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Healy (Michael A.) Papers
mssHM 47577-47618
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Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Michael A. Healy Papers
Creator:
Healy, Michael A., 1839-1904.
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 47577-47618
Physical Description:
2.75 Linear Feet
(3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1881-1900
Abstract: This collection contains papers of U. S. Cutter ship captain Michael A. Healy (1839-1904) who commanded the U.S. Revenue Cutters
"Corwin" and "Bear" off the Alaskan coast in the mid 1880s, and his family.
Language of Material: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Michael A. Healy papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Purchased from John K. Healy, Michael Healy's grandson, July 1960.
Captain Michael Healy (1839-1904), commander of the Revenue Cutters "Corwin" and "Bear" was the presence of the law off the
coast of Alaska in the late 19th century. Although his primary function was to prevent the contraband sale of guns and alcohol
to the natives and to control the illegal slaughter of seals, he was acclaimed for his fearless efforts to save the lives
of seamen marooned in the Arctic. He was also concerned for the Eskimos, whose food supply was being depleted by the decreasing
number of seals and walrus. Together with the missionary Sheldon Jackson, he initiated a plan to bring Siberian reindeer into
Alaska. Healy bargained with the Siberian tribesmen for purchase of the animals, then ferried the shiploads of reindeer across
the Bering Straits to establish the herds. Healy was born in Georgia, the son of an Irish father and a mulatto slave mother.
He and his brothers were sent north for education and freedom. His brothers distinguished themselves academically, one becoming
President of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., another the Bishop of Portland, Maine, but Michael ran away from schools
in Massachussetts, Montreal, and Paris to go to sea at age 15. In 1865 he applied for a position in the U. S. Revenue Service,
the precursor of the Coast Guard, and in the same year he married Mary Jane Roach (1835-1907) of Boston. Healy served in many
areas, including Sitka, but his Arctic command began in 1880 with the steamer "Corwin" and continued from 1886 to 1896 with
the famed ship "Bear" that had earlier rescued the survivors of the Greely Expedition off Greenland and years later was to
be selected by Admiral Byrd to go to Antarctica. It was ironic that after the many years of praiseworthy service to all in
the North and after years of controlling the illegal liquor traffic, that Healy should be charged with being drunk on duty,
brought up for court martial, and relieved of his command. Eventually, however, before he died in 1904, he was given another
command and restored to his position as 7th ranking captain in the service.
This collection contains papers of United Revenue Cutter ship captain Michael A. Healy (1839-1904) and his family, consisting
of 39 pieces of correspondence, 4 diaries, a letterbook from the U.S. Revenue-Cutter Service ship, "Bear," (1885-1887), two
large scrapbooks, and an illuminated manuscript testimonial to Capt. Healy in a leather pouch. Three of the diaries (1884,
1890, and 1891) are by Healy's wife, Mary Jane Roach Healy, kept while aboard the "Corwin" (1883-1884) and the "Bear" (1890
and 1891) (HM 47578-HM 47580), and the fourth is by his son, Fred A. Healy (written aboard the "Corwin" in 1883) (HM 47577).
The scrapbooks (HM 47616-47617) kept by Mary Jane Healy contain clippings related to Capt. Healy's time in Alaska as well
as general articles about Alaska, its population, whaling, the missionary Sheldon Jackson, and reindeer. HM 47617 contains
a rare copy of the first issue of the Eskimo bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 1, March, 1893, and a watercolor drawing of an Alaskan
house by Bessie E. (Bugbee) Tarpley, dated June 27, 1891.
Approximately 284 photographs of Alaska were transferred to the Rare Books Department of the Huntington Library (call number:
photCL 131).The following newspapers also came with the collection and are now filed in the Rare Book Department of the Huntington
Library: Nome Daily Chronicle, Aug. 14-Sept. 29, 1900 (call number: 349195); Nome Daily Gold Digger, Jan. 10, 1900 (call number:
349192); Nome Weekly Chronicle, Oct. 6, 1900 (call number: 349193).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Eskimos -- Alaska
Missionaries -- Alaska
Reindeer -- Alaska
Ship captains -- Alaska -- Archives
Whaling -- Alaska
Women -- Alaska -- Diaries
Alaska -- Description and travel
Alaska -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Diaries -- Alaska -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- Alaska -- 19th century
Scrapbooks -- Alaska -- 19th century
Healy, Fred A.
Healy, Mary Jane Roach.
Jackson, Sheldon, 1834-1909
Bear (Ship)
Corwin (Ship)
United States. Revenue-Cutter Service -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.