PCA 448: Clinton H. Betz Photograph Collection, 1937-1968 Alaska State Library
Alaska State Library
Historical Collections
Betz, Clinton H.
Clinton H. Betz Photograph Collection, 1937-1968
PCA 448
78 negatives & scans / Processed by: Gladi Kulp, April 2004331 b&w prints / Processed by: Jacki Swearingen, Dec. 2015
~150 original negatives
ACQUISITION: 78 negatives were donated by Clinton H. Betz of Seattle in 2003. Acc. #2003058. An addition of 331 b&w 8x10 prints and approximately 150 original negatives was transferred from the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society to the Alaska State Library Historical Collections October 31, 2013. Acc. #2013-051.
ACCESS: The collection is available for viewing; scans from negatives may be photocopied.
COPYRIGHT: Request for permission to publish or reproduce material from the collection should be discussed with the Librarian.
PROCESSING: The intial donation of 78 negatives was scanned, numbered and housed in mylar. Descriptions were taken from donor-labeled negative envelopes. The additional donation of 8x10 b&w prints was arranged by year and month. The prints were numbered and their descriptions were added to the inventory. Descriptions were taken from information written on the back of the print. The prints were placed in acid free folders. The negatives donated with the prints have been placed in the freezer.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Clinton H. Betz spent about two years in Anchorage, 19431944, working as a cryptographer for the Alaska Communications System. Mr. Betz had a lifelong interest in the maritime field, photographing ships along the Pacific Coast. He took many photographs while working for the Alaska Communications System and while on trips on the SS Aleutian in Southeast Alaska and on the SS Denali sailing to Anchorage.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS NOTE
The photographs were taken by Clinton Betz during his time in Alaska, 19431944. Images include buildings in Anchorage, railroad engines and stations, canneries, fishing boats, Alaska Railroad scenes and equipment, and photos taken during a trip from Anchorage to Seward includes Matanuska Valley and Glacier, Kenai Peninsula, Portage Glacier, Spencer Glacier, Bartlett Glacier, Turnagain Arm, Palmer Highway and bridge, Girdwood, Pioneer Peak, Kenai Lake, Mt. Susitna, Cook Inlet and Knik Arm.
The 8x10 b&w prints were taken by Mr. Betz during the following time spent in Alaska and Canada:
Alaska trip, July 1937, Southeastern, SS Aleutian
Alaska, 1943 & 1944, ACS[Alaska Communications System], Alaska Duty
Alaska trip, 1954. June 4-June 16 to Anchorage and return, SS Denali,
Northern British Columbia trip, June 1955, SS Camosun.
INVENTORY
Negatives were scanned and numbered. Descriptions written by donor on negative envelopes are listed below. Numbers in parentheses are donor's numbers, i.e.,( no. 2). The negatives have been placed in the negative file cabinet in the cooler room.
