This week, a gentleman donated a series of issues of The Frontiersman, a biweekly newspaper published in Seldovia. The collection covers several issues of the paper mainly from the year 1947. Savanna Bradley, the Collection Manager of the Pratt Museum, kindly took the following photos relating to the history of Nanwalek and Port Graham while reviewing and accessioning these items.

Chris Moss Historic documents and newspaper collection, Pratt Museum – The Frontiersman.

According to the information I was able to find on The Frontiersman, it was a twice weekly newspaper published in Seldovia starting in 1946 on each Wednesday and Saturday. In 1947, the editor was Viola Daniels, and subscription cost 75 cents for a month.

Chris Moss Historic documents and newspaper collection, Pratt Museum –  The Frontiersman 1947 July 19, page 7 – “Kvasnikoff Son.”

Chris Moss Historic documents and newspaper collection, Pratt Museum – The Frontiersman.

A baby boy was born to Mrs. Martha Kvasnikoff of English Bay.

Chris Moss Historic documents and newspaper collection, Pratt Museum –  The Frontiersman 1947 August 6, page 3 – “Good, Good, Good – Martha Mumchuck Recipe.”

Chris Moss Historic documents and newspaper collection, Pratt Museum – The Frontiersman.

The fish pie recipe from the past from Martha Mumchuck. Interesting to see that potatoes were just as popular as rice, which indicates a shift in cooking practices and the availability of certain ingredients when compared with today’s popularity of rice. Perhaps, gardening was still prevalent in the 1940s and most people had easier access to potatoes they grew than today.

Chris Moss Historic documents and newspaper collection, Pratt Museum – The Frontiersman 1947 September 6, page 6 – “New Station.”

Chris Moss Historic documents and newspaper collection, Pratt Museum – The Frontiersman.

According to The Frontiersman, Port Graham received a radio station in 1947. It was operated by the Coens (Cohen), who were teachers for the school. Kenneth Cohen was the local teacher for the BIA School and lived in Port Graham until the mid-1950s with his wife, Rose. The Kenneth Cohen collection at the UAF archives contains several years’ worth of diaries by Mr. Cohen, who was an avid note taker. His daily notes contain remarks on the weather, his home life concerning his many cats or his wife, some information on his students or schoolwork, and his opinion on local events and persons. For instance, he made notes on Christmas celebrations and masking, his visits to Nanwalek, visits by Father Nicholas Moonin to Port Graham, the village organizing curfew for schoolchildren, and local politics such as talks about the possibility of reservations. There is a finding aid available online, and the full citation for the collection is:

Cohen, Kenneth S.
N.d. Kenneth S. Cohen Collection. Fairbanks, AK: Arctic and Polar Regions Archive, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks.