Sitka Borough, Alaska

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A suggested reading list to learn more about Alaska

A word about Interlibrary Loans..... For those of you haven't tried "Interlibrary Loan" - it is the greatest thing since ice cream! If you want to read a book that you can't get locally talk to your librarian. Most US libraries participate in the program. Write down the book title, author, and any other details you may have such as publisher. Give it to your librarian and she will order the book in for you. My library charges me between $2-$5 to get any book that circulates in the country. The process usually takes several weeks. The library calls you when it comes in. Usually you can take the book home for several weeks. Some libraries require you read the book on the premises. It depends on the policy of the lending library and the value of the book. Some books are so scarce that they don't circulate. If you can't obtain your book through interlibrary loan - there is still hope. Make a trip to the Library of Congress in Washington DC some day. They have a copy of almost every book ever published in the U.S. Everyone needs to visit this wonderful repository at least once in their life. And don't forget Ebay - always a good source for obscure books.
	Sitka Man, by Al Brookman, For six decades, Brookman lived his dream: his home a fishing boat, his estate the waterways and island wilderness of southeastern Alaska, his family table supplied from land and sea.
	Alaska, by James Michener. Master storyteller James Michener reveals Alaska in all its awesome, sweeping majesty. From the near-forgotten past, to the highly technological present, from self-defense to self-determination, here are the men and women who tried to tame the land, seize its bounty, and lay claim to the elusive spirit that holds native and visitor spellbound. A stirring portrait of a human community living on the edge of the world, ALASKA claims a bold heritage of survival against all odds. "Michener has done a fine job....Few will escape the allure of the land and people he describes." LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK REVEIW
	The Alaska Airlines Story by Archie Satterfield. Paperback ,From the grease and glamor of flying to board-room maneuvering, and from the glaciers of Alaska to the deserts of the Middle East, this is the story of Alaska Airlines, one of the most adventurous and adaptable airlines in American history. The story begins in the early 1930s when every pilot in Alaska qualified to be called a bush pilot, and when they had to be extremely resourceful. Alaska Airlines began as McGee Airways, then Star Airlines based in Anchorage. Then through a series of mergers and sales based more on financial desperation than on careful planning, it became legendary in many ways, some not the kind of legend on which to build a reputation.
	Alaska and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, 1867-1915 by Truman R. Strobridge, Dennis L. Noble , Not long after Alaska was purchased by the United States from Russia in 1867, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service (USRCS) made its first appearance in the Bering Sea. Over the next forty-eight years the ships and men of the USRCS firmly established U.S. sovereignty in the area and performed amazing acts of rescue and humanitarian aid-contributions that have received little attention until the publication of this book
	Coming into the Country by John McPhee , Residents of the Lower 48 sometimes imagine Alaska as a snow-covered land of igloos, oil pipelines, and polar bears. But Alaska is far more complex geographically, culturally, ecologically, and politically than most Americans know, and few writers are as capable of capturing this complexity as John McPhee. In Coming into the Country, McPhee describes his travels through much of the state with bush pilots, prospectors, and settlers, as well as politicians and businesspeople who have their eyes set on a very different future for the state.
	The Alaska Pipeline (Building America) by Craig A. Doherty, Katherine M. Doherty , The incredible story of an 800-mile-long pipe, built in the frozen north, and designed to deliver about 2 million barrels of oil each day. 'Building America' chronicles the massive undertakings that mark some of the greatest triumphs of human engineering.
	Alaska Place Names by Alan Edward Schorr , An alphabetical listing of the names of natural features in Alaska, as defined by the federal agency for place names up to December 1990. A paragraph cites the location and the origin of each name. Does not include towns or settlements. The "index" is a cross-reference of alternative names. Third edition, 1986. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
	The Alaska Purchase in American History (In American History) by David K. Fremon No review available.
