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Susan "Sue" Will

Originally from Bismark, North Dakota, Susan "Sue" Will came to Alaska in 1973 to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Her grandfather, George F. Will, was a well-known archeologist and historian, and at a very young age, she became interested in history, the outdoors, and archeology. Sue earned her bachelor's degree in archeology at UAF and her first Alaskan archeological fieldwork was in 1973 at Dry Creek, as part of the archeology survey and excavation project for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. At the age of twenty, Sue, along with twenty-one year-old Ruth Croxton, was the first female archeologist on the project. John Cook, project manager for the pipeline and Haul Road archeology project, fought a restriction that prevented the hiring of women, and recruited the first women. His efforts opened the door for other women. Sue worked on sites all along the pipeline route from Isabelle Pass to Atigun Pass to Pump Station 4 at Mile 270. In 1979, Sue was hired as an archeologist with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Fairbanks, Alaska, where her work focused on mining history, historic documentation in Wiseman and Coldfoot, mining compliance, and cultural resource management. In 2006, Sue was the Associate District Manager at BLM's Fairbanks District Office.

Susan "Sue" Will appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

Dalton Highway

Interview Title	Abstract	Archive #: Oral History	Project	Date of Interview
Susan Will, Part 1	Susan "Sue" Will was interviewed on November 20, 2006 by Marie Mitchell at Sue's office at the Bureau of Land Management in Fairbanks, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, Sue talks about her archeological field work on the Haul Road and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) project, her interest in mining history (particularly with Wiseman, Coldfoot and Hammond River area), her feelings about being the first woman recruited to work with TAPS, and the role of archeology in relation to TAPS and the Arctic. She also talks about the changes in the landscape along the Haul Road and TAPS after the discovery of oil in Prudhoe Bay, her opinion about the intent of the Haul Road as a trucking route to haul materials north, and a brief history of Wiseman, Alaska. Sue's educational and professional background has ranged from archeology to mining compliance to resource management, giving her a unique perspective in how to manage the land and resources for the future.	2006-28-06_PT.1	Dalton Highway	Nov 20, 2006
Susan Will, Part 2	This is the continuation of an interview with Susan "Sue" Will on November 20, 2006 by Marie Mitchell at Sue's office at the Bureau of Land Management in Fairbanks, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, Sue talks about the maintenance of the Haul Road, the expensive of paving it, the use of the road by the public and truckers, and the effects of climate change in the region and on the road. She also talks more about being one of the first female archeologists on the Haul Road and Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) project.	2006-28-06_PT.2	Dalton Highway	Nov 20, 2006

As Interviewer

Interview Title	Archive #: Oral History	Project	Abstract
Effie Kokrine, Interview 1	87-16	Dog Mushing in Alaska	Effie Kokrine was interviewed on February 10, 1987 by William Schneider, Sue Will and Doris Southall in Fairbanks, Alaska. In this interview, she talks about growing up in Tanana and the use of dog teams, dog team mail carriers, positions of dogs in the team, training and disciplining dogs, choosing dogs for a team, feeding and caring for dogs, getting involved in dog racing and specific incidents in races, equipment and gear, junior dog mushing, the trail to Wiseman, breaking trail and use of gee poles, keeping dogs in Fairbanks, her favorite dogs, and the importance of having trust between dog and musher.