Folder 1: #1-78
1. Federal Office Bldg., Anchorage, July 1943.
2. Doorway, Providence Hospital, Anchorage, "L" St., Sept. 1943.
3. Providence Hospital, Anchorage, June 1943.
4. Providence Hospital, "L" Dr., Anchorage, June 1944.
5. Anchorage from Ship Creek flats, Jan. 1944.
6. Anchorage, Ship Creek, June 1944.
7. Federal Office Bldg., 4th Ave., Anchorage, June 1944.
8. Anchorage, harbor & railroad station, Oct. 1943.
9. Anchorage, Alaska, railroad station, June 1944.
10. Fifth Ave., Anchorage, from "L" St. East, Feb. 1943.
11. Mt. Susitna Cook Inlet, end of 5' Ave., Feb. 1943.
12. Anchorage, sunset Knik Arm, June 1944.
13. Anchorage, sunrise Mt. Susitna and Knik Arm, 5th Ave., Feb. 1943.
14. End of 4th St. at Knik Arm, Anchorage, Sept. 1943.
15. Anchorage, Parsons Hotel, June 1943.
16. Anchorage, "L" St. looking north Knik Arm, Oct. 1943.
17. Anchorage looking across Knik Arm & Mt. Susitna, Oct. 1943.
18. Anchorage, Bayside residential area, June 1944.
19. Anchorage, "L" St., Oct. 1943.
20. Anchorage, 4th Ave., Feb. 1943.
21. Fourth Ave., Anchorage, Feb. 1943.
22. Anchorage, 4th Ave. Federal Bldg., left; Empress Theatre, right, Feb. 1943.
23. Anchorage, 4th Ave., South Seas Bar, Feb. 1943.
24. Alaska R.R. station, Anchorage, Feb. 1943.
25. Anchorage, 5th Ave. & Catholic Church, Feb. 1943.
26. Anchorage, Knik Arm & canneries, June 1943.
27. Anchorage canneries & flats, June 1943.
28. Canneries & Knik Arm from R.R. station, July 1943.
29. Emards Cannery & fishing boats, June 1943.
30. Anchorage canneries, June 1944.
31. Emards Cannery, Anchorage, June 1944.
32. Engines 600 class (610 & 605), Alaska Railroad. Steamer train leaving
Anchorage for Alaska Steamship at Seward, 1943 (no. 3).
33. Engine 901, Alaska Railroad. Train to Seward, July 1943 (no. 1).
34. Engine 901, Alaska Railroad. Tuesday, once a week train to Fairbanks, July
1943 (no. 4).
