Alaska Highway construction photograph collection

Alaska Highway construction photograph collection, 1942-1943

Overview of the Collection

Title: Alaska Highway construction photograph collection
Dates: 1942-1943 (inclusive)
19421943
Quantity: 1 album with 183 black and white photographic prints (1 box)
Collection Number: PH0651
Summary: Photograph album documenting the construction of the Alaska Highway from 1942 to 1943
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: Selected images can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Languages: English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

On February 11, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized construction of the Alaska Highway as a land transport route in the event that the Japanese seized shipping lines in the Pacific. On March 8, 1942, construction of the Alaska Highway officially began. Trailblazing was primarily completed by the U.S. Army, while civilian contractors (via the Public Roads Administration or PRA) followed them to widen and straighten the road.

On September 24, 1942, highway crews from the north and south met at Contact Creek, and the highway was officially dedicated in November 1942. Through most of 1943, the PRA developed the pioneer road into a standard highway; workers rebuilt bridges, shored up roads, and cut 200 miles from the highway's total length in the process. In October 1943, the PRA released the final contractors and sent workers home.

Still traveled today, the Alaska Highway measures 1,520 miles in length; 298 of its miles are in the United States, and 1,190 are in Canada.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of an album containing images of workers (civilian contractors), roads, bridges, camps, and wildlife made during the construction of the Alaska Highway in 1942-1943. All photographs are assumed to depict sites in British Columbia, Canada. The worker identified as "Harold" in various images appears to be the person who wrote captions on the reverse of the photographs.

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 the repository for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Source: Fairlook Antiques, 2003.

