Mushing History Quarterly
Notes and News from Northern Light Media
“For years, with great dogs, I toiled and often with them was in great perils. Much of my work was accomplished by their aid. So I believe in dogs, and here in this book I have written of some of them and their deeds.” ~Egerton Ryerson Young, in My Dogs In The Northland (1902)
Mushing History Quarterly is a new publication presenting the history of sled dogs and the mushers who drove them across thousands of miles of snowy trails, creating a legacy which has endured and grown and is celebrated today in a multitude of ways. From sled dog races—both sprint and distance—to expeditions, artwork, books, songs, murals, tourist destinations, museum exhibits—and entire museums, the history of mushing and sled dogs is alive and well, and informing and educating more people every day!
Historically speaking, sled dog teams were an essential mode of transportation for decades; the history of the 1925 Serum Run to Nome points out their importance. That may have been a unique situation, but fast dog teams saved more than one unfortunate soul’s life when there was no other route to help.
Each 64-page issue of Mushing History Quarterly will include articles about the legendary dogs and mushers of yesteryear, as well as excerpts from classic books, stories of those working to protect and promote the history of mushing, and photographs, maps, and other resources for further exploration. An extended excerpt from a book published during the heyday of mushing will provide an in-depth look at the history and the men and dogs who shaped it.
Buy one issue, or subscribe for uninterrupted delivery. Gift a friend, or your library, or a favorite musher! Anyone who enjoys sled dogs, history, or both will find this new journal informative, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable!
Published January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. 64 pages, B/W 8.5” x 11” format. $12.00 per issue postpaid, or $40.00 for one year, four issues, postpaid (U.S. only).
A new book to be published by Northern Light Media in August, 2024 is The Tender Life: 20 Years of Commercial Fish Tendering in Alaska, by Anne Winters. A brief excerpt: “Tenders are the “transporters” of the Alaska commercial fishing industry. We don’t catch fish. We haul fish. We are hired by a processing company to go out to the grounds, pick up the fish from the fishermen and bring them back to the processing plant on the beach or to a floating processor nearby. This allows the fishing fleet to stay on the grounds during the peak runs of fish. Tenders act as grocery stores for the fishermen. We bring out parts, deliver mail, offer hot coffee and sometimes a hot shower. We act as the mother ship for the fishing fleet.”
Information about ordering Anne’s book will be in the next newsletter!
In June Northern Light Media published The First Newspapers of Knik and Anchorage, Alaska: The Knik News and Cook Inlet Pioneer 1914-1916, by Helen Hegener. The book was produced from newspaper archives at the Library of Congress. An important era in the history of Alaska is preserved in these pages from the Knik News and the Cook Inlet Pioneer and Knik News, which would in time become the Anchorage Times. The book is 6″ x 9″ format, B/W, 298 pages, ISBN 9798325527074. $24.95 plus $5.00 shipping from Northern Light Media.
It’s fishing season in Alaska, and a great gift for any fisherman would be Lew Freedman’s latest book, The Greatest Fish Ever Caught: Alaska Fishing Tales, published by Northern Light Media in March.
“The mere mention of Alaska and fishing in the same sentence conjures magical images. The scenery engulfing the angler is so special it can be difficult to keep your eyes on the prize when drifting or motoring, or even just standing in waders. Every so often a reminder thought drifts across the brain – I am fishing in Alaska. That provokes an almost immediate involuntary smile because the fleeting awareness is a poke provoking a ‘How lucky am I?’ statement. Those fishing trips turn into adventures and make memories.” -Lew Freedman, from the Introduction
The Greatest Fish Ever Caught: Alaska Fishing Tales, by Lew Freedman. 6″ x 9″ format, 266 pages, ISBN 979-8884786264, published in March, 2024 by Northern Light Media. $24.95 plus $5.00 shipping.
In Alaska and elsewhere it’s also rodeo season, and another book recently published by Northern Light Media is The History of Women’s Professional Bronc Riding 1904-1940, by Jody Ellen Meanus. In the early 1900’s major rodeos such as the Pendleton Round-Up, Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Calgary Stampede welcomed women bronc riders and often featured them as the star attraction in their top billings to draw in crowds. Jody’s full color book details that history, and shares the profiles and photographs of thirty champion women bronc riders who made history in the early days of rodeo.
The History of Women’s Professional Bronc Riding: 1904 to 1940
180 pages, full color, indexed, with more than 120 photographs. Bibliography, Resources, Indexed. Available from Northern Light Media for $39.95 plus $5.00 shipping from Northern Light Media, also available at Amazon.
The best way to view all of the books published by Northern Light Media is to visit the website booklist page, where the cover and a brief description of each book can be found, along with the book’s specifications, a link to a more detailed description, and an ordering link. Stay tuned for our upcoming titles, we’re always working on more great books!
Thanks for reading,
Helen