Alaska

Historic Photo Collections

The DeVane Family Collection   Thanks to Ken DeVane for sharing these pictures. His father, Harvey, was born in Ruby and his grandfather was Tom DeVane a storekeeper during Ruby's early days. The DeVane store is one of only a few buildings left standing from the old days.

The Johnson Collection This group of Alaska photos is from Ray Johnson. His father, Jesse Bert Johnson, lived in Ruby around 1917 and from the photos it appears may have worked in or visited other parts of Alaska.The Johnson photo collection contains images from the towns of Ruby, Tanana, Nenana and Healy. There are pictures of the Alaska Rail Road, dog sleds, river boats, coal mining and much more. #1-30, 31-60, 61-83, 84-96, 97-125.

The Mastel Collection Thanks to Walt Mastel who sent these pictures of Ruby and Galena taken in 1963. Walt was at Campion Air Force Station in Galena and in summer would often traveled up the Yukon to Ruby for the weekend. He doesn't recall the names of the children in the photos but says they would now be somewhere between 47 and 50 years old and some were likely from the Charlie Carlo family.

The Spitz Family Collection Thanks to Mary Ann Woolley. Her grandparents Louis and Johanna Spitz lived in Ruby from 1912 to 1919 and owned the Fraction Saloon on 1st Ave. Her father Louis Jr was born in Ruby in 1913.

The Waugaman Collection  Thanks to Candy Waugaman who purchased these photos and a house in Ruby thirty some years ago. This collection is so large it is divided into several category's: Ruby, Mines and Miners, Long-Poorman, Iditarod-Flat-Cripple Tanana/Fort Gibbon

To view a collection in a slide show presentation click on an image which will enlarge it. Then click the arrow in the upper right corner to start the slide show. Double click the arrow to change the speed if desired.

There are often many unidentified people in old photos. It would be appreciated if you could help put names to some of these individuals. If you recognize any of the unnamed people or they also appear in your old photos please email me.

Some photos are duplicated in different collections as the photographer would sometimes sell the same image print to many people.

I have been contacted by several people who have family ties to Alaska's early days and I hope to have additional photo collections available. It is a time consuming project to digitize a photo collection and I appreciate the efforts of the people who have made these photos available here.

The photos are used here by permission. If you would like to use a photo contact me and I will put you in touch with the owner of the photograph.

If you have old photos of the Ruby area I would be glad to display yours here as well. ~ Walt Larson

This photo/slide show program I use on my web sites. It is free and easy to use.