Searching for information about early Anchorage for the Anchorage Mushing District project last week, I came across an interesting reference to Alaskan Malamutes in the Alaska Railroad Record, which was the official newsletter of the government railroad during the construction era from 1915 to 1923. In the September 11, 1917 issue, on page 372, the following appears;
This is odd because the Alaskan Malamute was not officially recognized as a breed until 1935, so I was puzzled about this sentence and I shared it with my Mushing History group on Facebook, along with this screenshot of most of the original article, where the clipping above appears at the bottom of the right column:
A lively discussion ensued, and among the many comments generated, someone pointed out the taxidermy award in the same paragraph, for “A perfectly mounted eagle, holding in its beak a flag inscribed with the words ‘State of Alaska.’” This was also strange, as Alaska did not become a state until 1950, but I commented that I found it easy to believe there were people even then hoping for Alaskan statehood someday.
A search online did not find any more information about the 1917 Alaska Agricultural and Industrial Fair, although I did locate the program cover—or maybe it was a poster advertising the event:
The most reasonable explanation for the reference to the Alaskan Malamute came from a member of the Mushing History group, Karen Hinchy, who commented:
AKC = registration, NOT pedigree. You can have pedigreed dogs (ie dogs with known, identified ancestors) that are not registered. This is still true today. By calling the dogs “pedigreed” in 1917 I suspect they meant “of known ancestors”.
That makes sense.
The History of Sled Dogs in North America has been gathering more good reviews and comments:
“This coffee table handsome book of 400 pages is filled with information, history, photography, art and stories. The full and mostly untold history between humans and dogs in the arctic is traced, beginning with the first inhabitants of North America. The great depth and breadth of this book truly makes it the Sled Dog Bible.” -Roger Brooks, Amazon Review
“As a history buff and major, I find the history alone fascinating. Toss in my own ‘all things dog’ mantra, and this one will keep my attention for a long time.” -June Price, Sunhusky Reviews
I’ll be sending review copies out next week. If you write book reviews and would be interested in details you can contact me for more information.
The History of Sled Dogs in North America
Softcover paperback printed in full color on premium stock paper, 416 pages, 8.5″ x 11″ format, dozens of b/w and color photographs, images, and artwork, extensively annotated, resources, bibliography, indexed. Published by Northern Light Media. $69.95 plus $6.50 shipping and handling.
Another new book from Northern Light Media is Northern Journey, by Lew Freedman, who wrote books about some of the Iditarod’s greatest legends, mushers such as George Attla, Joe Redington Sr., Dick Mackey, DeeDee Jonrowe, and Mike Williams Sr.; and he profiled dozens more in several books about the Last Great Race on Earth.
In Northern Journey Lew tells the stories behind the adventures which became his award-winning books and articles, and of adventures to Greenland, Iceland, the Northwest Territories, and in various provinces of Canada, leaving his readers with memorable descriptions of each place and the people who live there.
Northern Journey, A Report from the Frontier, by Lew Freedman. Published in January, 2023 by Northern Light Media. 238 pages, 6″ x 9″ format, more than two dozen b/w photos. ISBN no. 9798373238281. $24.95 plus $4.50 shipping. Also available from Amazon, or can be ordered via any bookstore.
