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Aunt Phil's Trunk: An Alaska Historian's Collection of Treasured Tales
Alaska history decoded!
Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Three is a must read for anyone interested in Alaska's history!
Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Three is filled with entertaining nonfiction short stories and hundreds of historical photographs that share Alaska's history from 1912 to 1935. This volume, appropriate for ages 9 to 99, is a delightful journey through Alaska's growing pains as a territory of the United States.
Did you know?
• The Alaska Railroad spurred the birth of Alaska's largest town in 1915?
• Mushers and dog teams risked death to deliver life-saving diphtheria serum to Nome in 1925?
• Famous aviator Wiley post and Will Rogers crashed their plane and died near Barrow in 1935?
These and dozens more little-known stories fill the pages of Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Three
Laurel Bill has an extraordinary eye for the telling detail. She knows a good story when she hears it and knows how to tell it. Her history comes alive. Thank goodness she's turned her talents to these compelling chapters from Alaska's rich past. - Kim Rich, Author, Johnny's Girl
Drawn from the eventful stories told by Alaskans, author Laurel Downing Bill has expertly woven a seamless narrative of fascinating fact and lore spanning the triumphs and tragedies of the Great Land. - Pennelope Goforth, Author, Sailing The Mail
Informative and entertaining, the stories in "Aunt Phil's Trunk" show that there is much more to Alaska than Eskimos, igloos, ice floes and polar bears. Whether you've lived in Alaska all of your life, or you've always wanted to visit, you'll be enthralled by this collection of stories and photos chronicling a patchwork of Alaska's forgotten heroes. - Heather Resz, Editor, Alaska Newspapers Inc.
Thousands of print books sold worldwide!
Order your copy of Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Three now!
Read More here:
The third book in the Aunt Phil's Trunk series is packed with easy-to-read short stories and close to 350 historical photographs to entertain the history buff within.
It highlights the pioneering spirit of early Alaska as it enters a new era as a territory of the United States and showcases stories about early Anchorage and the Alaska Railroad.
Other stories include:
• Epidemics and rescues
• Daring flyboys of the 1920s
• Colonists who turn wilderness into fertile ground where giant vegetables grow
• Alaska's Native people struggling for recognition
Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Three is a treasure trove of short stories and is a must-have for anyone interested in Alaska's rich past!
Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Three is a must read for anyone interested in Alaska's history!
Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Three is filled with entertaining nonfiction short stories and hundreds of historical photographs that share Alaska's history from 1912 to 1935. This volume, appropriate for ages 9 to 99, is a delightful journey through Alaska's growing pains as a territory of the United States.
Did you know?
• The Alaska Railroad spurred the birth of Alaska's largest town in 1915?
• Mushers and dog teams risked death to deliver life-saving diphtheria serum to Nome in 1925?
• Famous aviator Wiley post and Will Rogers crashed their plane and died near Barrow in 1935?
These and dozens more little-known stories fill the pages of Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Three
Laurel Bill has an extraordinary eye for the telling detail. She knows a good story when she hears it and knows how to tell it. Her history comes alive. Thank goodness she's turned her talents to these compelling chapters from Alaska's rich past. - Kim Rich, Author, Johnny's Girl
Drawn from the eventful stories told by Alaskans, author Laurel Downing Bill has expertly woven a seamless narrative of fascinating fact and lore spanning the triumphs and tragedies of the Great Land. - Pennelope Goforth, Author, Sailing The Mail
Informative and entertaining, the stories in "Aunt Phil's Trunk" show that there is much more to Alaska than Eskimos, igloos, ice floes and polar bears. Whether you've lived in Alaska all of your life, or you've always wanted to visit, you'll be enthralled by this collection of stories and photos chronicling a patchwork of Alaska's forgotten heroes. - Heather Resz, Editor, Alaska Newspapers Inc.
Thousands of print books sold worldwide!
Order your copy of Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Three now!
Read More here:
The third book in the Aunt Phil's Trunk series is packed with easy-to-read short stories and close to 350 historical photographs to entertain the history buff within.
It highlights the pioneering spirit of early Alaska as it enters a new era as a territory of the United States and showcases stories about early Anchorage and the Alaska Railroad.
Other stories include:
• Epidemics and rescues
• Daring flyboys of the 1920s
• Colonists who turn wilderness into fertile ground where giant vegetables grow
• Alaska's Native people struggling for recognition
Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Three is a treasure trove of short stories and is a must-have for anyone interested in Alaska's rich past!
344 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2006
17 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Laurel Downing Bill
52 books9 followersAlaska historian/speaker Laurel Downing Bill wrote and published the entertaining five-book Aunt Phil’s Trunk Alaska history series, which won the 2016 Literary Classics International award for best nonfiction series worldwide. She also wrote and published Sourdough Cookery, which features 100 sourdough recipes and a starter that began in 1896 Hope, Alaska. She writes Alaska history stories for Alaska Magazine and Senior Voice, as well.
Laurel has won several awards from the Alaska Professional Communicators, achieved finalist status in the Eric Hoffer Excellence in Independent Publishing contest for her Alaska history series and was honored with awards from Best Books, Readers' Reviews and Shelf Unbound in 2016.
For more information, go to http://www.AuntPhilsTrunk.com or email Laurel@AuntPhilsTrunk.com.
Laurel has won several awards from the Alaska Professional Communicators, achieved finalist status in the Eric Hoffer Excellence in Independent Publishing contest for her Alaska history series and was honored with awards from Best Books, Readers' Reviews and Shelf Unbound in 2016.
For more information, go to http://www.AuntPhilsTrunk.com or email Laurel@AuntPhilsTrunk.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 14, 2017
What a powerhouse of information this book, Aunt Phil's Trunk is. With the little-known facts and the explaining of treaties, purchases, and change, this book provides early pictures of the Russian-owned area known as Alaska.
As a visitor last summer I was standing on the very land that this book discusses. I met a Tlingit woman as she spoke to us about the Tlingit clan and the land before. The customs and the appreciation of nature. That is covered in this book and seeing as it was written about in such a conclusive manner really brought the point home. there was telling of a massacre, the role of Alaska in the history with the confederacy, Captain Cook, and even a run-in with the census taker.
So many charming, lovely and harsh moments are captured in this book. It is certainly one that should be read by anyone that loves history, Alaska, or just great non-fiction.
As a visitor last summer I was standing on the very land that this book discusses. I met a Tlingit woman as she spoke to us about the Tlingit clan and the land before. The customs and the appreciation of nature. That is covered in this book and seeing as it was written about in such a conclusive manner really brought the point home. there was telling of a massacre, the role of Alaska in the history with the confederacy, Captain Cook, and even a run-in with the census taker.
So many charming, lovely and harsh moments are captured in this book. It is certainly one that should be read by anyone that loves history, Alaska, or just great non-fiction.
