Project Jukebox Survey
Help us redesign the Project Jukebox website by taking a very short survey!
Ruth Sensenig

Ruth Sensenig lives in Homer, Alaska and has transcribed interviews for Project Jukebox and the Oral History Department at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, in particular all of the interviews in the Observing Climate Change in Alaska's National Parks Project Jukebox and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park oral history project.
As Transcriber
Interview Title | Archive #: Oral History | Project | Abstract | Transcriber |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tahzay Jones | 2018-14-10 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Tahzay Jones was interviewed on March 29, 2019 by Leslie McCartney and Katie Cullen at the offices of the regional headquarters of the National Park Service-Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska. In this interview, Tahzay talks about his work as the Oceans and Coastal Programs Coordinator for the Alaska region of the National Park Service, which has allowed him to be involved with monitoring and studying coastal ecosystems of Alaska and the effects of environmental change. In this interview, Tahzay talks specifically about his work with coastal lagoons, coastal erosion, changes in vegetation, collapsing permafrost, and changes in sea ice and weather patterns around the Seward Peninsula and in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. He also discusses his field work, the importance of protecting cultural and natural resources, human adaptation to change, and the importance of educating the public about the changing environment in the north. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Jacob Martin | 2018-14-11 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Jacob Martin was interviewed on April 16, 2019 by Leslie McCartney and Katie Cullen at the offices of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Nome, Alaska. In this interview, Jacob talks about his observations of changes in the local environment, animal and fish populations, weather patterns, vegetation, and sea ice and comments on how these changes are effecting people and their subsistence lifestyle. He also talks about human adaptation and the development of Nome's Climate Adaptation Plan, and the need to create awareness about environmental change in the north to a broader audience. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Jeanette Koelsch, Part 1 | 2018-14-12 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Jeanette Koelsch is interviewed on April 17, 2019 by Leslie McCartney and Katie Cullen in her office at the headquarters of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Nome, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, Jeanette talks about her experience as a field ranger and as an interpretative ranger doing school programs for Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, as well as her current role as superintendent. She discusses her observations of changes in the environment in the region, including variations in the seasons, vegetation, species, sea ice, storm patterns, and erosion, and the effect of these changes on wildlife and humans. She also mentions some of the resource protection and management challenges these changes present for the National Park Service. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Jeanette Koelsch, Part 2 | 2018-14-13 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
This is the continuation of an interview with Jeanette Koelsch on April 18, 2019 by Leslie McCartney and Katie Cullen at her office at the headquarters of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Nome, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, Jeanette continues to talk about her observations of environmental change in the region and the effect it is having on animal populations and humans who depend upon access to wild resources for their food. She also discusses concerns about environmental disaster, the need for monitoring and response, and future resource management challenges faced by the National Park Service. She empahsizes the need to educate a wider public about environmental change in the north, to better plan for human adaptation, and her role as advocate. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Letty Hughes | 2018-14-14 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Letty Hughes was interviewed on April 14, 2019 by Leslie McCartney and Katie Cullen in her office at the headquarters of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Nome, Alaska. In this interview, Letty talks about her wildlife research and survey work as the preserve's wildlife biologist and observations she has made about environmental change and its effect on wildlife and human use in the region. She also discusses the effect of a changing environment on the ability to conduct fieldwork in the area and about the importance of educating a broad public audience about the impacts of change in the north. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Emily Willis, Part 1 | 2018-14-01_PT.1 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Emily Willis was interviewed on October 4, 2018 by Karen Brewster and Susannah Dowds at Emily's home in Skagway, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, Emily talks about her work with herbal and medicinal uses of plants, and environmental changes she has observed while foraging in the woods and working in her backyard garden since moving to Skagway in 2002. She discusses the uses of specific plants, her harvesting and growing techniques, and changes in plants, trees, mushrooms, birds, weather conditions, and the length of the growing season. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Emily Willis, Part 2 | 2018-14-01_PT.2 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
