Grimaces. Kotzebue, Alaska, 1955

Photo: Jean-Philippe Charbonnier

Art Jessup of Kotzebue, Alaska, holds a ptarmigan fishhook from the 1870s. Photograph, July 31, 1973. 

Record Group 79: Records of the National Park Service

Series: Alaska Task Force Photographs

File Unit: Ethnography and Subsistence

Image description: Art Jessup holds a large fishhook, maybe six inches long. The hook passes through a carved bird, probably ivory. Crosshatching gives shade and texture to the bird’s feathers, and its beak is colored yellow. 

Transcription: 

MASTER FILE

Towns + Villages

Outside the [?] A.

258913-3418

DATE 7/31/73

FIELD # 2589-13

SUBJECT Ptarmigan fishhook about 100 years old held by Art Jissys (Jessup?)

LOCATION Kotzebue

CREDIT: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

PHOTOGRAPH BY M. WOODBRIDGE WILLIAMS

1776-73

ALASKA TASK FORCE MASTER FILE

telliskivi, kotzebue, gonsiori? :)

Telliskivi (Telliskivi): Brick, tile. See also Kivi. Named after brick factory founded in 1879 by Johann Grabby hence its other former name of Grabbysche Straße (± 1884).

Kotzebue (Otto von Kotzebue, 1787-1846): Baltic German born in Tallinn, completed three circumnavigations of the globe in Russian service. The north Alaskan town of Kotzebue (known as Qikiqtaġruk, or "place shaped like a long island", in Inupiaq) was named after him. Sovier Era renaming of this (1960-1990) and its prolongation Suurtüki (1960-1987) as Käsperti J., after a brief stint replacing Hiiu-Suurtüki (1959-1960).

Gonsiori (Jakob Johann Gonsior, 1794-1852): Formerly (1920) split into Greater- and Lesser-Gonsiori. 19th-C Tallinn alderman and lawyer, orphanage founder and funder. Renamed (1950-1991) as Lomonossovi M. during the Soviet Era.

- A Rambling Dictionary of Tallinn Street Names, pages 153, 62, 20, © 2014 Simon Hamilton

(other excerpts)

If you would like, please talk to us about the strains and the different Visible Traits, because I am a genetics freak and am fascinated by small differences in populations

I am finally getting around to being able to answer asks in more detail again! Thanks for your patience :) To begin there are three "strains" of Malamute and by that I mean there are three separate populations of dogs that were developed on their own to make up the breed today. During World War II sled dogs were used in abundance. The war, in addition to the previous Antarctic expeditions the original strain had been bred for, decimated the breed population to the point the breed was no longer sustainable (around 30 VERY related individuals), so studbooks were opened in the late 1940's and early 1950s with the breed standard being rewritten to adjust for the variation these new genetics allowed in the 1960s.

The three strains are: Kotzebue (developed by Eva Seeley for the Byrd Antarctic Expeditions and accepted as a breed by the AKC in 1935), M'Loot (developed by Paul Voelker for companionship and not registered with the AKC), and the Hinman-Irwin (co-owned (modern description of what occured) between Dick Hinman and Dave Irwin, who was an Arctic Explorer).

Now I must mention that the Hinman-Irwin dogs were very few, more like a concentrated family of dogs and not really a strain. They only make up a very small percentage of modern dogs (often less than 1% depending on pedigree).

Below are dogs of each strain prior to the popularity of strain mixing:

We can use our general knowledge and photographs of pure strain dogs to inform us of modern dogs. There are no modern strain dogs left (some frozen pure Kotzebue semen, but no pure Kotzebue females to put it to).

Kotzebue dogs tend to be smaller, shorter on leg and more broad in the chest. Typically grey & white (domino), agouti or black and tan in color with little other variation. Smaller ears, more blunt muzzle shape, tend to be straighter in the rear (as we often see with Inuit dogs as well). Many modern dogs with heavy Kotzebue pedigrees also fit within the original 1935 standard which is often why you'll get some M'Loot influenced folks complaining that certain malamutes are being bred too small and fast. With Kotzebue heavy pedigree dogs I expect energetic temperaments with good drive to work as the line was so concentrated and set type so fast in the beginning (less variation).

M'Loot dogs tend to be bigger and taller on leg. They have narrower chests and come in a wider variety of colors (white and red come from this line typically). Larger, often lower set ears and a rear with better angulation. Even though they and the other strains are clearly of one dog type, they fall less within the Inuit dog silhouette and size than Kotzebue dogs. The standard had to be adjusted specifically to accommodate the size difference between this strain and the original dogs as they are often significantly larger (Large Kotzebue males are in the 85 pound range and large M'Loot males are within the 100+ pound range with their ideal being in that 85...thus why the desirable compromised size is 85 pounds for a male in the modern standard). M'Loot dogs also tend to be more dog aggressive.