July 6, 2014
This first book in this series like all the others are based on the writings and research of the author’s aunt, Phyllis Downing Carlson. In the first volume, the reader is treated to thousands of years of Alaska’s history from the time the first humans crossed the Bering Sea land bridge to the Klondike Gold Rush in the nineteenth century. The photograph of a mastodon graveyard is most impressive. Readers learn how the native Eskimos coped with the unknown with the magic of their shamans and the legends of the gods. An influx of Russian fur traders changed Native life forever. They brought illness and destruction to their hunting grounds and forests. Eventually Natives adapted by becoming guides for the newcomers exploration of the seas and the mining operations that later followed.
One of the short stories relates how the last gun shot of the American Civil War was fired from the Confederate ship Shenandoah off the coast of Alaska in June, 1865, two months after the war actually ended. These ships fired on whalers near St. Lawrence Island. The Shenandoah had previously captured thirty-eight Yankee warships. Not willing to surrender to Union authorities in the States, the Shenandoah sailed to England to surrender that November.
Bill traces the history of opposition to William Seward’s purchase of Alaska for the United States and the change of opinion once gold was discovered. Several stories detail singular individuals in Alaska’ s history. Readers learn about Captain James Cook, the explorer, Bishop William Carpenter Bompas, the missionary, Ivan Petroff, the census taker, and Old John Bonner’s murder mystery. One of Alaska’s most educated early citizens was George Washington Carmack who wrote beautiful poetry. Not only do the short stories cover all these areas, but the photographs, maps and drawings provide a feast for the eyes!
One of the short stories relates how the last gun shot of the American Civil War was fired from the Confederate ship Shenandoah off the coast of Alaska in June, 1865, two months after the war actually ended. These ships fired on whalers near St. Lawrence Island. The Shenandoah had previously captured thirty-eight Yankee warships. Not willing to surrender to Union authorities in the States, the Shenandoah sailed to England to surrender that November.
Bill traces the history of opposition to William Seward’s purchase of Alaska for the United States and the change of opinion once gold was discovered. Several stories detail singular individuals in Alaska’ s history. Readers learn about Captain James Cook, the explorer, Bishop William Carpenter Bompas, the missionary, Ivan Petroff, the census taker, and Old John Bonner’s murder mystery. One of Alaska’s most educated early citizens was George Washington Carmack who wrote beautiful poetry. Not only do the short stories cover all these areas, but the photographs, maps and drawings provide a feast for the eyes!
February 1, 2011
Good read about Alaska.
July 20, 2014
It is, of course, rather nice to breathe the fine air of history once again. Through a chain of friends I was asked to take a look at the first two volumes of what is growing into a series called, Aunt Phil’s Trunk. Even the making of these books has a historical tang to it. Aunt Phil, Phyllis Downing Carlson, was a historian and a meticulous collector of Alaskan Lore. She bequeathed this body of knowledge to her niece, Laurel Downing Bill. Laurel, fascinated with the treasure trove she had found, took herself off to university to learn journalism and history. Upon graduation she began further researching the history of her home state, Alaska. Then she began the process of weaving her own tales with those of her aunt’s to create a really fascinating read. You never get lost because she always makes sure that while you are reading Alaskan history, you also know what was happening in the burgeoning country to the south.
I found myself quite delighted wandering through the pages of this collection of stories. Bill provides some background on habitation in Alaska as early as 850 BCE. In the early chapters of volume one, Bill gives a brief history of the violent geological nature of the land. She describes how volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and Arctic winters shaped the land and the islands that are near its shore.
Of great interest to me was her research of the Russian possession of the country, and the dream of Secretary of State Seward to own the northern frontier. The purchase price of Alaska was somewhere around 2 cents an acre; $7.2 million dollars. There’s a photograph of the check! There are photographs of the Russian forts, the lovely Russian princess bidding a sad farewell, and of the American soldiers taking possession of the territory.
She adds to her story further research on the purchase price. There have been some rumors that the payment included a thank you price for the visit of the Russian fleet during the Civil War. Bill, in story-time style tells you that history shows a different tale. The price of the territory was already in the process of being negotiated before the war (somewhere in the 4-5 million dollar range). As far as the Russian fleet was concerned, the wars brewing in Europe put Russia at a distinct disadvantage. It was necessary to get their fleet to safety and by parking it on the American shores, Russian helped to tip the balance of support to the Union. American officials studiously ignored Russia’s encroachment on Polish soil. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
When Volume 2 begins we discover that it wasn’t all settled with the deed and treaty. As gold was found and things started to perk up a bit, well, the Canadians had their own ideas of where the boundary lines were drawn. Interpretation and re-interpretation of the boundaries conveyed by Russia brought the US and Canada close to the threshold of a border war. With the building of the railroad, which ran through territory that both the US and Canada claimed, things were getting serious. As progress pushed north (1898) serious negotiations began in Quebec City to settle the issue. Finally in 1903 a panel was set up to decide once and for all where the Crown lands ended and America began. President Theodore Roosevelt informed the panel that if they didn’t get it settled he would send in the Marines.
The tales and the photographs (some 650 between the two volumes) continue to lead you through the development of this beautiful wild country including the conquest of Dinali (Mt. McKinley), the volcano Katmai, the birth of the Iditarod and stories of the men and women who had no wish to tame the wilderness, but to learn to live within its majesty.
It’s a good read and I highly recommend you check it all out!
I found myself quite delighted wandering through the pages of this collection of stories. Bill provides some background on habitation in Alaska as early as 850 BCE. In the early chapters of volume one, Bill gives a brief history of the violent geological nature of the land. She describes how volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and Arctic winters shaped the land and the islands that are near its shore.
Of great interest to me was her research of the Russian possession of the country, and the dream of Secretary of State Seward to own the northern frontier. The purchase price of Alaska was somewhere around 2 cents an acre; $7.2 million dollars. There’s a photograph of the check! There are photographs of the Russian forts, the lovely Russian princess bidding a sad farewell, and of the American soldiers taking possession of the territory.
She adds to her story further research on the purchase price. There have been some rumors that the payment included a thank you price for the visit of the Russian fleet during the Civil War. Bill, in story-time style tells you that history shows a different tale. The price of the territory was already in the process of being negotiated before the war (somewhere in the 4-5 million dollar range). As far as the Russian fleet was concerned, the wars brewing in Europe put Russia at a distinct disadvantage. It was necessary to get their fleet to safety and by parking it on the American shores, Russian helped to tip the balance of support to the Union. American officials studiously ignored Russia’s encroachment on Polish soil. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
When Volume 2 begins we discover that it wasn’t all settled with the deed and treaty. As gold was found and things started to perk up a bit, well, the Canadians had their own ideas of where the boundary lines were drawn. Interpretation and re-interpretation of the boundaries conveyed by Russia brought the US and Canada close to the threshold of a border war. With the building of the railroad, which ran through territory that both the US and Canada claimed, things were getting serious. As progress pushed north (1898) serious negotiations began in Quebec City to settle the issue. Finally in 1903 a panel was set up to decide once and for all where the Crown lands ended and America began. President Theodore Roosevelt informed the panel that if they didn’t get it settled he would send in the Marines.
