ALASKA. — Territory of northwestern America, belonging to the United States, which purchased it from Russia in 1867.
I. GEOGRAPHY
It covers 1.5 million sq. km., five times the size of Italy; it comprises the northwestern tip of North America and is still imperfectly known. It became famous at the end of the last century for its gold deposits, which attracted a large influx of white immigrants, soon to cease. More important today than minerals (also copper, tin, platinum) is fishing: canned salmon (7-8 million cans a year) alone accounts for more than half of exports (cod fishing and whaling are also practiced). Impressive forest reserves (one-third of the territory); agricultural possibilities, however, are scarce due to climatic conditions (subpolar or polar regimes). Reindeer herding and fur trapping are other reliable sources of income.Alaska is a territory of the U.S. It is administered by a governor assisted by two chambers. The permanent population is still very small (135,000 inhabitants, of whom two-thirds are white; the rest are Eskimos and Indians), concentrated mainly along the coasts where the inhabited centers are located. During the summer, there is a considerable influx (20,000) of transient population. Catholics number about 15,000.
The capital is Juneau (5,700 inhabitants); the main port is Ketchikan (4,700). Communications are still scarce (2,050 km of railways) and are mainly conducted by sea.
Under Alaska’s jurisdiction are the Aleutian Islands (v.), and the small Pribilof Archipelago (4 islands, 160 sq. km., 440 inhabitants), which are reserved for the conservation of animal species (seals, reindeer, foxes, avifauna).
2. MISSIONS
Christianity was first introduced into Alaska in 1764 by Archimandrite Ivassof, accompanied by 10 Orthodox priests, by order of Catherine II. Some earlier attempts had been made by other Russian missionaries, but without notable success. Ivassof settled on Kadak Island, headquarters of the Russian-American Fur Company, and from there his priests spread out in various directions under the protection of the merchants. The title of “Enlightener of the Aleuts” was deservedly earned by Archimandrite Ivan Veniaminof, a learned, zealous, and courageous man who spent nearly thirty years of his life there.Catholic missionaries, however, could not enter Alaska until it passed under U.S. rule (1867). Then, in the autumn of 1871, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate arrived from the nearby Athabasca-Mackenzie district under the leadership of Bp. Clut and devoted themselves especially to the southern region. Meanwhile, after Alaska came under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Victoria, Bp. Charles John Seghers, he made a first exploratory journey in 1877, pushing north as far as Nulato. On a second journey (1886), he was accompanied by two geologists and entrusted the mission to Luigi Robaut; but upon reaching Ysseltatch, ten miles from Nulato, he was killed by his servant. The mission, taken over by the Jesuits under such tragic circumstances, was carried forward with methodical constancy and an ever-increasing number of priests and sisters; the first school was opened in 1888 and one for Eskimos in 1894. The apostolate continued to develop despite the inevitable and severe difficulties posed by entrenched superstitions, the extremely cold climate, the distance between villages, various economic crises, and contact with whites. Alaska was detached from the Diocese of Vancouver and erected as an apostolic prefecture on July 27, 1894, with Fr. Tosi as its first apostolic prefect; on December 22, 1916, it became an apostolic vicariate. Principal residence: Juneau.
The apostolic vicariate (1947) has 48 churches, 20 of which are parishes. The Jesuits of the Oregon Province (U.S.) number 35 (some indigenous), including 25 priests, 2 students, and 8 lay brothers. There are 19 male religious houses with 36 members and 10 female houses with 79 members. There are 9 male educational institutes with 338 pupils and 9 female institutes with 305 pupils. There are also 7 charitable institutions (hospitals with dispensaries and orphanages) with 300 residents.
Catholic Action is organized in the Ladies Instruction League and the Catholic Youth Organization. There is also a periodical to defend Catholic interests: the *Alaska Catholic*, with a circulation of about 1,500–1,600 copies.