35. Engine 901, Alaska Railroad. Train to Seward, July 1943 (no. 2).
36. Alaska R.R. Switch Equipment, July 1944.
37. Alaska Railroad near tunnel, July 1943.
38. Tunnel station, Loop District, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
39. Near Patter Station, Alaska R.R., June 1943.
40. Loop District tressle [trestle], Alaska R.R., July 1943.
41. Near Bird Station, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
42. Near Rainbow, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
43. Loop District, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
44. Loop District, Bartlett Glacier, July 1943.
45. Trail Glacier, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
46. Loop District, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
47. Trail Glacier, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
48. Trail Lake, Alaska Railroad, July 1943.
49. Near Portage Station and Portage Glacier, July 1943.
50. Portage Flats near Spencer, June 1943.
51. Near Grandview, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
52. Near Portage, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
53. Spencer Glacier, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
54. Spencer Glacier, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
55. Bartlett Glacier, July 1943.
56. Bartlett Glacier, Loop District, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
57. Turnagain Arm, July 1943.
58. Bartlett Glacier, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
59. Turnagain Arm, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
60. Turnagain Arm, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
61. Palmer Hiway & Bridge, Oct. 1943.
62. Girdwood, June 1944.
63. Palmer, Alaska, Oct. 1943.
64. Palmer R.R. Station, Oct. 1943.
65. Matanuska Valley Farm, Pioneer, from Bodenburg Butte, Oct. 1943.
66. Palmer, Alaska, Oct. 1943.
67. Near Seward, Alaska R.R., June 1943.
68. Turnagain Arm, July 1943.
69. Lawing Station, Kenai Lake, Alaska R.R., July 1943.
70. Seward, Alaska, Main St., July 1943.
71. Kenai Lake, July 1943.
72. Kenai Lake, July 1943.
73. Pioneer Peak and Matanuska Valley farm from Bodenburg Butte, Oct. 1943.
74. Pioneer Peak and Matanuska Hiway, Oct. 1943.
75. Matanuska Valley Farm, Oct. 1943.
76. Matanuska Glacier & Valley, taken from Bodenburg Butte, Oct. 1943.
77. Matanuska Valley farm, Oct. 1943.
78. Matanuska Valley farm, Oct. 1943.
Addition: 8x10 b&w photographs (#79-409) - Acc. # 2013-051
Folder 2: #79-123
Alaska Trip, July 1937, Southeastern, SS Aleutian
79. Hunter Island Light – Fitzhugh Sound & Lama Passage. July 1937. CPR Princess Charlotte astern.
80. Approaching Ketchikan, July 1937.
81. Ketchikan, Main Street. July 1937.
82. Ward Cove cannery near Ketchikan, July 1937.
83. Devil’s Thumb, Frederick Sound No. of Petersburg, July 1937.
84. Princess Charlotte in Taku Inlet, July 1937.
85. Taku Glacier, July 1937.
86. Taku Glacier, July 1937 [Aleutian].
87. Norris Glacier left – Taku Glacier right, July 1937.
88. Taku Inlet, July 1937.
89. C. Betz – aboard SS Aleutian at Taku Harbor, July 1937.
90. In Taku Inlet – Deck of SS Aleutian, July 1937.
91. In Taku Inlet, July 1937.
92. Chilkoot Barracks near Haines, Alaska. 5am., July 1937.
93. Aleutian (Princess Charlotte astern), July 1937, #1038-5. At Skagway – Alaska.
94. Aleutian and Princess Charlotte at Skagway, July 1937.
95. Aleutian and Princess Charlotte at Skagway, July 1937.
96. Skagway – looking toward the White Pass, July 1937.
97. White Pass & Yukon Rte #67 at Skagway with excursion train for SS Aleutian, July 1937.
98. White Pass and Yukon Route – Bennett excursion train at Skagway, July 1937.
99. Skagway Cemetery, July 1937.
100. Pullen House Hotel – Skagway, July 1937.
101. Martin Itjens – Skagway streetcar, July 1937.
102. Davidson Glacier – Chilkat Inlet south of Haines, July 1937.
103. Davidson Glacier – Chilkat Inlet, July 1937.
104. Tenakee cannery and village, July 1937.
105. Aleutian, July 1937 #1038-4. At Tenakee Springs, Alaska.
106. Aleutian at Sitka – Mt. Edgecombe [Edgecumbe] in background – Baranof Castle at right, July 1937.
107. C. Betz aboard SS Aleutian at Sitka, July 1937.
108. St Michael Cathedral – Sitka, July 1937.
109. Spire – St Michael Cathedral Sitka, July 1937.
110. Dome of St Michael’s Cathedral Sitka, July 1937.
111. St Michael’s Cathedral rear view Sitka, July 1937.
112. Aleutian at old dock Sitka, July 1937.
113. Sitka from steamer deck, July 1937.
114. Mt Edgecombe [Edgecumbe] from Sitka Sound, July 1937.
115. Mt Edgecombe [Edgecumbe] – Islands in Sitka Sound, July 1937.
116. Prince Robert entering Sitka Harbor. Mt. Edgecombe [Edgecumbe] in background. Canadian National, July 1937.
117. Near Wrangell, July 1937.
118. Princess Louise, Wrangell, Alaska 9pm, July 1937.
119. SS Mount McKinley in Queen Charlotte Strait BC, July 1937.
120. Princess Alice C.P.R. in Queen Charlotte Sound, July 1937.
121. Alert Bay B.C. Princess Adelaide – left: Princess Louise – right, July 1937.
122. Alert Bay B.C., July 1937.
123. Lynn Canal, July 1937.
Folder 3: #124-135
124. July 1937 Alaska Sunset Cross Sound.
125. Aug 1937 Alaskan Sunset near Cross Sound.
126. Aug 1937 Matanuska Farm – Alaska.
127. Aug 1937 Valdez Alaska.
128. [SS Yukon].
129. Aug 1937 Near Icy Strait Alaska.
130. Aug 1937 late passengers being loaded on Yukon.
131. Aug 1937 Proportion of Columbia Glacier, Prince William Sound, Alaska near Valdez. 300 ft high.
132. Aug 1937 Cross Sound – Alaska.
133. Aug 1937 Alaskan Sunset near Wrangell.
134. Aug 1937 Valdez Alaska. Valdez Glacier 5 miles back of town; SS Yukon.
135. Aug 1937 Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau.
Folder 4: #136-229
Alaska 1943 & 1944, ACS[Alaska Communication System], Alaska Duty
136. Mt. Susitna – Daybreak 10am. Feb 1943.
137. Anchorage – 5th Ave – Catholic Church right of center. Feb 1943.
138. Anchorage – Berts Drug Store on corner, Empress Theatre, N.C. Company, Schonbeck Bldg. -16° degrees. Feb 1943. [1st National Bank, Crocker’s Department Store]
139. Anchorage – Looking East on 4th Ave. from “L” Street. Feb 1943. [Columbia Lumber Company of Alaska, Inlet Hotel]
140. ARR Station Anchorage. Feb 1943. Tour of Duty US Army – Alaska Communications System. 973rd Signal Co – January 29, 1943 – July 29, 1944 – 18 mos.
