UAF Archives preserves history, makes it accessible
By: Jonathan Wasilewski
Archivist Fawn Carter pulls a box of records from the shelves while discussing the challenges of physical storage space, June 3, 2026.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Archives, located on the second floor of the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, holds a massive collection of donated photographs, journals, and manuscripts with a sharp focus on Alaska and the Polar North.
Founded in 1965 by Paul McCarthy and H. Theodore “Ted” Ryberg, the Alaska and Polar Regions Collections and Archives had adventurous beginnings. Archivist Fawn Carter noted that the founders actually traveled down the Yukon River, stopping at old gold miners’ cabins along the way to collect materials and jumpstart the university's collection.
Today, Carter says the Archives operates on two main goals: preservation and access. Without these efforts, she warns, individual perspectives could be lost forever.
“It’s so important to capture those for various reasons: for history’s sake; for accountability; to see different people’s perspectives," Carter said. "Those are all vital for understanding how we are today.”
Assistant Archivist Monica Oatman smiles inside the climate-controlled archival room at the UAF Rasmuson Library, June 4, 2026.
However, preserving that history has become trickier in the digital age. “It sounds like it would be easier, but it’s way more complicated than paper,” Carter said, noting that digital files still degrade. If materials aren't actively migrated to safer, more stable formats like TIFF, RAW, or PDFs, they risk being lost. “There’s a big gap in [preserving] digital materials.”
Space is another premium. “We collect, oh my gosh, anything pretty much that’s paper and is unique,” Carter said. “We’re almost at capacity down here.” To conserve space, the archives relies on consolidation and returning materials to donors if they haven't been officially signed over.
Because of this massive influx of information, people often confuse the department's purpose. Archival Process and Applications Technician Tyler Walker explained the key difference between UAF’s archives and a traditional museum: while museums focus on the preservation of physical artifacts, the UAF Archives is strictly focused on preserving unique information.
Archival Process and Applications Technician Tyler Walker displays the UAF Archives’ website in his office, June 3, 2026.
Making that information accessible to the public is where the modern world steps in. Assistant Archivist Monica Oatman helps bridge the gap by managing a Reddit account and a YouTube channel dedicated to showcasing the Archives’ film collections.
For those looking to dive deeper, visiting or contributing to the collection is straightforward. The public can explore materials online, book an in-person research appointment, or contact staff to donate historical items.
“We have people from Europe [and] all over who’ve come here to do research,” said Carter. “We just ask for a one-day notice, at least, to make sure that we have enough staffing and that we can actually find the materials that they want.”
Whether it’s a century-old journal, a box of photographs, or a hard drive full of digital files, the staff's mission remains the same: ensuring that individual Alaska stories are not lost to time.