The tales and the photographs (some 650 between the two volumes) continue to lead you through the development of this beautiful wild country including the conquest of Dinali (Mt. McKinley), the volcano Katmai, the birth of the Iditarod and stories of the men and women who had no wish to tame the wilderness, but to learn to live within its majesty.
It’s a good read and I highly recommend you check it all out!
January 28, 2016
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
This is not your regular documentary. My limited view of Alaska was broadened and what I have learned from history class. But this book really pushed my boundaries out of its limits. I was really caught up in the events and stories of this book giving me a clear picture of the different periods in Alaska. A land that came from almost nothing, to a place that was involved in so many stages of many prominent countries development, and the riches that led hordes of people flocking to its riches; to make their claim on their own wealth. Where do you start? There is so much detail and history revealed in this book.
I really discovered the full content of the words “the Good the Bad and the Ugly”, all this get revealed in this book regarding the development of Alaska. What stood out most was that the native people of the land consist not only of Eskimo’s, but different tribes of Indians. I never knew they lived in Alaska, but now I know. We also discovered the influence of Russia in Alaska, how they moved in to the land claiming vast parts of the land as their property. They started trading with the natives, and also became involved in the fur trade that was the gold of that time; until the Gold rush to the Klondike in 1896. A very interesting fact that was highlighted to me was that America bought Alaska from the Russians, not the native’s of the land, amazing.
There is a fast amount of historical information in this book capturing the many people that contribute to the development of Alaska, as we know it today.
If you like History, and want to know more about Alaska, and especially how the gold rush affected Alaska, this is a good book to use; it has a lot of historic photos as well that is placed strategically in the chapters for you to have a better grasp of the times. A must have for the history junky.
This is not your regular documentary. My limited view of Alaska was broadened and what I have learned from history class. But this book really pushed my boundaries out of its limits. I was really caught up in the events and stories of this book giving me a clear picture of the different periods in Alaska. A land that came from almost nothing, to a place that was involved in so many stages of many prominent countries development, and the riches that led hordes of people flocking to its riches; to make their claim on their own wealth. Where do you start? There is so much detail and history revealed in this book.
I really discovered the full content of the words “the Good the Bad and the Ugly”, all this get revealed in this book regarding the development of Alaska. What stood out most was that the native people of the land consist not only of Eskimo’s, but different tribes of Indians. I never knew they lived in Alaska, but now I know. We also discovered the influence of Russia in Alaska, how they moved in to the land claiming vast parts of the land as their property. They started trading with the natives, and also became involved in the fur trade that was the gold of that time; until the Gold rush to the Klondike in 1896. A very interesting fact that was highlighted to me was that America bought Alaska from the Russians, not the native’s of the land, amazing.
There is a fast amount of historical information in this book capturing the many people that contribute to the development of Alaska, as we know it today.
If you like History, and want to know more about Alaska, and especially how the gold rush affected Alaska, this is a good book to use; it has a lot of historic photos as well that is placed strategically in the chapters for you to have a better grasp of the times. A must have for the history junky.
April 25, 2014
I have never enjoyed reading history so much! This first volume had so many stories in it that I have never even heard of that I had such a great time reading. I even reread a few of them to my young daughters. Anyone who enjoys learning about our history, about the past, or just other cultures will LOVE this series! This first volume draws you in with the mysterious missing Eskimo people, makes you think of the Aztec right?, and continues to tell tales of the spiritualism that was just fantastic. I have to say the story of Sha-E-Dah Kla is my favorite, be sure to check it out. Spiritualistic and Shamanistic healing stories were just amazing, and just not something you read about unless it is a paranormal fiction. So to read about them as first hand experiences that happened to real people was enthralling for me. The stories continue and draw you into the Alaskan history telling of the wars and goldrush. Things you had never read before or never heard so much about, and as if the stories weren't enough she has these amazing pictures to bring out what she is telling you. I believe even if you aren't a history buff you would be able to enjoy this book. It reads more like a story book rather than a history book or school book. It is engaging and so full of information, it just isn't work to read. I can't wait to find out what is in volume 2!
March 5, 2014
AUNT PHIL'S TRUNK, VOL. 1, by Phyllis Downing Carlson and Laurel Downing Bill, is a wonderfully written, eminently readable, and richly illustrated narrative of Alaska's history up to 1900. Ensuing volumes – including one expected to be released within the coming year – continue the story through the 20th century.
I especially loved the wealth of vintage photographs in these pages that made frontier Alaska spring to life. So many cultures and so many characters populate this book: native tribes, Russian and American explorers and fortune hunters, trappers, prospectors, merchants, heroes, shamans, and scalawags. They are all here in their wild and woolly glory, pitting themselves against one of the most beautiful and forbidding landscapes in the world. In pre-1900 Alaska, fortune and disaster are never more than a hair's breadth apart.
AUNT PHIL'S TRUNK is full of well-researched tales both wonderful and tragic. Written in a clear, coherent, and evocative voice, it is a fascinating window to Alaska's wild past. Highly recommended!
I especially loved the wealth of vintage photographs in these pages that made frontier Alaska spring to life. So many cultures and so many characters populate this book: native tribes, Russian and American explorers and fortune hunters, trappers, prospectors, merchants, heroes, shamans, and scalawags. They are all here in their wild and woolly glory, pitting themselves against one of the most beautiful and forbidding landscapes in the world. In pre-1900 Alaska, fortune and disaster are never more than a hair's breadth apart.
AUNT PHIL'S TRUNK is full of well-researched tales both wonderful and tragic. Written in a clear, coherent, and evocative voice, it is a fascinating window to Alaska's wild past. Highly recommended!
July 8, 2014
This talented author’s love of Alaska shines through as she tells the world of its past.
In this, the first book in the series, the author takes her readers right back in time, to when the first Alaska Natives arrived, there after crossing the Bering Sea Land Bridge, thousands of years ago, and through history until the famous Klondike Gold Rush in the nineteenth century.
She does this wonderfully, bringing the history of this amazing place to life, through short stories, which vary tremendously. Through her brilliant penmanship, she brings alive the lives of these people who made this made this land their own under incredibly harsh conditions.
For me, though, I have to say the wonderful collection of hundreds of pictures were the icing on this most enjoyable cake. Being able to actually SEE the people who were alive in those times past is a joy I will never tire of, and it enhanced even more (if possible) my enjoyment of these wonderful tales.