	Alaska's History by Harry Ritter , This book is perfect for a quick overview of Alaska's history. It is a good size for tucking in the suitcase or reading on a plane. Lots of historic photos bring this history to life. This brief history captures the untamed history of Alaska in a very readable format.
	Northwest Coast Indian Art : An Analysis of Form by Bill Holm , A book for researchers, excellent information, but quite dry.
	Looking at Totem Poles by Hilary Stewart (Illustrator), Norman Tait , Clear and lively descriptive information on 110 easily accessible poles in outdoor locations in coastal British Columbia and Alaska, each with a drawing. Introductory chapters give background (with photos) on their making, history, and lore. A well-researched and nicely put together guide. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
	Ka.gun.da, George James Beck : Alaskan Pioneer Teacher, Missionary, Leader by Mary Giraudo Beck , Mary Beck's collection of legends from Tlingit and Haida folklore provides an excellent look at not only the mythology but the values and culture of these Southeast Alaska Natives. Anchorage News: Rich legends of Haida Tlingit culture are tapped with good results by Mary Beck in Shamans and Kushtakas . . (she) presents her stories in an effective, entertaining manner. Homer News on Heroes and Heroines
	Sitka: A Short History, by Jack Calvin; a nice short history with some lovely wood engravings.
	Carving Totem Poles & Masks, by Alan & Gill Bridgewater
	From the Land of the Totem Poles, Aldona Jonaitis, University of Washington Press, Seattle, 1988
	Carved History: A Totem Guide to Sitka National Historical Park, by M. Knapp
	Faces, Voices and Dreams : A Celebration of the Centennial of the Sheldon Jackson Museum Sitka, Alaska 1888-1988 Peter L. Corey(Editor);
	They Don't Speak Russian in Sitka: A New Look at the History of Southern Alaska, David Wharton
	Sitka: A Short History, by Jack Calvin;
	Alaska 1899 : Essays from the Harriman Expedition by George Bird Grinnell, Polly Burroughs, Victoria Wyatt, Burroughs Polly (Introduction) , In the summer of 1899, business tycoon Edward H. Harriman organized and financed a scientific expedition in which 25 of America's foremost geologists, botanists, ornithologists, and ethnologists took a two-month steamship cruise along the coast of Alaska. One of the scientists was Grinnell, an expert on Native American cultures. His two essays, prepared for the final Harriman Expedition report (published in 11 volumes from 1901 to 1905) are reprinted here. They discuss Natives of the Alaska coast, and the salmon industry. With introductions by Grinnell's great-niece and by Victoria Wyatt (history, U. of Victoria), and beautiful b&w illustrations. No index. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
	An Alaska Anthology : Interpreting the Past by Stephen W. Haycox (Editor), Mary Childers Mangusso (Editor) , Twenty-five selected articles trace Alaska's history from the days of Russian-American Company domination to the more recent threat of nuclear testing by the Atomic Energy Commission and the influence of oil money on inexperienced politicians. About half of the articles were included in an earlier anthology, Interpreting Alaska's History (1989), and all have appeared in print elsewhere. No index. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
	The Alaska Purchase (Spotlight on American History) by Daniel Cohen The story of how Alaska came to be part of the United States includes the long and troubled history of Russian exploration and exploitation as well as the eventual acquisition by the United States. The tale is complex and is made more so by the lack of maps, over reliance on text, and inclusion of too much detail. Occasional historical illustrations and photographs, some in color, are included. Bib., ind. -- Copyright � 1996 The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.
	Alaska's Copper River Delta by Riki Ott, Paul R. Ehrlich , Here 22 artists from 11 countries present their visions of the vast delta, largest in Pacific North America, together with the mountains, glaciers, rain forests, and wildlife of this largely unspoiled remote area. Published by U. of Washington Press in association with Artists for Nature Foundation, The Netherlands. 10x8<"> Book News, Inc.�, Portland, OR Alaska's Copper River Delta visits the largest wetland on the Pacific coast of North America - with its associated rain forest, barrier islands, mountains, and glaciers, and its wildlife and human inhabitants - and reveals the Delta through the work of 22 artists from 11 countries. Invited by local residents and the Netherlands-based Artists for Nature Foundation, artists came to the Delta to see spawning runs of Copper River salmon and the world's greatest shorebird migration. They stayed in..

E-mail Vikki Gray, Sitka Borough GenWeb Volunteer

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