Step into the 1950s on St. Paul Island and discover the resilient lives, celebrations, and everyday moments captured in the Kozloff family’s rare photo archive. The perfect gift for history lovers this holiday season. ✨
By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | December 2025
When the Aleuts returned to St. Paul Island after World War II in 1944 they found homes ransacked, possessions lost, and a homeland forever changed. In 1950, under the Indian Reorganization Act, the community ratified a charter for the Aleut Community of St. Paul formally establishing tribal governance. Over the following decades the community pursued land claims and economic independence, gradually regaining control from federal authorities. Today, the Aleut people of St. Paul maintain local businesses, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship, celebrating their heritage while adapting to modern life.
In creating St. Paul Island, Alaska 1951–1954, the author, Iliodor Henry Kozloff, began by scanning more than 3,000 deteriorating slides originally taken by his father, the elder Iliodor “Eddie” Kozloff. The photographs document everyday life on the island, from construction and storms, to weddings and holidays, to hunting and berry-picking. In total, the photographs present a vivid record of island life in the post‑war era, during a time when island residents were rebuilding their lives under self‑governance against the backdrop of a changing economy and external pressures.
This holiday season consider sharing the history, resilience, and heart of St. Paul Island with Henry Kozloff’s stunning photo books. Against the backdrop of newly established tribal governance, the photos capture the Aleut (Unangan) peoples’ work to restore their homes, traditions, and way of life. This living archive preserves the stories, faces, and spirit of a resilient community. For descendants, history lovers, or anyone who treasures Alaska’s heritage, these books make a truly meaningful holiday gift.
St. Paul Island, Alaska, 1951 ~ 1955 and St. Paul Island, Alaska 1956 ~ 1960 are available for purchase through Blurb Books, where readers can order high-quality printed editions and explore more details about the collection.🎄
