Bob Bartlett
One of Alaskas first two United States senators at statehood had been an early student at the Alaska Agricultural 窪蹋勛圖厙 and School of Mines, even though he did not earn a degree.
E.L. Bob Bartlett graduated from high school in Fairbanks and, after trying college Outside, returned and attended a few courses at AACSM in 1924-1925. The discipline of university study did not appeal to Bob, according to biographer Claus-M. Naske, the late UAF professor emeritus of history.
After working as a newspaper reporter, gold miner and political aide, Bartlett in 1944 won the race to serve as Alaskas territorial delegate in Washington, D.C. He held the position for the next 14 years.
During that time, Bartlett advocated for Alaskas statehood, which Congress approved in 1958. Alaskans also elected Bartlett to one of the new states two U.S. Senate seats that year. By the flip of a coin, he had to run again in 1960. He won that race and again in 1966.
A prolific writer of personal letters, Bartlett used the tool to maintain friendships across the political spectrum in Alaska.
Bartlett died in 1968. Bartlett had been a Democrat, but Gov. Wally Hickel replaced him with Republican Sen. Ted Stevens.
Bartlett Hall at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 is named for the senator. His daughter, D.A., worked as a librarian for Alaskas 1955-1956 constitutional convention at the 窪蹋勛圖厙. She later became an English professor at UAF. She died in 2015.
More online about Bob Bartlett:
- An article published by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in 2003, on
- A selection of references and articles pulled together for