[applause] professor jones: thank you very much. as you can see, i have images here and i will use them as we go and i will refer often to the images. i am keenly aware there are a lot of people in the crowd will know more about the history of anchorage and the last than i do. and people ask me what i write about. i do not only write about alaska but i tell them i write about alaska but i do not really write about alaska. here is what i mean. my answer is really this whole area and there is still a question of seems to be resolved for a while but back on the table now. which power or powers are going to be dominant in the pacific?

we are hearing a lot about china these days in east asia. that is what interested me. when i think of alaska and the early 20th century, i am thinking of hawaii, along, the philippines, the panama canal san francisco. and of course the british empire in british columbia and the british have other territories. and of course japan is a rising power. i am interested in how that plays out. the different empires and the relationship between them and i a working on a book right now that focuses on the american empire and the british empire in the far pacific northwest. i will be in the yukon some researching that. my interest is on -- is in -- my interest is in how broad things play out in particular places. not so much how big themes play

out. the same thing applies to the book on anchorage. i will move quickly through what we have here. i hope not too quickly. i hope not too quickly. most of us know that ingrid starts out as a railroad town. we do not need to say much about that. the government wants to build a railroad and many of us know there was some discussion about the name area i do not think there is much of a chance the place would be called anything but anchorage. there was discussion. some refer to it as the anchorage. but obviously, anchorage was what it was called at the beginning and the name stuck. and we look at this photo and we look at that photo. it is a dramatic change. close to the beginning, closer to where we are now, close to

the beginning, close to where we are now. it strikes me that although 100 years was a long time ago, as there are probably a few people living in anchorage today was there when the city was founded. if you think about that, although 100 years was a long time ago, there are some people who live longer. there are a few people probably alive longer than the city itself. when you think about it that way, it is really a dramatic change in what -- and given the broader scope of human history is not a long time. what i want to do is talk about the significance of anchorage in relation to things personal, things regional, national, and international. let's start with the personal significance of this place in 1915.

many of us know that anchorage began as a government operation. the government wants to build a railroad. other than the railroad and the panama canal, the first time the government got into the railroad business and that was a little controversial at the time. as i think about early anchorage, i think about all public-private venture where the government helped set, put the infrastructure into place. individuals do not get involved, it will not work. a personal interest involved. i have a quote "anchorage will evolve into one of the most important commercial centers." that was said in june of 1915. a statement of hope and aspiration. we are not looking at one of this at that time. some of these photos and some of these names will be familiar.

these are some of the folks who come up. they take risks. they see anchorage as a place to invest time, invest energy, take a risk. to pursue their own interests. as was the case today, some businesses make it and some do not. but over time, businesses take hold of the community is formed. we have the fellow who set up his clothing shop. if you buy your new clothing there and take it to the finest lawful restaurant and get syrup on it, you can take it to the laundry shop. and then while you are waiting you can get something at a restaurant. one of the immigrants who comes to anchorage and if that food makes you sick, you can go to the pharmacy to get tonic. if that makes you sick, you can go see the lawyer.

and so, here is the first mayor here. all of these folks as was the case today are preserving their own lives ever soaring their own interests. they are pursuing their own lives and interest in spending their energy and investment. without thinking about it and nobody directing it, they create a a community. people provide laundry services and restaurant in all of these. we see people pursuing their own interest and in the process creating a community. here is my favorite family i learned a lot of doubt. i found a brand-new photo. -- i learned a lot about. this is george mikami and his wife and daughter. i got to meet alice and she 96 at the time. george set up a taylor business.

