James Albert Michener was born in 1907 to unknown parents and raised as an orphan in
the care of widow Mabel Michener of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. By the time he
graduated from high school in 1925, he had visited 45 out of the 48 states. He was
given a scholarship to Swarthmore, and after graduating summa cum laude in 1929, he
traveled and continued his education at nine universities inside and outside the
United States. During this time, he also taught in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and at
the Harvard School of Education.
When he was not teaching, Michener worked as a textbook editor in New York, and he
joined the British Merchant Marines. During WWII, he joined the Navy, making use of
his experience in the British Merchant Marines to climb through the ranks to
lieutenant and his knowledge of history to carry out sensitive assignments in the
South Pacific. It was this experience that brought about Tales of the South Pacific
in 1947, which won a Pulitzer Prize. Michener used this novel as the cornerstone of
his writing career, publishing almost 50 books in the next 50 years, including
Sayonara, Hawaii, The Source, Iberia, Caravans, The Covenant, Sports in America, and
Poland.
In 1977, a four-part public television series called The World of Michener covered
Israel, Hawaii, Spain, and Poland, just a few of the countries upon which his books
have been based. Several other books have been turned into movies or miniseries, and
two of his novels have been turned into musicals (most notably South Pacific, which
won its own Pulitzer Prize).
During the time that he was publishing, however, Michener did not ignore the world
around him. He ran for Congress in 1962 and held positions on several committees,
including the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention, the U.S. Postal Service stamp
committee, and an advisory position on a council for NASA. He also spoke often at
congressional hearings and at functions of those organizations in which he held
particular interest. He also spoke often at congressional hearings and at functions
of those organizations in which he held particular interest. He was awarded the
nation's highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom, by President Gerald R. Ford
in 1977.
James A. Michener died at the age of 90 on October 16, 1997 in Texas, three years
after his third wife, Mari Yoriko Sabusawa. He had no children.
The records are arranged into five series. The series are as follows:
Series 5, Ephemera, Printed Material and Additional Items, 1983-1987,
1997
This collection consists of the papers of James A. Michener, primarily related to the
time he spent in Alaska and Texas while writing the novel Alaska. Included are manuscripts, galley proofs, materials he used while
researching the history of the state of Alaska, newspaper and periodical articles,
correspondence, maps, awards and honors, art, photographs, and other ephemera. A few
items pertaining to Michener‘s novel Texas also appear
in this collection.
Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are
responsible for ensuring copyright compliance.
James A. Michener Papers Collection, James A. Michener Library, Archival Services Department,Alaska Collection (JM029), Archival Services, James A. Michener
Library, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado.
Inventory prepared by Shirley Soenksen on 2007 January 23. This inventory is partly
based on an original inventory created in 1999 by Roiann Baird and partially
processed by Julia Remsik, a graduate assistant, in 2005.
Placed on indefinite deposit by the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1999. Parts of
the Alaska papers were accidentally destroyed at the
University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Documentation relating to the acquisition is on file in Archives, RG 13 S1 F11-2.
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| Description |
Container |
Chapter I: The Wandering Plates, 1st Drafts (4
manuscripts) undated |
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Chapter I: The Wandering Plates, 2nd Drafts (4 manuscripts), 1986 June |
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Chapter I: The Wandering Plates, 1986 June |
|
Chapter II: The Ice Castle, undated |
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Chapter II: The Ice Castle, undated |
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Chapter II: The Ice Castle, undated |
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Chapter II: The Ice Castle, undated |
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Chapter II: The Ice Castle, 1986 January |
|
Chapter II: The Ice Castle, undated |
|
Chapter II: The Ice Castle, 1986 June |
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Chapter II: The Ice Castle, 1986 May |
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Chapter III: People of the North, 1985 July |
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Chapter III: People of the North, 1986 January |
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Chapter III: People of the North, 1986 October |
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Chapter III: People of the North, 1986 October-1987 October |
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Chapter IV: The Explorers, undated |
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Chapter IV: The Explorers, undated |
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Chapter IV: The Explorers, undated |
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Chapter IV: The Explorers, 1986 June |
|
Chapter IV: The Explorers, undated |
|
Chapter V: The Duel, undated |
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Chapter V: The Duel, undated |
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Chapter V: The Duel, 1986 June |
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Chapter VI: Lost Worlds, undated |
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Chapter VI: Lost Worlds, undated |
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Chapter VI: Lost Worlds, 1988 |
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Chapter VI: Lost Worlds, undated |
|
Chapter VI: Lost Worlds, 1987 February |
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Chapter VII: Giants in Chaos, undated |
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Chapter VII: Giants in Chaos, undated |
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Chapter VII: Giants in Chaos, 1985 August, 1986 April |
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Chapter VII: Giants in Chaos, 1986 July |
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Chapter VII: Giants in Chaos, undated |
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Chapter VII: Giants in Chaos, undated |
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Chapter VIII: Gold, undated |
