M.D. Snodgrass was greatly involved in locating and managing the Matanuska Experiment Farm and remained associated with farming for the rest of his life in the Matanuska Valley. This collection of 126 photos includes images of early days of the Matanuska and Fairbanks Experiment farms and early homesteaders of the Valley. It also includes images of members of the Snodgrass family.
Experiment Farm 1
Unknown
Matanuska Experiment Farm
Image shows fields & experimental plots in foreground, buildings of the experiment farm in middle ground with forest behind, and mountains faintly in background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 10
Unknown
Turnip Harvest
Image shows a man carrying a pitchfork and a large turnip in front of a building at the experiment farm.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 11
Unknown
Grain Field
Image shows a partially harvested grain field with several grain shocks and a man at the edge of the standing grain, possibly cutting it by hand. A different grain plot appears beyond and plots of other plants, possibly berries, are evident in the middle ground. A bluff and forest are in background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 12
Unknown
Building Haystacks
Image shows two men in a field of harvested hay in the foreground, lifting loose hay with pitchforks to place it over upright wooden stakes to form haystacks. A harvested grain field is just beyond with grain shocks evident. Fences, pasture land and trees are in far middle ground.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 13
Unknown
Hogs
Image shows several Hampshire hogs and piglets in a stubble field with buildings of the Matanuska Agricultural Experiment Farm in far middle ground and forest beyond.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 14
Unknown
Hogs
Image shows several Hampshire hogs and piglets in a stubble field with buildings of the Matanuska Agricultural Experiment Farm in far middle ground and forest beyond and mountains in background. A man is evident walking in the field in middle ground.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 15
Unknown
Man & Hogs
Image shows Experiment Farm director M.D. Snodgrass standing in a fenced enclosure with three Hampshire hogs. A forested hill is in background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 2
Unknown
Matanuska Experiment Farm
Image shows fields & experimental plots in foreground, buildings of the experiment farm in middle ground with forest behind.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 20
Unknown
Digging Potatoes
Image shows a partially harvested potato field with three men digging potatoes by hand using long-handled forks. Two rows of dug potatoes and several wooden tote boxes are evident in the foreground. A hay field with several haystacks is in middle ground and a bluff and forest are in background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 21
Unknown
Digging Potatoes
Image shows a partially harvested potato field with a man digging potatoes by hand using a long-handled fork. Two rows of dug potatoes and an old truck are evident in the foreground. A harvested hay field with several haystacks is in middle ground and a bluff and forest are in background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 22
Unknown
Cultipacking With A Horse Team
Image shows a man riding a cultipacker machine drawn by a team of two white horses in a field of tilled ground on the Matanuska Experiment Farm. A forest is in background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 23
Unknown
Berry Test Plots
Image shows berry test plots in foreground & middle ground surrounded by chicken wire fence on wood posts. Newly cleared ground & stumps show in the right foreground with a planted field in middle ground. Forest occupies far middle ground, mountains in background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 3
Unknown
Matanuska Experiment Farm
Image shows fields & experimental plots in foreground, buildings of the experiment farm in middle ground with forest behind, and mountains faintly in background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 4
Unknown
Barns
Image shows the back of the main barn at Matanuska Experiment Farm and a pole barn partly filled with hay, wire fencing on wood posts in foreground, trees in middle & background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 5
Unknown
Harvested Grain
Image shows a man, identified as “Wingfield”, standing in a field of harvested grain in shocks in the foreground, buildings of the Matanuska Experiment Farm are behind in middle ground, Pioneer Peak in background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 6
Unknown
Haystacks
Image shows a man standing in a field of harvested hay formed in haystacks in stakes in the foreground, trees in middle ground and mountains in background.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 8
Unknown
Man & Berry Plants
Image shows a man, identified as M.D. Snodgrass, standing among shrubby that appears to be berry bushes in the foreground, fields and forest are beyond.
Matanuska, Alaska
Experiment Farm 9
Unknown
Men In Field
Image shows three men, center man identified as M.D. Snodgrass, standing in a field of grain with a different crop in the foreground, fields and forest are beyond.
Matanuska, Alaska
Farm 1
Unknown
Harvested Grain
Image shows a field of harvested grain formed into shocks, a man stands beside a shock in middle ground, buildings are at the base of a bluff in far middle ground with forest beyond.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Farming 5
Unknown
Tilling With A Horse Team
Image shows a man riding a tilling machine drawn by a team of two brown horses in a field of prepared ground in the foreground. A forest of mixed birch & spruce trees is in middleground.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Haystacks 3
Unknown
Harvested Grain & Hay
Image shows a field (probably at the Matanuska Experiment Farm) of harvested grain formed into shocks at the left & harvested hay formed into stacks on vertical poles at right. Forest is in middle ground & mountains in background.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Homestead 1
Unknown
Hickey/Walters Homestead
Image shows wire fence on wooden posts in fore & middle ground. A two story log house is prominent in middle ground with another log building and pole barn beside. Two men and a woman stand in middle ground. A cleared hillside and forest fringe are in background. This is the homestead originally built by Mr. Hickey and owned by Al Walters at the time the photo was taken.
Palmer, Alaska
Homestead 2
Unknown
Men on Walters Homestead
Image shows wire fence on wooden posts in foreground with two men standing in a field of grain behind. A two story log house is evident in middle ground with the top of a pole barn at left. A cleared hillside and forest fringe are in background. This is the homestead originally built by Mr. Hickey and owned by Al Walters at the time the photo was taken. The men are identified as Al Walters at left & John Bugge at right.
Palmer, Alaska
Homestead 3
Unknown
John Bugge Homestead
Image shows pole fencing and large wood pole gate in near foreground, a log cabin with a frame addition behind in mid-foreground, another small log cabin in middle ground with fields and forest beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Homesteaders & Friends 1
Unknown
People
Image shows homesteaders Al Walters (left) & John Bugge standing with three unidentified women next to a log building. A white horse harnessed to a cart is at right, a wash tub and washboard are evident on the cabin wall.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
