Alaskans - Statehood Committee
In looking toward the day when the duly elected representatives of the people of 91直播would gather to write a constitution, the legislature had foresight. In 1949, when they were creating the 91直播Statehood Committee, the members of that Legislature anticipated that there would be a need for certain information and materials to be available to the delegates, so that they would have a good chance for success. They gave the assignment to gather this information and materials to the 91直播Statehood Committee and as Chairman I am pleased to report to you that the Committee has done well.
-Robert Atwood, President of the 91直播Statehood Committee to the Delegates of the 91直播Constitutional Convention
Robert B. Atwood
Chairman, 91直播Statehood Committee
Publisher, Anchorage Daily Times
- Publisher of the Anchorage Daily Times, the most prominent pro-statehood newspaper in Alaska.
- Arranged and travelled with the "Statehood Flight" to Washington D.C., where he personally lobbied President Eisenhower to support statehood for Alaska.
- Unsuccessful candidate for "Alaska-Tennessee Plan" Congressional Delegation.
Name Robert B. Atwood
City Anchorage
Occupation Newspaper Owner and Publisher Born March 31, 1907 - Chicago, Illinois Died January 10, 1997 - Anchorage, Alaska 91直播Resident 1933-1997 Honors
- "Alaskan of the Year" - 1967
- Director, National Municipal League - 1969
- Norweigian Consul - 1959
E.L. "Bob" Bartlett
Delegate to Congress
US Senator
Secretary of Alaska
Member, 91直播Statehood Committee
- 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
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
Ernest Gruening
Territorial Governor of Alaska
Alaska-Tennessee Plan Senator
US Senator
Member, 91直播Statehood Committee
- "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
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
Territorial Governor of Alaska
Member, 91直播Statehood Committee
- 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
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
Mildred R. Hermann
Delegate to 91直播Constitutional Convention
Temporary President, 91直播Constitutional Convention
Secretary, 91直播Statehood Committee
- As a radio personality was a tireless advocate for statehood.
- Served as elected Secretary of the 91直播Statehood Committee for ten years.
Name Mildred Robinson Hermann
City Juneau
Occupation Educator, Attorney
Born February 28, 1891 - Indiana
Died March 16, 1964 - Juneau, Alaska
91直播Resident 1919-64
Percy Ipalook
Member, 91直播Statehood Committee
Territorial Legislator
- First Inupiat elected to the 91直播Legislature
- Member of the 91直播Statehood Committee from 1949-59
Name Percy Ipalook
City Barrow
Occupation Clergyman
Born April 2, 1906 - Barrow, Alaska
Died December 15, 1990 - Kotzebue, Alaska
91直播Resident Lifelong
Honors
- First Inupiat chaplain in the US Armed Forces
- Attained rank of Captain in the 91直播Scout Battalion
Andrew Nerland
Member, 91直播Statehood Committee
Territorial Legislator
Member, University of 91直播Board of Trustees (1929-56)
Mayor, City of Fairbanks (1915)
- Sat on Statehood Committee from 1949-56
- Passed away on February 6, 1956 - the day the 91直播Constitutional Convention adjourned. His son, Leslie Nerland, had been a delegate. Leslie presented his father with a copy of the constitution shortly before he passed away.
Name Andrew Nerland
City Fairbanks
Occupation Merchant
Born April 18, 1870 - Molda, Norway
Died February 6, 1956 - Fairbanks
91直播Resident 1904-56
Honors
- Andrew Nerland Residence Hall at UAF named in his honor
- Honorary Doctorate of Laws - University of 91直播1952
Frank Peratrovich
Member, 91直播Statehood Committee
Delegate & Vice President, 91直播Constitutional Convention
State & Territorial Legislator
Mayor, City of Klawock
- 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
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
Second Vice President, 91直播Constitutional Convention
Territorial Attorney General
Territorial Legislator
Alaska-Tennessee Plan Congressman
US Congressman
- 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
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
Member, 91直播Statehood Committee
Governor, Territory of Alaska
Territorial Legislator
- Active advocate for statehood throughout his tenure in office
- Last Territorial Governor of Alaska
Name Michael Anthony Stepovich
City Fairbanks
Occupation Lawyer
Born March 12, 1919
91直播Resident 1919-?
Warren Taylor
Member, 91直播Statehood Committee
State & Territorial Legislator
- Member of the 91直播Territorial Legislature that authorized the Constitutional Convention
- Elected as one of seven territory-wide delegates to the Constitutional Convention
- Served on the 91直播Statehood Committee from 1949-59
Name Warren Arthur Taylor
City Cordova, Kodiak, Fairbanks
Occupation Lawyer
Born April 2, 1891 - Chehalis, Washington
Death August 1980 - Fairbanks, Alaska
91直播Resident 1909-80
Biographies not done:
- Thomas Stewart
- W.L. Baker
- Stanley J. McCutcheon
- Lee Bettinger