George Alexander Parks was an American engineer who worked in Alaska Territory for most of his career. Following an unexpected nomination from President Calvin Coolidge,he became the territory's first resident governor. As governor,he was the first person to serve two complete four-year terms and the first chief executive to travel extensively by air.
The Alaska Purchase was the United States' acquisition of Alaska from the Russian Empire. Alaska was formally transferred to the United States on October 18,1867,through a treaty ratified by the United States Senate.
Ernest Henry Gruening was an American journalist and politician. A member of the Democratic Party,Gruening was the governor of the Alaska Territory from 1939 until 1953,and a United States Senator from Alaska from 1959 until 1969.
The Territory of Alaska or Alaska Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States from August 24,1912,until Alaska was granted statehood on January 3,1959. The territory was previously Russian America,1784–1867;the Department of Alaska,1867–1884;and the District of Alaska,1884–1912.
The Alaska boundary dispute was a territorial dispute between the United States and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,which then controlled Canada's foreign relations. It was resolved by arbitration in 1903. The dispute had existed between the Russian Empire and Britain since 1821,and was inherited by the United States as a consequence of the Alaska Purchase in 1867. The final resolution favored the American position,as Canada did not get an all-Canadian outlet from the Yukon gold fields to the sea. The disappointment and anger in Canada was directed less at the United States,and more at the British government for betraying Canadian interests in favor of healthier Anglo-American relations.
Franklin Knight Lane was an American progressive politician from California. A member of the Democratic Party,he served as United States Secretary of the Interior from 1913 to 1920. He also served as a commissioner of the Interstate Commerce Commission,and was the Democratic nominee for Governor of California in 1902,losing a narrow race in what was then a heavily Republican state.
Michael Anthony Stepovich was an American lawyer and politician who served as the last non-acting Governor of the Territory of Alaska. Stepovich served as Territorial Governor from 1957 to 1958,and Alaska was given U.S. statehood in 1959.
Benjamin Franklin Heintzleman was an American forester who spent much of his career supporting the development of Alaska Territory. Following a career with the United States Forest Service he was appointed Governor of Alaska Territory,a position he held from 1953 till 1957. During his term as governor he continued to support economic development but was largely opposed to efforts granting statehood to Alaska.
John Franklin Alexander Strong was a Canadian-born journalist who was the second governor of Alaska Territory from 1913 to 1918.
Walter Eli Clark was an American journalist and newspaper publisher. In addition to his journalistic activities,he was the last Governor of the District of Alaska from 1909 to 1912,and the first Governor of Alaska Territory from 1912 to 1913.
Wilford Bacon Hoggatt was an American naval officer and businessman who served as the sixth Governor of the District of Alaska.
James Sheakley was an American Democratic politician who was the Governor of the District of Alaska from 1893 to 1897. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania from 1875 to 1877.
Alfred Peter Swineford was an American journalist and politician who served as the second Governor of District of Alaska. He trained as a printer,worked in Minnesota and Wisconsin before becoming the editor and publisher of the Mining Journal in Marquette,Michigan. From this base he became active in politics and was elected Mayor of Marquette and to a term in the Michigan House of Representatives before his appointment as governor.
John Henry Kinkead was an American businessman and politician who served as the third Governor of Nevada and the first Governor of the District of Alaska. Spending most of his life in the dry goods business,he was also Treasurer of Nevada Territory,a member of the Nevada Constitutional Convention in 1864,and the first United States official to hold office in Alaska.
The history of Alaska dates back to the Upper Paleolithic period,when foraging groups crossed the Bering land bridge into what is now western Alaska. At the time of European contact by the Russian explorers,the area was populated by Alaska Native groups. The name "Alaska" derives from the Aleut word Alaxsxaq,meaning "mainland".
The Alaska Statehood Act was a statehood admission law,introduced by Delegate E.L. Bob Bartlett and signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 7,1958,allowing Alaska to become the 49th U.S. state on January 3,1959. The law was the result of a multiple decade effort from many Alaskans such as Bartlett,Ernest Gruening,Bill Egan,Bob Atwood and Ted Stevens.
The Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG),more commonly known as the Eskimo Scouts,was a military reserve force component of the US Army,organized in 1942 in response to attacks on United States soil in Hawaii and occupation of parts of Alaska by Japan during World War II. The ATG operated until 1947. 6,368 volunteers who served without pay were enrolled from 107 communities throughout Alaska in addition to a paid staff of 21,according to an official roster. The ATG brought together for the first time into a joint effort members of these ethnic groups:Aleut,Athabaskan,White,Inupiaq,Haida,Tlingit,Tsimshian,Yupik,and most likely others. In later years,all members of some native units scored expert sharpshooter rankings. Among the 27 or more women members were at least one whose riflery skills exceeded the men. The ages of members at enrollment ranged from 80 years old to as young as twelve. As volunteers,the Alaska Territorial Guard members were those who were too young or too old to be eligible for conscription during the World War II.
The Board of Road Commissioners for Alaska,more commonly known as the Alaska Road Commission or ARC,was created in 1905 as a board of the U.S. War Department. It was responsible for the construction and improvement of many important Alaska highways,such as the Richardson Highway,Steese Highway,Elliot Highway and Edgerton Highway,among others.
In an effort to thwart statehood and Alaskan home rule from Washington D.C.,the "Alaska Syndicate," was formed in 1906 by J. P. Morgan and Simon Guggenheim. The Syndicate purchased the Kennicott-Bonanza copper mine and had majority control of the Alaskan steamship and rail transportation. The syndicate also was in charge of a large part of the salmon industry.
