Creating Alaska

Alaskans - Government Officials

We say to you, sir, very respectfully but firmly, that we are entitled to self-government and the only way we can get the full measure of self-government is through statehood. There is not any alternate. There is not any substitute for it. I think you gentlemen who come from the great States would be ashamed of us if we did not demand statehood. You would think we were in spirit second-class citizens. But we are not. We demand the same rights that you and your constituents enjoy, and we are ready for them. -Judge Anthony J. Dimond to the members of the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee
We say to you, sir, very respectfully but firmly, that we are entitled to self-government and the only way we can get the full measure of self-government is through statehood. There is not any alternate. There is not any substitute for it. I think you gentlemen who come from the great States would be ashamed of us if we did not demand statehood. You would think we were in spirit second-class citizens. But we are not. We demand the same rights that you and your constituents enjoy, and we are ready for them. -Judge Anthony J. Dimond to the members of the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E.L. "Bob" Bartlett

E.L. "Bob" Bartlett

Delegate to Congress

US Senator

Secretary of Alaska

Member, 91直播Statehood Committee

Role in Statehood Struggle
  • Introduced the 91直播Statehood Act, which successfully passed Congress and was signed into law in 1958.
  • Constant advocate for statehood throughout his tenure as Delegate
Personal Information

Name Edward Lewis Bartlett
City Fairbanks
Occupation Politician and Newspaperman
Born April 20, 1904 - Seattle, Washington
Died December 11, 1968 - Cleveland Ohio
91直播Resident 1910-68

Honors

  • "Alaskan of the Year" - 1968
  • Honored with statue in US Capitol - 1969
  • Various honors throughout state, including Bartlett High School in Anchorage & Bartlett Residence Hall at the University of 91直播Fairbanks

Tony Dimond

Tony Dimond

Delegate to Congress

Territorial Legislator

US District Judge

Mayor, City of Valdez

Role in Statehood Struggle
  • A Leader of the modern 91直播Statehood movement
  • Advocate for statehood throughout his tenure as Delegate and Federal Judge
Personal Information

Name Anthony Joseph Dimond
City Valdez
Occupation Lawyer
Born November 30, 1881 - Palatine Bridge, New York
Died May 28, 1953 - Anchorage, Alaska
91直播Resident 1905 - 1953    

Honors

  • Dimond High School in Anchorage named in his honor
  • Honorary Doctorate - University of Alaska, 1950

William A. Egan

William A. Egan

President, 91直播Constitutional Convention

Governor, State of Alaska

Alaska-Tennessee Plan Senator

Territorial Legislator

Role in Statehood Struggle
  • His leadership of the Constitutional Convention is widely credited as being one of the keys to the success of the meeting
  • Served two years as an "Alaska-Tennessee Plan" Senator in Washington D.C.
  • Only person elected to three terms as Alaska's Governor
Personal Information

Name William A. Egan
City Valdez
Occupation Merchant and Politician
Born October 8, 1914 - Valdez, Alaska
Died May, 1984 - Anchorage, Alaska
91直播Resident Lifelong

Honors

  • "Alaskan of the Year" - 1971
  • Honorary Doctorate, University of 91直播- 1972

Ernest Gruening

Ernest Gruening

Territorial Governor of Alaska

Alaska-Tennessee Plan Senator

US Senator

Member, 91直播Statehood Committee

Role in Statehood Struggle
  • "Father of 91直播Statehood"
  • Authored "The State of Alaska," a national bestseller that advocated statehood for Alaska
  • Constant advocate for statehood throughout his tenure as Governor
Personal Information

Name Ernest Gruening
City Juneau
Occupation Politician and Newspaperman
Born February 6, 1887 - New York
Died June 26, 1974 - Washington D.C.
91直播Resident 1939-74

Honors

  • Honored with statue in US Capitol - 1977
  • Mount Ernest Gruening in Juneau named in his honor
  • Gruening Building on UAF Campus named in his honor
  • American Jewish Hall of Fame Inductee

