Aunt Phil’s Trunk : Volume Four

Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume Four Alaska history decoded - Now in eBooks “Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Four” is a must-read for anyone interested in Alaska's history! Author Laurel Downing Bill continues to bring Alaska history alive in the fourth volume of her “Aunt Phil’s Trunk” series. Following in the fast-paced and entertaining footsteps of the previous three volumes, Volume Four captures the essence of life in Alaska between 1935 and 1960. This book’s easy-to-read nonfiction short stories and more-than 350 historical photographs highlight major events of World War II, the Cold War era and Alaska's struggle for statehood. Did you know: The Japanese bombed and occupied two islands in the Aleutian Chain during WWII The United States had a secret mission with Russia in Fairbanks Eskimo Scouts volunteered to guard more than 2,000 miles of Alaska's coastline These and dozens more little-known stories fill the pages of “Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Four.” This collection of stories combine clear writing and plenty of details without getting bogged down in minutia. They include both the big stories and many lesser-known incidents. And they are densely illustrated with photographs showing what life was like in Alaska's earlier days Order your copy of “Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume Four” now!

Author Laurel Downing Bill continues to bring Alaska history alive in “Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume Four.” Following in the fast-paced and entertaining footsteps of the previous three volumes, Volume Four captures the essence of life in Alaska between 1935 and 1960. Its easy-to-read nonfiction short stories and more-than 350 historical photographs highlight major events of World War II, the Cold War era and Alaska’s struggle for statehood. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the military presence in Alaska was woefully inadequate. And within six months, the Japanese bombed Alaska’s Dutch Harbor, occupied two islands in the Aleutian Chain and had eyes toward an invasion of America. As the U.S. military began building bases across Alaska, it also organized Alaska’s Native people into a territorial guard that became known as the “Eskimo Scouts.” These men and women routinely patrolled more than 2,000 miles of coastline and 200,000 square miles of tundra to make sure the enemy did not advance. World War II brought big defense dollars north, which helped bolster Alaska’s economy. It also brought a secret Russian mission to Fairbanks, interment of Aleut people in the foreign landscape of Southeast Alaska and a wide proliferation of tuberculosis. During the Cold War era, Alaska saw another increase of money and people into the Last Frontier. This period of its colorful past also generated stories of heroic Alaska Airlines flights for freedom, Alaska Natives’ battles against discrimination and the blossoming of Anchorage into a jewel on the tundra. The last section of this action-packed volume features Alaska’s 91-year-old struggle for statehood. Tales of tenacity, hope and determination fill these pages. They also showcase many of the movers and shakers of days gone by, Alaska’s first elected governor and the discovery of crude oil that tipped the balance toward statehood. Critics and readers alike are saying “Aunt Phil’s Trunk” is outstandingly well produced, exceptionally informative and heaps of fun to read.

Hi! I’m Laurel Bill (Laurel Downing Bill), author of the “Aunt Phil’s Trunk” Alaska history series. The series developed after I inherited newspaper clips, research and rare Alaska history books from my Alaska historian aunt, Phyllis Downing Carlson, who died in 1993. Aunt Phil wrote many articles about Alaska’s past for national newspapers and magazines during her lifetime. And she won national awards for many of them. Once I saw the quality of her work, I knew I had to bring them to light for the world. I returned to college to get the tools needed for the big project ahead. I graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2003 with honors and a degree in journalism and a minor in history. The series was born as a weekly newspaper column in The Anchorage Chronicle, July 2002. The short stories soon became one of the most popular features in the paper. After receiving such an enthusiastic response to tales of Alaska’s days gone by, I turned my attention to developing the state’s history from thousands of years ago – when the Native people first arrived in the country – up to the present. Then I searched through the archives of museums, libraries and universities around the country to find historical photographs to help tell the stories. I found so many photographs and wonderful stories that my plan for one book has turned into five volumes. And my desire to share Alaska’s history has turned into a passion.