The Pioneers of Alaska is a fraternal organization based out of Nome, Alaska, focused on preserving the history of early non-Native settlers in the territory. The organization operates through local chapters called Igloos and historically provided mutual aid, civic engagement, and historical preservation support. Today, the Pioneers have approximately 3,100 members, who must be residents of Alaska for at least 20 years to be eligible to join.
The purpose of the Pioneers is stated as "to preserve the names of all Alaska's pioneers on its rolls; to collect and preserve the literature and incidents of our history; and to promote the best interests of Alaska."Pioneers of Alaska - About
History
Founding and early years (1907–1920s) Discussions about forming a fraternal organization dedicated to preserving Alaska's early settler history and providing mutual support began in Nome during the winter of 1902–1903. In a meeting held on February 7, 1907, in the office of Dr. Will Chase and Dr. Southward in the Nome Bank Building, 28 men formed a temporary organization and appointed a committee to draft a constitution and bylaws.
On February 14, 1907, the permanent organization was established under the name Pioneers of Alaska, designating local chapters as Igloos.Pioneers of Alaska - Igloo 6, Juneau Nome became Igloo No. 1. The constitution and by-laws adopted at this meeting, with only minor modifications, remain in effect. The first officers were: J. J. Chambers (President), R. B. Milroy (Vice President), Conrad Seim (Secretary and Historian), P. N. Webb (Treasurer), and George Standley (Sergeant-at-Arms).History of the Pioneers of Alaska Transcribed from The Alaska Weekly, Friday July 18, 1924 Following the meeting, a letter inviting formation of additional igloos was sent to outlying camps.
The organization expanded within its first year. Igloos were established at Candle in June 1907 and St. Michael in October 1907. Under the constitution, the formation of three Igloos led to the creation of a governing body called the Grand Igloo. Representatives of the three chapters met in Nome on August 4, 1908, formally establishing the Grand Igloo Pioneers of Alaska on September 4, 1908, with W. P. Watt elected as the first Grand President.
Other early gatherings influenced the formation of a permanent society. For example, a meeting called to arrange final rites for Richard Harris brought together many long-time residents, during which a motion was made to formalize a pioneer organization.The '87 Alaska Pioneers By Alice Henson Christoe By January 25, 1908, prospective membership had grown beyond the original eighty-seven. At that meeting, the constitution's Article One defined the organization's name and objectives:
"This society shall be known as the '87 Alaska Pioneers. Its objects are: To cultivate social intercourse and form a more perfect union among its members; to create a fund for charitable purposes on their behalf; and to perpetuate the old-time friendships and early history of the territory."
Article Two established membership eligibility:
"All residents of Alaska prior to the last day of December, 1887 (except Indians), shall be eligible."
Subsequently, additional Igloos were chartered throughout the territory, ultimately reaching a peak of 35 chapters. By the 1910s and 1920s, the Pioneers of Alaska operated in most major population centers, functioning as both a fraternal and civic organization in the Alaska Territory.
Membership expansion and organizational growth In 1911, the Grand Igloo authorized the creation of a Women's Auxiliary, initially open to wives, mothers, and sisters of Pioneers, as well as women who had resided in Alaska before December 31, 1900, and all native-born white children. These children were enrolled in the Native Sons and Daughters of Alaska, becoming active, dues-paying members upon reaching age sixteen.
That same year, the Grand Igloo approved a fifteen percent dues assessment to fund construction of a Pioneer Home near Fairbanks. However, in 1913, the Alaska Legislature assumed responsibility for the project by establishing the Pioneer Home at Sitka, relieving the organization of direct oversight.
In 1913, Igloo No. 6 was organized in Juneau, incorporating these early pioneers as charter members. This facilitated formation of additional Igloos at Valdez (No. 7), Iditarod (No. 8), and Seward (No. 9). By the early 1920s the organization had grown to include approximately 24 Igloos, four Women's Auxiliaries, and an estimated 2,240 members.Pioneers of Alaska - Grand Igloo
Role in territorial Alaska In the absence of comprehensive territorial or federal social services during Alaska's early territorial period, local Igloos assisted elderly, disabled, or financially hard-hit members. They organized community events, raised funds for disaster relief, and advocated for infrastructure improvements, including transportation and public facilities.
In 1912, the federal government granted Alaska territorial status. That same year, the Territorial Legislature extended citizenship and suffrage to women, and the Grand Igloo extended membership rights to women, eight years before women nationwide gained the right to vote.
Several members of the Alaska Territorial Legislature prided themselves on being Pioneers of Alaska.
The organization also collected artifacts, recorded personal reminiscences, and contributed to early libraries and museums, playing a significant role in documenting Alaska's settler history during its transition from territory to statehood.
Later developments As of the twenty-first century, the Pioneers of Alaska continue to operate through subordinate Igloos across the state, with both men's and women's Igloos active. The organization holds an annual Grand Igloo Convention, attended by delegates from subordinate Igloos, at which officers are elected to represent the entire organization for the coming year.
