fCnaiv ‘IjcuiA. 'UnweMity
In order to be a good librarian
one must know 10,000 books, have
a photographic memory and a
genuine interest in the pursuit of
knowledge. This is a formula en
unciated by one of John Mehler’s
instructors at Columbia Univer
sity.
The first description fits the
red-haire^ librarian at the Uni
versity of Alaska. Students at Col
lege have quipped that Mehler’s
luxurious “mustachios” are really
radar in disguise to search out
elusive books and pamphlets on
the campus. Well they might be,
for John Mehler can take you di
rectly to just about any of the
25,000 books and similar number
of pamphlets in the University
of Alaska library. He knows
something about every one of
them, and a great deal aboqt most
of them.
Mehler is a true son of the
South. He was born in Waynes
boro, Virginia, attended the Vir
ginia Episcopal School and Fish
burne Military School in Virginia.
The famous old Washington and
Lee University at Lexington
granted John Mehler his Bachelor
of Arts degree in 1939.
In Mehler’s office in the library,
hangs a huge picture of his south
ern Alma Mater, and right along
side of it is a painting of General
Robert E. Lee.*
To test his ties with the South,
several students have asked Li
brarian Mehler to direct them to
books on the history of the Civil
War. Mr. Mehler played the ques
tions straight and replied, “Never
heard of it. But if, by chance,
you-all mean the War Between
the States, you will find the books
right over thar.”
After graduating from Wash- J
ington and Lee as a history major
(and a prominent member of the
wrestling squad) John decided
that he wanted to be a librarian.
He enrolled in the Library School
at Columbia University. “This
was my first serious invasion of
the North,” Mehler announced. In
1940 he was granted his Bachelor
of Science degree in Library Sci
ence.
Hardly had he completed his
course at Columbia when war j
clouds spread over the Western |
World, and in January, 1941, John
Mehler was in uniform. He!
served two and one-half years!
overseas in the Mediteranean the-I
ater of operations in the Quarter- j
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master Corps. Most of his time
was spent in North Africa and
Italy. After more than five years
in the Army of the U. S., Captain i
John Mehler bought his first suit \
of civvies in February, 1946.
“I felt that I had earned a bit \
of a vacation after all that time i
in uniform, so I went back to Vir- j
ginia by a roundabout route that |
took me sightseeing for several |
months,” he said.
“Then, when it came time to '
look for a job, what should hap- j
pen? The University of Alaska j
advertised for a librarian. Be-1
cause I had acquired a good deal !
of wanderlust, but desired to see j
more of the world, I applied,” he I
announced. “And here I am!” j
Mehler’s favorite sport is cross- i
country skiing, and where did he j
learn to “Bend-ze-knees?” On the
ski trails back of the campus.
Mehler’s ambition in his work
as librarian of the University of
Alaska is to build up an outstand
ing-collection of Alaskana—books,
pamphlets and magazine articles
on the history, growth and de
velopment of the Territory.
“We have an excellent founda
tion with the Alfred H. Brooks
Memorial Library of Alaskana,”
he stated. “Through the years
much source material has been
added to the Alaskan section, and
I doubt if there are many libraries
which exceed in broad scope the
basic publications in the Univer
sity’s library.
“I hope the day will come when
our Alaskan material will be so
complete that research students
in Alaskan and Arctic subjects
will come to the University of
Algska from all over the world,”
he continued.
“Every librarian is desirous of
making his library outstanding
for some particular subject. What
better than Alaskana for the Uni
versity of Alaska!”
Coffey Insures Everything—
Remember?
r
Yukon Equipment Has
New Line of Engines
Wisconsin engines have been
added to its line of power equip
ment by the Yukon Equipment,
Inc., H. A. Floyd, manager of the
Anchorage branch, announced
here this week. The addition now
makes it possible for Yukon
Equipment to furnish power to
any conceivable user, whether
the use is for fractional horse
power or in multiples, Mr. Floyd
said.
In line with the distributorship
of the Wisconsin air-cooled en
gines, Yukon Equipment will
stock complete units in both An
chorage and Fairbanks. In addi
tion to the engines for immedi
ate delivery, there is a large
basic repair stock in transit for
both branches, Mr. Floyd ex
plained. This will enable the
many users of Wisconsin en
gines throughout the territory to
now purchase repair parts locally
without long delays for deliveries
from Outside, he added.
