The Wrangell Sentinel
The Wrangell Sentinel is a weekly newspaper founded in 1902 in Wrangell, Alaska. The newspaper remains in publication with only a few short periods of inactivity. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Alaska. The paper covered potlach traditional celebrations.[1]
| Oldest Continuously Published Newspaper in Alaska | |
 Don Young being interviewed at The Wrangell Sentinel in 2020 | |
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | Larry Persily |
| Founder(s) | A. V.R. Snyder |
| Publisher | Anne and Rod Loesch |
| Founded | 1902 |
| Language | English |
| Circulation | 700 |
| Website | wrangellsentinel |
History
The paper began in 1902 with the first issue published November 2 as the Alaska Sentinel.[2] In 1903 it was listed in the Governor of Alaska's report to the Department of the Interior as one of the newspapers in Alaska[3] and again in 1904.[4] A 1906 congressional report from the U.S. Government Printing office reported the Sentinel was among 23 papers in Alaska in 14 towns.[5]
The paper's name was changed in 1909 when Richard Bushell was induced to takeover the paper.[6] Leonard P. Dawes took over the paper two years later.[6]
August 19, 1920, the editor of the Sentinel, J. W. Pritchett, received a copy of the New York Times sent by plane, the first piece of mail to arrive in Alaska by plane.[7]
Mrs. Pritchett took over running the paper in 1930 when her husband became ill.[6] She was the paper's editor and publisher for 8 years.[6]
Lew Williams Jr. and his wife Winnie Williams ran the paper for many years until 1965.[8] He also published other newspapers in Alaska and was also the mayor of Petersburg, Alaska.[9]
The paper went through a brief bankruptcy in 1995 before its former publisher, who was also the paper's largest creditor, took back control.[10] Former Sentinel employee Jamie Bryson launched the Petersburg Press in 1974 [10]
Charles Willis, a former president of Alaska Airlines, also ran the paper for some time.[2]
The current publishers are Anne and Ron Loesch.
References
- Ostrowitz, Judith (21 November 1999). Privileging the Past: Reconstructing History in Northwest Coast Art. University of Washington Press. ISBN 9780774807531 – via Google Books.
- Sentinel, Wrangell. "About Wrangell Sentinel". www.wrangellsentinel.com.
- Governor, Alaska (22 November 2018). "Report of the Governor of Alaska to the Secretary of the Interior" – via Google Books.
- Governor, Alaska (22 November 2018). "Annual Report of the Governor of Alaska to the Secretary of the Interior". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
- Congress, United States (22 November 2018). "Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
- Atwood, Evangeline; Williams, Lew Jr. (13 June 2006). Bent Pins to Chains: Alaska and Its Newspapers. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781469120867 – via Google Books.
- "The Pathfinder". Pioneers of Alaska. 22 November 2018 – via Google Books.
- "Juneau Public Libraries--Juneau, Alaska". www.juneau.org.
- "Members — Creating Alaska". alaska.edu. 28 April 2015.
- Atwood, Evangeline; Williams, Lew Jr. (13 June 2006). Bent Pins to Chains: Alaska and Its Newspapers. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781469120867 – via Google Books.
