Alaska Digitization Project
In order to make NARA’s holdings from the former Alaska Region more broadly available to the public, we are digitizing the most in-demand records.
The National Archives began this process by requesting input from stakeholders, including the public, on which records should be prioritized for digitization. In 2014 NARA combined this feedback with historical reference activity, access restriction statuses (including the existence of personally identifiable information), and preservation concerns to create the first digitization priority list. This list has evolved through continuing feedback, including specific input from the Alaska Department of Transportation, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Some records that were initially intended for digitization were discovered to have access restrictions that make them currently ineligible for public release.
Digitization Process and Updates
Digitizing the records from the former Alaska region is a top priority of the National Archives. In working towards this goal, the records are being temporarily moved to the National Archives at College Park.
Records located at College Park for digitization will not be available in the research room; however, reference inquires are being handled by staff in Seattle and College Park although responses may be impacted during the prep and scanning process. The National Archives at Seattle will provide in-person reference service for the records that remain in Seattle.
You may send reference inquiries regarding the affected records by email to seattle.archives@nara.gov or by postal mail to 6125 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, Washington 98115-7999.
As Alaska records are digitized and made available via the National Archives Catalog, we will update the following section with links to the scanned images. Where digitization is listed as upcoming, links go to the corresponding catalog series description.
The Alaska records are being digitized regardless of access issues. NARA is committed to protecting the personally identifiable information (PII) pertaining to living individuals in the records. Digitized records containing PII will not be made available in the National Archives Catalog until those records are reviewed and redacted. In the meantime, series marked Digitized but Restricted can be requested by contacting the National Archives at Seattle.
Digitized Records
- Auke Bay Fisheries Laboratory Salmon Project Research Data, 1882–1966
- Briefing Statement Files, 1984–1998
- Contaminant Cleanup Case Files, 1974–2005
- Conservation Plans, 1993 - 1998
- Correspondence and Contracts Relating to Hazardous Waste Cleanup on Amchitka Island, Alaska, 1992–1998
- Correspondence Relating to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 1957 - 1962 Endangered Species Delisting Files, 1975 - 2000
- Endangered Species Listing Petition Files, 1994 - 1997
- Endangered Species Recovery Plans, 1982 - 2008
- Environmental Cleanup Files Relating to Amchitka, Alaska, 1982–2005
- Environmental Cleanup Files Relating to Eagle River Flats, Alaska, 1980 - 1998
- Files Relating to Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Arctic, 1993–2004
- Fur Seal and Fox Harvesting Records, 1882–1966
- Government Agents' Records Pertaining to the Pribilof Islands, ca. 1885–ca. 1906
- Historical Files for the Lake Hood Land and Seaplane Base Project, 1948 - 1950
- Natural Resource Damage Assessment Studies, 1989 - 1992
- Organization and Policy Files, 1990–1996
- Photographs of the M/V Pribilof, ca. 1964–ca. 1964
- Pribilof Islands Glass Plate Negatives, 1913 - 1921
- Published Fur Seal Reports, 1893–1935
- Research Reports, 1988 - 2007
- Cadastral Survey Field Notes, 1920–1976
- Cadastral Survey Plats, 1897–1976
- Contest Book, 1913–1969
- Contest Case Files Relating to Native Alaskan Rights, ca. 1965 - 1972
- Field Notes Relating to Coal Surveys, ca. 1907 - ca. 1907
- Field Notes Relating to Mineral Surveys, 1899 - 1970
- Land Disposal Conflict Docket Books Related to Mining Claims, 1960 - 1962
- Land Office Tract Books, 1914–1962
- Land Status and Use Files, 1956–1980
- Memorandums of Understanding, 1983–1995
- Register of Cash Receipts, July 1, 1899 - July 31, 1900
- Register of Final Homestead Receipts and Fur Farm Rentals (Circle Land Office Register Books), July 1, 1899 - March 2, 1931
- Register of Mineral Receipts (Circle Land Office Register Books), July 1, 1899 - June 30, 1900
- Register of Mineral Receipts (Circle Land Office Register Books), July 1, 1900 - December 31, 1900
- Serial Register Books, 1895 - 1983
- Townsite Trustee General Correspondence, 1905 - 1946
- Weather Modification Project Files, 1969 - 1973
- Withdrawn or Rejected Public Land Applications, 1966–1979
- Administrative Correspondence Relating to the Sale of Reindeer and Reindeer Products, 1940–1940
- Administrative Correspondence, 1934–1953
- Alaska Village Census Rolls, 1966 - 1968
- Album of United States Public Schools in Alaska, 1924 - 1931
- Annual Reports of Reindeer Herds, 1908–1932
- Closure Files, 1957–1983 (Mt. Edgecumbe School)
- Correspondence of Lawrence J. Palmer, 1920–1945
- Correspondence of the Alaska Native Industries Cooperative, 1953 - 1956
- Correspondence Relating to Declarations of Ownership of Reindeer in Alaska, 1937–1941
- Correspondence Relating to Reindeer Herds in Alaska, 1911 - 1960
- Correspondence Relating to Reindeer Meat, 1937–1943
- Correspondence Relating to Sales, 1934–1953
- Estate Heirship Case Files, 1948–1964
- Field Agent Reports on Schools, 1935–1967 (Digitized but Restricted.)