141. Anchorage – City Hall & Fire Station from steps of Federal Bldg. -16° degrees. Feb 1943. [The Gitchell]
142. Anchorage. Feb 1943. [Similar to PCA 448-138]
143. Anchorage Mt Susitna – Cook Inlet from the end of 4th Ave. June 1943.
144. Anchorage City Cemetery. Indian graves. June 1943. [Doris Nicolia]
145. Spencer Glacier from Alaska Railroad. June 1943.
146. Anchorage – Emards Cannery (Alaska Railroad Hospital to the right). June 1943. [Plover of Bellingham, Emard No. 50, Emard No. 55]
147. Anchorage Emards Cannery. June 1943. [Henry J, Giant H]
148. Anchorage Parsons Hotel. June 1943.
149. Anchorage – Providence Hospital “L” St. June 1943.
150. Anchorage – ARR shops (center) US Army depot (left) Anchorage-Seward tracks. June 1943.
151. ARR. Between Spencer Glacier and Portage Station (Moraine). June 1943.
152. Anchorage – Canneries – Knik Arm. June 1943. [North Cape, Plover, Henry J, Giant H, Emard No. 55]
153. Anchorage – End of 4th St – Cook Inlet. Sept 1943.
154. Anchorage RR Station, Canneries, Knik Arm. Sept 1943.
155. Anchorage (From Bayer residence looking across Cook Inlet). Sept 1943.
156. Matanuska Valley Farm (Knik Glacier in background). Oct 1943.
157. Matanuska Valley Farm. Oct 1943.
158. Palmer, Alaska Business section & station. Oct 1943.
159. Palmer, Railroad Station with George. Oct 1943.
160. Palmer Hiway Bridge. Oct 1943.
161. Matanuska Valley Farm, Pioneer Peak in background. Oct 1943.
162. Matanuska Valley Farm (from Bodenburg Butte) & Pioneer Peak. Oct 1943.
163. Matanuska Hiway and Pioneer Peak. Oct 1943.
164. Knik Glacier, Matanuska Valley. October 1943.
165. Knik Glacier – Matanuska Valley from Bodenburg Butte. Oct 1943.
166. Matanuska Valley & Hiway. Oct 1943.
167. Anchorage “L” St from Bayer Residence (Inlet Hotel left background). Oct 1943.
168. Bayer Residence 5th and “L” St – 518 L. St. – Anchorage. Oct 1943. Home Feb 43 to Jan 44.
169. Matanuska Valley Farm. Oct 1943.
170. Palmer – Schools. Oct 1943.
171. Anchorage Looking north from 5th and “L” St. Oct 1943.
172. Alaska R.R. #610 & #605 – Steamer train Anchorage to Alaska Steamship at Seward. Dec 1943.
173. Silver Thaw – Anchorage. Dec 1943.
174. Lawing Station ARR (Alaska Nellie’s Inn) July 1943.
175. Trail Glacier – near Divide Summit. July 1943.
176. Seward, Alaska Main Street. July 1943.
177. Turnagain Arm rainbow. July 1943.
178. Double Loop Alaska R.R. July 1943.
179. Bartlett Glacier – Loop District Bridge. July 1943.
180. Bartlett Glacier July 1943 [Track automobile on railroad tracks with four passengers].
181. Bartlett Glacier (from look out point) July 1943.
182. Bartlett Glacier July 1943.
183. Loop District ARR July 1943 [Track automobile on railroad tracks with three passengers].
184. Loop District Alaska Railroad, July 1943.
185. Loop District Alaska Railroad, July 1943.
186. Potter Station ARR, July 1943.
187. Trial Lake A.R.R., July 1943.
188. Anchorage-Federal Bldg., July 1943 [The Gitchell].
189. Alaska RR - #901 with weekly Fairbanks Train 2:30 pm on Tuesdays, July 1943.
190. Engine 901, Anchorage-Seward Pass. Train, July 1943.
191. Alaska R.R. #901 – Seward Train., July 1943.
192. Bartlett Glacier, July 1943.
193. Spencer Glacier, July 1943.
194. Portage Flats near Spencer Glacier, July 1943.
195. A.R.R. West of Portage Station (Portage Glacier in background), July 1943.
196. Spencer Glacier ARR, July 1943.
197. Turnagain Arm, July 1943.
198. Turnagain Arm A.R.R., July 1943.
199. ARR Looking toward head of Turnagain Arm, July 1943.
200. Alaska Railroad near Seward, July 1943.
201. ARR Trail Glacier south of Divide Summit toward Seward, July 1943.
202. Near Tunnel Station ARR, July 1943.
203. Along Kenai Lake, July 1943.