Artifact of the Month: January 2018

New Year's Celebration at the Filipino Community Hall

Little has been recorded of the life of Filipino people in the early decades of Ketchikan's history. Many traveled to Ketchikan to work seasonally in canneries or were sent here through assignment in the U.S. Coast Guard. Some arrived directly from the Philippines, while others moved from the lower 48 or from other Alaskan communities such as Juneau and Kodiak. Many who made their way to Ketchikan were single men trying to support their families back in the Philippines and some were students working to earn money for college. While some returned home as the fishing season waned, many chose to make a life here. By the 1950s, Ketchikan hosted a vibrant Filipino community.

This month's featured photograph shows a group of men and women at the Filipino Community Hall on December 31, 1953. Mayor George H. Beck and his wife (at center) and a number of townspeople were honored guests for the three-fold celebration. The group was ringing in the New Year, installing club officers, and celebrating Rizal Day, a Philippine national holiday honoring the life of Jose Rizal. The event is celebrated annually on December 30 to commemorate the anniversary of Rizal's 1896 execution at Bagumbayan, present-day Rizal Park in Manila.

The photograph was taken by local photographer Paulu Saari for the Ketchikan Daily News. An accompanying newspaper article on January 4, 1954 listed officers of the Filipino Community Club-Felix Zamora, president; F.D. Roxas, vice president; Lillian Zamora, secretary; Ricardo Ricardo, treasurer. Other members included Manuel Macaguiwa, Vincent Tongson, Frank Zamora, Hermy Valdez, Mrs. J. Dool, Johnny Vinegas, Diasado Barros, and Leon Sabanal.

Aside from Beck and his wife, the only person identified in this photo is Ted Cabot in the back row, second from the right in a light colored suit. If you are able to identify anyone in the photo, please contact Hayley Chambers at (907) 225-5600 or hayleyc@ktn-ak.us.

Ketchikan Museums, KM 2003.2.63.859