REAL PHOTO POSTCARD OF THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL AT WRANGELL, ALASKA
The Industrial School in Wrangell, Alaska, pictured in this circa 1905 real photo postcard, was founded in 1877 by the first Presbyterian Church in Alaska. The purpose was to teach young native men of the area, known as the Tlingit, various American trades such as printing, boatbuilding, and construction. It closed in 1907.
A new Wrangell Institute boarding school was operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1932 until 1975 at a site a few miles south of Wrangell. Children were forced to attend the school, which for some was a traumatic experience because they were removed from their homes and families and forbidden from speaking their native language.
The black-and-white card measures roughly 5 ½” x 3 ½” with a few light pencil markings on the verso. The front of the card is coated, and the name of the school and location are etched in the negative. Overall, in very good condition. Item #77191
Price: $75.00