A group of people gathered around, with a piano nearby. The people are labeled, left to right, front row: Arthur Cole, Bill McGuire, [unknown] Browne, Otto Van S., [unlabeled]. Second row: Mary Browne, [unlabeled],...
(5:56 min.) (01 of 12) Background and arrival in Alaska Auburn University--TVA heavy construction--B. B. Tally Construction quartermaster--Ladd Field construction Jan '41-- Four total projects Ladd Field, Ft. Richardson, Elmendorf and Yakutat &...
(5:52 min) (17 of 19) Business continues to grow Bought out Mr. Goes and Mr. Pearl. Bought out the bus service to the University. In 1931, took over Ravell Brothers and ran freight between Valdez and Fairbanks. Fall of 1931, bought a...
Ransom Tony Schultz (Tony) came to Alaska in 1938. That same year he bought his first plane and obtained his pilot's license. He began flying for Star Airlines (later Alaska Airlines) in 1940, and in 1950, was chosen as their first chief bush...
01 Began flying (2:43 min.) (01 of 09) On her way to school she was able to see airplanes taking off from the local airport. She thought that was what she wanted to do with her life. She saved up the $125.00 but the flight school closed...
02 Next step (3:39 min.) (02 of 09) During 1940, the U.S. Government was getting ready for war -- the Civilian Pilot Training program was started. They allowed one woman in each class of ten. While at Marshall College she learned how to do...
03 More military training (3:36 min.) (03 of 09) Pearl went to Sweetwater, Texas, to train with the Women's Air Corps. She heard that there was a need for pilots in Alaska. In 1944, she headed to Fairbanks, Alaska. She got stuck in Seattle...
04 First jobs in Alaska (5:04 min.) (04 of 09) Lockheed Vega took her to Fairbanks. Bush flying was what she wanted, but she couldn't get hired in Fairbanks. Herb Hagler at Fairbanks Air Service wouldn't give her a job as a pilot, but he told...
05 A plane of her own (5:30 min.) (05 of 09) There was no flight instruction in the winter so Pearl was laid off. She spent the winter of 1945 at the University at Fairbanks. She saw the Russian pilots flying the lend lease planes. Margaret...
(6:58 min.) (16 of 28) 16. Virginia speaks about flight instruction
Virginia's first solo flight was on December 7, 1941, but since all flights were canceled that day she had to solo again a week later. Flights were cancelled because of...
06 Crash took six weeks to repair aircraft (4:58 min.)(06 of 09)
In the mean time took a job teaching in McGrath that keep her busy through the winter. In the spring went to lower 48 to get an airplane. In Seattle went to Northern Commercial...
07 Followed the lend-lease path (6:32 min.) (07 of 09)
Back then you had to check in with customs every time you stopped. Margaret met up with two others bound for Alaska (Major Ware and Joe Barber), and they figured to save money by taking the...
08 Continue into Alaska (4:54 min.) (08 of 09)
Got some bad gas in Northway and had to drain the tanks. Finally made it into Nome, but it took two weeks. Joe Barber's plane was found a month later, and they found a trappers cabin with some...
09 Flew that summer (1946) (4:15 min,) (09 of 09)
Got married soon thereafter, husband owned a trading post in McGrath. Had a son and then husband got sick and died; left her with a child and a trading post to run. Stayed in McGrath until 1953.
Title taken from accompanying note. "Doris Gouch, Joseph Mathews, Leonard Heacock, Lila Barbour, Pearl Peterson, Jennie Lander (Valedictorian), Katherine Claypool".
Title taken from accompanying note. A shoulder-length portrait of a middle-aged woman with short hair. She is wearing a dark dress and a pearl necklace. The man sitting next to her (her husband) is dressed in a dark suit and tie and is wearing...
Title from verso of a similar photo. "The Red Star of Russia is a familiar sight at East Base and has been for months and months. With the lifting of military secrecy, this southern station of the Alaskan Division, ATC, has been disclosed as...