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Chapter VIII: Gold, undated |
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Chapter VIII: Gold, undated |
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Chapter VIII: Gold, undated |
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Chapter VIII: Gold, undated |
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Chapter VIII: Gold, undated |
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Chapter VIII: Gold, undated |
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Chapter VIII: Gold, undated |
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Chapter VIII: Gold, undated |
|
Chapter VIII: Gold, undated |
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Chapter VIII: Gold, 1987 May, 1987 June |
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Chapter IX: Timeline and Manuscript, undated |
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Chapter IX: Nome, undated |
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Chapter IX: Nome, undated |
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Chapter IX: Nome, 1985 April |
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Chapter IX: Nome, undated |
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Chapter IX: Nome, undated |
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Chapter IX: Nome, undated |
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Chapter X: Timeline and Manuscript, 1985 March |
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Chapter X: Salmon, undated |
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Chapter X: Salmon, 1985 June |
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Chapter X: Salmon - Clean Copy, 1985 June |
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Chapter X: Salmon - Manuscript with Corrections, 1985 June |
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Chapter X: Salmon, 1985 June |
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Chapter X: Salmon, 1985 June, 1988 |
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Chapter X: Salmon. Manuscript. 4 pages. undated |
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Chapter X: Salmon, undated |
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Chapter X: Salmon, undated |
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Chapter X: Salmon, 1987 January-February |
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Chapter XI, undated |
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Chapter XI: The Railbelt, undated |
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Chapter XI: The Railbelt, 1986 March |
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Chapter XI: The Railbelt, undated |
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Chapter XI: The Railbelt - Clean Manuscript. Pages 1-94, undated |
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Chapter XI: The Railbelt - Clean Manuscript. Pages 95-190, 1986 March, July |
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Chapter XI: The Railbelt, undated |
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Chapter XI: The Railbelt, undated |
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Chapter XI: The Railbelt, 1981 December, 1987 July |
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Chapter XII, undated |
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Chapter XII: Corrected Manuscript with Various Pages, undated |
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Chapter XII: Corrected Manuscript with Various Pages, undated |
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Chapter XII: Corrected Manuscript. Pages 2-245, undated |
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Chapter XII: Notes and Corrections, 5 pages, undated |
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Chapter XII: Letters and Manuscript pages 200-207 on "Tourism and
Tour Ships", 1986 February |
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Chapter XII: Correspondence and Notes, 1987 February, August, September |
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Names and Addresses for Acknowledgements, undated |
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Assitional Acknowledgements - Kim to Debbie, undated |
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"Fact and Fiction", 1986 June |
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Acknowledgements - 2 copies, undated |
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Acknowledgements - September 1985 Versions, 1985 September |
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Acknowledgements - 3 Versions, 1988 July |
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Acknowledgements - 2 Versions, 1986 August |
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Acknowledgements - 5 Versions, 1986 August |
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Acknowledgements - 2 Versions, 1987 January |
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Acknowledgements - 2 Versions, 1986 August |
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Acknowledgements - 5 Versions, 1986 August |
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Acknowledgements - 2 Versions, 1987 January |
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Character Lists with Corrections - 1 Page, undated |
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Character Lists Dated 28 June 1985 - 2 copies, 1985 June 28 |
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Character Lists - 3 versions 1985 August |
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Character Lists - 6 versions, 1985 September |
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Alaska: Chartacter List - 3
Versions, 1986 February |
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Alaska: Chartacter List - 3 Versions
Dated 4/18/1986, 1986 April |
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Alaska: Chartacter List - 4 Versions
Dated 6/21/1986, 1986 June |
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| Description |
Container |
Galley Proofs, undated |
|
Galley Proofs (14862, 14862b, 14862c), undated |
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Galley Proofs (14862c) Dated 03/22/88, 1988 March 22 |
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Galley Proofs (14862b) Dated 03/22/88, 1988 March 22 |
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Galley Proofs (14862b) Dated 03/22/88, 1988 March 22 |
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Galley Proofs (14862b) Dated 03/14/88 and (14862c) Dated
03/15/88, 1988 March 14 |
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Galley Proofs (14862) Dated 03/14/88 and (14862a) Dated 03/14/88, 1988 March 14 |
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Galley Proofs (14862) Clean Copy, 1988 March |
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Galley Proofs (14862) Clean Copy, undated |
