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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY. KATMAI EXPEDITIONS. Photographs; 1913-1919. 3 cu. ft. Volume List.
The eruption of Mt. Katmai on the Alaska Peninsula in 1912 was one of the great volcanic events of modern history. The eruption covered the town of Kodiak with almost one foot of ash and the explosion was reportedly heard as far away as Juneau, 750 miles distant. To study this phenomena the National Geographic Society launched several scientific investigating expeditions to Katmai and surrounding areas affected by the eruption. There was a brief expedition to Kodiak and Afognak Islands, led by George C. Martin in 1912 to study the effects of ashfall from the Katmai explosion. Other expeditions to the volcano itself were launched between 1913 and 1919, the most significant of which were those of 1917 and 1919. These expeditions were under the direction of Robert F. Griggs, who later published a book and several articles on the phenomena. One direct result of the expeditions was the creation of the Katmai National Monument in 1918 by proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson.
The collection consists of eight volumes of photographs made by staff members of the expeditions. They provide documentary pictorial evidence of the expeditions and also present many views of Alaskan scenery, towns and villages, various ships and boats, flora and fauna, and natives. There are 4,839 black and white photographs for the years 1913, 1915-1919. Negatives were made from over 1,000 of the photographs. There is a list of the photographs in the collection, an index to the photographers, and a partial subject index.
The collection was transferred to the archives from the Consortium Library in late 1979. Additional materials were added in 1982.
HMC-0186