I have never been to Alaska, however I would love to do so, especially having read this book.
In this, the first book in the series, the author takes her readers right back in time, to when the first Alaska Natives arrived, there after crossing the Bering Sea Land Bridge, thousands of years ago, and through history until the famous Klondike Gold Rush in the nineteenth century.
She does this wonderfully, bringing the history of this amazing place to life, through short stories, which vary tremendously. Through her brilliant penmanship, she brings alive the lives of these people who made this made this land their own under incredibly harsh conditions.
For me, though, I have to say the wonderful collection of hundreds of pictures were the icing on this most enjoyable cake. Being able to actually SEE the people who were alive in those times past is a joy I will never tire of, and it enhanced even more (if possible) my enjoyment of these wonderful tales.
I have never been to Alaska, however I would love to do so, especially having read this book.
June 20, 2016
The late Phyllis Downing Carlson was a pioneer in collecting and recording facts pertaining to Alaska's rich and diverse history. When Laurel Downing Bill inherited her aunt Phyllis' trunk full of documents and other treasures recounting Alaska's history, she was inspired to share this incredible collection of information. Thus began a literary labor of love which spans generations. The Aunt Phil's Trunk series of books contains five complete volumes. Each book covers a particular time-span, with the series wrapping up in the year 1984.
Laurel Downing Bill brings Alaska's history to life in this fascinating compilation. People with an interest in Alaska's history will thrill at the unique and extensive array of information offered within this series. Photographs, newspaper clippings and other images help complete this series which is highly recommended for home and school libraries.
Laurel Downing Bill brings Alaska's history to life in this fascinating compilation. People with an interest in Alaska's history will thrill at the unique and extensive array of information offered within this series. Photographs, newspaper clippings and other images help complete this series which is highly recommended for home and school libraries.
March 5, 2015
I received the book from the author for an honest review.
This is book 3 in Aunt Phil's Trunk Series, taking you further into the history of this country.
Alaska is surely not for the unadventurous and unbrave persons. It is harsh, its lands vast and the temperatures way past my endurance levels. But the richness of its history cannot be denied. Tainted with the good, the bad and the ugly which gives this country a proud heritage.
The author did a great work in putting everything together, from the commentaries to the pictures you got a good picture of what life was in the days of the pioneers.
A great book to have for all historic readers.
This is book 3 in Aunt Phil's Trunk Series, taking you further into the history of this country.
Alaska is surely not for the unadventurous and unbrave persons. It is harsh, its lands vast and the temperatures way past my endurance levels. But the richness of its history cannot be denied. Tainted with the good, the bad and the ugly which gives this country a proud heritage.
The author did a great work in putting everything together, from the commentaries to the pictures you got a good picture of what life was in the days of the pioneers.
A great book to have for all historic readers.
July 18, 2014
"If you like history, and want to know more about Alaska, and especially how the gold rush affected Alaska, this is a good book to use; it has a lot of historic photos as well that are placed strategically in the chapters for you to have a better grasp of the times. A must have for the history junky.”
October 6, 2007
Our trip to Alaska this summer inspired me to read this. Great book to learn of the history and start of Alaska. Was especially interested in Seward which is where we spent most of our time.
February 22, 2016
Good book. Some repetition from the first volume but still interesting. Lots of pictures.
July 18, 2014
I wish I had books like these when I was growing up. History would have seemed a lot more interesting!
March 8, 2017
Excellent book full of facts about the beginning of Alaska and the men and women who helped shaped it. Great pictures and we'll told stories.
March 23, 2023
While the history is solid, I’m honestly disappointed in this. There was so much potential to make history truly come alive and be a riveting book to teach kids Alaskan history. But it was not at all engaging. I will continue to read this for my own personal knowledge and continued learning, but I don’t see how many kids would find this interesting. In fact, I had to find ways to keep myself engaged with it as an adult. I think as a teacher base to teach kids it’s super solid. But as an actual book to go through with kids, not so much.
Maybe I have high expectations that everyone can present history similar to the Story of the World books…but sadly, it seems that Story of the World is a caliber all of its own. This was nothing like that.
Content - 5 stars. Engaging presentation - 2 stars. Overall, 3 stars.
Maybe I have high expectations that everyone can present history similar to the Story of the World books…but sadly, it seems that Story of the World is a caliber all of its own. This was nothing like that.
Content - 5 stars. Engaging presentation - 2 stars. Overall, 3 stars.
January 27, 2018
Who would think, with a title like this, that a book could be one of the very best histories of Alaska? I certainly didn't.
But, once I got into it, and started to follow the story line and activities, I found one of the very best and most comprehensively researched tomes about early Alaska that I've ever imagined.
Laurel Downing Bill has taken research to a new height - or is it depth - and put together stories, facts, figures and pictures in a way that most history books only wish they could. This is truly both a work of deep study, but of love.
I'm on to Volume Two now - she's got me hooked.
But, once I got into it, and started to follow the story line and activities, I found one of the very best and most comprehensively researched tomes about early Alaska that I've ever imagined.
Laurel Downing Bill has taken research to a new height - or is it depth - and put together stories, facts, figures and pictures in a way that most history books only wish they could. This is truly both a work of deep study, but of love.
I'm on to Volume Two now - she's got me hooked.
July 3, 2014
I have always been fascinated by how people would drop everything, and go to faraway places to look for gold in horrendous conditions. So when I was contacted by Laurel Downing Bill to participate in a virtual blog tour for her books about the history of Alaska, I jumped at the chance of learning more about the Gold Rush.
Laurel Downing Bill is a third generation Alaskan who was born in Fairbanks in 1951. She spent her childhood in Juneau, and then traveled to Africa, Asia and Europe with her parents as her father worked for a company that built roads and bridges around the world. All this traveling opened the author’s eyes to other cultures and to world history. At the age of 19, Laurel Downing Bill came back to Alaska, married and had 2 children. In 1993, the author inherited her aunt Phyllis Downing Carlson’s research and books on Alaska. Her aunt was a respected historian and librarian in Anchorage. Laurel Downing Bill didn’t want all this research to go to waste, so she decided to write about the history of Alaska, but she thought she lacked the necessary knowledge to write properly. So she went back to school in her late forties to study journalism with a minor in history.
Laurel Downing Bill started by writing about history in 2002 in a weekly column in the newspaper The Anchorage Chronicle. The author saw that people were interested in the history of Alaska, so she decided to write a book. She used her aunt’s research but there were holes in the story. For example, her aunt didn’t talk about Juneau, the capital of Alaska. So the author did her own research to fill these gaps. Another challenge was to try to make history compelling. Unfortunately, history books are usually very dry and boring, and the author wanted to avoid this. Laurel Downing Bill also wanted to write in the same tone as her aunt Phil. The result are short stories in a narrative style storytelling. In fact, the books have a conversational tone, and cliffhangers at the end of chapters keep the reader wanting to know what comes next. Each book includes more than 300 photos which is quite a feat since the author had to find the right pictures to go with the text, and buy the rights in order to be able to use them. Each photo cost from $5 to $250, and she had to hire a photographer to clean them up because some of them were damaged or too dark.