like others who came, they wanted to succeed. and the process they contributed and they wanted their children to succeed. as some of us perhaps have heard of mary. one of the people i met in my research that most impresses me. a photo from mary when she was about in the fourth grade. she showed up at the anchorage school not speaking english and great was valedictorian and go to the university and graduated at the top of her class and the university on the east coast. and her son named pete rouse was an advisor to the president. that is quite a trajectory. and i doubt george had that particularly in mind when they came to angry and wanted their children to succeed the way parents wanted their children to. that is an example of how people come to this place and invest. in the process, help to great a

community -- create a community and gives it things tell brag about. mary somebody i think about in that way. of course, up here earlier lusack. anchorage is beginning what is important individuals because it's presented as them with a new opportunities. this is where most people are living. they are not thinking about the american empire but how am i going to spend tomorrow? in the process of doing that they helped to create a community that sticks. let's turn to regional interests. what is the regional interests of this new place? let's focus on resources. and so we have this quote -- a you will notice the quote refers to mining and agriculture. and of course going back to 1867

when secretary of state way distort made his argument that way distort made his argument for the -- wade stewart made his argument, salmonid caught -- william seward, salmon and cod. you get articles like the best. this is an article printed in many papers. we will not look at in detail. i do not know in the top few things are true. it said alaska has more gold than california. i do not know if that is the case for you as there are a number of things listed. ss -- it said 470 times the size of rhode island. i googled it and is set for 25. finish the sentence for me, alaska is a big state, more than twice the size of --

right. the same sort of thing going on. the way we talk about alaska have to do with the bigness in resources. and it looks like congress was on board. a pretty good vote. this will be news if we this agreement and the house of representatives these days. rounded up to 73%. one of the things it means for those of us ending about it, it seems i finally the government is taking alaska seriously. i want to digress briefly. what this might mean to us is that the whole slew were -- seward's folly mess, we can put it behind us. i have concluded that the whole seward's folly is not actually

right. most of us are familiar with the story. i was looking at archival material after the archives of the university. i came across the story. and i also found a recently in this book. and so we know the story. seward wants to buy alaska and met with outburst on newspaper condemn nation -- condemnation and he pushes on. there is very little evidence of this. there are some quotes you can find. if you track it, you can find the quote are repeated over and over again. if you go back to look at the newspapers from the time, you will find the majority opinion is in favor. not the people know very much but as they do know something about alaska. they know the russians have been trading from their colony in

present-day alaska. they know their resources. i will point you to the vote in congress. here is the senate, 95% in favor. in the house, 70% in favor. some controversy and some quotes from congresspeople opposed to it. but are pretty good numbers. to have these sorts of votes in congress today we will say as close as unanimity as you can get. there are some well-known quotes that mocked the idea of person -- purchasing alaska. that is not the actual story. my hypothesis about this is the seward's folly story does not tell us much about the purchase. it tells us how alaska sale. they were quite understandably befuddled a you come across this. we live in a treasure trove up

here and it seems the government is doing nothing. and it just not make sense area you read the sort of thing over and over again. my hypothesis is what happened is folks feel this way and go back and a few quotes that they interpret as a major story. does that make sense? my hypothesis is with the seward 's folly story is alaska reading and the frustration that seemed uninterested in developing alaska's tremendous natural wealth and it gets repeated over and over. you can make this argument in the story will stick because it's a great story. it is like the story more than the real case. back to this. what it means for some folks on the ground not they are necessarily making the connection, i think what the founding of anchorage means for some people is the sense that

finally the government is paying attention. this incredible treasure trove in alaska. these types of quotes from a newspaper in july of 1915 -- that is more true than the writer can ever know. we refer to the resources for you -- we refer to the resources. anchorage is beginning for individuals for place to invest your time and energy and make a better place and create a community. anchorage was important region because it suggested the territory would be developed and admit the end of a perceived national neglect. what about national interest? let's focus on coal and many of us know that anchorage began with call in mind.