This is the continuation of an interview with Emily Willis on October 4, 2018 by Karen Brewster and Susannah Dowds at Emily's house in Skagway, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, Emily leads a walking tour through her garden, stopping along the way to talk about specific plants and their uses, changes she has noticed in plants, her gardening and transplanting techniques, and her successes and failures working with wild and native species in her garden. Karen runs the video camera and Susannah is holding the microphone as they walk on the uneven path through Emily's hillside garden and try to keep up with her as she excitedly talks about plants along the way. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Stan Selmer, Part 1 | 2018-14-02_PT.1 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Stan Selmer was interviewed on October 5, 2018 by Karen Brewster at his home in Skagway, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, Stan talks about the development of and possible impacts of the Goat Lake Hydroelectric Project built in the 1990s as a way to provide more electricity to the community of Skagway, as well as the Dewey Lakes and Kasidaya Creek hydro projects. He also shares his observations of environmental change in Skagway from his childhood to the present, including: weather observations; winter temperatures, snowfall, and icing conditions; flooding and river water levels; cruise ship air pollution; wind; melting glaciers; trees; and warmer summer temperatures and drier conditions. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Stan Selmer, Part 2 | 2018-14-02_PT.2 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
This is a continuation of an interview with Stan Selmer on October 5, 2018 by Karen Brewster at his home in Skagway, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, Stan discusses observations of environmental change, including forest fires and temperature, and possible causes underlying environmental change. He also talks about lead and zinc pollution issues in Skagway and at its ore terminal, the relationship between the City of Skagway and the National Park Service on historic resource protection and the Moore House boundary debate, and changes in Skagway due to tourism. He also mentions his tenure on the City Council and as mayor, and his efforts to require sprinkler systems be installed in historic district buildings. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Carl Mulvihill, Interview 2 | 2018-14-03 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Carl Mulvihill was interviewed on October 5, 2018 by Karen Brewster at his home in Skagway, Alaska. In this interview, Carl talks about his observations of environmental and community change throughout his lifetime of living in Skagway, Alaska. He discusses changes in seasons, temperatures, and precipitation, changes in bird, fish and wildlife populations, and the melting of glaciers and warmer winters than when he was a boy. He also talks about invasive species, berries, gardening, increased presence of air pollution from cruise ships, pollution from ore and mineral transportation, and changes in environmental consciousness that have led to less ocean pollution and more efficient building construction and lower energy costs. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Lynne Cameron and Susan Fredricks | 2018-14-05 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Lynne Cameron and Susan Fredricks were interviewed on October 6, 2018 by Karen Brewster at the home they share in Skagway, Alaska. In this interview, they discuss their observations of and concerns about environmental change they have witnessed after having lived in Skagway since the mid-1980s. As gardeners, they talk about changes they have observed in the growing season, the weather and amounts of precipitation, the types of plants that succeed or fail, insect species, invasive species, and plant diseases. They also discuss other changes, such as with Lynne's beekeeping activities, trees, growth of alpine vegetation, air pollution, glaciers, birds, and shellfish. Finally, Lynne and Susan talk about the issue of lead contamination in Skagway and the possible human health effects, and the importance of living an environmentally responsible and sustainable lifestyle. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Andrew and Joanne Beierly, Part 1 | 2018-14-04_PT.1 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Andrew and Joanne Beierly were interviewed on October 5, 2018 by Karen Brewster at the Peniel Mission building in Skagway, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, the Beierlys talk about changes in the local environment they have observed in their close to 70 years of living in Skagway and their daily beach walks. They talk about changes in the bird, animal, and fish populations, the presence of different insect species and invasive plants, receding glaciers, and changes in the seasons, temperatures, and weather patterns. They also discuss the unusual large die-off and starvation of common murres that occurred in 2016. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Andrew and Joanne Beierly, Part 2 | 2018-14-04_PT.2 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
