Father Bernard Rosecrans Hubbard (1888-1962), known as the “Glacier Priest” was an explorer, photographer and lecturer. Born in San Francisco, California, Hubbard grew up and lived in Santa Clara, Calfornia where he attended Santa Clara College from 1906 to 1908. Hubbard joined the Jesuit Order in 1908 and would eventually be ordained. He also received his M.A. in philosophy from Gonzaga University in 1921 and eventually honorary doctorates from Marquette University in 1937 and Trinity College in 1941.
Hubbard first went to Alaska in 1927 where he went on summer expeditions, explorations and photography ventures, this would become an annual event for Hubbard that he would continue to do for the rest of his life. In the winter, Hubbard would travel around the United States giving lectures and showing his films from Alaska and other projects. Hubbard’s best known expeditions were in 1931, when he completed both a 1600-mile mush down the Yukon River, visiting missions, and another expedition to the erupting Aniakchak volcano.
Father Hubbard passed away on May 28, 1962 in the Donohoe Infirmary at University of Santa Clara.
Photographs from Father Hubbard’s several ventures to Alaska from the 1930’s-1960’s. Images include people, mountains, glaciers, scenery, Shrine Island, scenery and areas around Juneau, Alaska.
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Source: Robert Tat, April 13, 2001
Processed By: Logan Wegmeyer, 2018; Sara Cordes, 2019
Accessioned as PH2001-143.
Written on verso: Camping out near Sawyer Glacier. (Wish you had been there with us, Marie!).
Written on photo: Best wishes to Marie Obrtlier from this Glacier Priest Bernard R. Hubbard. S.J. Alaska 1953.
Written on verso: Rev. Fr. Bernard R. Hubbard, S.J. of University of Santa Clara- explorer of Alaska for over 28 yr. Authority on volcanoes, glaciers & terrain of Alaska- Author, geologist and a peach!
Written on verso: Cubby- "master advertiser".
Written on verso: His "younger days" in Alaska!
Written on verso: Ketchikan- can't remember the name of Indian villiage once here. Can you?
Written on verso: Totem Pole- Found only in Southeastern Alaska and Canada and only among the Indian tribes. Used symbolically as coat of arms.
Written on verso: The Shrine of St. Therese, Patroness of Alaska- 23 miles from Juneau- on worked [illeg.]. Retreat house nearby.
Written on verso: Auk Lake- near Juneau on beautiful highway to Shrine of St. Therese- [illeg.] farm and dairying lands- many villas in the woods, and water-lillied lake- glaciered mountain backgrounds and stately forests.
Written on verso: The Taku Ice Cap- The Father Hubbard Party looking toward Twin Glacier and Twin Glacier Lake, the border mountains of Canada and Alaska, and the one thousand mile area of one of the remnants of the last Ice Age. Fr. Hubbard is the first being that penetrated and crossed this Ice Cap in 1927.
Written on verso: A majestic iceberg moving into the Gulf of Alaska from a Glacier's fiord. Icebergs result only from glaciers and consequently are the purest of fresh water. In salt water about 1/7 of the berg is above the water, the rest being submerged. It is colorless like water- the beautiful blue tints being the effect of reflection, refraction of light- imprisoned in the ice crystal, or the energy of the contra blue ray.
Written on verso: This is on the way to the Shrine. How many times we stopped and saw the sunsets here. I wanna go back!
Written on verso: Juneau, Capital of Alaska- a thriving city along the Inside Passage is the political center of Alaska- lures tourists and homesteaders.
Written on verso: Cradle of the Storms.
Written on vereso: Inside passage. The "inland passage" is a symphony of water, sky and forested hill. Thousands of islands, large and small and all forested to the water's edge. A trip thru these calm sheltered seas make it a memory forever.
Written on verso: Christ of the Bering Sea, King Island- 2,000 lb statue bro't here by Fr. Hubbard in 1937 on Feast of Christ the King Oct 1937. Stands between Asia & N.A.- back to North Pole at International Date line.