-- caol in mind. back to seward. a brief excerpt from a quote. this book which i am reading is about 450 pages and 300 is related one way or another to discussing the resources in alaska and published in 1913. refers to the coal. and although coal is controversial today it is not so controversial at this time. when the economy depended on it, it is true the economy is changing and some things are moving to oil. still coal is vital. a quick example. in a 1902, there was a coal strike. president roosevelt got involved because this was a threat to the economy.

it was also a threat to people's lives. winter is coming and this is how they keep themselves warm. coal at this time in the united states is not a controversial issue. what we want is more of it and want more of it under the american flag. i know coal is not a major export today from alaska both from what i gathered at the university of fairbanks and the airbase of an fairbanks my understanding is they get heat from coal. come january the second tell us about the benefits of this source of energy. this is the point of view at that time, coal is essential to industry personal comfort. this is why, ask yourself a question -- why with the editor of "the dallas morning news" publish a long article about coal in alaska?

why would people in dallas care about coal in alaska? i do not care if they care about coal and alaska. but they care about coal. it is very much related to the economy and related to the comforts of life. a long article in "the dallas morning news" which i cut out about coal. economy andsomething else related to coal and that is the united states is a rising power. although most of britain's coal export, and awkward map but most of the green is going towards europe. some coal being exported to the united states. the united states is a growing power as there is an increasing desire for what we might call energy dependence. the less we have to rely on foreign countries for energy, the less well to rely on the

british empire for energy. then the better off we will be. we want more coal and more coal under the american flag. energy independence. that is something we have heard. we will talk about the background about these cartoons. you get the basic idea. uncle sam standing up to corporate. standing up to the simple for germany -- symbol for germany. a simple for britain. in the united states is a growing power. and wants to be more independent from other countries. this expresses its self one way in cordova some of us might know about it. sort of a brief reenactment of the boston tea party down in cordova. quite understandably people in cordova are wondering why are we

importing coal from british columbia when we have so much in alaska? which is a good question. and something else -- warm relying on coal from the british empire when we can use coal under the american flag? a brief flurry of articles about what these people in cordova do. they do get the government's attention perhaps in a small way it helps to further the conversation in washington d.c. and so this article from june 5 1915 noticed anchorage, the name and place right at the beginning. and how does the article begin? the first editorial piece about anchorage for was the very first sentence related to coal. this is hugely important.

nationally locally, to the people involved, and personally. anchorage is beginning -- anchorage's beginning was a poor nationally because alaska had natural resources that would help make the u.s. wealthier and more self efficient. our people the streets talking about this so much? probably not but people are aware of it is certainly people outside are talking about it, not many. l people in the -- people in the know. international interest. what does this place have to do with the bigger picture? we come to this map. this is sort of what i carry around in my head when i read about alaska. i read about alaska but also about the philippines and hawaii recently about the panama canal. what is the connection?

so, we go back to seward and he noted at the beginning another thing alaska brings to the table so to say. it is trade with east asia. which has been the prize from the 1500s, right? and still this pretrade with these asia is still a big question. seward said we have to do to trade with china and with this rising power japan. a new power in 18 to seven but clear from the beginning -- 1867 but clear from the beginning that japan. seward mentioned this and he is mentioned trading fur with china. it is part of the world as he sees it. as folks think about the united states and this empire that the united is acquired starting in

1867 with the purchase of alaska but really accelerating in 1898. people see the big picture and here's a brief quote where this fellow is talking about the possession under the american flag and refers to alaska and puerto rico and the philippines. this is a vision that folks had. alaska fits into this broadvision. you get to the source of images just a few years before anchorage is founded. alaska in the middle. and alaska is acting as the intermediary between the united states and east asia. if you look at the map, it is obvious cents. we have alaska serving as a sort of platform that connects the united states with much of the rest of the world. in 1909, this is just -- not

completely, your trade going on, what the stuff of hope. the stuff of faith and aspiration. we get to the picture. i pulled this from a newspaper. you see dutch harbor, linked to trade in japan, hawaii, san francisco and also the panama canal and samoa in the philippines. a complicated picture. a quote from a congressman, he said -- alaska is defended by hawaii. i would add and the congressman would know that hawaii is defended by the navy and the navy needs coal and there is coal and alaska. let's bring a railroad and headquarters will be in anchorage. that is why i call the book -- lingering -- linking anchorage to this bid empire. not just about coal.

