The Raven and the Double Eagle

by James W. Davis of Sitka

Davis book cover A book about early Sitka during the Russian Era, the life of the common people and the relationships with the Tlingit who lived just outside the fortress walls.

Signed copies available at Sitka Historical Museum: $19.99
Please call 907-747-6455 for shipping information.

The Sitka Historical Society and Museum has been proud to work with local historian Jim Davis for over 40 years by exhibiting his large and masterful three-dimensional model depicting Sitka in 1867. We recently hosted a special slide-show presentation by Mr. Davis that focused on his new book and writings related to everyday life during the Russian era in Sitka. Mr. Davis is also a past president of the Alaska Historical Society.

The video of Mr. Davis's presentation and slide show is scheduled for airing on North Star Television/GCI Ch. 11 in Sitka, and will be running between Jan. 26-28, 2011.

Upon Jim's arrival in Sitka in 1952, he spoke with and interviewed many native and non-native elders as to their recollections and stories related to Russian America and early Sitka. These oral histories are a major part of Jim's book. Richly illustrated with 25 pen and ink drawings by Jim, the book interweaves local oral history and anecdotal tales with previously published history to focus on the everyday common life of workers and interactions with the Tlingit. Included is the fascinating tales from Illya, a Russian cabin boy who jumped ship in Sitka during the Russian era and whom Jim interviewed before his death at over 100 years old. Jim's interviews included Mark Jacobs Sr., Alex Andrews, Ester Littlefield(stories from her mother), A.P. Johnson, and Nick Boshanyan(sp) former Russian and later U.S. Custom Agent. Also consulted was Bob DeArmond., Hector Chevigny's wife, and the eminent Dr. Richard Pierce,

Born in 1921, Jim Davis has been a resident of Sitka for over 60 years, and is now almost 90 years old. He was a history teacher and later a superintendent of schools in both Kake and Skagway. Jim was adopted into a Tlingit Raven clan in Kake, and also worked at Sitka National Historical Park as a history interpreter.

Upon Jim's arrival in Sitka in 1952, he spoke with and interviewed many native and non-native elders as to their recollections and stories related to Russian America and early Sitka. These oral histories are a major part of Jim's brand new book "The Raven and The Double Eagle". Richly illustrated with 25 pen and ink drawings by Jim (click on the image to the right for a larger view), the book interweaves local oral history with previously published history to focus on the everyday common life of workers and interactions with the Tlingit. Included is the fascinating tales from Illya, a Russian cabin boy who jumped ship in Sitka during the Russian era and whom Jim interviewed before his death at over 100 years old. Jim's interviews with elders included Mark Jacobs Sr., Alex Andrews, Ester Littlefield( stories from her mother), A.P. Johnson, and Bob DeArmond. Hector Chevigny's wife, Dr. Richard Pierce, Nick Boshanyan(sp) former Russian and later Custom Agent.

Chapter Titles

Alaska Becomes Russian
This Is Sitka
A New Family
The Tlingit, An Inside Look
Our Boy Illya
When Childhood Flees
A People in Transition
Foreign Trade and Trading
Raven on the Beach
The Hunt
Alaska's First Sawmill
The Lutheran Church
Shaky Relationships
The Fur Industry
Everyday Life
The Trading Post
Crime and Punishment
The Bakery
The Little Giant
A Hot, Smokey job
Grist For The Mill
Night Life Plus
Let's Go Fishin'
Alaska's First Bowling Alley
On The Building of Ships
Sailing Men Of War
Treating The Sick
On The Tanning Of Cow Hides
On The Tanning Of Cow Hides
Sitka Metal Works
Soap Making Day
Skunk Cabbage
Medicine Woman
Food Everywhere
An Eye on the Enemy
Trading with Others
The Transfer Ceremony