For many years Yukon Equip
ment has been quite prominent
throughout the territory in the
distribution of all types of heavy
and light dutv equipment, sup
plies and material. The company’s
recent appointment as territory
distributors for the Wisconsin air
cooled engines “is another evi
dence of the fact that they are
constantly striving to render
ready service for their products
in the territory,” Mr. Floyd said
in making the announcement.
SKAGWAY WOULD SHOCK
SOAPY SMITH NOW
SKAGWAY — Soarw Smith
would be shocked if he could see
his old Skagway stomping ground
these days.
It has become quite a ladies’
town, literally speaking. Mrs.
Frank Young was recently sworn
in as mayor and sitting on the
new council is Mrs. Flora Schom
bel.
Mrs. Clara Carson is clerk and
Mrs. Francis Roberts is city treas
urer.
NEW
VAN PACKER CHIMNEYS
Replace roof jacks or safeties.
Approved by Fire Underwriters.
Meets FHA requirements.
PALMER SHEET METAL & HEATING
Box 866 John Weisenberger Palmer
Explore for Yourself
Yes, you can make a
very important discovery
that may very well mean
the end of your electrical
problems. Of course, a
great many people in
this community have al
ready discovered how
our electrical service can
save them time and
money, but that is no
reason why you can't
find out also. ' Be sure
tp drop in and see us.
Matanuska Electric Association, Inc.
YOUR REA ELECTRIC CO-OP IN PALMER
“Serving the Valley Since 1942”
INVITE CONTRACTORS
TO HEAR DETAILS OF
ARMY CONSTRUCTION
All construction interests in
Alaska will have an opportunity
to learn the details of the 1951-52
building program of the military
at a briefing in Anchorage on
December 9, according to Larry
Moore of the Associated General
Contractors who is handling ar
rangements.
Col. L. E. Seaman, district en
gineer at Ft. Richardson, will
discuss the building of Army and
Air Force projects throughout the
territory and outline the influence
of the program on the civilian
economy of Alaska at large.
Subjects to be covered by Col.
Seaman include appropriations
now available and planned for
the future, manpower require
ments, housing needs for peak
employment periods, procurement
and shipping of construction ma
terials and local purchases of va
"HTT"1 ■' ^ "T!;Y:T.‘
Appointed Fellow on Nalional
Geographical Society. Staff
j George W. Gasser of College
was recently appointed a fellow
on the National Geographical So
ciety staff. Gasser, who has
spent over 40 years in agricul
i ture research and in classifying
Alaska’s flora, is an outstanding
I man in his field. He is a retired
; Territorial Commissioner of Ag
! riculture and former University
| of Alaska professor. He was
! elected to the territorial House
of Representatives this fall from
the Fourth Division on the Re
publican ticket.
rious supplies.
The meeting will open at 10
a.m., December 9, in the KENI
studio. According to Moore no
formal invitations are required
but all contractors, sub-contrac
tors, suppliers, transportation
agencies and allied building in
terests are requested to attend.
Coffey Insures Everything—
Remember?
-IB'
HALLEA LODGE
Wasilla, Alaska
|i
I
1. . V V «
DINING ROOM COCKTAIL BAR «
CABINS
OPEN ALL WINTER
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J. VIC BROWN & SONS
The Alaskan Jewelers"
* 523 Fourth Ave., Anchorage
Phone 22051
<««<■ <:««<■
WATCHES
DIAMONDS
SILVER NUGGET AND JADE JEWELRY
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Prompt Attention to Mail Orders
Serving Alaskans for 35 years—ask any old-timer
A WELCOME TO
HEARTY WINTER APPETITES . . .
We have our own way of
welcoming ihe return of
winter and hearty appe
tites.
We invite you to a dinner
that's guaranteed to bring
out of summer storage
even the laziest of appe
tites. Start the new sea
son off right by bringing
the whole family to dine
with us.
AND . . . don't forget, we
serve a complete line of
fine liquors and liqueurs.
Mixing your favorite
drinks is our specialty.
ALPINE INN
Mile 61, Glenn Highway
Phone l-J-31