Rivers, Ralph Julian, 1903-1976

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1903-05-23
Death 1976-08-14
English,

Biographical notes:

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)

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Subjects:

  • Alaska
  • Attorneys general
  • Constitutional history
  • Legislators
  • Mayors
  • Politics, Practical
  • Statehood (American politics)
  • Statehood (American politics)

Occupations:

not available for this record

Places:

  • United States (as recorded)
  • Flat (Alaska) (as recorded)
  • Alaska (as recorded)

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