
| | |  | Peg calendar. | Old Num: LC.344-1.1
Description: wood; paint
Found: Sitka
Culture: Aleut; Alutiiq
History: From the collection of Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff, curator of the Alaska Historical Library and Museum from 1919-1940. Purchased by museum in 2001 from Natasha Calvin of Sitka, a granddaughter of Kashevaroff. Kashevaroff was Aleut and Alutiiq on his mothers side.
Notes: Attributed to the Aleut or Alutiiq based on style of decoration. General form resembles a calendar collected in the Aleutian Islands in 1912, now in the American Museum of Natural History (cat number60/6842--see photo in accession file). Peg calendars were developed to help Native peoples keep track of Orthodox holidays. According to Lydia Black, peg calendars were introduced to Alaska by the first Russian seafarers who came from Kamchatka in the mid-1700s. They were in use well into the 20th century.
Dimensions: L: 12.60 cm, W: 7.10 cm
| ASM-2001-10-1 |
| | |  | Police badge used by Chief Kowee. | Accession Number: 73-19 Descriptive Narrative: One silver-colored metal police badge in the shape of a 7-point star with the words "Police Officer" in black. 3-1/8" from point to point. Pin on the back.
Exhibition: Alaska's Attic 1992
Notes: The museum inventory for 1923-24 lists "Two old Indian Police Badges." They were listed as part of the Territorial Collection, transferred to the museum exhibition hall from the Governor's office in 1920-21. There are two old Indian police badges currently in the collection: II-B-988a and III-O-600. These must be the badges acquired before 1923. A photograph of Willie Peters, printed in Monuments in Cedar by E.L. Keithahn (p. 23) shows him wearing a uniform and badge. The caption reads "Willie Peters of Juneau models the police uniform of this illustrious ancestor, Chief Kowee." Pinned on the uniform is what appears to be badge III-O-600. While the badge in the photo appears to be the same as the museum badge, it is possible that there were a number of badges of the same type in circulation. That Willie Peters is wearing it with the uniform of Kowee is not necessarily proof that the badge belonged to Kowee. Keithahn only said that Peters modeled the uniform of Kowee. It is possible that Keithahn lent Peters the badge to have his picture taken with the uniform. --SEH 1/26/2004
Dimensions: W: 3 1/8 in, H: 3 1/8 in | ASM-III-O-600 |
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