Richard Pierce (historian)
Encyclopedia
Richard Austin Pierce was an American
historian
and publisher who specialized in the Russian era of Alaska’s history. He was involved in the publishing of more than 60 volumes on Alaska’s history, in the capacity of author, translator, editor and publisher, and was considered one of the foremost authorities on Russian America.
. He received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology
at University of California, Berkeley
and then served as a sergeant
in Europe
in the United States Army
during World War II
.
After the war Pierce took a course in the Russian language
in pursuit of a civil service job and then touring the region after World War II. He then returned to Berkeley and earned his master’s degree in 1952 and his doctorate in 1956, both in history. He was awarded Fulbright fellowships in 1953 and 1954.
In the mid 1950’s he travelled to Finland
for the first time, in order to acquaint himself with the Slavica collection of the Helsinki University Library
, which has one of the best collections of Russian literature
and Russian journals outside of Russia
and the former Soviet Union
. During that first visit to Helsinki
he met his wife to be, a native of Kingston-upon-Hull, working for Effoa, whom he married during the following winter. Effoa actually had a shipping line from Helsinki to Kingston-upon-Hull at that time. Incidentally, Pierce would later write an article on the founder of Effoa, Lars Krogius, as the latter had served as a captain on Russian-American Company
ships from 1852 to 1863. Pierce and his wife were regular visitors to Finland since that time until their last visit in 2000.
Pierce was appointed a position at Queen's University
, Kingston, Ontario
in 1959 and served there until 1988. He then took a position at University of Alaska, Fairbanks from 1988 to 1998. During the latter tenure he had three homes, one in his native California, one in Kingston, and one in Fairbanks, the latter in the Rainey-Skarland cabin, which has been “a veritable who’s who of northern researchers including Ivar Skarland, Helge Larsen, J. Louis Giddings, Frederica de Laguna
and Henry B. Collins and Otto W. Geist
.”
Some books, such as Voyage to America, 1783–1785 by Grigoriĭ Ivanovich Shelikhov (Alaska History no. 19, 1981), required decades of work. This book originated in 1958, with a letter received from Hector Chevigny, author of the popular Alaskan historical works Lost Empire, on N. P. Rezanov
, and Lord of Alaska, on Alexander Andreyevich Baranov. Chevigny had planned to write on yet a third notable of Russian America, Grigoriĭ Shelikhov, until loss of sight forced him to lay the project aside. “…we met, and an enjoyable and fruitful friendship followed. In frequent correspondence, and occasionally at the Chevigny apartment in Manhattan, we traded information and threshed out questions about all but forgotten people and events of early northwestern North America. This exchange so rekindled Hector’s enthusiasm that he undertook another book, Russian America, 1741–1867, published shortly before his death in 1966.”
Another book that was a result of decades of work was Pierce’s Russian America, 1741–1867, A Biographical Dictionary, published in 1990 (Alaska History no. 33).
In April 2001, he along with fellow anthropologist and historian and close colleague Lydia T. Black
, historians Barbara Sweetland Smith, John Middleton-Tidwell, and Viktor Petrov
(posthumous), was decorated by the Russian Federation with the Order of Friendship Medal
, which they received at the Russian consulate in San Francisco. “He was an absolute pioneer in Russian Alaska history, its premier archivist and one of its premier researchers and scholars,” said Jennifer Collier, executive editor of the University of Alaska Press
.
. He chose the name from the nickname of Kingston, Ontario, the “Limestone City”, which has its origins in its many limestone buildings. He published mainly books on Alaska’s history, but also on Ukrainian
and African and other topics, as well as books dealing with Kingston’s history.
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...
and publisher who specialized in the Russian era of Alaska’s history. He was involved in the publishing of more than 60 volumes on Alaska’s history, in the capacity of author, translator, editor and publisher, and was considered one of the foremost authorities on Russian America.
Life and career
Pierce was born in Manteca, CaliforniaManteca, California
Manteca is a city in , USA. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 67,096.- History :Manteca is a city in the Central Valley of California, 76 miles east of San Francisco. It was founded in 1861 by Joshua Cowell. Cowell claimed around and built houses on what is now the corner of Main...
