R. N. DeArmond
Encyclopedia
Robert Neil "Bob" DeArmond (September 29, 1911 – November 26, 2010) was an American
historian
who specialized in the history of Alaska
, especially the Alaska Panhandle
. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, DeArmond wrote several historical columns for southeast Alaska publications; these included Days of Yore, Gastineau Bygones, and News of the Gold Camp. He lived in Sitka, Alaska, and continued to write until his death.
; he graduated from Stadium High School
in 1930. He worked in a salmon
cannery
in the summer of 1930, and later received a reporting job for the Stroller's Weekly in Juneau
. In 1931, he traveled by rowboat from Sitka to Tacoma; DeArmond wrote a book about his travel, A Voyage in a Dory, in 1999. He spent a year at the University of Oregon
. At age 15, he contributed a design for the flag of Alaska
contest in 1927; it is housed in the Alaska State Museum.
, where he served as a storekeeper and the postmaster
. The DeArmond family moved to Ketchikan, Alaska
, in 1944, and Robert returned to journalism. He worked for the Ketchikan Daily News
, the Juneau Empire
and other publications in covering the Alaska Territorial Legislature. DeArmond was a prolific history writer for regional publications. Over 700 of his columns were put in the online Digital Bob project, sponsored by the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, beginning in 2004.
DeArmond worked for territorial governor B. Frank Heintzleman in the 1950s and lived in Juneau
during this time.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
who specialized in the history of Alaska
History of Alaska
The history of Alaska dates back to the Upper Paleolithic period , when Asiatic groups crossed the Bering land bridge into what is now western Alaska. At the time of European contact by the Russian explorers, the area was populated by Alaska Native groups...
, especially the Alaska Panhandle
Alaska Panhandle
Southeast Alaska, sometimes referred to as the Alaska Panhandle, is the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Alaska, which lies west of the northern half of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The majority of Southeast Alaska's area is part of the Tongass National Forest, the United...
. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, DeArmond wrote several historical columns for southeast Alaska publications; these included Days of Yore, Gastineau Bygones, and News of the Gold Camp. He lived in Sitka, Alaska, and continued to write until his death.
Early life
DeArmond was educated in Sitka and Tacoma, WashingtonTacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
; he graduated from Stadium High School
Stadium High School
Stadium High School is a 100-year-old high school in Tacoma, Washington and a historic landmark. It is part of Tacoma Public Schools, or Tacoma School District No. 10 and is located in the Stadium District, near downtown Tacoma. The original building burned to a shell while it was still a partially...
in 1930. He worked in a salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
cannery
Fish processing
The term fish processing refers to the processes associated with fish and fish products between the time fish are caught or harvested, and the time the final product is delivered to the customer...
in the summer of 1930, and later received a reporting job for the Stroller's Weekly in Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
. In 1931, he traveled by rowboat from Sitka to Tacoma; DeArmond wrote a book about his travel, A Voyage in a Dory, in 1999. He spent a year at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. At age 15, he contributed a design for the flag of Alaska
Flag of Alaska
The flag of the state of Alaska consists of eight gold stars, forming the Big Dipper and the North Star, on a dark blue field.The Big Dipper is an asterism in the constellation Ursa Major which symbolizes a bear, an animal indigenous to Alaska...
contest in 1927; it is housed in the Alaska State Museum.
Professional life
DeArmond returned to Sitka after college. There, he worked in the fishing industry for 12 years. In 1938 he helped found the city of Pelican, AlaskaPelican, Alaska
Pelican is a city in the northwestern part of Chichagof Island in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 163.-Geography:...
, where he served as a storekeeper and the postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
. The DeArmond family moved to Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan is a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, United States, the southeasternmost sizable city in that state. With an estimated population of 7,368 in 2010 within the city limits, it is the fifth most populous city in the state....
, in 1944, and Robert returned to journalism. He worked for the Ketchikan Daily News
Ketchikan Daily News
The Ketchikan Daily News is the primary daily newspaper for Ketchikan, Alaska. Its former editor Lew Williams, Jr. is a noted opinion columnist that is published in many Alaskan newspapers.-Weekly content:...
, the Juneau Empire
Juneau Empire
The Juneau Empire is a newspaper in Juneau, Alaska, United States. Mark Bryan was appointed publisher in 2009.-External links:* *...
and other publications in covering the Alaska Territorial Legislature. DeArmond was a prolific history writer for regional publications. Over 700 of his columns were put in the online Digital Bob project, sponsored by the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, beginning in 2004.
DeArmond worked for territorial governor B. Frank Heintzleman in the 1950s and lived in Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
during this time.