Picking up where her aunt, Phyllis Downing Carlson (Aunt Phil), a respected and dedicated historian of Alaska, left off, Laurel Downing Bill has compiled a comprehensive account of Alaska’s history. Combining the research of her late aunt and her own extensive research, Bill’s book, Aunt Phil’s Trunk, Volume One, discusses the history of Alaska starting with the first inhabitants of the land through the Alaskan gold rushes. With rich details, a comfortable and inviting writing style, and countless supplementary photographs, drawings, and maps, the story of Alaska is brought to life.

From the title itself, Aunt Phil’s Trunk, readers can tell that they have picked up a history book that is a little different than most. This is not a stuffy tome of text that drones on about inconsequential details or in lofty speech that only a scholar can appreciate. Instead, Aunt Phil’s Trunk succeeds in being highly educational and informative while still being an entertaining and enjoyable read. It contains within its pages a conversational tone that delivers fascinating accounts of Alaska’s rich history. I never really considered myself overly interested in the history of Alaska, but I’m so glad that my curiosity got the better of me, and I picked up a copy of this book. If more history texts were written like this one, then I think there would be more interest in the topic.

I highly recommend this book for history buffs and anyone wanting to know more about Alaska’s heritage. I also believe that this book would be an excellent addition to high school classrooms, since it is such an easy, entertaining, and informative read. I’ll definitely be hanging on to this book, and I look forward into to delving into Phyllis Downing Carlson and Laurel Downing Bill’s volumes 2-5 of Aunt Phil’s Trunk as well.

Aunt Phil’s Trunk: Volume One Bringing Alaska’s History Alive is a historical work co-written by Phyllis Downing Carlson and her niece, Laurel Downing Bill. Carlson was a teacher and author who amassed a lifetime’s worth of pictures, articles and stories about her beloved home state, Alaska. This 5-volume history has been compiled, edited and written by her niece. Volume 1 covers the early history of Alaska, starting from settlement of the first Asiatic travelers across the Bering land bridge. The volume describes the Russian expansion into Alaska, the purchase of Seward’s Folly by the United States and the subsequent gold rushes that made Alaska the stuff of dreams for adventure seekers. There’s an impressive stockpile of photographs that make this very much a pictorial history.

Phyllis Downing Carlson and her niece, Laurel Downing Bill’s pictorial history, Aunt Phil’s Trunk: Volume One Bringing Alaska’s History Alive does what it sets out to do – it really does bring Alaska’s history alive. I was enthralled by the stories and marveled at the photographs that are such an integral part of this work. The depth and extent of the research conducted by these authors is remarkable. I loved the descriptions and pictures of the earliest tribes, and the stories of how they lived and survived in this harsh environment. The gold rush stories are also superb, with accompanying pictures that make all the history one might have learned in school feel so much more complete and real. The images of prospectors hauling their supplies up icy heights are ones I won’t be forgetting any time soon, but my favorite story of all is that of Reindeer Mary. Also, at the end of the book is a marvelous bibliography filled with an impressive amount of sources. Anyone who thinks that history is dry, dead and boring should give this work a try and they’ll be quite pleasantly surprised. Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume One: Bringing Alaska’s History Alive is an enthralling adventure and is highly recommended.

If you like reading historical novels, then you will appreciate these fascinating tales and rich heritage of Alaska. Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume One: Bringing Alaska’s History Alive by Laurel Downing Bill explains how Alaska first came under Russian dominance. The greed for sealskins, pelts and other valuable commodities depleted the wildlife population. They also ill-treated the Alaska Natives, forcing them to work under inhumane conditions. Some of these stories were of the shamans who possessed healing powers. Alaska was the new frontier, undeveloped and filled with untapped prosperity for new settlers. Many countries sent naval ships on expeditions to claim a piece of this intriguing land. Another interesting historical account was how the U.S. government acquired Alaska from Russia.

Laurel Downing Bill did a remarkable job writing this book and illustrating it with hundreds of historical photographs. Her aunt, Phyllis Downing Carlson, was a respected historian who published many articles on Alaskan history. The author used these articles, along with her own notes and research, to compile this well documented book appropriately called Aunt Phil’s Trunk. I have read historical books on Alaska, but this is the first one that has given more in-depth information and recorded stories about explorers, Eskimos, missionaries, and other persons who all played significant roles in the development of one of the most important states of America. The book is unbiased in content and one that I found intriguing and knowledgeable, and I have learned a lot from reading this.

