Sealaska Heritage Institute Digital Photo Database

Sealaska Heritage Institute archives is named for William L. Paul, Sr., who was Alaska’s first Native attorney, the state’s first Native legislator, a gifted orator, and a formidable warrior who fought on the front line of many legal and political battles.  His achievements, however, are not as well known outside of Alaska Native circles.  Sealaska Heritage Institute Board of Trustees named the archives after him to honor his accomplishments and to publicly recognize him for his life’s work.

Because William Paul was one of the first to initiate formal legal and political action to resolve Native land claims in the early 1900s, and because of his extensive work on land claims from Southeast Alaska to the North Slope, he is considered the father of Alaska Native land claims. William Paul worked closely with his brother, Louis Paul, and his sons William L. Paul, Jr., and Fred Paul, who were also attorneys.  William L. Paul, Sr., died in 1977. For more on William Paul, read the resolution passed by SHI's Board of Trustees in 2014 naming the archives for him.

Patrons unable to visit the Sealaska Heritage Institute facility should contact the Archives for information about obtaining digital reproductions or photocopies.  Some photos in the William L. Paul, Sr., Archives are also viewable on the online photo database.