A 1920s Military Wife Write About Life At Fort Liscum, Alaska

(ALAKSA ARCHIVE). Archive. 10 pieces. 1921-1922. Fort Liscum, Alaska Territory. An archive of four letters signed Alice and written by Alice Donaldson in Alaska to her mother and aunt in Massachusetts. Donaldson, her husband, and their children lived on the Fort Liscum Army base from 1921 until the bases closure in 1922. Written during the year that the Donaldsons lived on the base, Alice talks about adjusting to life in Alaska and then having to move again within a year. Along with her letters are six small photographs of Alaska.a) ALS. June 10, 1921. Fort Liscum, Alaska. Dear Mother:- It is almost time for the brat to come back after mail for the south (truncated) so I will tell you all we have been doing this week. Sunday was a wonderful day we took our lunch and walked out on theComing back we gathered seven kinds of wild flowers, daisies, buttercups, violets, wild sweet pea, a light purple flower similar to our columbine only smaller, a dark purple flower almost like our snap dragon and salmon berry blossoms. There are quantities of ferns everywhere. I have a centerpiece for my dining table made of a tin can, cut down to two inchesWith much love for father and yourself Alice.b) ALS. June 30, 1921. Fort Liscum, Alaska. Dear Mother :- If you could look in, and see us I think you would say we have a very pretty and comfortable home. Out things arrived early Tuesday morning, and they were all uncrated and mostly in place Tuesday night. The things which I ordered from Sears-Roebuck came at the same time.c) ALS. March 13, 1922. Fort Liscum, Alaska. Dear Mother:- Can you image what it would be like to have a March wind blowing a gale with about three feet of loose snow on top of a crust? That is what we have had for twenty-four hours sometimes we couldnt see the nearest houses, there are drifts every where, the most bothersome one is in front of our dining room windowsWe were all very much excited yesterday, the order came confirming the rumor that Liscum is to be abandoned and asking how long it will take to get everything ready to be moved to Ft. Seward, with about nine ft of snow on the ground we replied, at least two months. George has asked for a Transport June tenth. As the order reads we go to Ft. Seward but George is still hoping to be brought back to the States and go to Benning. I rather dislike the idea of packing everything again in just one year!d) ALS. May 21, 1922. Fort Liscum, Alaska. Dear Aunt Laura:- This is Georges birthday and we have been celebrating by having our first picnic of the season in a rocky cove down at the end of Swansport. We took frying pans and built a fire so as to cook beefsteak, fry potatoes and make coffee. It certainly does taste good out of doors. In order to get to the camping place we had to walk quite a distance overa short play in which Donald made his first appearance on the stage, he did better than I expected, and looked quite grown up in a long trouser suit. All the children were promoted with an average of about 90. We have all had bad colds but are feeling fine today. We were very sorry to hear that Uncle Perl has been so miserable and hope he will improve a lot and enjoy the summer he usually feels better when he can get out doors more. When I wrote you after Christmas I thought I spoke about Helens Sash, it is perfectly stunning with her blue corduroy dress, and she was so pleased with it. Much love to you both Alice. (Inventory #: 5124)