Aunt Phil’s Trunk by Laurel Downing Bill is a historical journey through Alaska. It tells of the adventurers that shaped Alaska into what it is today and of the Eskimos, the first people known to have inhabited Alaska. It talks of the famous Klondike Gold Rush and a connection Alaska has to the U.S. Civil War. It is the first part of a history gathered by two women, through research and interviews, through hard work and perseverance. It answers a lot of questions and it raises many others that remain unanswered to this day. These are questions that are perhaps best left unanswered as they may change the way we see Alaska. Join us as we start our voyage, the first leg of our journey through a barren and beautiful country with a history as rich as that of any other old world country.

Aunt Phil’s Trunk by Laurel Downing Bill was a fascinating read, a real insight into the one place I want to visit. It is a bit of an eye-opener and the book has been written in a wonderfully narrative way that makes you feel as though you have been transported there. Laurel Bill has a way with words that made me want to keep on reading and makes me want to read the other books in the series. The amazing photographs were a wonderful addition and made the stories seem even more real. Praise to Laurel Bill for a fantastic journey, one I want to continue.

“Anyone who thinks that history is dry, dead and boring should give this work a try and they’ll be quite pleasantly surprised. ‘Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume One: Bringing Alaska’s History Alive’ is an enthralling adventure and is highly recommended.”

Aunt Phil’s Trunk: Volume Three of Bringing Alaska’s History Alive is part of the continuing historical nonfiction series co-written by Phyllis Downing Carlson and her niece, Laurel Downing Bill. Both authors grew up in Alaska and the result is a series of living history texts based on their own experiences and Carlson’s lifelong interest in, and historical research on, the state’s history and cultural development. Much of the third volume is concerned with the latter part of the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries and how previously inaccessible and remote areas of the state were brought together through the pioneering efforts of dog sledders, early automobile enthusiasts and aviators. Downing grew up in Cordova, Alaska, one of the last towns in the state to be reached by airplane. The descriptions of that town’s planned celebrations and later disappointments as each planned visit was cancelled due to extreme climate conditions is especially poignant.

Volume Three of Phyllis Downing Carlson and Laurel Downing Bill’s history series, Aunt Phil’s Trunk: Bringing Alaska’s History Alive is filled with tales of adventurers and explorers who loom larger than life. There’s the story of Dr. J.B. Beeson who traveled over 1,000 miles via a relay series of dog sleds from Anchorage to Iditarod to attend a gravely ill patient, and the follow-up account of how heroic mushers and their dogs averted a diphtheria outbreak by relaying serum through arctic conditions to Nome, Alaska. We also learn how the first cars were brought north and of the efforts of the first tour bus operator to recruit Mae West as an assistant. Then there are accounts of the visit of Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer, and the story behind the first blimp to touch Alaskan soil, and the first Arctic crossings. And that’s just a very small portion of the marvelous trip through history you’ll experience within the pages of Aunt Phil’s Trunk: Volume Three of Bringing Alaska’s History Alive. I’ve had a grand time reading this series, and the armchair adventurer in me especially enjoyed this volume. It’s highly recommended.

“I highly recommend this book for history buffs and anyone wanting to know more about Alaska’s heritage.”

Laurel Downing Bill opens her aunt’s trunk of historic notes once more in Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume 3. This volume starts with the happenings in Alaska during the onset of World War I and the signing of the Alaska Railroad Act by Woodrow Wilson in 1914. This act caused the development of Anchorage and the continued settlement of Alaska. Bill, using the detailed notes and research of her late aunt, Phyllis Downing Carlson (Aunt Phil), recounts the events of the following decades, including the construction of the railroad, aviation exploration, Anchorage’s early development into a thriving city, and the tragedy of the influenza pandemic that struck in 1918. Laurel Downing Bill’s third volume of Aunt Phil’s Trunk celebrates the resilience, ingenuity, and heroism of Alaskan residents in the early to mid-1900s. Bill’s strength from the very beginning of this collection has been in giving history a voice. Rather than dry accounts of historical fact, her collection brings historical moments to life. In this volume, many of the heroes of Alaska are allowed to tell their story, those that bring laughter, those that bring cheers, and even those that bring tears. Readers will learn about entrepreneurs Z.J. Loussac and Austin E. “Cap” Lathrop, the start of the Alaska baseball league by William F. Mulcahy, and the heroics of dog sled driver Leonhard Seppala and the other runners who braved the extreme conditions of Alaska’s winter in order to deliver diphtheria vaccine. These are just a few of the characters that are concisely and intriguingly explored in Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume 3. Once again, Laurel Downing Bill has provided an enjoyable and exciting account of Alaskan history. I highly recommend Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume 3 and the rest of her collection.

