Rivers, Ralph Julian, 1903-1976

Ralph Julian Rivers was a lawyer who became Alaska's first U.S. Representative to Congress. He came to Alaska with his parents and younger brother, Victor C. Rivers, in 1906, and received his early schooling in the mining town of Flat. He was admitted to the bar in 1931 and practiced law at Fairbanks. He was elected Attorney General of Alaska, Mayor of Fairbanks, a member of the Alaska Territorial Senate, second Vice President of the Alaska Constitution Convention, and U.S. Representative-Elect under the Alaska-Tennessee Plan to work for passage of the Alaska Statehood bill in Washington.

From the description of Ralph J. Rivers papers, 1956-1966. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 42065319

• 1903: Born is Seattle, Washington, May 23, son of Julian Guy and Louisa (Lavoy) Rivers
• 1906: First came to Alaska with his parents and younger brother, Victor C. Rivers.
• 1921: Had early schooling in the mining town of Flat, Alaska; spent two years as a gold miner at Flat following graduation from Franklin High School in Seattle in 1921
• 1928: Married Lina Carol Caldwell, December 17 -- children, Julian Ralph and Joyce Carol, both born in Fairbanks
• 1929: LL.B. University of Washington
• 1930: Admitted to Washington Bar
• 1931: Admitted to Alaska Bar
• 1931 - 1933 : Private law practice at Fairbanks
• 1933 - 1944 : U.S. District Attorney, 4th Judicial Division, District of Alaska with headquarters in Fairbanks; resigned
• 1945 - 1949 : Elected Attorney General of Alaska for four year term, with headquarters in Juneau
• 1949: Returned to private law practice at Fairbanks upon expiration of term as Attorney General
• 1950 - 1952 : Chairman of the Employment Security Commission of Alaska
• 1952 - 1954 : Mayor of Fairbanks
• 1954: President of the League of Alaskan Cities
• 1955: Member of the Alaska Territorial Senate
• 1955 - 1956 : 2nd Vice President of the Alaska Constitutional Convention at College, Alaska
• 1955: Married Martha Marie Wendling, October 1
• 1957 - 1958 : U.S. Representative-elect under the Alaska-Tennessee Plan, in Washington, D.C., working for passage of the Alaska Statehood Bill
• 1958: Elected to the 86th Congress as the first U.S. Representative from the new State of Alaska, November 25
• 1960: Re-elected to the 87th Congress, November 8
• 1962: Re-elected to the 88th Congress, November 6
• 1964: Re-elected to the 89th Congress, November 3 During the above eight years in Congress, served as a member of the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Territorial and Insular Affairs, Outdoor Recreational Resources Review Commission (ORRRC), House Public Works Committee, Public Land Law Review Commission, Lewis and Clark Trail Commission.
• 1965 - 1966 : Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation
• 1966: Last elective term expired, December 31
• 1967 - 1969 : Returned to Fairbanks, re-entered private law practice
• 1968 - 1969 : Served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Alaska Bar Association
• 1970: Retired in January and moved to Florida Member of: Sigma Chi Fraternity; Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity; B.P.O. Elks, Fairbanks Lodge #1551; Pioneers of Alaska Igloo #4, Fairbanks; Sons of the American Revolution; Society of Mayflower descendants; Tanana Valley Bar Association, Democratic Party

From the guide to the Ralph J. Rivers Papers, 1959-1966, (University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Polar Regions Collections & Archives)