Unlocking KUAC’s Broadcast History
I’m Angela Schmidt with UAF’s Alaska Film Archives. All week long, I’ll be sharing stories from KUAC’s television history as we celebrate National Library Week.
This National Library Week, we invite you to take a look back. And unlock KUAC’s broadcast history.
What did Alaska look like… 20… 30… even 50 years ago?
For decades, KUAC Public Television has been there—capturing stories from across Interior Alaska. From community events and news, to cultural programs, conversations, science news, and stories about our history that reflect life in this place we call home.
Many of those recordings were created on film and videotape, and for years, they lived on shelves—fragile, aging, and difficult to access.
But today, that’s changing.
Through a partnership between KUAC and the Alaska Film Archives at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Rasmuson Library, more than 1,300 KUAC videos and programs have been preserved and brought back to life. And they’re all available for viewing online.
You can now explore decades of Alaska’s history from wherever you are.
You can watch local stories from years past… hear familiar voices…
President of University of Alaska, Dr. William R. Wood gives an introduction to KUAC, 1971
These recordings are more than just programs. They’re snapshots of Alaska’s people, culture, and everyday life.
And now, they’re available for everyone to experience.
This project is part of the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, a national effort supported by the Mellon Foundation, GBH in Boston, and the Library of Congress.
To start exploring, visit americanarchive.org and search for “KUAC Alaska.” Or visit KUAC.org for links.