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Galley Proofs (14862) Clean Copy, undated |
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Galley Proofs (14862) Dated 02/9/88 and Original JAM Manuscripts
with note re: the Character Kot-le-an, 1988 February 9 |
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Galley Proofs (14862) Dated 02/09/88 with Notes/Edit Slips, 1988 February 9 |
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Galley Proofs (14862) Dated 02/09/88 with Corrections, 1988 February 9 |
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Galley Proofs (14862c) Dated 02/18/88 with Corrections, 1988 February 18 |
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Galley Proofs (14862b) Dated 01/12/88 with Corrections, 1988 January 12 |
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Galley Proofs (14862b) Dated 02/12/88 with Corrections, 1988 February 12 |
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Galley Proofs (14862a) Dated 02/09/88 with Corrections, 1988 February 9 |
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Galley Proofs (14862a) Dated 02/09/88 with Corrections, 1988 February 9 |
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Galley Proofs (14862) Dated 02/09/88 with Notes, 1988 February 9 |
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Galley Proofs, 1988 March |
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Galley Proofs, 1988 March |
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Galley Proofs, 1988 March |
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Galley Proofs, 1988 March |
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Galley Proofs, 1988 March |
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Galley Proofs, 1988 March |
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Galley Proofs, 1988 March |
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Galley Proofs, 1988 March |
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Galley Proofs, 1988 March |
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Galley Proofs, 1988 April |
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Galley Proofs, 1988 March |
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This series consists of the articles, notes, correspondence, publications,
maps, news clippings and other materials gathered by Michener in his
research for the novel. The monographs originally housed in box 8 have been
individually cataloged and listed in the library's catalog, the Source
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|
| Description |
Container |
Gold Rush - Reinicker, undated |
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Gold Rush, undated |
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Gold Rush - Research Notes, undated |
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Gold Rush - Research Notes, undated |
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Gold Rush - Research Notes, undated |
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Urness, Carol: Untitled Manuscript, undated |
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Research Notes, undated |
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Chapter III: People of the North (Outline), undated |
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Chapter IX: Timeline (4 copies), 1986 July |
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Chapter X: Timeline (2 copies), undated |
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Chapter XI: The Railbelt Chronology, 1986 March |
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Chapter XII: The Rim of Fire (3 copies), 1986 June |
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Chapter VI: Lost Worlds (3 copies), 1986 June |
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Chapter VII: Giants in Chaos. Timeline (one copy), 1986 July |
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Chapter VIII: Timeline (one copy), undated |
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Chapter V: The Duel. Timeline (2 copies), undated |
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Chapter IV: The Explorers. Timeline (2 copies), 1986 June |
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Fund Raiser (Breakfast Burritos), undated |
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Chapter III: People of the North. Timeline (2 copies), 1982 January |
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Chapter II: The Ice Castle. Timeline (4 copies), undated |
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Research Notes, 1987 January |
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Timelines, undated |
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Alaska. Chapter Outline, March 1986 |
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Correspondence 1985, 1985 |
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Correspondence 1986, 1986 |
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Alaska Novel: Chapter XII: The Rim of Fire, undated |
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Timelines, undated |
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Miscellaneous Items. 8 pages, undated |
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The Task Force Version Two for Chapter 14, undated |
|
Edit Slips, etc., undated |
|
Partial Manuscripts, undated |
|
Acknowledgements and Partial Manuscript of Chapter XII: Rim of
Fire, undated |
|
The Explorers, undated |
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Blackwell Printout and Notes on Envelope, undated |
|
Edit Slips, undated |
|
Correspondence 1999, 1999 |
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Manuscripts, undated |
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Miscellaneous Editing Slips, undated |
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Miscellaneous Galley Proofs and Chapter Timeline, 1988 February-March |
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Miscellaneous Manuscript Pages, undated |
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Chapter Comments, Notes, and Correspondence, 1985-1986 |
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Geology, Zoology, Geography, Paleography, undated |
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Geology, Zoology, Geography, Paleography, undated |
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Geology, Zoology, Geography, Paleography, undated |
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Geology, Zoology, Geography, Paleography, undated |
|
Geology, Zoology, Geography, Paleography, undated |
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Geology, Zoology, Geography, Paleography, undated |
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Industry, Education, Church, Other, undated |
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Industry, Education, Church, Other, undated |
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Industry, Education, Church, Other, undated |