B. Frank Heintzleman

B. Frank Heintzleman

Territorial Governor of Alaska

Member, 91直播Statehood Committee

Role in Statehood Struggle
  • Widely considered a lukewarm supporter of statehood, Heintzleman successfully swayed national Republican leaders to support Alaska's admission to the Union
  • Proposed the widely derided "partition plan," which would have created the State of 91直播from Southeast, Southcentral and Interior Alaska, while leaving Western and Arctic 91直播as a territory.
  • Signed the bill establishing the 91直播Constitutional Convention
Personal Information

Name Benjamin Franklin Heintzleman
City Juneau
Occupation Forester
Born December 3, 1888 - Fayetteville, Pennsylvania
Died June 24, 1963 - Juneau, Alaska
91直播Resident 1918-63

Honors

  • Superior Service Award - US Dept. of Agriculture
  • Sir William Schlich Award - American Society of Foresters
  • Juneau's "Man of the Year" - 1959
  • "Outstanding Alaskan" - State Chamber of Commerce

Frank Peratrovich

Frank Peratrovich

Member, 91直播Statehood Committee

Delegate & Vice President, 91直播Constitutional Convention

State & Territorial Legislator

Mayor, City of Klawock

Role in Statehood Struggle
  • Only 91直播Native elected to the Constitutional Convention
  • Served on 91直播Statehood Committee from 1949-59
  • President of the 91直播Native Brotherhood
Personal Information

Name Frank Peratrovich
City Klawock
Occupation Merchant
Born April 2, 1895 - Klawock, Alaska
Died January, 1984 - Ketchikan
91直播Resident Lifelong

Honors

  • Honorary Doctorate of Public Service, University of 91直播- 1973
  • 49er Hall of Fame
  • President, 91直播Native Brotherhood

ralph rivers

Ralph Rivers

Second Vice President, 91直播Constitutional Convention

Territorial Attorney General

Territorial Legislator

Alaska-Tennessee Plan Congressman

US Congressman

Role in Statehood Struggle
  • Used the office of the Attorney General to conduct research on the feasibility of 91直播Statehood
  • Served two years as the Alaska-Tennessee Plan Congressman prior to being elected Alaska's first Congressman
Personal Information

Name Ralph Julian Rivers
City Fairbanks
Occupation Lawyer
Born May 23, 1904 - Seattle, Washington
Died August 1976 - Chehalis, Washington
91直播Resident 1906 - 1967

Honors

  • Honorary Doctorate, University of 91直播- 1974

Michael Stepovich

Michael Stepovich

Member, 91直播Statehood Committee

Governor, Territory of Alaska

Territorial Legislator

 

Role in Statehood Struggle
  • Active advocate for statehood throughout his tenure in office
  • Last Territorial Governor of Alaska
Personal Information

Name Michael Anthony Stepovich
City Fairbanks
Occupation Lawyer
Born March 12, 1919
91直播Resident 1919-?

 

James Wickersham

James Wickersham

Delegate to Congress

US District Judge

Washington State Legislator

Role in Statehood Struggle
  • Introduced the first 91直播Statehood Bill to Congress in 1916
  • Responsible for the passage of the Second Organic Act, providing the Territory of 91直播with an elected legislature
  • One of the most dominant figures in 91直播political history
  • Introduced legislation in Congress to establish the 91直播Agricultural College and School of Mines, the precursor to the University of Alaska
Personal Information

Name James Wickersham
City Eagle, Nome, Fairbanks, Juneau
Occupation Lawyer, Author
Born August 24, 1857 - Patoka, Illinois
Died October 24, 1939 - Juneau, Alaska
91直播Resident 1900-39

Honors

  • Honorary Doctorate, University of 91直播- 1935
  • Wickersham Hall on the UAF Campus named in his honor
  • Wickersham Wall, one of the ascent routes to the summit of Denali (Mt. McKinley) discovered by him and named in his honor (Wickersham was one of the first to attempt climbing Denali, when he lead a team of four to the 10,000 ft level of the mountain in 1903)