it is about the economy and quality of life, it is about the navy. the navy is about commerce and the projection of american power and defense of american interests. anchorage, the founding of anchorage does have that big significance there. and so we will not talk about the background of these cartoons but you have plan earth looking on as president mckinley makes a decision about the philippines. and japan and britain and i think france wondering what uncle sam is going to do in relation to hawaii. i do not think many people in the world, the white world are paying attention to what is happening in anchorage. they are paying attention to the pacific. they can see a few empires, the french, the british. and to others on the rise -- japan and the united states.

and some will know that this development in anchorage, and alaska is related. the only occasion i found where a newspaper in 1915 here in anchorage refers to another editor of coming to anchorage to look around and refers to a japanese newspaper. on the one hand, it may not be a big deal. on the other, worth noticing the editor thought it was worth reporting. an editor from a japanese newspaper here looking around. it could be interest, i do not know if there's a back story. clearly, the world can see the u.s. is a power on the rise. japan is a power on the rise in the pacific. and we know where that goes as the powers eventually end up clashing. and so, coal and we are thinking

primarily of using that coal for the navy. the navy was so say with commerce -- we associate with commerce and defense and imperial rivalry on the pacific. we have a congressman here who said -- there is that broader. one of the lofty sort of quotes you get in the early 20th century writing -- this is 1917. the stuff of hope. folks are investing their time and energy to make this work. and it does not always work. there are a lot of times -- towns that come and go.

and folks in other towns that hold anchorage will go and they see it as a rival. but anchorage obviously sticks. and the two arms are filled with the abundance of the world's commerce and industry. the cause and importance of this in place. anchorage is beginning -- anchorage's beginning was important. here is a quote i like -- once again, an aspirational statement but an element of realism where it says "in time." and so as we know, as many of us

know, there was some significant disappointments. anchorage was born at most of the world was at war and our war begins in 1914 and the united states will get into the war in april of 1917. young men leave anchorage and alaska in big numbers. or they leave alaska to go to join the military and some women will leave as well to work at the red cross. and also i sign article about a young woman who joined the navy. folks will leave to serve in the military and leave to work in industry outside. many of the ships involved in the alaska trade are divergent to the war effort. so the depression that began in the united states in 1929, i think it is safe to say begins and alaska around 1918. alaska deals with a couple of decades of economic depression. and a sense that i have, perhaps

some of you have a different sense, when done depression his nationally, it does not make a huge difference because much of alaska is already in a state of economic depression. a significant disappointment. it turns out the coal is not actually, coal in this region is not useful for the navy. some folks were saying this and had been saying it for years. it became clear. these were disappointments. things are put on hold for a while. the external joke in cities -- jolt and cities game significant importance. the same is true of anchorage and the same of other well-known at pearl harbor in december and folks outside do not know so much above folks in anchorage read it from the sky.

it is occupied. we know anchorage becomes very important. here come the soldiers and the -- the army air corps. slowly but surely, the city grows, pretty dramatic growth. and so anchorage should in time become a great industrial city. it it does take some time. there is that pause about 20 years. it works out. and so let's review as we begin to wind down. at the beginning, the place was important for personal reasons. people want to get on with our lives and succeed and provide for their children. we gave some examples. and as was the case at the beginning, you can look at the court records and there were problems from the beginning. wherever you have more than one human being, there will be some type of conflict and problems.

