Walter Harper, Alaska Native Son

Walter Harper was the youngest child of Jenny Albert and Arthur Harper, a legendary Irish gold prospector. He was hired as a riverboat pilot and winter trail guide by Episcopal archdeacon Hudson Stuck, and they developed a father-son-like bond. Harper planned to become a medical missionary but died in the SS Princess Sophia disaster in 1918.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 222 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2023
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Born in 1893,Walter Harper was the youngest child of Jenny Albert and the legendary Irish gold prospector Arthur Harper. His parents separated shortly after his birth,and his mother raised Walter in the Athabascan tradition,speaking her Koyukon Athabascan language. When Walter was seventeen years old,Episcopal archdeacon Hudson Stuck hired the skilled and charismatic youth as his riverboat pilot and winter trail guide. As the two traveled among Interior Alaskas Episcopal missions,they developed a father-son-like bond and together summited Mount Denali in 1913. Walter remained grounded in his birth culture as his Western education expanded,and he became a leader and a bridge between Alaska Native peoples and Westerners in the Alaska Territory. He planned to become a medical missionary in Interior Alaska,but his life was cut short at the age of twenty-five,in the SS Princess Sophia disaster near Skagway,Alaska,in 1918. Harper exemplified resilience in an era when rapid socioeconomic and cultural change were wreaking havoc in Alaska Native villages.

Walter Harper, a remarkable Irish Athabascan man, holds a significant place in Alaska's history. Born in 1893, he was the youngest child of Jenny Albert and the legendary Irish gold prospector Arthur Harper. Unfortunately, his parents separated shortly after his birth, and his mother raised him in the Athabascan tradition, speaking her Koyukon Athabascan language. At the age of seventeen, Walter's life took an intriguing turn when Episcopal archdeacon Hudson Stuck hired him as a riverboat pilot and winter trail guide. As they journeyed through Interior Alaskas Episcopal missions, a strong bond formed between Walter and Stuck, resembling a father-son relationship. Together, they achieved a remarkable feat by summiting Mount Denali in 1913.

Walter remained deeply connected to his birth culture as his Western education expanded. He became a respected leader and a bridge between Alaska Native peoples and Westerners in the Alaska Territory. His aspirations were to become a medical missionary in Interior Alaska, a testament to his commitment to serving his community. However, his life tragically ended at the age of twenty-five in the SS Princess Sophia disaster near Skagway, Alaska, in 1918.

Walter Harper's story exemplifies resilience in a time of rapid socioeconomic and cultural change that wreaked havoc in Alaska Native villages. His determination, skill, and unwavering connection to his heritage made him a remarkable figure who left a lasting impact on the region. His legacy continues to inspire and remind us of the diverse and remarkable individuals who have shaped Alaska's history.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496236906