Processing Note

Processed by Noella Natalino and John Larson, 2004.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Page	item
1	1a	Camp 5, 160 miles north of Dawson Creek, home of the Voick Construction Company men	between 1942 and 1943
1	1b	Lower Post from center of frozen Liard River	between 1942 and 1943
1	1c	Two young natives of the Yukon Territory near Watson Lake	between 1942 and 1943
2	2a	Man standing next to four-way signpost, 352 miles west of Fort Nelson, near Watson Lake Sign reads: "New York 3600 mi / Chicago 2700 miles / Edmonton 1215 miles / Lower post 15 1/2 miles / Watson lake / Liard River 8 miles / Whitehorse 322 / Teslin 172 miles / Tokyo 4000."	between 1942 and 1943
2	2b	Snow-covered Army road alongside Toad River, 142.5 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
2	2c	Army road 147 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
3	3a	Army bridge on Toad River, 154.7 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
3-4	3b-4a	Army road and new crossing being built across the Sikanni Chief River with view of Camp 6	between 1942 and 1943
4	4b	Army bridge across frozen Muskwa River, 253 miles north of Fort St. John	between 1942 and 1943
5	5a	Junction of the Tetsa and Muskwa Rivers, 53 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
5	5b	Steamboat Mountain, 55.2 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
6	6a	Truck on Army road through Mill Creek Valley approaching Canadian Rockies, 66 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
6	6b	Army bridge near Tetsa River Valley	between 1942 and 1943
7	7a	Army road entering the Tetsa River Valley, 97 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
7	7b	Army road with icy spring, 100 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
8	8a	"Looking west at Summit Lake," view of mountains with trucks on roads, 102 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
8	8b	Road through McDonald Creek Valley, 106 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
9	9a	Ice on McDonald Creek, 119 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
9	9b	Toad River Valley, 156 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
10	10a	Muncho Lake, 172 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
10	10b	Army road and mountain, 172 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
11	11a	Muncho Lake and Army road, 173 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
11	11b	Muncho Lake and Army road, 176.5 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
12	12a	Trout River Valley and Army road, 163 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
12	12b	Trout River Valley and Army road, 191 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
13	13a	Army bridge across Liard River, 209.5 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
13	13b	Man standing by sign, "the point where the northern and southern crews come together," 305 miles west of Fort Nelson Sign reads: "Golden Spike Bridge, Contact Creek, and Speed Limit 25."	between 1942 and 1943
14	14a	Army bridge across Hyland River, 322.5 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
14	14b	Man entering Hudson's Bay Company building at Lower Post, 336 miles west of Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
15	15a	Dawson Creek street with trucks and buildings Signs on buildings: "Dawson Hotel, Royal First, the Imperial."	between 1942 and 1943
15	15b	Dawson Creek	between 1942 and 1943
16	16a	Men viewing smoking ruins after a fire, Dawson Creek	between 1942 and 1943
16	16b	Men viewing smoking ruins after a fire, Dawson Creek Sign on building reads: "Carlsons."	between 1942 and 1943
17	17a-f	Mountains and snow-covered road	between 1942 and 1943
18	18a	Road winding through mountains	between 1942 and 1943
18	18b-d	Road scenes	between 1942 and 1943
19	19a-b	Camp 6 at Sikanni Chief River bridge	between 1942 and 1943
19	19c-d	Buildings, truck, and workers at camp at Sikanni Chief River bridge	between 1942 and 1943
20	20a	Camp 6 at Sikanni Chief River bridge	between 1942 and 1943
20	20b	Camp with workers and trucks	between 1942 and 1943
20	20c	Camp 3	between 1942 and 1943
20	20d	Workers and trucks in Camp 3
21	21a	Trucks and men in Fort St. John	between 1942 and 1943
21	21b-c	Trucks on road	between 1942 and 1943
21	21d	Photographer and camera on tripod	between 1942 and 1943
21	21e-f	Truck and men on road	between 1942 and 1943
22	22a-f	Workers, trucks, and construction machinery	between 1942 and 1943
23	23a	Workers, trucks, and crane	between 1942 and 1943
23	23b	Camp buildings with smoking chimneys	between 1942 and 1943
23	23c	Construction vehicle	between 1942 and 1943
23	23d-e	Chartered bus, trucks, and equipment	between 1942 and 1943
24	24a	Trucks at Camp 3	between 1942 and 1943
24	24b-c	Trucks on ferry at Peace River	between 1942 and 1943
24	24d	Trucks at Camp 3	between 1942 and 1943
24	24e	Trucks and equipment on dirt road	between 1942 and 1943
25	25a	Crane pulling truck out of snowy ditch	between 1942 and 1943
25	25b	Workers around overturned truck in road	between 1942 and 1943
25	25c	Large cylinders [possibly gasoline tanks]	between 1942 and 1943
25	25d	Overturned truck in snow	between 1942 and 1943
25	25e-f	Workers and truck piled with bedding	between 1942 and 1943