Aunt Phil’s Trunk Vol. 1 and 2 are impressive and absorbing books. The first volume starts when the first Natives settled in Alaska thousands of years ago, and ends during the Klondike Gold Rush. The second volume covers the period from 1900 to 1912. These 2 books alone taught me many things about Alaska. For example, I didn’t know that the state was Russian before becoming American. I also loved the anecdotes about outlaws such as Soapy Smith or Wyatt Earp. In addition, the photos were great additions to the books as they make history come alive. I wish I had books like these when I was growing up. History would have seemed a lot more interesting!
If you like the first 2 volumes, there is a volume 3 (from 1912 to 1935), a volume 4 (from 1935 to 1960), and the author is currently working on volume 5, the last in the series, that will cover Alaska’s history from 1960 to 2000.
To read the full review and participate in the giveaway, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).
Laurel Downing Bill is a third generation Alaskan who was born in Fairbanks in 1951. She spent her childhood in Juneau, and then traveled to Africa, Asia and Europe with her parents as her father worked for a company that built roads and bridges around the world. All this traveling opened the author’s eyes to other cultures and to world history. At the age of 19, Laurel Downing Bill came back to Alaska, married and had 2 children. In 1993, the author inherited her aunt Phyllis Downing Carlson’s research and books on Alaska. Her aunt was a respected historian and librarian in Anchorage. Laurel Downing Bill didn’t want all this research to go to waste, so she decided to write about the history of Alaska, but she thought she lacked the necessary knowledge to write properly. So she went back to school in her late forties to study journalism with a minor in history.
Laurel Downing Bill started by writing about history in 2002 in a weekly column in the newspaper The Anchorage Chronicle. The author saw that people were interested in the history of Alaska, so she decided to write a book. She used her aunt’s research but there were holes in the story. For example, her aunt didn’t talk about Juneau, the capital of Alaska. So the author did her own research to fill these gaps. Another challenge was to try to make history compelling. Unfortunately, history books are usually very dry and boring, and the author wanted to avoid this. Laurel Downing Bill also wanted to write in the same tone as her aunt Phil. The result are short stories in a narrative style storytelling. In fact, the books have a conversational tone, and cliffhangers at the end of chapters keep the reader wanting to know what comes next. Each book includes more than 300 photos which is quite a feat since the author had to find the right pictures to go with the text, and buy the rights in order to be able to use them. Each photo cost from $5 to $250, and she had to hire a photographer to clean them up because some of them were damaged or too dark.
Aunt Phil’s Trunk Vol. 1 and 2 are impressive and absorbing books. The first volume starts when the first Natives settled in Alaska thousands of years ago, and ends during the Klondike Gold Rush. The second volume covers the period from 1900 to 1912. These 2 books alone taught me many things about Alaska. For example, I didn’t know that the state was Russian before becoming American. I also loved the anecdotes about outlaws such as Soapy Smith or Wyatt Earp. In addition, the photos were great additions to the books as they make history come alive. I wish I had books like these when I was growing up. History would have seemed a lot more interesting!
If you like the first 2 volumes, there is a volume 3 (from 1912 to 1935), a volume 4 (from 1935 to 1960), and the author is currently working on volume 5, the last in the series, that will cover Alaska’s history from 1960 to 2000.
To read the full review and participate in the giveaway, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).
July 3, 2014
I have always been fascinated by how people would drop everything, and go to faraway places to look for gold in horrendous conditions. So when I was contacted by Laurel Downing Bill to participate in a virtual blog tour for her books about the history of Alaska, I jumped at the chance of learning more about the Gold Rush.
Laurel Downing Bill is a third generation Alaskan who was born in Fairbanks in 1951. She spent her childhood in Juneau, and then traveled to Africa, Asia and Europe with her parents as her father worked for a company that built roads and bridges around the world. All this traveling opened the author’s eyes to other cultures and to world history. At the age of 19, Laurel Downing Bill came back to Alaska, married and had 2 children. In 1993, the author inherited her aunt Phyllis Downing Carlson’s research and books on Alaska. Her aunt was a respected historian and librarian in Anchorage. Laurel Downing Bill didn’t want all this research to go to waste, so she decided to write about the history of Alaska, but she thought she lacked the necessary knowledge to write properly. So she went back to school in her late forties to study journalism with a minor in history.
Laurel Downing Bill started by writing about history in 2002 in a weekly column in the newspaper The Anchorage Chronicle. The author saw that people were interested in the history of Alaska, so she decided to write a book. She used her aunt’s research but there were holes in the story. For example, her aunt didn’t talk about Juneau, the capital of Alaska. So the author did her own research to fill these gaps. Another challenge was to try to make history compelling. Unfortunately, history books are usually very dry and boring, and the author wanted to avoid this. Laurel Downing Bill also wanted to write in the same tone as her aunt Phil. The result are short stories in a narrative style storytelling. In fact, the books have a conversational tone, and cliffhangers at the end of chapters keep the reader wanting to know what comes next. Each book includes more than 300 photos which is quite a feat since the author had to find the right pictures to go with the text, and buy the rights in order to be able to use them. Each photo cost from $5 to $250, and she had to hire a photographer to clean them up because some of them were damaged or too dark.
Aunt Phil’s Trunk Vol. 1 and 2 are impressive and absorbing books. The first volume starts when the first Natives settled in Alaska thousands of years ago, and ends during the Klondike Gold Rush. The second volume covers the period from 1900 to 1912. These 2 books alone taught me many things about Alaska. For example, I didn’t know that the state was Russian before becoming American. I also loved the anecdotes about outlaws such as Soapy Smith or Wyatt Earp. In addition, the photos were great additions to the books as they make history come alive. I wish I had books like these when I was growing up. History would have seemed a lot more interesting!
If you like the first 2 volumes, there is a volume 3 (from 1912 to 1935), a volume 4 (from 1935 to 1960), and the author is currently working on volume 5, the last in the series, that will cover Alaska’s history from 1960 to 2000.
To read the full review and participate in the giveaway, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).
Laurel Downing Bill is a third generation Alaskan who was born in Fairbanks in 1951. She spent her childhood in Juneau, and then traveled to Africa, Asia and Europe with her parents as her father worked for a company that built roads and bridges around the world. All this traveling opened the author’s eyes to other cultures and to world history. At the age of 19, Laurel Downing Bill came back to Alaska, married and had 2 children. In 1993, the author inherited her aunt Phyllis Downing Carlson’s research and books on Alaska. Her aunt was a respected historian and librarian in Anchorage. Laurel Downing Bill didn’t want all this research to go to waste, so she decided to write about the history of Alaska, but she thought she lacked the necessary knowledge to write properly. So she went back to school in her late forties to study journalism with a minor in history.