- Files of Sheldon Jackson Relating to Schools in Alaska, 1886–1889
- Financial Ledgers, 1915–1925
- Historical Files, 1929–1948
- Individual Indian Probate Case Files, 1984–1990 (Digitized but Restricted.)
- Individual Student Files, 1951–1962 (Digitized but Restricted.)
- Log Books, 1925–1960 (North Star and Boxer)
- Monthly Herd Reports, 1937–1968
- Nunivak Development Project Files, 1955–1970
- Photographs of Schools, Hospitals, and Clinics, 1938 - 1977
- Pribilof Islands Logbooks, 1870 - 1961
- School Newspapers, 1960 - 1970
- School Register Forms, 1958–1977 (Digitized but Restricted.)
- Tribal Enrollment Case Files, 1960–1970 (Digitized but Restricted.)
- Village Census Rolls, 1935 - 1972 (Due to PII concerns, material from this series will be released 100 years from the date of the record.)
- Yearbooks, 1947–1983 (Mt. Edgecumbe School)
- Administrative Files Relating to the Alaska Spruce Log Program, 1942–1944
- Correspondence Relating to Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Activities, ca. 1937–ca. 1942
- Correspondence Relating to the Creation of National Forests in Alaska, 1903–1911
- Correspondence Relating to Works Progress Administration, 1939–1940
- Historical Case Files, 1910–1970
- Historical Files, 1915–1968
- Historical Photograph Files, 1906–1994
- Inspection Reports, 1909–1963
- Military Progressive Report Forms, 1917–1922
- National Forest Road Project Files, 1913–1959
- Ranger Diaries, 1908–1965
- Jail Registers, 1909–1954
- Reports Relating to Cases before the U.S. District Courts in Anchorage, Alaska, ca. 1935–1956(Digitized but Restricted)
- Territorial Police Files, 1957–1959(Digitized but Restricted)
- Project Case Files, 1919–1969 (Partially digitized)
- Shakwak Highway Project Files, 1982–1998
- Correspondence, 1935–1983 (Alaska Field Office)
Enhanced Discovery
NARA has added additional metadata to several high-interest records. This additional metadata supports improved discovery of the material in the National Archives Catalog. Digital images from these records may be added over time.
Drawings, 1922 - 1958 (Searchable by location.)
Tribal Enrollment Case Files, 1960–1970 (Searchable by name.)
Student Case Files, 1941–1983 (Searchable by name.)
Student Case Files, 1933–1975 (Searchable by name.)
Upcoming
- Administrative Correspondence Files, 1968–1975
- Annual and Quarterly School Reports, 1938–1964
- Facilities Management Office Correspondence, 1957–1975
- Land Transaction Files Relating to Schools in the Territory and State of Alaska, 1894–1999
- School Census Cards, 1941–1983
- Student Case Files, 1933–1975 (Available after PII is redacted)
- Student Case Files, 1941–1983 (Will not be available online due to PII)
- Trust Administration Case Files Relating to the Hoonah War Housing Project, 1940–1984
Other Pages of Interest