In the melting pot of Alaskan colonization, a new people were born. The product of Russian marriages to indigenous people, this new generation was instrumental in the development of the fur, fish, and gold industries.
Beginning with a name and an anecdotal birthplace, authors Bev Sims and Dianne Zitnik traced their family heritage back to the eighteenth century. Through historical records and church archives, they pieced together a rich account of survival, adventure, and wealth. They unveil the stories behind their family tree in Our Fur-Fathers of Southwest Alaska: Kalmakoff, Kameroff, Kamkoff, complete with glossary, footnotes, maps, and historical photographs.
Contrary to a history textbook, Our Fur-Fathers of Southwest Alaska tells factual, yet personal, stories of historical figures and their families. From personality clashes and power plays to the ubiquitous evidence of Russian influence, Sims and Zitnik weave together the fascinating tale of intrigue, morality, and legacy that lives in their past.
About the Author: Bev Sims works as an accountant and has two adult children. Following the death of her mother, she began to research her family tree on a genealogy website. She traced her lineage back to the US census of 1900 but could not find further information until she connected with her second cousin's wife, coauthor Dianne Zitnik. Together they mined Russian church archives for the gems of family history that fill this book.
Dianne Zitnik grew up in New Zealand. She met her husband on a backpacking trip to Alaska, where they raised three children. Her various careers have ranged from horticulture to tourism. She became interested in her genealogy when she became the matriarch after a relative's death, but she hit a wall in researching her own family tree. She found Sims through her husband's family tree, and their shared research took off-and resulted in their fascinating book.