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Industry, Education, Church, Other, undated |
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Industry, Education, Church, Other, undated |
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Industry, Education, Church, Other, undated |
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Industry, Education, Church, Other, undated |
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American Era, undated |
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American Era, undated |
|
American Era, undated |
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American Era, undated |
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American Era, undated |
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American Era, undated |
|
American Era, undated |
|
American Era, undated |
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Outlines – Alaska, Manuscripts, Notes, References, undated |
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Outlines – Alaska, Manuscripts, Notes, References, undated |
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Outlines – Alaska, Manuscripts, Notes, References, undated |
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Baranov, Alexander, undated |
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Rob Rand Articles, undated |
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Baranov, Alexander: Outline and Research Materials, undated |
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Alaska: Explorers and Explorations, undated |
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Russian Explorations, undated |
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Russians in Alaska, undated |
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Russian Explorations, undated |
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Maps, undated |
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Maps, undated |
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Maps, undated |
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Maps, undated |
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Maps, undated |
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Maps, undated |
|
Indigenous Peoples – Alaska, undated |
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Indigenous Peoples – Alaska, undated |
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Bank Aleutian Islands Archaeological Collections, undated |
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Reference: On the Edge of Nowhere, undated |
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Indigenous Peoples – Alaska, undated |
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Alaska Natives: First Alcohol Contacts, undated |
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Black and Sardy Manuscripts on Alaskan Natives, undated |
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Indigenous Peoples – Alaska, undated |
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Research Materials: A Metis Journey: The Poetic Rise of a
Mixed-Race People, undated |
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Research Materials: Spanish in Alaska, undated |
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Fishing, Whaling, undated |
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Fishing, Whaling, undated |
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Fishing, Whaling (Fisheries?), undated |
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Monograph of the Seal-Islands of Alaska, undated |
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Pipeline Drive
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The Iditarod Runner, 1986 February |
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Alaska Passport
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Alaska Fish and Game, 1986 May-June |
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Research in the Polar Regions
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Alaska, 1971 |
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Song of the Ice
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K-300 Special, 1986 January |
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From Russia with Thanks from Major Jordan’s
Diaries
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Miscellaneous Newspapers |
|
Miscellaneous Items |
|
Kodiak Times
|
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Holding Our Ground, Parts 1 and 2, Audio Cassette |
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Bigjim, Fred. Sinrock. Press-22, 1983.
|
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Davis, Carol Beery. Tiger of Taku. Davis, 1977
|
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Yaw, W. Leslie. Sixty years in Sitka. Sheldon Jackson College Press,
1985.
|
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Munoz, Rie. Nursing
in the North, 1867-1967. Alaska Nurse’s Association,
1967.
|
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Galland, China. Women in the Wilderness. Harper Colophon,
1980.
|
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Kitlutsisti, Nunam. You don't forget hunger: in support of subsistence harvest
of herring on Nelson, Island, Western Alaska . Harper
Colophon, 1980.
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The Sports
Periodical Index, January 1985.
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Probes: a prospectus
on processes and resources of the Bering Sea Shelf.
National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs,
1974.
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Sitka, Warren. Sourdough journalist. 2nd ed. Parsnickle Press,
1981.
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Cohen, Stan. The
Streets Were Paved With Gold. Pictorial Histories
Pub., 1977.
|
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Pedersen, Walt and Elsa. A Larger History of the Kenai
Peninsula. Adams Press, 1983.
|
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Johnson, Hugh A. Matanuska Valley Memoir: the story of how one Alaskan
community developed. 3rd ed. University of Alaska,
1980.
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University of Alaska Foundation,
Scientific Advisory Commission. Trustees
of Alaska’s Future.
|
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Richards, Eva Alvey. Arctic Mood. Caxton Printers,
1949.
|
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Hardison, O.B. Toward Freedom and Dignity. Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1972.
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Sheldon Jackson Museum, Sitka,
Alaska. Sheldon Jackson College.
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This series consists of Michener's correspondence generated during the
writing of Alaska. The series also includes
some photographs associated with the correspondence.