. He received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
at University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and then served as a sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in Europe
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After the war Pierce took a course in the Russian language
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
in pursuit of a civil service job and then touring the region after World War II. He then returned to Berkeley and earned his master’s degree in 1952 and his doctorate in 1956, both in history. He was awarded Fulbright fellowships in 1953 and 1954.
In the mid 1950’s he travelled to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
for the first time, in order to acquaint himself with the Slavica collection of the Helsinki University Library
National Library of Finland
The National Library of Finland is the foremost research library in Finland. Administratively the library is part of the University of Helsinki. Until 1 August 2006, it was known as the Helsinki University Library....
, which has one of the best collections of Russian literature
Russian literature
Russian literature refers to the literature of Russia or its émigrés, and to the Russian-language literature of several independent nations once a part of what was historically Russia or the Soviet Union...
and Russian journals outside of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. During that first visit to Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
he met his wife to be, a native of Kingston-upon-Hull, working for Effoa, whom he married during the following winter. Effoa actually had a shipping line from Helsinki to Kingston-upon-Hull at that time. Incidentally, Pierce would later write an article on the founder of Effoa, Lars Krogius, as the latter had served as a captain on Russian-American Company
Russian-American Company
The Russian-American Company was a state-sponsored chartered company formed largely on the basis of the so-called Shelekhov-Golikov Company of Grigory Shelekhov and Ivan Larionovich Golikov The Russian-American Company (officially: Under His Imperial Majesty's Highest Protection (patronage)...
ships from 1852 to 1863. Pierce and his wife were regular visitors to Finland since that time until their last visit in 2000.
Pierce was appointed a position at Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
, Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
in 1959 and served there until 1988. He then took a position at University of Alaska, Fairbanks from 1988 to 1998. During the latter tenure he had three homes, one in his native California, one in Kingston, and one in Fairbanks, the latter in the Rainey-Skarland cabin, which has been “a veritable who’s who of northern researchers including Ivar Skarland, Helge Larsen, J. Louis Giddings, Frederica de Laguna
Frederica de Laguna
Frederica de Laguna was an American anthropologist. Her parents, Theodore Lopez de Leo de Laguna and Grace Mead Andrus, were, respectively, Spanish-American and, in Frederica's own words, "Connecticut Yankee". Both received doctorates from Cornell and would later teach philosophy at Bryn...
and Henry B. Collins and Otto W. Geist
Otto W. Geist
Otto William Geist , aka Aghvook, was an archaeologist, explorer, and naturalist who worked in the circumpolar north and for the University of Alaska for much of his adult life....
.”
Some books, such as Voyage to America, 1783–1785 by Grigoriĭ Ivanovich Shelikhov (Alaska History no. 19, 1981), required decades of work. This book originated in 1958, with a letter received from Hector Chevigny, author of the popular Alaskan historical works Lost Empire, on N. P. Rezanov
Nikolai Rezanov
Nikolay Petrovich Rezanov was a Russian nobleman and statesman who promoted the project of Russian colonization of Alaska and California. One of the ten barons of Russia, he was the first Russian ambassador to Japan , and participated in the first Russian circumnavigation of the globe ,...
, and Lord of Alaska, on Alexander Andreyevich Baranov. Chevigny had planned to write on yet a third notable of Russian America, Grigoriĭ Shelikhov, until loss of sight forced him to lay the project aside. “…we met, and an enjoyable and fruitful friendship followed. In frequent correspondence, and occasionally at the Chevigny apartment in Manhattan, we traded information and threshed out questions about all but forgotten people and events of early northwestern North America. This exchange so rekindled Hector’s enthusiasm that he undertook another book, Russian America, 1741–1867, published shortly before his death in 1966.”
Another book that was a result of decades of work was Pierce’s Russian America, 1741–1867, A Biographical Dictionary, published in 1990 (Alaska History no. 33).
In April 2001, he along with fellow anthropologist and historian and close colleague Lydia T. Black
Lydia T. Black
Lydia T. Black was an American anthropologist.She won an American Book Award for Russians in Tlingit America: The Battles of Sitka, 1802 And 1804.-Life:...