The traits of the Hinman-Irwin dogs are less distinct and their influence on the breed is very small so I typically stick to Kotzebue vs M'Loot when talking about pedigrees in which one strain dominates. There just is no modern dog where Hinman-Irwin even makes up a double digit percentage.

Above are two related bitches with good (if not excellent) show results, I think even here it is clear what dog has more Kotzebue in her pedigree and which has more M'Loot just based on their heads and angulation.

Meanwhile I feel this bitch is VERY M'Loot-ey:

and this bitch is very Kotzebue:

(note that I have chosen short coat bitches in show stacks to most equally illustrate this, many pet bred Malamutes tend to be exaggerated M'Loot type and overly heavy so not used as an example here).

I understand that for some folks this narrowing down of subtle traits seems deranged or even non-existent, but these things become really easily seen when you're more familiar with the breed. It's not definitive either, because genetics work in a way that is often beyond human prediction you get dogs like Sigurd (very M'Loot looking) out of a heavy Kotzebue pedigree from a breeder looking to produce dogs to that original Kotzebue 1935 standard. All dogs are mixed strain though so these things happen and they're not bad either, it's a good thing that the breed has a wide range of phenotypes available. It's a good thing that we opened our studbook to increase our diversity, but people are also allowed to have preferences between what 'type' they prefer. I just happen to prefer Kotzebue, but others might prefer M'Loot influenced dogs and that's perfectly fine too!

It was therefore with great interest that I found Chamisso, the justly distinguished naturalist who accompanied Kotzebue, stating that the inhabitants of the Radack archipelago, a group of lagoon-islands in the midst of the Pacific, obtained stones for sharpening their instruments by searching the roots of trees which are cast upon the beach.

"Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries Visited During the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle Round the World, 1832-36" - Charles Darwin

Suvorov crossing the Panix Pass by Alexander von Kotzebue

Adventures of Sly Cooper #1 (2004) by Gamepro

By Travis Kotzebue and Augie Pagan.

Fog, Front Street, Kotzebue, Photo by Dennis Witmer, 1990

listen. Listen.,,:!.!\[ Alaska can be both a cat and dog person, really. They’re quiet, independent, he would like that! Dogs can be very energetic and get riled up easily, I’m sure he doesn’t mind either but idk why Alaska being a primarily dog person is just how it has to be when he literally has a mayor cat legacy going on in Talkeetna. And he canonically really loved Stubbs :( Plus, I need to talk about the Serum Run of Nome btw, a lot of things the movie did wrong imo idk I’m just not a fan of it

-now listen, Alaska does have a state dog, the Alaskan Malamute, over 100 Alaskan kids worked for over 3 whole years to get it to be official, so I don’t think he’s have like, a husky, yknow?

-Alaska Malamutes are named after the tribe they originated from, the Mahlemut/Kotzebue tribe (an inupiat tribe)

-No, Alaskan Malamutes did not hunt bears, they just scared them away and they occasionally did get seals but they mostly located them as their owners actually got the seal

-No, Alaskan Malamutes don’t actually act like huskies, they’re pretty opposite too honestly

Now for the Serum Run

-The owner of Balto and musher of Togo, he was actually rather sad Balto got all the fame rather than Togo or Fox, Balto wasn’t even a lead dog and or was a co-leader with Fox

-Togo went a farther distance and did a more dangerous way, Togo by far actually is considered the bigger hero than Balto in Alaska

-Togo and Balto were Siberian Huskies, Balto was nurtured at a young age and Togo’s bloodline still is alive

-The reason why Balto got all the fake was cause the news agents that heard about the story deemed Fox was too bland of a eye catching name :/ sucks, really

-most of the dogs that helped in the Run were Alaskan Malamutes, they made up over half of the teams that participated

A small doodle for if you read all of that

Personally if you asked me, I would love to tell you Alaska likes both cats and dogs equally, but leans a little more to cats for companionship, sure dogs are good and necessary but I just don’t know why dogs have to be his favorite

