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“Northern Alaska Today” (1927) is a silent, black-and-white 16mm newsreel film by Fox Film Corporation and Kodascope, likely part of a larger educational film series called “The World We Live In.” The film tells the story of the Alaska Purchase where, in 1867, the Russian empire sold the Untied States the territory of Alaska for a sum of $7.2 million. The deal was initiated by Secretary of State William H. Seward and was largely criticized by the American public as “Seward’s Folly” as people’s perception of the territory was that it was a useless land of ice and snow. The film charts the history of Alaska from the time of purchase through the end of the 19th century and discusses changing popular opinion as Alaska is discovered to be an “untapped” land of precious resources from gold and other ores to salmon and seal skins. Nonetheless, the film does take on a propagandized view point largely claiming that the quality of life for the indigenous Eskimos is steadily increasing due to the presence of American settlers and resources. 

Film opens, Kodascope projection message (0:07). Title page (0:10). Text page, history of US purchase of Alaska from Russia, public perception of new territory (0:17). View from passenger ship of snow covered mountain tops, glaciers, ice chunks floating in water; Women in dress jackets and hats huddle together on ship’s upper deck (0:29). Text page, criticism of Secretary of State William H. Seward’s purchase of Alaska “Seward’s Folly!” (0:41). View from upper deck of passenger ship as it approaches a glacier, close-ups of ice shards floating in water (0:52). Text page, changing public opinion after news of Klondike Gold Rush (1:07). Prospectors with backpacks, camping equipment, and rifles set out across mountainous, barren terrain in search of gold and other precious metals (1:14). Text page, exploration of Alaska’s “uncharted” territory revealed precious ores, became world’s richest producer of precious ores (1:38). Mine built into snowy-mountainside, miner searching for precious ores (1:47). Text page, famous gold-coast Nome (Nome Gold Rush) scooping up pay-dirt (ground containing ore) (2:05). Automated crane built into water delivers scoops of earth into processing plant, miners sift through pay dirt and clean off ores (2:11). Group of seals swim off coast, gather on rocky shore (2:43). Alaska’s promontories swarmed with migratory birds, nests with chicks (2:52). Humble living conditions of indigenous Eskimos, wood huts built on stilts along coastline (3:15). More scenes of life along Arctic Circle: Eskimo woman sits in field, wild dogs and grass huts dot field behind her; Man knits; Children play games and instrument similar to saxophone (3:34). Eskimos and reindeer, seal hunting for skins, meat to make clothes, tents, boat-covers (4:12). Eskimos processing fresh hides for aforementioned purposes (4:42). Eskimos travel along water in traditional umiak boat with sail (5:06). Man weaves netting to make rabbit trap (5:14). Hunters wait out in snow, trap rabbit, walk with snowshoes and catch of the day back to camp (5:26). God’s Acre Cemetery, Point Barrow - farthest north that humans dwell (5:59). What appear to be American settlers, feed husky puppies inside penned area (6:16). Hundreds of seals on Pribilof Islands (6:48). Men use hooks, rope to trap and gather seals - measure seals and their skins to prepare for clothing market (7:09). American settler cares for injured, ailing wild dog (7:56). Wild salmon in Alaska rivers (worth at the time 31 million dollars a year), sent to American canneries; Scene of fisherman casting and pulling in nets with salmon from river bank (8:47). Bear runs into water and hunts a salmon (9:18). Changed public opinion, no more “Seward’s Folly” after economic benefit of territory revealed (9:31). Developed coastal town, passenger ship pulls out of harbor (9:41). Closing credits (10:01). Film ends (10:09).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com