, historians Barbara Sweetland Smith, John Middleton-Tidwell, and Viktor Petrov
Viktor Petrov
Viktor Petrov was a prominent Ukrainian existentialist writer. He signed his works with pen names Viktor Domontovych and Viktor Ber . Together with Valerian Pidmohylny Petrov is considered to be the founder of the Ukrainian intellectual novel. Although Petrov is remembered as a writer today,...
(posthumous), was decorated by the Russian Federation with the Order of Friendship Medal
Order of Friendship
The Order of Friendship is a state decoration of Russia established by decree # 442 of March 2, 1994 of the President of the Russian Federation....
, which they received at the Russian consulate in San Francisco. “He was an absolute pioneer in Russian Alaska history, its premier archivist and one of its premier researchers and scholars,” said Jennifer Collier, executive editor of the University of Alaska Press
University of Alaska Press
The University of Alaska Press is a nonprofit scholarly publisher and distributor of works concerning Alaska, the northern Pacific Rim, and the circumpolar regions. It is associated with the University of Alaska. The press was formally founded in 1989 but had existed somewhat informally for...
.
The Limestone Press
In 1972 Pierce set up his one-man publishing house, which he gave the name The Limestone PressThe Limestone Press
The Limestone Press is a one-man publishing house, established in 1972 by historian Richard Pierce . Pierce lived and worked at that time in Kingston, Ontario, and he chose the name from the nickname of Kingston, the “Limestone City”, which has its origins in its many limestone buildings...
. He chose the name from the nickname of Kingston, Ontario, the “Limestone City”, which has its origins in its many limestone buildings. He published mainly books on Alaska’s history, but also on Ukrainian
History of Ukraine
The territory of Ukraine was a key center of East Slavic culture in the Middle Ages, before being divided between a variety of powers. However, the history of Ukraine dates back many thousands of years. The territory has been settled continuously since at least 5000 BC, and is also a candidate site...
and African and other topics, as well as books dealing with Kingston’s history.
Original Works
- Russian Central AsiaRussian TurkestanRussian Turkestan was the western part of Turkestan within the Russian Empire , comprising the oasis region to the south of the Kazakh steppes, but not the protectorates of the Emirate of Bukhara and the Khanate of Khiva.-History:-Establishment:Although Russia had been pushing south into the...
, 1867–1917: A Study in Colonial Rule. Series: Russian and East European studies. Berkeley: University of California PressUniversity of California PressUniversity of California Press, also known as UC Press, is a publishing house associated with the University of California that engages in academic publishing. It was founded in 1893 to publish books and papers for the faculty of the University of California, established 25 years earlier in 1868...
, 1960. ISBN 9780520010130.
- Soviet Central AsiaSoviet Central AsiaSoviet Central Asia refers to the section of Central Asia formerly controlled by the Soviet Union, as well as the time period of Soviet administration . In terms of area, it is nearly synonymous with Russian Turkestan, the name for the region during the Russian Empire...
: A Bibliography (1558–1966). BerkeleyBerkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
: Center for Slavic and East European Studies, University of CaliforniaUniversity of CaliforniaThe University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
. 1966.
- Rezanov Reconnoiters CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 1806. A new translation of Nikolai RezanovNikolai RezanovNikolay Petrovich Rezanov was a Russian nobleman and statesman who promoted the project of Russian colonization of Alaska and California. One of the ten barons of Russia, he was the first Russian ambassador to Japan , and participated in the first Russian circumnavigation of the globe ,...
’s letter, parts of Lieutenant Khvostov’s log of the ship Juno, and Dr. Georg von Langsdorff’s observations. Book Club of California, 1972. xix, 73 p. Printing: 50 copies.
- AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
n Shipping, 1867–1878. Arrivals And Departures at the Port of Sitka. Materials for the Study of Alaska History no. 1. 1972. 72 pp., illustrated. Shipping at the end of the Russian regime and during the first decade of American rule. LCSH: Ship registers—Sitka, AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
; Geographical Subject: Sitka (AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
)—History—Sources. This book does not have an ISBN number. Printing: 250 copies.
- Russia’s Hawaiian AdventureSchäffer affairThe Schäffer affair was an incident between 1815-1817 when Georg Anton Schäffer attempted to take the Hawaiian Islands for Russia. In 1815 Schäffer sailed to Hawaii to retrieve the Company goods seized by Kaumualii, chief of Kauai island. A simple mission led by an inexperienced but ambitious...