we are conflicted within ourselves as individuals. anchorage was never a paradise. i do not know if that is possible on this planet. the same is true today. there are problems and challenges and difficulties. it seems to me that most people are doing pretty much the same thing. carrying on with their lives and pursue their interest. we have 2 marathons here in anchorage. people are running marathons and pursuing their interest as tourist weather in the office buildings pursuing their interest in politics. they are pursuing their interests and careers and so on. and there is the cafe where i spent a lot of time. and so the regional interests. i do not think folks at the beginning could have known how true that would be. they looked for ingrid as an

important regional place but they could not know that angry would be central crucial -- anchorage would be central crucial to the economy of alaska. there is national interests. the interest in coal and natural resources are there. some coal is still exported. but i listed some things and i do not know. and grinch airport is the second busiest cargo. that's significant contribution. although oil production has declined, everybody would say what alaska produces is still important to the country. you can see the figure up here with the food and beverage industry brings to the u.s. economy. alaska is important nationally. and the tv shows about alaska

and sort of the place alaska inhabits in the american mind is a contribution. whatever that is i will let someone else bell it out. alaska plays an important role in angry counts for much of alaska -- anchorage council for much of alaska. and the international connection. we envisioned back in 1909 and earlier, seward in 1867, alaska connecting the united states to asia. that is true. japan, china, south korea. i just saw china, to first place. absolutely panned out. these numbers have to do with log and lumber export. many countries receive exports from alaska and these exports many of them probably the great majority come through anchorage. that has absolutely panned out.

i know there is recent news about cuts at the base here. everybody would you recognize the tremendous role anchorage alaska plays in terms of the projection of american power in defense of american interests. when the russian planes come close, of gold the planes from the -- up goes the planes from the airport. the cargo planes from the air force or the helicopters, think of the incredible power those things represent. and the folks here 100 years ago, they thought primarily of the navy. they cannot have imagined this kind of technology and that kind of power. just as is the case in the other themes, it is more true than

they could have known it would become a place where american power and the defense of interests would be very much based. in the memorial here not far from here where we see folks go from alaska serving their country overseas. and then as the mayor referred to this at the beginning as we are hearing a lot about east asia and the south china sea. here in alaska, there's also consciousness about tensions in the arctic. and we will see where it goes. americans might find folks on the outside might find out more in more the importance of this place. and so, personal interests yes. then and now. regional interests, more now. national interests no question. international interests, no

question. that says the "weekly alaskan" in june 1916. a little bit further from where we are now. a bit of an overstatement this one. but not too much. it is pretty impressive. 100 years. thank you. [applause] >> any questions? >> recently i heard an economist about migration of people [indiscernible] does that come across?

professor jones: c-span folks do you need the microphone? i can come down. the question is in california there is a huge route and you say there is professor -- huge route a you say there is professor there might be a migration from drought states, alaska is sort of a drought state right now. it may or may not pan out. who knows? it makes sense. i was just in california recently area it is a theme the lack of water. if the drought continues, who knows? i have not seen anything related but it makes sense if it up persists. i do not know anything about that particularly. let me give you the mic.

>> i was going to say giving me a microphone is like putting god fire -- a fire with gasoline. wars their hypocrisy when the federal government focus on it being such important wants of the railroad camps moved to anchorage? weren't they hamstrung about what they could do with the coal ? did i read that correctly from early on? professor jones: you know, like i said, there are some folks in the room who knows those sorts of details. bruce, did you catch that question? i have no idea. i could make something up. actually, i don't know. i do not have an answer for that. [laughter] professor jones: does anybody

have an answer for that? ilene? no? an excellent question. i wish i could help you. sorry. go ahead. >> what do you think the consequences of history would've been if they're not been all federally funded -- professor jones: yeah, a good question. one of those, what would have happened? no way to know. interesting to think about and then i stop thinking about it. i do not read a lot of fiction so i am not very creative in that way. i was thinking about seward and one of the reasons they chose anchorage is because the layout of the place, the geographical

layout. could we sent anchorage where seward is now? i do not know. what would have happened? i do not know. who knows? it would be interesting to redo it and play it out. maybe an interesting novel for you to write. i am not doing very well so far. we will go to the woman there in the brown coat. >> [indiscernible] at one time, a lot of coal they came out of healy. as now there isn't any more? professor jones: the mine at healy is still going. yep. yeah, this is my understanding. and so that is interesting. it does not play out as folks envisioned but it still plays out that the coal is shipped and

my understanding it is shipped out of seward. yes, here in the blue shirt. >> have you had any conversations with the -- people? professor jones: have i had contact? no, but the answer is i would like to. i spoke to mark hamilton, the researcher in town. i thought of contacting them but when you cold call people and ask them about their affairs and understandably suspicious. i would love to. i would love to see it and see the operations and talk to them. i have not had a chance to do that yet. yeah i am sure it would be very interesting. we will go here. yep.