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|
| Description |
Container |
Correspondence, 1983 April-May |
|
Feb 84 on the ice in front of Diomede. Color photograph |
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Feb 84 landing at Little Diomede, Alaska. Color photograph |
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Feb 84 Little Diomede facing Big Diomede (USSR), East Cape,
Russia. Color photograph |
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Correspondence, 1984 November |
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Correspondence, 1984 December |
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Correspondence, 1985 January |
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Correspondence, 1985 February 1-19 |
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Correspondence, 1985 February 20-28 |
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Correspondence, 1985 March |
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Correspondence, 1985 April 1-10 |
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Correspondence, 1985 April 11-29 |
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Correspondence, 1985 May |
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Correspondence, 1985 June |
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Correspondence, 1985 July |
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Correspondence, 1985 August 1-19 |
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Correspondence, 1985 August 20-30 |
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Correspondence, 1985 September 1-10 |
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Correspondence, 1985 September 11-20 |
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Correspondence, 1985 September 21-30 |
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Correspondence, 1985 October 1-8 |
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Correspondence, 1985 October 11-22 |
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Correspondence, 1985 October 24-31 |
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Correspondence, 1985 November |
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Correspondence, 1985 December |
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Correspondence, 1986 January |
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Correspondence, 1986 February |
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Correspondence, 1986 March |
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Correspondence, 1986 April |
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Correspondence, 1986 May |
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Correspondence, 1986 June |
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Correspondence, 1986 July |
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Correspondence, 1986 August |
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Correspondence, 1986 September |
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Correspondence, 1986 October |
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Correspondence, 1986 November-December |
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Correspondence, 1987 January-April |
|
Correspondence, undated |
|
Correspondence: Greeting Cards and Post Cards, Generally undated |
|
Correspondence, Generally undated
Photographs relocated to folder 276
|
|
Itineraries and Travel Brochures, Generally undated |
|
Correspondence and partial manuscipts, undated |
|
Business cards, Generally undated |
|
Photographs, 1980s |
|
Foster family 5 color photographs |
|
James Michener seated at banquet table with unidentified man
and woman. Color photograph
Contained in a frame from the Raffles Hotel Singapore.
|
|
Sheila Fitzpatrick Color photograph |
|
James Michener, Author of Texas Color photographs
Publicity shot from Random House with the following note:
This photograph may only be used in connection with the review or
promotion of the Random House edition of Texas. All other uses are prohibited. The credit
line must always appear with it, without exception.
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|
This series consists of awards, certificates, programs, news clippings and
publications not necessarily related to the publication of Alaska. The series contains some additional
writings by Michener, including book reviews, forwards, articles and
excerpts from the novel Texas. It also includes
recorded radio interviews and news conference proceedings.
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| Description |
Container |
Plaque from Coast Guard, 1985 |
|
Certificate: Juneau World Affairs Councikl, 1985 |
|
Banquet of the Golden Plate, 1985 June 29 |
|
Memorial Program: Mari Yoriko Sabusawa Michener, 1997 November 20 |
|
Miscellaneous Items, 1984-1986
Folder primarily contains news clippings and photocopies of
articles.
|
|
Photocopied excerpts from Tragic Fate of
Hungary by Yves de Daruvar, undated |
|
Texas: Transcript Pages from an Editorial Meeting, 1984 |
|
Untitled South Pacific Manuscript, 1986 May 23 |
|
Football Nut Manuscript: James Michener on the Joy of a New
Season, undated |
|
Inside Outside by Herman Wouk, 1985
Review, drafts and correspondence
|
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The Constitution by Sam Fink, 1985
Forward by Michener
|
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Dangerous Summer by Ernest
Hemingway, 1985
Introduction by Michener
|
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John Cheever 1988
Miscellaneous galley proofs for an unidentified publication.
|
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In Search of J. D.
Salinger 1985
Index pages, galley proofs and correspondence.
|
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University Manuscript undated |
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Texas manuscript page, undated |
|
Alaska Bound Copy and Covers, |
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Audio Tapes and Computer Disks, 1985, 1988 |
|
Unlabeled, undated 2 8" Floppy Disks |
|
James and Mari Michener. KNOM Radio Interview. Nome, Alaska, 1985 March 5 Audio Tape |
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James Michener. KNOM Radio Interview. Nome, Alaska, 1985 August 24 Audio Tape |
|
James Michener. News Conference. Sheldon Jackson College.
Sitka, Alaska, 1988 July 5 Audio Tape |
|
Oversized Items, 1985-1986 |
|
New York Times Magazine, 1985 September 8
Contains the following article: James, Caryn. "The Michener
Phenomena."
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Sheldon Jackson College
Adventures, Fall 1986
Contains a photograph and interview with Michener.
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We Alaskans, 1985 August 4
Contains the following article: Bryson, George. "James Michener
on Alaska: 'What the Hell. If It's a Good Story, Let's Take a
Crack at It'."
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