, 1815–1817. 1976. xvii, 245 p., maps (on lining papers), illustrated, maps, index. Materials for the Study of Alaska History no. 8. Reprint of the 1965 edition from University of California PressUniversity of California PressUniversity of California Press, also known as UC Press, is a publishing house associated with the University of California that engages in academic publishing. It was founded in 1893 to publish books and papers for the faculty of the University of California, established 25 years earlier in 1868...
. ISBN 0-919642-68-3 (hardcover ed.) ISBN 0-919642-69-1 (paperback ed.).
- Builders of AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
: The Russian Governors, 1818–1867. Alaska History no. 28. 1986. Biographies of AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
’s 13 forgotten governors, from Hagemeister to MaksutovDmitri Petrovich MaksutovPrince Dmitry Petrovich Maksutov was an Imperial Russian Navy rear-admiral who was the last Governor of Russian America . He has streets dedicated to his memory in Sitka and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky....
. 53 pp., illustrated. ISBN 0-919642-07-1.
- Russian America, 1741–1867, A Biographical Dictionary. Alaska History no. 33. 1990. Data on over 600 Russian and foreign statesmen, explorers, administrators, and skippers, Native leaders and women. 560 pp., illustrated. ISBN 0-919642-45-4.
Notable Translations
- Svetlana Grigor’evna Fedorova: The Russian Population in AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
and CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Late 18th Century to 1867. Materials for the Study of Alaska History no. 4. 1973. 367 pp., illustrated, maps, index. Translated from the Russian edition of 1971 by Richard A. Pierce and Alton S. Donnelly. ISBN 0-919642-53-5. Original title: Русское население Аляски и Калифорнии: конец XVIII века –1867.
- Raisa Vsevolodovna Makarova: Russians on the PacificPacific OceanThe Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, 1743–1799. Materials for the Study of Alaska History no. 6. 1975. 301 pp., illustrated, maps, index. Translated from Russian edition of 1968. Translated and edited by Richard A. Pierce and Alton S. Donnelly. Out of print (1990). Original title: Русские на Тихом океане во второй половине XVIII в. / Р. В. Макарова; Мин. высшего и среднего спец. образования РСФСР;Московский гос. историко-архивный институт. LCSH: Fur trade—Northwest coast of North America; Russians in the Northwest coast of North America; Geographical Subject: Northwest coast of North America—Discovery and exploration. ISBN 0-919642-61-6.
- Piotr Aleksandrovich Tikhmenev: A History of the Russian-American CompanyRussian-American CompanyThe Russian-American Company was a state-sponsored chartered company formed largely on the basis of the so-called Shelekhov-Golikov Company of Grigory Shelekhov and Ivan Larionovich Golikov The Russian-American Company (officially: Under His Imperial Majesty's Highest Protection (patronage)...
. 1978. University of Washington Press. Translated from the Russian edition of 1861. Translated and edited by Richard A. Pierce and Alton S. Donnelly. Original title: Историческое обозрѣніе образованіе россійско-американской компаніи и дѣйствій ея до настоящаго времени / составилъ П. Тихменевъ, Санктпетербургъ, 1861. ISBN 0-259-95564-3.
- Kiril Timofeevich Khlebnikov: Notes on Russian America. Part I: Novo-Arkhangel’sk. Alaska History no. 43. 1994. 308 pp. Transcribed by Svetlana Fedorova. Translated from the Russian edition of 1985 by Serge Lecomte and Richard Pierce. ISBN 1-895901-04-9.
- Bolkhovitinov, Nikolai Nikolaevich: Russian-American Relations and the Sale of AlaskaAlaska purchaseThe Alaska Purchase was the acquisition of the Alaska territory by the United States from Russia in 1867 by a treaty ratified by the Senate. The purchase, made at the initiative of United States Secretary of State William H. Seward, gained of new United States territory...
, 1834–1867. Alaska History no. 43. 1996. Translated and edited by Richard A. Pierce. 405 pp, illustrated, index. ISBN 1-895901-06-5.