Rosa Miller Photograph Collection, 1900-2000 | Sealaska Heritage Institute Archives

This collection consists of approximately 400 photographs dating to between 1900 and 2000 that were obtained from Tlingit Indian Rosa Miller. As of 2009 Miller lived in Juneau, was an active member of the Auk’w Kwáan Tlingit and Alaska Native Sisterhood.

This collection consists of photographs collected by or taken by Rosa Miller and her mother Bessie Visaya, and most photos in the collection concern the Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS) and Tlingit events in Juneau. While there are some older images in the collection of family dating back to 1900, most images in this collection date between 1950 and 1985 and show members of ANS or ANB (Alaska Native Brotherhood) at various meetings and grand camp conventions. Also included are photos showing the dedication of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Vocational Training & Resource Center Building in Juneau, and the Auk’w Kwáan dedication of the Goldbelt Corporation Building, circa 1970s. Most photos in the collection are unlabeled, but a small portion contains information penned on the reverse of the images by Rosa Miller.

The collection consists of separate purchases from Miller. At the time of first purchase in 2009, these photos were housed in an old photograph album. The images were removed from this album by archival staff in the order as arranged by Miller, and then placed in archival photograph sleeves. These photographs are contained in folders 1 and 2. A third folder also contains newspaper clippings and photocopies of the photos that provide identification information about some events captured in the photographs in this collection, as well as information about Rosa Miller’s family, such as her mother, Bessie Visaya. The second back of photographs, which were purchased in 2010, were loose and no original order existed. These photographs were grouped together by date, and then photograph size. These photographs are found in folders 5 and 6. Photos purchased in 2011 also contained little to no original order, but have been arranged beginning with folder 7.

Researcher Note: SHI also contains a collection of photographs donated to SHI by Rosa Miller’s mother, Bessie Visaya, which can be found in PO018: The Bessie Visaya Photograph Collection.