Shortest day, Nome Dec 21st. Seiffert Family Photographs, UAF-1985-122-55, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Seal camp, Kwigillingok. UAF-1997-108-266, George A. Morlander Photographs, Archives, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
“Game Coming to Market” — Residents of Eagle, Alaska pose in front of a sled loaded with caribou and Dall sheep, 1900. P277-4-52, James Wickersham Photographs, Alaska State Library.
Welcome to the Alaska Historical Society
The Alaska Historical Society (AHS) is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization dedicated to the promotion of Alaska history by the exchange of ideas and information, the preservation and interpretation of resources, and the education of Alaskans about our shared and diverse heritage. Governed by a 15-member board, the Society provides a forum and a vehicle to achieve these goals. AHS is a membership organization with 150+ members.
Join us by visiting our membership page and receive our quarterly newsletter and biannual history journal.
Registration is Open! The 2026 Alaska Historical Society Conference will take place in Homer October 7-10, 2026.Save your spot today.
2025 Alaska Historical Society Conference Recordings
Thank you all who attended our 2025 Alaska Historical Society Conference! Videos of the recorded sessions are available now on the main conference page.
About the Series To help raise the level of civil discourse across Alaska, in 2023 the Alaska Historical Society (AHS) launched a lecture and panel discussion series. “Today in Alaska, as in much of the rest of the country, our civic discourse has deteriorated to a point where sensible public policy is not only enormously challenging, but often unachievable,” said William Schneider, University of Alaska Fairbanks professor emeritus and recent past president of the Alaska Historical Society. “By demonstrating how knowledge of... (Read More)
Make your gift here It started with a book club in the small community of Atka. Three students fascinated by their history, the history of the Unangax̂ people, transformed their curiosity into an award-winning Alaska History Day website. Then, their project went on to earn the National Endowment for the Humanities' History of Place Award at the National History Day competition. For decades, Alaska History Day has inspired hundreds of middle and high school students to more deeply engage with... (Read More)
See the PDF Press Release To honor the pathbreaking scholarship of Alaska’s preeminent historian, the late Professor Stephen Haycox, the Alaska Historical Society is launching an initiative designed to advance new research into Alaska’s history. The Society has asked more than a dozen historians to undertake research into topics of Alaska history influenced by Haycox’s work. Each will present their findings during the AHS annual conference, scheduled for October 7-10 in Homer. The papers are to be compiled into a... (Read More)
Alaska Historical Society Annual Meeting and Conference,New Directions in Alaska HistoryHomer & Virtual, October 7-10, 2026 The Alaska Historical Society awards two scholarships to attend its annual conference. They are for post-secondary students researching an Alaska history topic or for an emerging professional in a related field. Awards consist of travel expenses and a conference registration package. Eligibility: Applicant must be a member of the Alaska Historical Society at the time of applying. Student applicants must be a graduate or... (Read More)
Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, two of the hardest hit communities from the recent Typhoon Halong, are pictured in a wealth of historical photos in Alaska’s Digital Archives showing the beautiful, strong people of those communities and their traditions, like seal and walrus hunting. Make a gift to support the descendants of those in these photos as they are relocated to mass shelters in Anchorage and figure out the next steps in their lives. Houses in both communities have been deemed unlivable. Make... (Read More)
