Aunt Phil's Trunk by Laurel Downing Bill is a historical journey through Alaska. It tells of the adventurers that shaped Alaska into what it is today and of the Eskimos, the first people known to have inhabited Alaska. It talks of the famous Klondike Gold Rush and a connection Alaska has to the U.S. Civil War. It is the first part of a history gathered by two women, through research and interviews, through hard work and perseverance. It answers a lot of questions and it raises many others that remain unanswered to this day. These are questions that are perhaps best left unanswered as they may change the way we see Alaska. Join us as we start our voyage, the first leg of our journey through a barren and beautiful country with a history as rich as that of any other old world country.

Aunt Phil's Trunk by Laurel Downing Bill was a fascinating read, a real insight into the one place I want to visit. It is a bit of an eye-opener and the book has been written in a wonderfully narrative way that makes you feel as though you have been transported there. Laurel Bill has a way with words that made me want to keep on reading and makes me want to read the other books in the series. The amazing photographs were a wonderful addition and made the stories seem even more real. Praise to Laurel Bill for a fantastic journey, one I want to continue.

If you like reading historical novels, then you will appreciate these fascinating tales and rich heritage of Alaska. Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume One: Bringing Alaska's History Alive by Laurel Downing Bill explains how Alaska first came under Russian dominance. The greed for seal skins, pelts and other valuable commodities depleted the wildlife population. They also ill-treated the Alaska Natives, forcing them to work under inhumane conditions. Some of these stories were of the shamans who possessed healing powers. Alaska was the new frontier, undeveloped and filled with untapped prosperity for new settlers. Many countries sent naval ships on expeditions to claim a piece of this intriguing land. Another interesting historical account was how the U.S. government acquired Alaska from Russia.

Laurel Downing Bill did a remarkable job writing this book and illustrating it with hundreds of historical photographs. Her aunt, Phyllis Downing Carlson, was a respected historian who published many articles on Alaskan history. The author used these articles, along with her own notes and research, to compile this well documented book appropriately called Aunt Phil’s Trunk. I have read historical books on Alaska, but this is the first one that has given more in-depth information and recorded stories about explorers, Eskimos, missionaries, and other persons who all played significant roles in the development of one of the most important states of America. The book is unbiased in content and one that I found intriguing and knowledgeable, and I have learned a lot from reading this.

Aunt Phil's Trunk: Volume One Bringing Alaska's History Alive is a historical work co-written by Phyllis Downing Carlson and her niece, Laurel Downing Bill. Carlson was a teacher and author who amassed a lifetime's worth of pictures, articles and stories about her beloved home state, Alaska. This 5-volume history has been compiled, edited and written by her niece. Volume 1 covers the early history of Alaska, starting from settlement of the first Asiatic travelers across the Bering land bridge. The volume describes the Russian expansion into Alaska, the purchase of Seward's Folly by the United States and the subsequent gold rushes that made Alaska the stuff of dreams for adventure seekers. There's an impressive stockpile of photographs that make this very much a pictorial history.

Phyllis Downing Carlson and her niece, Laurel Downing Bill's pictorial history, Aunt Phil's Trunk: Volume One Bringing Alaska's History Alive does what it sets out to do -- it really does bring Alaska's history alive. I was enthralled by the stories and marveled at the photographs that are such an integral part of this work. The depth and extent of the research conducted by these authors is remarkable. I loved the descriptions and pictures of the earliest tribes, and the stories of how they lived and survived in this harsh environment. The gold rush stories are also superb, with accompanying pictures that make all the history one might have learned in school feel so much more complete and real. The images of prospectors hauling their supplies up icy heights are ones I won't be forgetting any time soon, but my favorite story of all is that of Reindeer Mary. Also, at the end of the book is a marvelous bibliography filled with an impressive amount of sources. Anyone who thinks that history is dry, dead and boring should give this work a try and they'll be quite pleasantly surprised. Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume One: Bringing Alaska's History Alive is an enthralling adventure and is highly recommended.

Aunt Phil's Trunk Volume One: Bringing Alaska's History Alive by Laurel Downing Bill is a series of short stories and hundreds of photographs of historical note that go along with them. The first volume showcases the arrival of Alaska Natives thousands of years ago. There are stories that include the story of mighty shaman, mysterious petroglyphs and fierce battles against Russian fur traders, who arrived in the mid-1700s. Follow time through to 1867 when Alaska became part of the United States and Americans began steaming their way to the final American frontier, when gold sent people into a frenzy. Alaska is a state of legend with a colourful past and you can find it here.

I love history and I fully admit I am hooked on all the Alaska shows that are currently on TV, so when I got the chance to read this book I jumped at it. I love the format that Laurel Downing Bill uses to tell the history of Alaska. I learned so much in reading this book and I truly never knew just how rich a history Alaska had and the stories are so nicely told. You can tell that a lot of work and research went into this book and it is clearly a passion for Laurel Downing Bill. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series and I would give this book a big recommendation for history lovers. If you want to know something about beautiful rugged Alaska give this one a try; you will enjoy it.