Membership Membership was originally restricted to white men who entered Alaska before January 1, 1900. Article 2 of their original constitution from 1907 stated, "All residents of Alaska prior to the last day of December, 1887 (except Indians), shall be eligible." This reinforced the organization's identity as a body of "old-timers" while excluding many Indigenous residents, immigrants, and later arrivals. Early documentation about the Pioneers of Alaska's race requirements contradicts some contemporary framing, in which some Igloos report that the requirements on the application were intended to help identify "those who died on the trail or alone in a remote cabin".
By 1911, the Grand Igloo established the Women's Auxiliary, allowing female relatives of Pioneers and long-time Alaska residents to participate. Women were officially included starting in 1912, initially through auxiliary roles, while native-born white children could join as Native Sons and Daughters of Alaska until age sixteen. At that point, they became active members. This structure ensured the continuity of the organization's legacy throughout the Territory. Women's groups gained full Igloo status in 2004, and full integration of leadership roles across gender lines was achieved in 2012. As of 2023, there are 15 women's Igloos in operation. In the same year, one Igloo location made history by merging its men's and women's Igloos into a single, unified Igloo, effectively eliminating the gender distinction. Other locations are reportedly considering similar transitions.
Racial restrictions were formally removed in 1982, though historical membership remained predominantly white.
Local chapters (Igloos) The Pioneers of Alaska are organized into local chapters called Igloos, which serve as the primary units of membership and local activity. A number and a city or regional designation identify each Igloo. The first Igloo, Igloo No. 1, was established in Nome in 1907, shortly after the organization's founding. By 1908, three Igloos existed, prompting the creation of the Grand Igloo to coordinate statewide activities and governance.
At the organization's peak, there were approximately 35 Igloos across Alaska, located in both urban and rural communities. Igloos have historically included both men's and women's divisions, with some Igloos later merging to form combined chapters. The Grand Igloo serves as the governing body, with delegates from each subordinate Igloo participating in annual conventions to elect officers and oversee organizational business.
As of the mid-2020s, many Igloos remain active in communities such as Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Cordova, Homer, Seward, Nome, Kodiak, Valdez, Wrangell, and Delta Junction.Pioneers of Alaska - Grand Igloo - Alaska Igloo List Other Igloos have become inactive or sunsetted due to declining membership, community changes, or the consolidation of men's and women's chapters. Some Igloos, such as Igloo No. 6 in Juneau and Igloo No. 19 in Cordova, continue to host events, engage in historical preservation, and support civic projects, reflecting the Pioneers' ongoing role in local communities.
Application process and terms Current membership in the Pioneers of Alaska is open to men and women who are U.S. citizens of "good moral character" and have been long-term residents of Alaska.Pioneers of Alaska - Juneau - Membership Applicants must have lived in the state for at least seven months in each of twenty cumulative years and for at least seven months immediately before applying.Pioneers of Alaska - Join Applicants are typically required to provide a brief biographical history of their time in Alaska, which becomes part of the historical archives of the Igloo to which they apply.APPLICATION_FOR_MEMBERSHIP.pdf
Some igloos, such as Anchorage's Men's Igloo 15 and Women's Igloo 4, allow qualifying individuals to submit membership applications in person at regular business meetings or social events at Pioneer Hall, or through the Men's and Women's Membership Committees.Pioneers of Alaska - Anchorage - Membership
Prospective members submit a formal application providing personal information, residency history, and references. The application must be endorsed by two members in good standing of the local Igloo to which the applicant is applying and accompanied by the required initiation fee and dues. Members who move within Alaska may request a transfer card to join a new Igloo, while those temporarily leaving the state can obtain a clearance card to maintain good standing during their absence. Dual membership in more than one Igloo is permitted, though members may only represent one Igloo as a delegate at the annual Grand Igloo convention.
Controversies
Ku Klux Klan associations During the 1910s and 1920s, some prominent civic leaders in Alaska who were also active in fraternal organizations, including the Pioneers of Alaska, were affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan, which maintained 11 chapters in Alaska.ALASKKKA - The Invisible Empire in the Last Frontier: A Look into the 1920s Klan of the North Kell & Allen, 2025. UAScholarworksMapping the Second Ku Klux Klan, 1915-1940 | Labs@VCU Libraries Archival research indicates that some individual Pioneers members simultaneously held leadership roles within Klan organizations and/or dual membership, particularly in Southeast Alaska.MS10 Captain Lloyd H. "Kinky" Bayers Collection, 1898-1967 Juneau Historical Subjects Files The Pioneers as an institution, however, had no formal affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan. Historians have noted these overlapping memberships as part of a broader pattern of Klan integration into civic networks.Hernandez, Miguel, fl 2014. "Fighting Fraternities: The Ku Klux Klan and Freemasonry in 1920's America."
Documented Klan officers and members The following members of the Pioneers of Alaska have been documented as holding leadership roles or formal positions within Ku Klux Klan organizations: