The Berglund Sisters
Accomplished Alaska Outdoorswomen
Meet the Berglund Sisters, accomplished outdoorswomen of Alaska. All three were born in Danzhit Kh脿nl膮寞寞 (Circle), Alaska to miner George Berglund and his wife, Maude. Hazel (1915-1989), Evelyn (1917-2008), and Elsie (1919-2004) learned to hunt and trap from a young age.聽聽All three had their own dog teams and spent time in the woods exploring. In her memoir Born on Snowshoes, Evelyn writes that she got her first moose when she was twelve.聽
In 1927, the two other Berglund siblings (George聽Jr.聽and Charley) died,聽and George Sr. was incapacitated due to severe arthritis,聽leaving the girls聽and their mother responsible for聽keeping the family fed.聽聽
Did you know聽the Berglund Sisters聽and have a story you鈥檇 like to share about her? We鈥檇 love to know more about her and about the powerful women in your life. Share your images and stories with us on Instagram and Facebook by tagging us (@anchoragemuseum聽and #ExtraToughWomenAK) and we鈥檒l add them to our ongoing digital curation project. Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming exhibition and be sure to check back for new #ExtraToughWomenAK聽posts.聽聽
Image credits:聽Fabian Carey Collection,聽Alaska and Polar Regions Collections, Elmer E.聽Rasmuson聽Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks,聽UAF-1975-0209-00003 and UAF-1975-0209-00012聽
Image Captions:
鈥淗AZEL BERGLUND 鈥� Trapped Upper Black River With Her Two Sisters. 1930-50. Born in Alaska.鈥�
鈥淓VELYN BERGLUND 鈥� Trapped upper Black River With Her Family For Many Years. These Women as Hardy And Efficient as Most Men on The Trail.鈥澛