“Laurel Bill has a way with words that made me want to keep on reading and makes me want to read the other books in the series. The amazing photographs were a wonderful addition and made the stories seem even more real. Praise to Laurel Bill for a fantastic journey, one I want to continue.”

Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume 3 continues the story of Alaska’s history, told by Laurel Downing Bill. This volume covers the period 1912 to 1935 and tells, amongst other things, how the railroad was continued to connect the north to the south, Fairbanks to Seward, and how Anchorage came into the story. It talks of how transportation changed the face of Alaska – from the train, dog sleds and horse carriages to cars and bicycles. And, let’s not forget the number of great aviators who turned the way we see Alaska on its head. The story of the dog sled run to get diphtheria serum to Nome is included, along with an earlier story of another dog sled run, which inspired this method of making sure the serum got where it was needed, and how it became the starting point for the Iditarod, which still runs as an annual event to this day. Many other stories and hundreds of photographs bring Alaska’s history alive in the third volume of Aunt Phil’s Trunk.

Once again, Laurel Downing Bill has brought Alaska to life with a stunning historical account. Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume 3 is as good, if not better than the preceding two books as it brings earlier history into context. Amazingly written, Laurel Bill has a way of grabbing the reader’s attention and holding on fast! Still loving those photographs and learning so much as I read. This is better than a history lesson in a classroom any day of the week and I can’t wait to get my hands on Volume 4.

“If you like reading historical novels, then you will appreciate these fascinating tales and rich heritage of Alaska … Laurel Downing Bill did a remarkable job writing this book and illustrating it with hundreds of historical photographs.”

Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume Three by Laurel Downing Bill contains valuable historical information and interesting stories about the entrepreneurial expansion and technological modernization of Alaska during the years 1912-1935. Alaska grew in population, and so did opportunities for skilled and unskilled workers. Laborers were needed to build railroads that would link towns. Many people became trendsetters with ventures that would benefit the country. Motor vehicles were seen as replacements for horses and mushers with dogs. Another advancement was aviation, which significantly reduced hours spent traveling inland and delivered mail promptly. The main disadvantage of aviation and motor vehicles was poor weather that delayed travel, so mushers and dogs still played vital roles in transportation. Volume Three also shares how humorist Will Rogers and pilot Wiley Post died in 1935 when their plane crashed in a storm near Barrow. Bill also discusses how diseases traveled to Alaska with immigrants, including the “Great Sickness” of 1918 (Spanish flu) and a diphtheria outbreak that threatened to wipe out the village of Nome in 1925. Mushers and their dog teams raced vials of diphtheria serum north to save the people who lived there. Alaska offered a promising future, but one had to work under extremely hard conditions to claim it.

Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume Three describes an exciting period that sees Alaska being transformed. There are authentic photos that depict Alaska’s people and environment. An interesting story was the Natives’ battle for equal rights. Another was the government’s poor planning and negligence to build schools. The author wrote well and entertained me with historical stories and anecdotes of the country’s development.

Aunt Phil’s Trunk: Volume Two continues the Bringing Alaska’s History Alive Series written by Phyllis Downing Carlson and her niece, Laurel Downing Bill. This volume covers much of the exploration and resource development that took place in Alaska during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It expands the first volume’s discussion of the fur trade and the gold rush, and the rise of Alaska’s cities to accommodate them, into an exploration of the development of Alaska’s other natural resources: coal, copper, timber and even rubies. Fans of Western folklore and the gunfights at the OK Corral will enjoy Carlson and Bill’s coverage of Wyatt Earp and the development of Alaska’s law enforcement and judicial system. Throughout the work, the reader will find dozens of photographs, making each step in this pictorial history come alive.