July 18, 1809

Yesterday I found * * * * ¹ tea that appeared to be good. Bought % pound, and treated myself to a dish by way of supper. Took two cups moderately strong. Finding that I should not sleep, I did not go to bed. Passed the night in reading French plays and arranging my notes on Swedish jurisprudence. I can’t bear even the smell of tea, though nothing more grateful. But the bare scent would, I believe, keep me awake. Despairing of letters, I will wait no longer, but be off. You would never guess whither, nor why! In December, however, I shall be on your continent. P. M.—No sort of disposition to sleep. At 4 fillibonka. At 6 to Poppius's to talk law; out. To Helvig’s ; the ladies had not left town. Y: Silversparri, who sang; deemed the finest voice in Stockholm. Home at 8 and set to reading plays. This morning called at Breda's to see your picture. It has been varnished and is perfectly restored. It is very much (and very justly) admired. How much I wish I could get a copy made by Breda! Raining hard all day and evening. Read till 12. The plays are: “Le Judgement de Midas,²” three acts, prose, par M. d’Hele, Paris: 1778; a very trifling little thing; the music and scenery may make anything charming. “Misanthrope Repentir³” traduit de l’allemand de Kotzebu par Bursay; Paris an: VIII.⁴ I like this better than the English translation under the name of the “Stranger.” “Camille ou le Souterrain,⁵” three acts, Paris: 1791; par Marsollier. A jealous husband without any reasonable cause confines Camille, a very lovely and virtuous woman, a whole year in a deep vault, lying on the ground, subsisting on a scanty portion of coarse bread and water. He is suspected of having killed her, and being seized by order of the King, the story comes out. Camille is too happy that her honour is justified and she restored to her dear husband. They embrace and all is made up; not even an apology on his part. Is it possible that a Parisian audience in ‘91 could relish such a tale! In the first scene there is something like wit and humour; afterwards a series of impossibilities and absurdities. “Le Jeune Sage et le Vieux Fou⁶”; one act, par Hoffman; Paris: 1793; well enough for a bagatelle. “Raoul Sire de Crequi⁷”; three acts, par M. Monvel; Paris: 1789; well enough calculated for stage effect. “Felix ou l’Enfant Trouve⁸”; anon.; Paris: 1778; impossibilities and absurdities in quantity; without wit or humour. “Jeu de la Fortune ou les Marionettes⁹”; five acts, par L.B. Picard; Paris: 1806; full of rapid reverses of fortune; love and friendship follow wealth and abandon poverty; men, women, servants, all rascals, time-serving, cringing sycophants; the only exception is a little paysanne¹⁰ who adheres to her lover through all changes, though he had abandoned her when he became suddenly rich; the design of the play is well illustrated, but gives a most disgusting, probably true, picture of the times.

1  Undecipherable. 2  “The Judgment of Midas.” 3  Should be “Misanthropie et Repentir.” “Misanthropy and Repentance.” 4  Translated from the German of Kotzebue by Bursay; Paris: Year VIII. 5  “Camille, or the Vault.” 6  “The Wise Youth and the Old Fool.” 7  The actual title is “Raoul de Crequi.” 8  “Felix, or the Foundling.” 9  “The Game of Fortune, or the Puppet-show.” 10  Peasant girl.

An air-to-air view of a camouflaged A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, participating in exercise Cool Snow Hog '82-1.

Subject Operation/Series: COOL SNOW HOG '82-1 Base: Kotzebue Air Force Station State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Camera Operator: SSGT Bill Thompson Release Status: Released to Public

via National Archives

very funny to me that malamute people that LOOOVE m'loot lines promote them as these thicker, coarser dogs when every voelker m'loot i have seen photos of is like: thin head, huge ears, long legs, thin bone.

SALMONBERRIES (1991) dir. Percy Adlon A woman who grew up in a small town in Alaska goes to the public library to try and find out who her parents were. She was brought to town as a baby in a cardboard box with "Kotzebue" on it, which is the name of the town and also the name of the family that founded the town. She eventually befriends the librarian, an East German immigrant who lost her husband while escaping from behind the Iron Curtain. They help each other try to find closure to the events in their past. (link in title)

He who compares these three accounts will, I think, form a tolerably accurate conception of the present state of Tahiti.

"Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries Visited During the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle Round the World, 1832-36" - Charles Darwin

Hunter Keefe, bib 10, at the Ceremonial Start and ReStart of Iditarod 52. The fan favorite who barely missed being rookie of the year in Iditarod 51 had a rough second time on the trek to Nome. While heading to the Western Coast of Alaska he was forced to scratch after one of his dogs expired due to unknown reasons (test results are still pending, a necropsy came back inconclusive). Rules state that a musher who has a dog expire must scratch if the death is not due to an outside force (drunk on snow machine, homicidal moose, etc). Before having to scratch Hunter was well on his way to having a similar finish to his rookie run, and was running in 10th place. His season of racing had been a solid, and he is known for his excellent dog care. Before the Iditarod began he was excited to have drawn bib number 10 as that's the number he wore the year he dressed up as an Iditarod Musher for Halloween as a child.

Keefe and team rallied a few weeks later for a final race of the season traveling to Kotzebue to run the Kobuk 440. The musher stated his team was too good of a dog team to finish on a sour note and that they deserved to run. They came in second place behind Jessie Holmes.

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