Laurel Downing Bill started by writing about history in 2002 in a weekly column in the newspaper The Anchorage Chronicle. The author saw that people were interested in the history of Alaska, so she decided to write a book. She used her aunt’s research but there were holes in the story. For example, her aunt didn’t talk about Juneau, the capital of Alaska. So the author did her own research to fill these gaps. Another challenge was to try to make history compelling. Unfortunately, history books are usually very dry and boring, and the author wanted to avoid this. Laurel Downing Bill also wanted to write in the same tone as her aunt Phil. The result are short stories in a narrative style storytelling. In fact, the books have a conversational tone, and cliffhangers at the end of chapters keep the reader wanting to know what comes next. Each book includes more than 300 photos which is quite a feat since the author had to find the right pictures to go with the text, and buy the rights in order to be able to use them. Each photo cost from $5 to $250, and she had to hire a photographer to clean them up because some of them were damaged or too dark.
Aunt Phil’s Trunk Vol. 1 and 2 are impressive and absorbing books. The first volume starts when the first Natives settled in Alaska thousands of years ago, and ends during the Klondike Gold Rush. The second volume covers the period from 1900 to 1912. These 2 books alone taught me many things about Alaska. For example, I didn’t know that the state was Russian before becoming American. I also loved the anecdotes about outlaws such as Soapy Smith or Wyatt Earp. In addition, the photos were great additions to the books as they make history come alive. I wish I had books like these when I was growing up. History would have seemed a lot more interesting!
If you like the first 2 volumes, there is a volume 3 (from 1912 to 1935), a volume 4 (from 1935 to 1960), and the author is currently working on volume 5, the last in the series, that will cover Alaska’s history from 1960 to 2000.
To read the full review and participate in the giveaway, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).
April 7, 2014
Laurel Downing Bill's second volume of the fascinating history of Alaska, based on the research and photographs collected over many years by her aunt, Phyllis Downing Carlson, is even more exciting and gripping than the first book, and that's saying a lot! Whether on the grandest or most intimate of scales, these stories, lavishly illustrated with wonderfully preserved vintage photographs, touch the heart and push the imagination nearly to its limit. And yet these stories are true, and they are all the more awe-inspiring for it.
From the prospectors who endured soul-and-body-crushing hardships on the vast Alaska goldfields of the late 19th century, to the explorers of the 20th, who pitted themselves against the overwhelming challenges of the landscape simply for the sake of challenge, all had one thing in common: the determination to prevail against near impossible odds for the chance of fame, fortune, or glory.
One of the things that most astounded me in these accounts was the enormous independence and diversity of people who were drawn to Alaska during these years – not just the miners and adventurers and explorers and townspeople, but writers and artists as well. The vivid words of Jack London and Robert Service ("The Shooting of Dan McGrew"), the vibrant life in Eustace Paul Ziegler's paintings – these brought the vast, rough, rugged – but also human – scope of Alaska to the rest of America, and eventually, to the world.
I was also amazed at how common it was for the hardy souls who made their way to Alaska to have traveled, and to continue to travel, vast distances. They crossed not only Alaska's seemingly endless mountain wildernesses, but the length and breadth of the entire continent as well.
They came by boat, on foot, by dogsled, on mules or horses, by any means they could. They left, returned, moved on, and came back in mind-boggling treks. Wyatt Earp came with his wife from Tombstone, near the Mexican border, to Nome, then moved on to Los Angeles. Poet Robert Service traveled from Scotland to Nova Scotia to British Columbia to the Klondike, throwing in side treks up and down the Pacific Coast from Mexico to Alaska along the way – and all before he was in his mid-thirties. And this was but child's play to those who sought to conquer the glacier-packed, oxygen-starved heights of Mt. St. Elias and Mt. McKinley (Denali).
This is just an amazing series, and author Laurel Downing Bill has related an incredible account in clear, forthright, logical style. She clarifies a chaotic history in a way that grips the imagination and draws the reader in. For all their awe-inspiring backdrops, these fascinating stories speak to us on a deeply human level. Highly recommended!
From the prospectors who endured soul-and-body-crushing hardships on the vast Alaska goldfields of the late 19th century, to the explorers of the 20th, who pitted themselves against the overwhelming challenges of the landscape simply for the sake of challenge, all had one thing in common: the determination to prevail against near impossible odds for the chance of fame, fortune, or glory.
One of the things that most astounded me in these accounts was the enormous independence and diversity of people who were drawn to Alaska during these years – not just the miners and adventurers and explorers and townspeople, but writers and artists as well. The vivid words of Jack London and Robert Service ("The Shooting of Dan McGrew"), the vibrant life in Eustace Paul Ziegler's paintings – these brought the vast, rough, rugged – but also human – scope of Alaska to the rest of America, and eventually, to the world.
I was also amazed at how common it was for the hardy souls who made their way to Alaska to have traveled, and to continue to travel, vast distances. They crossed not only Alaska's seemingly endless mountain wildernesses, but the length and breadth of the entire continent as well.
They came by boat, on foot, by dogsled, on mules or horses, by any means they could. They left, returned, moved on, and came back in mind-boggling treks. Wyatt Earp came with his wife from Tombstone, near the Mexican border, to Nome, then moved on to Los Angeles. Poet Robert Service traveled from Scotland to Nova Scotia to British Columbia to the Klondike, throwing in side treks up and down the Pacific Coast from Mexico to Alaska along the way – and all before he was in his mid-thirties. And this was but child's play to those who sought to conquer the glacier-packed, oxygen-starved heights of Mt. St. Elias and Mt. McKinley (Denali).
This is just an amazing series, and author Laurel Downing Bill has related an incredible account in clear, forthright, logical style. She clarifies a chaotic history in a way that grips the imagination and draws the reader in. For all their awe-inspiring backdrops, these fascinating stories speak to us on a deeply human level. Highly recommended!
April 7, 2014
Laurel Downing Bill's second volume of the fascinating history of Alaska, based on the research and photographs collected over many years by her aunt, Phyllis Downing Carlson, is even more exciting and gripping than the first book, and that's saying a lot! Whether on the grandest or most intimate of scales, these stories, lavishly illustrated with wonderfully preserved vintage photographs, touch the heart and push the imagination nearly to its limit. And yet these stories are true, and they are all the more awe-inspiring for it.
From the prospectors who endured soul-and-body-crushing hardships on the vast Alaska goldfields of the late 19th century, to the explorers of the 20th, who pitted themselves against the overwhelming challenges of the landscape simply for the sake of challenge, all had one thing in common: the determination to prevail against near impossible odds for the chance of fame, fortune, or glory.
