The Pioneers of Alaska is a fraternal organization that gathers and preserves the relics and early history of Alaska and works for the betterment of all Alaskans.
Little Sister of Liberty
Damage to Helment Rays
Between 1949 and 1950 the Boy Scouts of America Troops donated over two hundred replicas of the Statue of Liberty to communities in 39 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Canal Zone and the Philippines to promote their 40th anniversary theme of “Strengthen the Arm of Liberty”.
The statues were approximately 8 feet tall and were made from over 40 sheets of copper about the thickness of a nickel and cost $300 to $350 each.
Weather and vandalism have taken its toll over the past 70 years and today slightly more than 100 of the statues are known to remain.
The City of Juneau received one of the statues in 1951 and since that time it has had quite a history. It appears to never have been erected and survived in storage until the early 1970s when it was moved to the National Guard Armory where it remained until the early 1990’s. It was then sold by state surplus. It was then subjected to being transported haphazardly around in the back of pick-up trucks and outside storage which resulted insignificant damage including but not limited to separation of the spikes on the crown, multiple cracks in the copper sheeting, separation of several joints due to corrosion of the solder that held it together and a twist in the arm that holds the torch.
The statue was recovered by our igloos and is currently being restored by Men’s Igloo President Brad Austin.
Once the restoration is completed the statue will be presented back to the City and Borough of Juneau.
Crack in Arm Twist in Torch Arm
The Pioneers of Alaska was originally formed in Nome in February of 1907. Juneau Men’s Igloo 6 was chartered on April 4, 1913 and Women’s Igloo 6 was originally chartered as Women's Auxiliary 6 on March 31, 1922. They were one of many organizations formed in the early territorial days for social purposes and to keep alive the memory of the early trailblazers. The members banded together to overcome natural disasters such as floods, fires, illness and lack of supplies often providing food, housing and medical assistance to those in need. The Pioneers helped bury the dead and notify friends and relatives in distant homelands. The early membership application forms included a physical description (color of hair, eyes, height and weight) which helped identify those who died on the trail or alone in a remote cabin.
Initially, membership was limited to men who had established residency in Alaska prior to January 1, 1900. In 1912, Women’s Auxiliaries were created with the same requirements. The present day requirement for membership is that you must have lived in Alaska cumulatively for 20 years, or longer. The application no longer requires the physical characteristics.
105th Pioneers of Alaska Grand Igloo Convention
The Emblem
By Florence Tobin
The official emblem of the Pioneers of Alaska is a circular gold button. The most prominent feature of this emblem is a pair of snowshoes, crossed on the face of the button. They represent one of the means of travel in the North so familiar to the Pioneers. One can easily distinguish the button of the Pioneers from that of any other organization, and no other country could have a similar emblem for each mark distinctly typifies Alaska. Behind the snowshoes is the North Star, which appears to shine more brightly in Alaska than anywhere else. Under the star is a low mountain range at the base of which is the sea. The mountain range depicts Alaska as it appears geographically – with its mountains both inland and on the coast. The Aurora Borealis, so frequently seen in Alaska, is also pictured behind the snowshoes.
This is our little emblem. We have Alaska represented in several different ways; the snowshoes, representing the Pioneers themselves, the North Star and the Aurora Borealis, the beauty from the heavens, and the mountains and the
sea, the beauty of the land.
It is, on the whole, a beautiful button, carefully colored and beautifully composed. We should be proud of the emblem of the Pioneers of Alaska, not only because we are permitted to wear it but for what it stands.
Pioneers of Alaska, The Trail Blazers of Bygone Days,
William Henry Chase, 1951
The official emblem of the Pioneers of Alaska is a circular gold button. The most prominent feature of this emblem is a pair of snowshoes, crossed on the face of the button. They represent one of the means of travel in the North so familiar to the Pioneers. One can easily distinguish the button of the Pioneers from that of any other organization, and no other country could have a similar emblem for each mark distinctly typifies Alaska. Behind the snowshoes is the North Star, which appears to shine more brightly in Alaska than anywhere else. Under the star is a low mountain range at the base of which is the sea. The mountain range depicts Alaska as it appears geographically – with its mountains both inland and on the coast. The Aurora Borealis, so frequently seen in Alaska, is also pictured behind the snowshoes.
