Local historian David Reamer continues his weekly series on Alaska history by delving into an eclectic assortment of Alaskana items that reflect the state’s rich narrative.
This week, he showcases three unusual collectibles: a card from 1892, a sticker from 1988, and a T-shirt from 1989.
First on the list is the 1892 Arbuckle Brothers Coffee premium, part of their Pictorial History of the United States and Territories series.
While the name Arbuckle may not ring a bell for many today, the brand played a pivotal role in shifting American coffee consumption during the latter part of the 19th century.
Before brands like Folgers and Arbuckle entered the market, Americans typically bought green coffee which they roasted at home, a tedious task often left to children.
The company was founded by brothers Charles and John Arbuckle, who revolutionized the coffee experience by perfecting a unique roasting process.
In 1865, John developed a coating that preserved coffee flavor by locking out moisture.
This innovative glaze, a mix of eggs, gelatin, Irish moss, isinglass, and sugar, gave Arbuckle coffee its distinctive taste and made it compact and easy to ship.
As a result, Arbuckle coffee became one of America’s first national brands, finding particular popularity in the Southwest where it was dubbed “the coffee that won the West.”
Legends suggest that some cowboys were so loyal to the brand, they were unaware of any other coffee options.
In addition to its flavor, Arbuckle coffee became known for its innovative marketing strategies.
Each bag included a peppermint stick as a bonus, promoting a tradition where whoever ground the beans would get the treat.
Arbuckle also released various series of trading card premiums, which included colorful maps, birds, and cooking scenes, in addition to running promotions that offered a diverse range of redeemable products from razor blades to wedding rings.
The Pictorial History series featured 50 trading cards illustrating each continental state and territory as of 1892, when only 44 states existed.
The series was devoid of Utah, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii, all of which would become states by 1959.
The Alaska card showcases three scenes – an unidentified Alaska Native village, a sea lion rookery, and notably, the Grenville Channel, which is located off British Columbia’s coast rather than in Alaska.
This inclusion demonstrates the limited knowledge that existed about Alaska at that time, especially preceding the Klondike gold rush.
People from smaller states lacked familiarity with towns like Juneau or Sitka, let alone the more remote villages in Alaska.
The text on the back of the card discusses early Russian exploration, gold mining, and sea lion hunting.
An interesting note reveals that, “Under the strong influence of Seward and Sumner, the United States bought Alaska in 1867 for $7,200,000 in gold.”
This narrative positions Alaska not as a poor investment, which was a myth that gained traction in the 20th century, but rather as a place filled with endless mineral wealth and resources waiting to be uncovered.
The card mentions early gold discoveries starting in 1877 at Silver Bay, near Sitka, with significant amounts extracted quickly thereafter.
In total, over $1,000,000 in gold dust was mined from these locations, bolstering the belief in Alaska’s rich deposits and fisheries.
Given this optimistic view, the card reflects the prevailing belief of the time regarding Alaska’s potential for wealth, contrasting the later perception of the Alaska Purchase as a folly.
Arbuckle coffee was featured in at least two more card sets, including the 1889 Illustrated Atlas of the United States and the 1893 History of the Sports and Pastimes of All Nations.
However, by 1935, the cherished brand ceased to exist when it was absorbed by Maxwell House.
Although the Arbuckle name was revived years later, it had no direct association with the original brand.
Next in this collection is a sticker from 1988, part of the Reyauca Super Marca Mania series.
This sticker, resembling the shape and size of a business card, features a fictional logo for “Alaska Ski,” alongside numerous recognizable company logos such as McDonald’s, Fanta, and Texaco.
The term “Marca” means brand or trademark in Spanish, reflecting the diverse assortment of corporate representations within the sticker set.
This example illustrates how even in distant locations like Venezuela, Alaska held enough allure to be included in branded merchandise.
While Alaska may not always be the most renowned U.S. state, it is far from unknown, having garnered a reputation through its rich historical narratives, diverse wildlife, and stunning landscapes.
The sticker serves as a reminder that perceptions of Alaska often stem from misunderstandings; the simplistic representation of Alaska in this sticker, adorned only with trees and mountains, suggests a lack of depth in depicting the state’s vastness and unique characteristics.
Finally, we have a vintage T-shirt showcasing a sled dog team in Nome with the phrase, “1989 The Men Are Back On Top.”
This refers to the 1989 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, notable for being the only year within a span of six that a male musher, Joe Runyan, triumphed.
This victory was especially noteworthy because it followed five consecutive wins by women, with Susan Butcher and Libby Riddles leading the charge in previous years.
In a predominantly male sphere, the prominence of Butcher and Riddles brought unique attention to the role of women in the Iditarod.
Their exceptional performances earned them substantial media coverage, including features in high-profile publications like Sports Illustrated and Vogue.
Susan Butcher notably visited the White House in 1987, where she presented a bootie worn by her lead dog to President Ronald Reagan, further solidifying her celebrity status.
Following Runyan’s victory, media outlets continued to draw attention to the dynamic between male and female mushers, stirring up various reactions in the community.
In the wake of this victory, a playful yet controversial T-shirt emerged with the slogan, “Alaska, Where Men Are Men And Women Win The Iditarod.”
This statement, often accompanied by variations in merchandise, drew both support and backlash within the community.
In 1989, the Daily News published a playful image of five women jumping in a chorus line wearing a shirt that read, “Alaska, Where Men Are Men And Women Let Men Win The Iditarod.”
While intended as humor, the shirt sparked controversy, receiving multiple letters expressing outrage over its implications.
Amidst humor, there was palpable jealousy among some male mushers, and proposals for separate races for men and women were voiced by a few individuals, including the five-time champion Rick Swenson, who suggested men race with more dogs because of their weight.
These suggestions, however, were not adopted, as the Iditarod maintained its inclusivity, though tensions remained evident, particularly in 1994, when a biography stated, “After the 1987 Iditarod, Susan’s friendship with Rick Swenson ended.”
In a pre-digital world, the significance of T-shirts, bumper stickers, and other merchandise became a channel for expressing identity and values.
The 1989 “Men Are Back On Top” T-shirt captured male frustrations, underscoring the unique cultural narrative present in Alaska at that time.
This exploration of historical Alaskana continues next week, promising a different T-shirt, a lighter, and some unexpected surprises as Reamer invites readers to further contemplate Alaska’s fascinating history through its collectibles.
image source from：adn