One of the things that most astounded me in these accounts was the enormous independence and diversity of people who were drawn to Alaska during these years – not just the miners and adventurers and explorers and townspeople, but writers and artists as well. The vivid words of Jack London and Robert Service ("The Shooting of Dan McGrew"), the vibrant life in Eustace Paul Ziegler's paintings – these brought the vast, rough, rugged – but also human – scope of Alaska to the rest of America, and eventually, to the world.
I was also amazed at how common it was for the hardy souls who made their way to Alaska to have traveled, and to continue to travel, vast distances. They crossed not only Alaska's seemingly endless mountain wildernesses, but the length and breadth of the entire continent as well.
They came by boat, on foot, by dogsled, on mules or horses, by any means they could. They left, returned, moved on, and came back in mind-boggling treks. Wyatt Earp came with his wife from Tombstone, near the Mexican border, to Nome, then moved on to Los Angeles. Poet Robert Service traveled from Scotland to Nova Scotia to British Columbia to the Klondike, throwing in side treks up and down the Pacific Coast from Mexico to Alaska along the way. And this was but child's play to those who sought to conquer the glacier-packed, oxygen-starved summits of Mt. St. Elias or Mt.McKinley (Denali).
A fascinating history, beautifully and clearly recounted. Highly recommended!
From the prospectors who endured soul-and-body-crushing hardships on the vast Alaska goldfields of the late 19th century, to the explorers of the 20th, who pitted themselves against the overwhelming challenges of the landscape simply for the sake of challenge, all had one thing in common: the determination to prevail against near impossible odds for the chance of fame, fortune, or glory.
One of the things that most astounded me in these accounts was the enormous independence and diversity of people who were drawn to Alaska during these years – not just the miners and adventurers and explorers and townspeople, but writers and artists as well. The vivid words of Jack London and Robert Service ("The Shooting of Dan McGrew"), the vibrant life in Eustace Paul Ziegler's paintings – these brought the vast, rough, rugged – but also human – scope of Alaska to the rest of America, and eventually, to the world.
I was also amazed at how common it was for the hardy souls who made their way to Alaska to have traveled, and to continue to travel, vast distances. They crossed not only Alaska's seemingly endless mountain wildernesses, but the length and breadth of the entire continent as well.
They came by boat, on foot, by dogsled, on mules or horses, by any means they could. They left, returned, moved on, and came back in mind-boggling treks. Wyatt Earp came with his wife from Tombstone, near the Mexican border, to Nome, then moved on to Los Angeles. Poet Robert Service traveled from Scotland to Nova Scotia to British Columbia to the Klondike, throwing in side treks up and down the Pacific Coast from Mexico to Alaska along the way. And this was but child's play to those who sought to conquer the glacier-packed, oxygen-starved summits of Mt. St. Elias or Mt.McKinley (Denali).
A fascinating history, beautifully and clearly recounted. Highly recommended!
July 6, 2014
Volume Two portrays the history of Alaska for a much shorter period, the end of the nineteenth century through the year 1912. Nevertheless, it packs quite a punch with more than 350 photographs and a saga of interesting characters and developments.
The Klondike Gold Rush brought the ongoing boundary dispute with Canada to a head. Stampeders from Canada walked freely across the border in an attempt to make their fortunes. Crime and robberies became rampart. Miners sometimes took justice into their own hands. One criminal was named “The Blue Parker Bandit.” A small group sailed from Seattle to steal one of the native totem poles for its city. Reportedly, Wyatt Earp and John Clum fled from Arizona to Alaska after the demise of Tombstone.
But as more settlers flooded the area and stayed, order needed to be restored. Leroy Napoleon McQuesten set up supply stations in the wilderness. Clum often traveled by mule and set up Post Offices. Frank Canton set up a court and became the first law officer. As towns sprung up and the area became more stable, the people demanded entertainment and culture. The Black Prince Boxer was listed as a popular attraction. The Monte Carlo Theater came to the town of Dawson. Poet Robert Service wrote his poem “The Call of the Wild.” Estace Ziegler painted scenes of Alaska’s rugged landscapes. The Iditarod trail was blazed;soon railroads and schools followed. Prosperity reigned until suddenly the Katmai Crater Volcano eruption created such a wasteland in 1912 that President Woodrow Wilson called it the largest national monument in the United States. As with volume one, these people and events are richly documented with photographs and drawings. Lots of changes were on the horizon which will be explored in volume three.
These books are highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Alaskan history, geography, and culture. Children age nine and above should be able to handle reading the text independently. All the volumes are a wonderful addition to the bookshelves of teachers, librarians, historians and the the general reader. Well-written comprehensive portrait of America’s forty-ninth state,
The Klondike Gold Rush brought the ongoing boundary dispute with Canada to a head. Stampeders from Canada walked freely across the border in an attempt to make their fortunes. Crime and robberies became rampart. Miners sometimes took justice into their own hands. One criminal was named “The Blue Parker Bandit.” A small group sailed from Seattle to steal one of the native totem poles for its city. Reportedly, Wyatt Earp and John Clum fled from Arizona to Alaska after the demise of Tombstone.
But as more settlers flooded the area and stayed, order needed to be restored. Leroy Napoleon McQuesten set up supply stations in the wilderness. Clum often traveled by mule and set up Post Offices. Frank Canton set up a court and became the first law officer. As towns sprung up and the area became more stable, the people demanded entertainment and culture. The Black Prince Boxer was listed as a popular attraction. The Monte Carlo Theater came to the town of Dawson. Poet Robert Service wrote his poem “The Call of the Wild.” Estace Ziegler painted scenes of Alaska’s rugged landscapes. The Iditarod trail was blazed;soon railroads and schools followed. Prosperity reigned until suddenly the Katmai Crater Volcano eruption created such a wasteland in 1912 that President Woodrow Wilson called it the largest national monument in the United States. As with volume one, these people and events are richly documented with photographs and drawings. Lots of changes were on the horizon which will be explored in volume three.
These books are highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Alaskan history, geography, and culture. Children age nine and above should be able to handle reading the text independently. All the volumes are a wonderful addition to the bookshelves of teachers, librarians, historians and the the general reader. Well-written comprehensive portrait of America’s forty-ninth state,
February 15, 2017
A fascinating look at Alaskan history-- geology, Native life, the Russians, preachers, and gold prospectors, to name a few aspects. It includes many interesting photographs, and interesting stories about individuals. If you're interested in Alaskan history, you'll like it. Families considering this book for educational purposes should be aware that it does contain some discussion of the seamier aspects of frontier life, although in a decent way.
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through StoryCartel in exchange for this review.
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through StoryCartel in exchange for this review.
