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American Plywood Association Little Diomede Island Health Center Construction photograph collection, circa 1964
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- American Plywood Association
- Title
- American Plywood Association Little Diomede Island Health Center Construction photograph collection
- Dates
- circa 1964 (inclusive)19601968
- Quantity
- 14 photographic prints (1 folder) ; 8 x 10 in.
- Collection Number
- PH0843
- Summary
- Photographs of the construction of the Health Center on Little Diomede Island, Alaska
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Douglas Fir Plywood Association began in 1933 in Tacoma, Washington. Its purpose was to start a nationwide plywood promotion campaign and to help ensure consistent product quality. For the next thirty years, the plywood industry grew rapidly,. Plywood was used widely in construction, and played a major role in the equipment and buildings used during World War II. Even so, the plywood industry remained centered in the Pacific Northwest, due to the abundance of Douglas fir trees-- the only tree species used in plywood. However, in 1964 a new technology allowed veneer to bond with other types of soft wood, allowing for a more widespread plywood industry. That same year the Douglas Fir Plywood Association changed its name to the American Plywood Association in recognition of the emergence of a southern pine plywood industry.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
The village of Diomede (known locally as Ignalik) is situated on the west coast of Little Diomede Island (also called Ignaluk by the natives), Alaska. Two miles away, and across the international dateline, is the Russian Island of Big Diomede. The two islands were named by Russian explorer Vitus Bering on St. Diomede's Day, August 16, 1728.
Little Diomede has been home to a small numbers of Eskimos for centuries. The village is situated on nearly 3 square miles of land, the only area which does not have near-vertical cliffs to the water. The village of Diomede is the only habitation on the island of Little Diomede. Around 1964, the American Plywood Association (formerly the Douglas Fir Plywood Association) helped the residents of Diomede build their first Health Center.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Photographs of the construction of the Health Center on Little Diomede Island, Alaska. Includes views depicting the unloading of plywood and supplies on the beach, construction of the Health Center, and the dedication service. Descriptive captions, typewritten on paper with the American Plywood Association logo, are taped to the back of each photograph.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the collection in digital format.
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| item | ||
| 1 | Boy walking on stone path through village
On verso: Ernest Iyapana strolls across the village plaza that ultimately became the construction site for the health center. The left portion of the bridge Ernest is about to cross is formed from the bowsprite of a sailing vessel wrecked many years ago near Wales on the Alaska mainland.
|
circa 1964 |
| 2 | Men unloading plywood from a boat
On verso: The freezing temperature of the Bering Strait water coupled with rough water and half-gale wind conditions hampered landing the plywood health center components. Commanding the landing operation was Lt. Peter Buckley, left, in figured knitted cap. The Navy men and the Eskimos at right stood knee-deep in the surf, hastily unloading the boat while it was tossed by the water.
|
circa 1964 |
| 3 |
Reverend Flynn with landed materials on the beach
On verso: Reverend James Flynn in the primitive environment which is receiving the fruits of his labor. Flynn declares that a major part of his work is inspired by the Biblical parable of the fruitful tree which calls on all persons to bear fruit in the form of good works or perish. Some of the fruit of Flynn's most recent labors rests on the shore below him.
|
circa 1964 |
| 4 | Reverend Flynn walking up the beach
On verso: One of Little Diomede's rare clear days occurred the day after the health center components were landed. Reverend Flynn returns from the beach here after inventorying all the material landed. The land mass in the background is Russian-held Big Diomede Island.
|
circa 1964 |
| 5 | Materials on the beach
On verso: Fog settled over Little Diomede shortly after unloading of the health center was completed. The desolate beach and the building components are framed by a drying rack from which dangles strips of drying seal meat.
|
circa 1964 |
| 6 | Men hauling a board up from the beach
On verso: Eskimo boys pitch in to move components of the plywood health center from their resting place on the shore to the construction site. The boys are crossing stone paving worn by uncounted years of Eskimo foot traffic. In the background are three skin-boats and the frame of a fourth awaiting a new walrus-hide covering.
|
circa 1964 |
| 7 |
Children playing on wooden floor of the uncompleted Health Center
On verso: Construction of the health center went all too quickly for the children of Little Diomede. For a brief time the floor platform of the center formed the largest smooth, level surface on the island, and was immediately utilized by the children as a play area.
|
circa 1964 |
| 8 |
Men lifting roof trusses onto walls
On verso: Rapid construction is one of the prime advantage obtained from the use of plywood components. The insulated, stressed-skin plywood wall panels shown here were tipped into place and connected by a nailed spline. The plywood-gusseted roof trusses being lifted into place were shipped as units needing only to be nailed to the top of the wall panels.
|
circa 1964 |
| 9 | Children in the Health Center looking up at the roof trusses
On verso: Boys play in unfinished building that one day may be the means to saving their lives. Boy at right, Ernest Iyapana, was critically wounded by accidental gunshot that pierced both lungs; he lay near death in his home for two days before aircraft could land on ice and fly him to Nome for treatment.
|
circa 1964 |
| 10 | Six men on the partially completed roof of the health center
On verso: Eskimos center plywood-gusseted trusses as first course of plywood roof panels is laid onto health center.
|
circa 1964 |
| 11 | Four men placing the outer front door on the Health Center
On verso: Outer front door is slid in place as center nears completion. Pile of stones at left encloses lumber-walled igloo occupied by Jacob Ahkinga and his family of four.
|
circa 1964 |
| 12 |
View over the village of Diomede, Little Diomede, Alaska
On verso: The health center is nestled in the heart of downtown Diomede. At this stage of construction there remains only the roof and one wall of the entry porch to erect. The building in the right foreground is the National Guard Armory. There are eight or ten buildings out of the photograph to the right and left, but the bulk of the village appears in this photograph.
|
circa 1964 |
| 13 |
Reverend Flynn preaching a dedication service in the mostly-completed Health Center
On verso: Oil drums and plywood form the pews for islanders attending dedicatory church services in the health center the first Sunday after the outer shell was completed. The congregation sits in the ultimate location of the center's main ward while Reverend Flynn speaks from the floor area of the central hallway. Most of the island's population was at Nome and Kotzebue earning what little cash income it has by carving walrus ivory for tourists; those who remained behind did so specifically to help in erection of the center, actually sacrificing much of their income in order to get the job done.
|
circa 1964 |
| 14 | Reverend Flynn baptizing the son of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Milligrock
On verso: One of the last island infants that will be born outside the health center was baptized by Reverend Flynn during the dedication service. The baptized infant is Rocky Milligrock, son of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Milligrock. Mrs. Milligrock's dress clothes come, as do most of the islanders clothing, from mission donations; day-to-day apparel consists of parka, trousers and mukluks.
|
circa 1964 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Titles within the Collection
- Photographs
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
