The Alaska State Archives recently announced the initial release of recordings of the Alaska Constitutional Convention. This digitized collection represents approximately 220 hours of all plenary sessions and most meetings of the Committee of the Whole during the Alaska Constitutional Convention held at the University of Alaska Fairbanks from Nov. 8, 1955, until Feb. 6, 1956. The meetings were recorded by Mr. Carroza, station manager of KFAR in Fairbanks. In 2008, with funding from the Alaska Historical Society, the recordings were digitized.
So far the proceedings from November 1955 to February 1956 have been posted to http://bit.ly/nq9Eml, allowing listeners to hear the opening and closing of the convention. The recordings are compatible with mobile devices such as iPhones.
The rest of the recordings will be posted by mid-October 2011. Questions about this project may be directed either to Daniel Cornwall at daniel.cornwall@alaska.gov or to Chris Hieb at chris.hieb@alaska.gov.
Comments (2)
Add commentThe opening began with a state introduced Jesus prayer..
This was a time when law did not allow atheists to serve as honorable jury members. How far we atheists have come. We are still the least trusted segment of US society in poll after poll but at least we are receiving equal treatment in many more areas than in this era.
Yes far, unlike Jesus who is still expected to guide politicians to dizzying prosperity while tackling genetic birth defects in Africa caused by Eve scrumping an apple. And how come Jesus can't seem to figure out how to miraculously heal amputees yet? He's had like 6,000 years to perfect that skill according to Rick Perry's geologic timescale.
Mike
(Nothing personal against the admirable work of these AK Constitution Framers, who surely included one closeted agnostic).
My view
In response to Mike, I am glad to see that the records from the State Constitutional Convention have now been "digitized," and made available to the public.
I don't think it has anything to do with religious beliefs, nor politicians today.
From all I know, there was a time fifty-two years ago, when Alaskan people sought a way to statehood. It was called the Tennessee plan. That is draft a constitution, elect two senators and a representative, then go to Washington and tell the Congress that we have a constitution and elected delegates and are ready to be recognized as a new State. They won.
From all that I have read and heard, this was a sort of amazing group of Alaskans that came together. They were selected by local people in "mining districts" to represent the people. They were not selected by membership in a political party.
They came together in Fairbanks, away from the politics and special interests in the territorial capital of Juneau. With the great knowledge, wisdom and advice of Tom Stewart, and the help and advice of experts who knew how to draft constitutions, they produced what is considered today to be one of the finest state constitutions in the United States.
The whole process had nothing to do with being Christians, Muslims or atheists or even agnostics. It was a fantastic product of true democracy and government.
How all of this came about has never been clearly told nor explained to the general public. Now that the accounts have been made available, I think it is a great gift to the people of Alaska.
I will not complain. All I will say is "Thank you members of the Constitutional Convention wherever you may be now."