January 28, 2016
This is the second book in the Alaska documentary series, the development of the vast land of Alaska continues; with all the different gold rush time periods from the early 1800’s until the early 1900’s carefully documented, and the landscape of Alaska that had evolved tremendously. In the beginning of the book we had the feud concerning the border between Alaska and Canada, which made for some interesting reading. At the end Canada won and the border was laid down as they wanted it.
A lot of information was given in the first book, but in this book a lot of missing detail is presented so the first book becomes more real as we meet the different people that had a lasting influence in the early years of development in Alaska. We see how a new country developed, and how the things that happened draw the good and the bad. All of a sudden authorities had to be appointed, and we see how law enforcement, police judges and the postman were added to the mixture.
We learn more about the people that used their positions, to steal the claims from the uninformed prospectors, with legal paperwork. Alaska became a country that was a haven for the outlaws running from America, but they were caught and brought to justice, in most occasions, immediately.
This volume has more detail, which fills the blank spots, and answers questions you maybe had when reading the first book.
Very well written and researched, I found this book highly informative. A resource for the history junky, filled with facts and photos that gives you a clear picture of Alaska’s history.
This is also a tribute to Phyllis Downing Carlson’s lifelong work by Laurel Bill. Showing her dedication to her cause, and to enrich us with the rich history of this fascinating country. Really a great book to be enjoyed.
A lot of information was given in the first book, but in this book a lot of missing detail is presented so the first book becomes more real as we meet the different people that had a lasting influence in the early years of development in Alaska. We see how a new country developed, and how the things that happened draw the good and the bad. All of a sudden authorities had to be appointed, and we see how law enforcement, police judges and the postman were added to the mixture.
We learn more about the people that used their positions, to steal the claims from the uninformed prospectors, with legal paperwork. Alaska became a country that was a haven for the outlaws running from America, but they were caught and brought to justice, in most occasions, immediately.
This volume has more detail, which fills the blank spots, and answers questions you maybe had when reading the first book.
Very well written and researched, I found this book highly informative. A resource for the history junky, filled with facts and photos that gives you a clear picture of Alaska’s history.
This is also a tribute to Phyllis Downing Carlson’s lifelong work by Laurel Bill. Showing her dedication to her cause, and to enrich us with the rich history of this fascinating country. Really a great book to be enjoyed.
April 23, 2014
I have never enjoyed reading history so much! This first volume had so many stories in it that I have never even heard of that I had such a great time reading. I even reread a few of them to my young daughters. Anyone who enjoys learning about our history, about the past, or just other cultures will LOVE this series! This first volume draws you in with the mysterious missing Eskimo people, makes you think of the Aztec right?, and continues to tell tales of the spiritualism that was just fantastic. I have to say the story of Sha-E-Dah Kla is my favorite, be sure to check it out. Spiritualistic and Shamanistic healing stories were just amazing, and just not something you read about unless it is a paranormal fiction. So to read about them as first hand experiences that happened to real people was enthralling for me. The stories continue and draw you into the Alaskan history telling of the wars and goldrush. Things you had never read before or never heard so much about, and as if the stories weren't enough she has these amazing pictures to bring out what she is telling you. I believe even if you aren't a history buff you would be able to enjoy this book. It reads more like a story book rather than a history book or school book. It is engaging and so full of information, it just isn't work to read. I can't wait to find out what is in volume 2!
February 14, 2017
Great EBook, just switch the beginning pages per MLA standards. Super great reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2016
The late Phyllis Downing Carlson was a pioneer in collecting and recording facts pertaining to Alaska's rich and diverse history. When Laurel Downing Bill inherited her aunt Phyllis' trunk full of documents and other treasures recounting Alaska's history, she was inspired to share this incredible collection of information. Thus began a literary labor of love which spans generations. The Aunt Phil's Trunk series of books contains five complete volumes. Each book covers a particular time-span, with the series wrapping up in the year 1984.
Laurel Downing Bill brings Alaska's history to life in this fascinating compilation. People with an interest in Alaska's history will thrill at the unique and extensive array of information offered within this series. Photographs, newspaper clippings and other images help complete this series which is highly recommended for home and school libraries.
Laurel Downing Bill brings Alaska's history to life in this fascinating compilation. People with an interest in Alaska's history will thrill at the unique and extensive array of information offered within this series. Photographs, newspaper clippings and other images help complete this series which is highly recommended for home and school libraries.
June 20, 2016
The late Phyllis Downing Carlson was a pioneer in collecting and recording facts pertaining to Alaska's rich and diverse history. When Laurel Downing Bill inherited her aunt Phyllis' trunk full of documents and other treasures recounting Alaska's history, she was inspired to share this incredible collection of information. Thus began a literary labor of love which spans generations. The Aunt Phil's Trunk series of books contains five complete volumes. Each book covers a particular time-span, with the series wrapping up in the year 1984.
Laurel Downing Bill brings Alaska's history to life in this fascinating compilation. People with an interest in Alaska's history will thrill at the unique and extensive array of information offered within this series. Photographs, newspaper clippings and other images help complete this series which is highly recommended for home and school libraries.
Laurel Downing Bill brings Alaska's history to life in this fascinating compilation. People with an interest in Alaska's history will thrill at the unique and extensive array of information offered within this series. Photographs, newspaper clippings and other images help complete this series which is highly recommended for home and school libraries.
July 8, 2014
As this talented author digs yet again into Aunt Phil’s Trunk, we discover, in this volume, the continuing history of Alaska, in a far shorter period from the end of the nineteenth century to 1912.
True grit, and determination are the words which come to after having read this book. Its short stories tell of the true frontier spirit of these brave souls who came to Alaska from all over to try their fortune in the glorious gold-rush days. From the prospectors, to the vaudeville actors who came to entertain them, from the criminals and the lawmen to a volcanic eruption, the reader cannot fail to be entertained.
Through this very talented author, the true adventures in this harsh landscape is brought vividly to life, not only by the wonderful collection of stories but also by the incredible collection of hundreds of photographs which help to make this book so amazing.
True grit, and determination are the words which come to after having read this book. Its short stories tell of the true frontier spirit of these brave souls who came to Alaska from all over to try their fortune in the glorious gold-rush days. From the prospectors, to the vaudeville actors who came to entertain them, from the criminals and the lawmen to a volcanic eruption, the reader cannot fail to be entertained.
Through this very talented author, the true adventures in this harsh landscape is brought vividly to life, not only by the wonderful collection of stories but also by the incredible collection of hundreds of photographs which help to make this book so amazing.
March 12, 2014
I'm very impressed with this authors work. I read the first book in this series and the second only gets better. I gave this five stars because its very well written and Laurel Downing Bill brings this book to life, giving me a more personal and informative adventure about Alaskan history. I highly recommend you read this series. Thanks Laurel for writing this series. I'm very happy.
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