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Claus Naske

Dr. Claus_M. Naske is Professor Emeritus of history at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). He was born in Germany and immigrated to Alaska in 1954. He graduated from UAF in 1961 with a bachelor's in history and political science, and joined the ranks of the faculty in 1969. Dr. Naske is considered one of the state's most prominent historians, known nationally and internationally for his keen documentation of Alaska's development from a Russian outpost to a U.S. Territory and ultimately statehood. He is the author of numerous articles and books about a variety of Alaska history topics, including Alaska: A History; 49 At Last!: The Battle for Alaska Statehood; Ernest Gruening: Alaska's Greatest Governor; Edward Lewis Bob Bartlett of Alaska: A Life in Politics; and "A History of the Alaska Federal District Court System, 1884-1959, and the Creation of the State Court System."

Claus Naske appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

As Interviewer

Interview Title	Archive #: Oral History	Project	Abstract
Justice Buell Nesbett, Part 1	82-68-04	Judges of Alaska	Judge Buell Nesbett was interviewed on July 26, 1982 by Dr. Claus Naske in Solana Beach, California. Buell Nesbett was born in New Mexico in 1910 and came to Alaska in September 1945. Prior to working as a private attorney in Alaska, he worked as a radio operator in the Merchant Marines and served in the Navy. In 1959, he was appointed as the first Chief Justice of the Alaska State Supreme Court. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1970. He was severely injured in an airplane crash that took him away from the bench for many months of recovery and after which he wore a patch over his right eye. In this interview, Judge Nesbett talks about Alaska’s early legal community, the judiciary article in the state’s constitution, establishment of the state court system, getting courtroom and office space, becoming a judge, and the decision about the location of the Supreme Court. This interview continues on tape number Oral History 82-68-05.
Justice Buell Nesbett, Part 2	82-68-05	Judges of Alaska	This is a continuation of the interview with Judge Buell Nesbett on July 26, 1982 by Dr. Claus Naske in Solana Beach, California. This is a continuation of tape number Oral History 82-68-04. The interview continues on tape number Oral History 82-68-06. In this part of the interview, Buell Nesbett talks about the decision about the location of the Supreme Court, the use of SoundScriber machines to audio record court proceedings, the Alaska Bar/Court fight, threat to his life, court rules and procedures, challenges in those early years of the Supreme Court, and hearing a fish trap case.
Justice Buell Nesbett, Part 3	82-68-06	Judges of Alaska	This is the last part of the interview with Judge Buell Nesbett on July 26, 1982 by Dr. Claus Naske in Solana Beach, California. This is a continuation from tape numbers Oral History 82-68-04 and 82-68-05. In this final part of the interview, Buell Nesbett talks about Ernest Gruening’s libel lawsuit against the Juneau Empire newspaper, and mentions Drew Pearson and Bob Atwood.