26	26a	Clotheslines with laundry strung between trees at Camp 3	between 1942 and 1943
26	26b	Workers on road	between 1942 and 1943
26	26c	Workers near forest	between 1942 and 1943
27	27a	Painted advertisement Text of advertisement reads: "Central Livery Barn, Rickety Rigs Runaway horses Reckless drivers, and T. Krysko."	between 1942 and 1943
27	27b	Workers resting on road	between 1942 and 1943
27	27c	Workers standing amid felled lumber	between 1942 and 1943
27	27d	Workers watching cloud of smoke/dust [dynamite blast?]	between 1942 and 1943
28	28a	Icy river	between 1942 and 1943
28	28b	Snowy drift between trees, workers, and tractor	between 1942 and 1943
28	28c-d	Boats on an icy river	between 1942 and 1943
29	29a	Men looking at harnessed sled dogs	between 1942 and 1943
29	29b	Sleds with harnessed dogs	between 1942 and 1943
29	29c	Highway and landscape	between 1942 and 1943
29	29d	Men entering boat on ice-covered river	between 1942 and 1943
30	30a	Trailer-truck carrying bulldozer	between 1942 and 1943
30	30b	Tractor and trucks working on rocky shoulder	between 1942 and 1943
30	30c	Snow-covered camp with trucks and buildings	between 1942 and 1943
31	31a	Truck on dusty road	between 1942 and 1943
31	31b	Worker in tractor	between 1942 and 1943
31	31c-d	Crane working on bridge	between 1942 and 1943
32	32a-c	Workers by trucks	between 1942 and 1943
33	33a	Curving roadway with parked trucks	between 1942 and 1943
33	33b	Worker on tractor	between 1942 and 1943
33	33c-d	Harold leaning against tractor	between 1942 and 1943
34	34a	Tractor and trucks by roadway with felled trees	between 1942 and 1943
34	34b	Worker on tractor	between 1942 and 1943
34	34c	Workers	between 1942 and 1943
35	35a-b	Workers entertaining themselves at camp	between 1942 and 1943
35	35c	Workers reclined and kneeling Handwritten on verso: "Paul Hudick."	between 1942 and 1943
36	36a	Larry Rhoda reclining	between 1942 and 1943
36	36b	Paul Hudick, Earl Scott	between 1942 and 1943
36	36c	Earl Scott, [Larry Rhoda?], Paul Hudick	between 1942 and 1943
36	36d	Worker	between 1942 and 1943
37	37a	Leonard and Harold	between 1942 and 1943
37	37b	Leonard and Ted Thorson Handwritten on verso: "Leonard, the machiner. Ted Thorson, bulldozer operator."	between 1942 and 1943
37	37c	Harold and Ted Thorson	between 1942 and 1943
37	37d	Harold and Leonard Handwritten on verso: "My mechanic partner Leonard and I in front of our bunk house."	between 1942 and 1943
38	38a	Workers on road beside checkpoint Stop sign on checkpoint reads: "Alcan Highway Control Station."	between 1942 and 1943
38	38a	Workers on road beside sign Stop sign reads: "Alcan Highway Control Station, mile 53."	between 1942 and 1943
38	38c	Worker in snowy forest	between 1942 and 1943
38	38d	Workers in front of building under construction Street signs read: "Alaska Blvd., Arctic Ave."	between 1942 and 1943
39	39a	Worker in camp Handwritten on verso: "Kentucky the 'grease monkey.'"	between 1942 and 1943
39	39b	Workers in front of van Handwritten on verso: "Harold / Paul / Red / John / Scotty."	between 1942 and 1943
39	39c	Workers in front of tractor holding toilet paper	between 1942 and 1943
39	39d	Workers in camp Handwritten on verso: "'Kentucky' the grease monkey."	between 1942 and 1943
39	39e	Workers in front of van	between 1942 and 1943
39	39f	Workers in front of truck	between 1942 and 1943
40	40a-c	Men and bears	between 1942 and 1943
41	41a-e	Men, bears, and wolves	between 1942 and 1943
42	42a-b	Bear in front of lumber	between 1942 and 1943
43	43a	Horses drinking from a puddle by the road	between 1942 and 1943
43	43b-h	Men and horses in pack train	between 1942 and 1943
44	44a	Street in Fort Nelson	between 1942 and 1943
44	44b	Moose on road	between 1942 and 1943
45	45a	Tractor among rocks	between 1942 and 1943
45	45b-c	Truck on road	between 1942 and 1943
45	45d	Worker in front of truck	between 1942 and 1943
45	45e	Workers gassing up tractor	between 1942 and 1943
45	45f	Workers walking	between 1942 and 1943
46	46a-e	Workers	between 1942 and 1943
47	47a	Mel Anderson	between 1942 and 1943
47	47b	Harold in front of trees	between 1942 and 1943
47	47c	Harold among gas heaters Handwritten on verso: "Me at the Pit."	between 1942 and 1943
48	48a-b	Man posing with dead wolf	between 1942 and 1943
49	49a-b	Man posing with dead wolf	between 1942 and 1943
50	50a-b	Men posing with dead wolf	between 1942 and 1943
51	51a-b	Men posing with dead wolf	between 1942 and 1943
52	52a-b	Man posing with dead wolf	between 1942 and 1943
53	53a-b	Cook and bears in camp	between 1942 and 1943
54	54a-b	Cook, bear, and cubs	between 1942 and 1943
55	55a-b	Bears	between 1942 and 1943
56	56	Card with political map of Alaska Highway	between 1942 and 1943

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Animals--British Columbia--Photographs
Labor camps--British Columbia--Photographs
Road construction workers--British Columbia--Photographs
Road machinery--British Columbia--Photographs
Roads--British Columbia--Design and construction--Photographs
Trucks--British Columbia--Photographs
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

United States. Public Roads Administration

Geographical Names

Alaska Highway--Photographs
British Columbia--Photographs

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