hi. good to see you. >> [indiscernible] everybody's talking about globalization. [indiscernible] professor jones: yeah. >> globalization in world history. [indiscernible]

how much power do you think the interpretation in everyday life? [indiscernible] professor jones: the question is if i can paraphrase it the important of the history and shaping the community and sense of awareness and you mentioned some of the stories or myths that persist and thinking perhaps of seward's folly even though there's not much evidence it persists. i think, let me put it this way.

and arkansas, not a huge demand for the history of alaska. it is only the third time in 12 years i spoke publicly about alaska because you do not get to do it very much in arkansas. i do bring alaska a lot into my lectures and in the sense of -- here's how i do it. folks will have different ways of going at it. i will talk about the current events and the question of china and the south china sea and all the stuff coming got regularly. i relate that to be the question -- who will be the big dog in the pacific? that question has been on the table for a long time. from 1945 until recently, the question seemed to be resolved. the united states will be the big dog and i think the united states is. perhaps we are in a time of transition now.

i tell my students let's see how the story has been playing golf for a very long time and as when i bring alaska into it and showed them some of the quotes and how folks thought about alaska in -- i do not know if i answered your question well. in terms of shaping, sort of shaping outlook and sentiment and perhaps the one thing all teachers can do and history teachers can do is to promote thoughtfulness and the ability to resist simplification. i do not know if it is helpful. i appreciate your point. did i kind of touch a little bit on your point? dan in the back. >> the role government played in our history, as you see the future because we learn from our

history, do you ever set time where alaska and alaskans will have more control over the state? or based upon what happened before we will always be in -- under the control of united states government because of population or politics? and we have to be kind of treated somewhat as a stepchild. professor jones: that is an image used a lot. i just read a that today and the archives at ua. i read a poem about alaska, the orphan left in the lurch. >> what we had before we felt like that. do you perceive that will ever change? professor jones: the question is, for example anchorage really started as a government project. that is obviously true.

we also have to notice the individuals who come and we see a joint venture. the question is, do i see a time in the future will alaska march on their own? is that sort of the question? i guess i do not know enough, i do not have enough street knowledge to give a good answer to that. i have noticed a paradox. maybe you have noticed. you do see at the very beginning in anchorage. at one hand, we want the government to do a lot and on the other hand we hated when the government do. it is complicated and bureaucratic. we want more government but we do not but we hate of the government. this paradox that for has become, it seems to be pretty persistent. i do, if i could add one other point. i am not super political but i was thinking early anchorage is

not friendly necessarily to libertarianism because is a government entity that the government gets going. but on the other hand, there was a socialist movement here early on but that do not really succeed either. and what we see here in early anchorage is kind of a partnership and if i had a chance to teach this, maybe that is how i will go added. an example of public-private partnership where you do not have a libertarian free-for-all. but neither do you have a government that is stamping doubt people's ambitions. it is not really a direct answer to your question. i do not know where things will go. my understanding is a lot of the state is under the government control.

so, i cannot really give you an answer. those are my musings in response. >> please everybody ain't for -- thank preston for his wonderful remarks. [applause] >> you're watching american history tv on c-span3. to join the conversation like us on facebook at c-span history. each week of american history tv sitting on a lecture a you can watch the classes every saturday at 8:00 p.m.. university of illinoiskevin schultz talks about the politics of 1960's and what freedom meant to different groups. he describes how the goals of these groups are often at