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Newspaper The Eskimo Bulletin (Cape Prince of Wales [i.e. Wales], Alaska) 1893-1902

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About The Eskimo Bulletin (Cape Prince of Wales [i.e. Wales], Alaska) 1893-1902

The Eskimo bulletin was a yearly publication produced at the American Missionary Association’s mission school at Cape Prince of Wales. The paper was edited by William T. Lopp and published by both Lopp and Harrison R. Thornton, who were both missionaries and teachers. The first issue was published in May of 1893 and was handwritten, although it was reprinted in type by another newspaper. Thornton was killed later that year, and Lopp was transferred to the U.S. reindeer station at Port Clarence. Therefore, no issues were published again until 1895 when Lopp returned to Cape Prince of Wales. The paper claimed to be the only yearly paper in the world. The Bulletin focused on local news and issues affecting Native Alaskans.

The first issue was handwritten and printed using a Hectograph process with a gelatin pad. Later issues switched to using hand-set type with a printing press, although some issues were a combination of both methods. The newspaper provided training in writing and printing in the English language, as well as typesetting and engraving skills, for the students at the mission school. Illustrations were done with wood-cut blocks by one of the Alaska native students.

A front-page “Dog-Sled Dispatch” from March in the 1897 issue, released in July, reported that according to news “from the Yukon,” William Jennings Bryan had been elected president of the United States. The editor explained later in the issue that the article originated from “a practical joke played on a Yukon steamer” which he decided to keep in the newspaper. The paper reported on local news, including the results of hunting, and comings and goings. The Bulletin also featured many articles on violent crimes and was unhappy with enforcement of the law in the territory. At that time, official law enforcement was frequently limited to visits by the Revenue Cutter Service vessel, USS Bear. Lopp asked that since it was apparently “out of the [Bear’s] line of duty to arrest murderers, break up stills, and protect children against the vices of whites” jurisdiction should be given to the commander of the Bear.

A recurring topic in the Bulletin was the status of the local reindeer herds, and the adaptation of Alaskan natives to this new way of hunting and providing sustenance. Numbers of deer, updates in the herd size and location, as well as ownership were published. The publication also wrote about the famous reindeer drive in 1898 that brought relief to whalers stuck in the ice. It was organized by Lieutenant David H. Jarvis of the Revenue Cutter Service (R.C.S.) Bear. The Bulletin detailed the government’s efforts to commandeer reindeer from the Alaskan native herders and how Lopp went with the expedition on its way to Point Barrow. The last issue of the Bulletin was in May of 1902.

Provided By: Alaska State Library Historical Collections

About this Newspaper

Title

  • The Eskimo Bulletin (Cape Prince of Wales [i.e. Wales], Alaska) 1893-1902

Names

  • Lopp, W. T. (William Thomas), 1864-1939

Dates of Publication

  • 1893-1902

Created / Published

  • Cape Prince of Wales [i.e. Wales], Alaska : [American Missionary Association Mission School], 1893-

Headings

  • -  Eskimos--Alaska--Newspapers
  • -  Prince of Wales, Cape (Alaska)--Newspapers
  • -  Wales (Alaska)--Newspapers
  • -  Eskimos
  • -  Alaska
  • -  Alaska--Cape Prince of Wales
  • -  Alaska--Wales
  • -  United States--Alaska--Cape Prince of Wales
  • -  United States--Alaska--Wales

Genre

  • Newspapers

Notes

  • -  Annual, 1897-1902 (except no issues published 1899-1901
  • -  Vol. 1, no. 1 (May 1893)-
  • -  Ceased in May 1902?
  • -  "The only yearly in the world."
  • -  Editor: W.T. Lopp.
  • -  Archived issues are available in digital format from the Library of Congress Chronicling America online collection.

Medium

  • volumes

Call Number/Physical Location

  • Newspaper

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • sn96060045

OCLC Number

  • 9446269

ISSN Number

  • 2771-2583

Additional Metadata Formats

Availability

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress believes that the newspapers in Chronicling America are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions. Newspapers published in the United States more than 95 years ago are in the public domain in their entirety. Any newspapers in Chronicling America that were published less than 95 years ago are also believed to be in the public domain, but may contain some copyrighted third party materials. Researchers using newspapers published less than 95 years ago should be alert for modern content (for example, registered and renewed for copyright and published with notice) that may be copyrighted. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item.

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

The Eskimo Bulletin Cape Prince of Wales i.e. Wales, Alaska -1902. (Cape Prince of Wales, AK), Jan. 1 1893. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/sn96060045/.

APA citation style:

(1893, January 1) The Eskimo Bulletin Cape Prince of Wales i.e. Wales, Alaska -1902. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/sn96060045/.

MLA citation style:

The Eskimo Bulletin Cape Prince of Wales i.e. Wales, Alaska -1902. (Cape Prince of Wales, AK) 1 Jan. 1893. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, aj.sunback.homes/item/sn96060045/.