title:
(RG626) United States District Court, First, Second, Third and Fourth Divisions [NARA RG21]
description:
Prior to 1959 when Alaska became a state, the U.S. District Court of the Territory of Alaska administered its judicial affairs. The U.S. commissioner's courts administered the justices of the peace.The pre-1959 district courts were districtwide courts and had jurisdiction over civil and criminal affairs. Federal judges were appointed as early as 1884. The whole of Alaska Territory at that time had only one district that was administered by a judge in Sitka until 1903. Prior to 1884, cases were tried in a district court of California, Oregon, or Washington. The general laws of Oregon were made applicable to the territory and appeals were to be taken to the circuit court in Oregon.In 1903 three judicial divisions were established with judges in Juneau, Saint Michaels, and Eagle City. A fourth district was created in 1909, and the four seats were placed in Juneau, Nome, Valdez, and Fairbanks. The Valdez district seat was moved to Anchorage in 1948. These districts, for all practical purposes, can be compared to counties in other American states.District 1 (Juneau) covers the southeastern Alexander Archipelago, including Chichagof Island, Douglas, Dyea (Skagway), Haines, Hoonah, Juneau, Kasaan, Ketchikan, Killisnoo, Metlakatla, Porcupine, Shakan, Sitka, Sulzer, Wrangell and Yakutat.District 2 (Nome) covers the northern portion of Alaska, including Barrow*, Candle (Fairhaven), Cape Nome (City of Nome)*, Coast Guard Cutter*, Council City, Fortuna Ledge*, Haycock (Koyuk), Kougarok, Noatak-Kobuk*, Point Hope*, Saint Michael, Teller (Port Clarence), Wade Hampton and Wainwright*.* Communities marked with an asterisk are included in Series 349, Commissioner Reports.District 3 (Valdez and later Anchorage) covers the southern portion of Alaska, including Anchorage, Aleutian Islands, Cold Bay, Cordova, Kodiak (see also RG 506), Palmer, Sand Point, Talkeetna, Unalaska, Unga (see also RG 506) and Valdez (see also RG 506). Court headquarters were transferred to Anchorage in 1943.District 4 (Fairbanks) covers the central portion of Alaska, including Chandalar, Chatanika, Circle, Dome (Dome Camp, Dome City), Eagle, Fairbanks, Fortymile, Kantishna, Manley Hot Springs (Rampart), Nenana, Nulato, Otter, Ruby, Tanana, Wiseman (Koyukuk).
date:
1884-1973