This is the continuation of an interview with Andrew and Joanne Beierly on October 5, 2018 by Karen Brewster at the Peniel Mission building in Skagway, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, the Beierlys continue to discuss their observations of environmental change in Skagway. They talk more about the unusual large die-off and starvation of common murres that occurred in 2016, as well as changes in weather, precipitation, seasonal timing, wind, snowfall and ice. They also discuss floods, and environmental changes in Dyea. Finally, they mention changes in the community of Skagway due to tourism. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Bea Lingle, Part 1 | 2018-14-06_PT.1 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Bea Lingle was interviewed on October 7, 2018 by Karen Brewster in Bea's room in her daughter, Kathy, and son-in-law's house in Skagway, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, Bea shares her memories of growing up in Skagway in the 1930s and 1940s and how things have changed in terms of the weather, the temperatures, the amount of snow and ice in the winter, the wind, and the summer temperatures and precipitation. Bea also talks about changes in the growth of vegetation she has observed at her cabin in Carcross, the presence of various bird species, and the recent success of apple trees in Skagway. She also begins to discuss observations of environmental change in Dyea, Alaska. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Bea Lingle, Part 2 | 2018-14-06_PT.2 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
This is the continuation of an interview with Bea Lingle on October 7, 2018 by Karen Brewster in Bea's room in her daughter, Kathy, and son-in-law's house in Skagway, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, Bea continues to talk about environmental changes in and around Skagway, including in Dyea. She also talks about the effect of having the National Park Service in Skagway, the changes in the community and buildings, and changes to the layout of Skagway streets, Pullen Creek and Pullen Pond. She also mentions observations of changes to the glaciers in the area, and specifically mentions flooding in Dyea from from a glacial lake outwash. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Betsy Albecker | 2018-14-07 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Betsy Albecker was interviewed on October 9, 2018 by Karen Brewster at her home in Skagway, Alaska. In this interview, Betsy talks about the effects of environmental change that she has observed, including receding glaciers such as Laughton Glacier that she walked to when she was a kid, variation in plant species that succeed or fail in her garden, changes in the length of the growing season, warmer winters with less snow, and this summer’s hot and dry weather. She also talks about the successful growth of cedar trees that her mother planted at Nahku Bay, the effect of glacial rebound on the landscape, differences in insects, an increase in jellyfish, the disappearance of blue snails from the beaches, a decrease in birds, and changes in the frost, planting and harvesting seasons. On October 10, 2018, Betsy provided a tour of the Nahku Bay homestead and garden, including the cedar trees, apple trees, and her formerly productive garden space. Photos of this are included as the Betsy Albecker Slideshow. |
Ruth Sensenig |
John McDermott | 2018-14-08 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
John McDermott was interviewed on October 9, 2018 by Karen Brewster in Skagway, Alaska. In this interview, John talks about his observations of environmental change in the Skagway and Dyea area. He discusses changes in weather, temperature, precipitation, snow fall, wind, storms, river flooding, and glaciers. In particular, he mentions the West Creek Flood and erosion along the Taiya River. He also talks about his experience as a gardener and changes in the growing season, as well as changes in local bird and wildlife populations. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Jeff and Dorothy Brady, Part 1 | 2018-14-09_PT.1 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Jeff and Dorothy Brady were interviewed on October 9, 2018 by Karen Brewster at their home in Skagway, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, Jeff and Dorothy talk about their lives in Skagway and environmental changes they have observed over time in Skagway and Dyea. As an avid gardener, Dorothy talks about changes she has seen in the plants in her garden and the shifts in her gardening techniques and the effects of seasonal weather changes. As active outdoors people, both Jeff and Dorothy discuss their observations of winter and summer temperatures and precipitation, the timing of freeze-up and break-up, changes in wildlife, bird, tree, and plant populations, receding glaciers, changes in rivers and flooding, and effects on human infrastructure. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Jeff and Dorothy Brady, Part 2 | 2018-14-09_PT.2 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
This is the continuation of an interview with Jeff and Dorothy Brady on October 10, 2018 by Karen Brewster at their home in Skagway, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, the Bradys continue to talk about observations of environmental change in the Skagway and Dyea area. They discuss pollution and water contamination, changes in fish and bird populations, and the occurance of rock slides into the harbor. They also talk about changing species in the garden and express concerns about increased potential for forest fires, as well as the need for increased awareness and action on environmental change around the world. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Elaine Furbish | 2017-01-86_CCexcerpt | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Elaine Furbish was interviewed on October 6, 2018 by Karen Brewster at the National Park Service’s restored Peniel Mission building in Skagway, Alaska. In this interview, Elaine talked about both her work as the Natural Resources Manager at Klondike National Historical Park and her research on and observations of environmental change during her twenty years of living in Skagway. Only the portion of the interview related to environmental change is included in the Observing Change in Alaska's National Park Project Jukebox. The full interview (ORAL HISTORY 2017-01-86) can be obtained through the UAF Oral History Office. In this part of the interview, Elaine talks about studying lichen to monitor for air quality, the need for scientitifc research and inventory and monitoring, the importance of citizen science projects, and some of the area's fire history and ecology. Elaine also discusses local air pollution from cruise ships and provides observations of environmental change, including a large seabird die-off in 2016, variation in winter and summer weather, appearance of different insects and bird species, and the shrinking of local glaciers. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Dave Swanson | 2018-14-15 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Dave Swanson was interviewed on November 25, 2019 by Leslie McCartney at Elmer Rasmuson Library on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus in Fairbanks, Alaska. In this interview, Dave talks about his work as an ecologist on the Seward Peninsula and in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. He discusses what he has observed and what his scientific research has documented regarding changes in permafrost, lakes and lake drainage, waterfowl, vegetation, the coastline, fish, weather, seasonal timing, snow, caribou, lichen, and fires. He also talks about the area’s polygonal landscape and its volcanic history, and his research techniques and methodology. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Roy Ashenfelter | 2018-14-16 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Roy Ashenfelter was interviewed on February 4, 2020 by Leslie McCartney and Katie Cullen at the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve offices in Nome, Alaska. In this interview, Roy talks about growing up following a seasonal subsistence lifestyle and his observations of environmental change throughout his lifetime in the region. He discusses changes in sea ice, seals, seasonal timing, moose, caribou, vegetation, beavers, fish, permafrost, and pollution. He also talks about problems of accessing resources as the environment changes. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Charlie Lean | 2018-14-17 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Charlie Lean was interviewed on February 5, 2020 by Leslie McCartney and Katie Cullen at the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve offices in Nome, Alaska. In this interview, Charlie talks about his observations of environmental change throughout his lifetime living in Nome and working as a biologist in the region. He discusses changes in fish and fisheries, beavers, moose, caribou, crab, weather patterns, seasonal timing, ocean temperatures and salinity, sea ice, permafrost, and vegetation. He also talks about subsistence, his own snowmachine travels, and facilities and conditions at Serpentine and Arctic Hot Springs. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Howard Farley, Sr., Interview 2 | 2018-14-18 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Howard Farley, Sr. was interviewed on February 5, 2020 by Leslie McCartney and Katie Cullen at the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve offices in Nome, Alaska. In this interview, Howard shares stories from his life living in Nome and talks about some of the changes he has observed in the community. He also discusses changes in fishing, reindeer herding, weather patterns, ocean temperature, crabs, sea ice, and industrial marine traffic. He also talks about his own subsistence activities, the history of the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race, and his involvement with local tourism. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Vera Metcalf | 2018-14-19 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Vera Kingeekuk Metcalf was interviewed on February 6, 2020 by Leslie McCartney and Katie Cullen at the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve offices in Nome, Alaska. In this interview, Vera talks about observations of environmental change in the Bering Strait region during her lifetime, including with walrus, ocean temperatures, algal blooms, sea ice, food resources, seasonal timing, snowfall, coastal erosion, whales, and fishing. She also talks about her work with the Eskimo Walrus Commission, regulations and co-management, cultural documentation, and her current efforts to host a summit for young hunters to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between generations. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Gay Sheffield | 2018-14-20 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Gay Sheffield was interviewed on February 6, 2020 by Leslie McCartney at the Northwest Campus of the University of Alaska in Nome, Alaska. In this interview, Gay talks about her observations of and scientific research on environmental change in the Nome region. She discusses changes in the marine ecosystem, ocean currents and water temperature, fish, seals, sea birds, biotoxins and algal blooms, weather patterns, sea ice, wind, and industrial marine traffic. She also talks about scientific surveys of the Bering Sea region, the importance of local knowledge, and concerns about impacts to subsistence and local food resources. |
Ruth Sensenig |
Ken Adkisson | 2018-14-21 | Observing Change in Alaska's National Parks |
Ken Adkisson was interviewed on February 7, 2020 by Leslie McCartney and Katie Cullen at the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve offices in Nome, Alaska. In this interview, Ken talks about his observations of environmental change in the region, including weather patterns, snowfall, travel and access, marine ecosystem, ocean temperature, permafrost, vegetation, moose, beaver, caribou, bears, fish, sea birds, and marine industrial traffic. He also talks about park and wildlife management issues, subsistence, cultural change, archeological research, and human adaptation. |
Ruth Sensenig |