Approximately 230 pages, each 14" x 17"; and 7 double pages, each 18' x 24". Comprising the original manuscripts for two books (“Fish Without Chips”, and “Ketchikan Alaskan Sketches”), including large impressive pencil drawings, hand- lettered text, and many spot illustrations. Housed in yellow paper folders, apparently as sent to Vachon's publisher. Also included are 20 additional drawings never published in Father Vachon's books, a few in color.
Wonderful archive of very accomplished and vigorous Alaska pencil drawings. Father Andrew William Vachon was a much-loved Jesuit Priest who resided in Ketchikan, Alaska for many years in the 1940's and '50's. The subjects include pencil portraits of many renowned (now mostly deceased) Alaskans such as Belle Simpson (the "Grand Dame" of Juneau), Skagway painter Vic Sparks, former Governor Bill Egen, as well as lesser-known Alaskans from Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. There are also many illustrations of Southeastern Alaskan wildlife, totems, scenery, boats, and airplanes. Since many of the totems have disappeared and most of the historical airplanes he depicts are no longer in service, and the Ketchikan boat works, and pulp mill he illustrates are long gone, these drawings are a wonderful historical record of Southeast Alaska in the 1940’s and '50's. A copy of Vachon's "Alaska: Fish Without Chips", published in 1960 by Men of the Cathedral is included in the lot.