History, geography, true tales of adventure, obsession, action and adventure — Aunt Phil’s Trunk: Volume Two of the Bringing Alaska’s History Alive Series has it all. Author Laurel Downing Bill had me spellbound as I read the stories and studied the maps and experienced vicariously the hardships and the excitement of exploration through the incredible pictures that accompany the text. My favorite sections cover the establishment of the reindeer herds, the development of the Iditarod Trail and the early mountaineering efforts to summit Mount St. Elias and Denali, but I’d be hard pressed to name a section of Aunt Phil’s Trunk: Volume Two that didn’t make me want to read more and share a few of the really good bits with my friends. Bill and Carlson really do bring Alaska’s History alive in Aunt Phil’s Trunk: Volume Two and it’s a joy to experience. Aunt Phil’s Trunk: Volume Two of the Bringing Alaska’s History Alive Series is highly recommended.

Book 2 is everything I thought it would be, based on book 1, and a little more. An excellent read!

The history of Alaska comes alive once more in Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume 2. Compiled from the countless notes and research done by her late aunt, Phyllis Downing Carlson, and her own painstaking researching, Laurel Downing Bill has once again created a fascinating account of Alaska’s history and the characters that made it the state it is today. Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume 2 starts out where Volume 1 left off, with the gold rush in Alaska, and continues through to the eruption of Katmai in 1912.

It is obvious that Laurel Downing Bill has channeled her aunt’s passion and love for Alaska. Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume 2 has a heart that other history texts lack. Her intrigue, interest, and even the humor she finds in the events that have formed the great state of Alaska are infectious. Residents of Alaska can take great pride in the grand accounts that can be found in this book, while those who have never been there can get a glimmer of the beauty and antiquity that lies within its lands. As I said before with the first volume of this collection, Bill’s text is far from boring or stuffy, like many history books that often never get farther than offering the blandest of facts. It is instead an amusing read that allows readers to learn as they are being entertained.

Bill’s book is chock full of first person accounts and photographs, which allows the imagination of the reader to rebuild the landscape. I often found myself smiling at the motley of characters that braved the harsh wintry lands in order to settle Alaska. Once again, I highly recommend Aunt Phil’s Trunk by Laurel Downing Bill. It is a fascinating read that is sure to enthrall both scholars and casual readers alike.

Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume Two – Bringing Alaska’s History Alive by Laurel Downing Bill is a continuation of a series of books that detail the history of Alaska. Running from 1900 to 1912, Volume 2 covers an incredible amount of history. Following on from the great Gold Rush, this account follows the Vaudeville period, of how the actors spent their time entertaining the gold miners. Stories include those of the railway men who used guns to settle their disputes, early accounts of the criminals of Alaska and how the lawmen dealt with them – and of how, sometimes, the criminals were in fact those who were supposed to be protecting the law! It tells the story of how the mail route was built, of the Iditarod Trail, which is still used to this day, and it ends with a massive volcanic eruption in 1912 – the eruption that was responsible for the Valley of 10,000 Smokes.

Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume Two by Laurel Downing Bill truly does bring Alaska’s history alive. Packed full of stories – all of which are true accounts – and accompanied by hundreds of amazing photographs, this is a book that no one could fail to enjoy. I am learning so much about this great country through this series of books and all of it just makes me want to visit Alaska even more than I did before. Laurel Downing Bill has done a wonderful job of pulling all this information together and bringing it to us in such a fascinating and enthralling way. I can’t wait for the next installment!

Laurel Downing Bill continues her story about Alaska in the series called Aunt Phil’s Trunk in Volume Two. The period 1900 – 1912 were years, which brought significant changes in the development of Alaska. The contagious gold rush fever infected many prospectors who endured the savage cold while seeking a better future. While dedicated men toiled years searching for gold, others quickly gained prosperity providing goods and services to these miners. They included merchants, ferry captains and vaudeville entertainers. Towns rose where gold was found, and the introduction of the postal and railway systems helped form vital communication links. Judge James Wickersham was instrumental in creating Alaska’s judicial system, which was desperately needed as crime escalated. Other men with vision ventured further into the Yukon, which saw few white men. Their attempts to prove the Yukon stored riches paid off and prospectors soon settled there. Alaskan mountains attracted numerous daring climbers who wanted recognition for being the first to reach their icy peaks.

Laurel Downing Bill has documented another wonderful historical journey in this book filled with 350 fascinating photos to complement some of Alaska’s interesting historical facts and stories. Her family was a part of this rich heritage as they were early prospectors. The poet and artist, Robert Service lived here, capturing its beauty through poetry and paintings. I found the assorted stories interesting, but thought provoking, too. Politicians displayed their negative and positive influences in Alaska’s development. Aunt Phil’s Trunk: Volume Two is a thought-provoking and informative book that will captivate both younger and older readers.

Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume One: Bringing Alaska’s History Alive by Laurel Downing Bill is a series of short stories and hundreds of photographs of historical note that go along with them. The first volume showcases the arrival of Alaska Natives thousands of years ago. There are stories that include the story of mighty shaman, mysterious petroglyphs and fierce battles against Russian fur traders, who arrived in the mid-1700s. Follow time through to 1867 when Alaska became part of the United States and Americans began steaming their way to the final American frontier, when gold sent people into a frenzy. Alaska is a state of legend with a colorful past and you can find it here.

I love history and I fully admit I am hooked on all the Alaska shows that are currently on TV, so when I got the chance to read this book I jumped at it. I love the format that Laurel Downing Bill uses to tell the history of Alaska. I learned so much in reading this book and I truly never knew just how rich a history Alaska had and the stories are so nicely told. You can tell that a lot of work and research went into this book and it is clearly a passion for Laurel Downing Bill. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series and I would give this book a big recommendation for history lovers. If you want to know something about beautiful rugged Alaska give this one a try; you will enjoy it.

Laurel Bill has shared the contents of her inherited trunk, belonging to her Aunt Phil, making it a treasure chest to behold! We visited magnificent Alaska for the first time in 2007. It was in Anchorage at the outdoor market that we purchased from Laurel the first book in the Aunt Phil series. The rich history was written in such a wonderfully picturesque way, we felt like we were there,which is the best quality of reading any book. Since then, we have been privileged to read the next three in the series, all equally as rich in history and entertaining. We returned to Alaska in 2011, this time exploring more of the interior. All places seemed very familiar to us, as we recalled Laurel’s references of Aunt Phil’s historic experiences. If anyone is contemplating their first visit to Alaska, we highly recommend reading at least one of the Aunt Phil’s Trunk series first. It will truly enrich your experience of visiting beautiful historic Alaska!

Hello from Iowa.I bought vol 1;2 and 3 of aunt phils trunk on june 4 2011 at the outdoor market in Anchorage. Laurel signed each vol. To the kramer grandchildren,I hope you enjoy this journey into alaska as past then signed and dated.We really enjoyed the journey through all 3 vol.We all learned so much. My grandchildren now know where the last shot of Civil war was fired,how much the U.S REALLY paid for this great northern territory,who inmate 594 is,and so much more.Our one grandson keeps asking grampa when you going to take me to lassyka? I tell him as soon as he can say alaska. Could be this summer we will see you again.

I have read the first four and am eagerly awaiting the next one! I was born and raised in Alaska, and I just wish these books had been available when I was in school. Fascinating information and great pictures!

Aunt Phil’s Trunk should be in everyone’s library. Easy to read, great pictures, a real treasure chest! And you should try the sourdough… YUM!

Have soooo enjoyed reading the series, Aunt Phil’s Trunk. Well done … I will be reading them again!

Raven’s Friends is perfect for teaching young children about Alaskan animals. My students thoroughly enjoyed it. The book has beautiful pictures, accurate facts and rich language …

Laurel, I just wanted to tell you that I’ve made nearly every recipe in ‘Sourdough Cookery.’ Not only are they easy to make, they’re delicious (especially since they’re healthy and nutritious)! I have recommended your cookbook to many of my friends.

I loved my book Sourdough Cookery so much that I bought 10 more as gifts for my friends! Thank you, Laurel!

I have really enjoyed Aunt Phil’s trivia and puzzle book — not only the word games, but learning about Alaska’s history, too. And I’m nuts over the Sudoku puzzles. It’s a fun book.

I think ‘Aunt Phil’s Trunk’ is a great source of information about Alaska. It is written in a way that is easily understood and all the pictures make me want to travel to Alaska.

I found the ‘Aunt Phil’s Trunk’ books extremely interesting and factual. And very easy to read. I have recommended the series to many of my friends.

I have enjoyed all these immensely—but then I love adventure. Congrats on such wonderful, mind stimulating reading—just the right mix of pics and words — in short stories. The stories are as big and satisfying as AK-itself.

Hello Laurel, I received the books today! Thank you, and I am enjoying reading the first book, which I took home with me, and it is so interesting, keeps me spellbound!! Thanks again!