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The Historical and Formal Development of Baleen Baskets

The history of baleen basketmaking spans over half the present century. Like other arts, it has experienced several distinct phases: establishment, spread and florescence, and gradual decline. Overall, baleen basketmaking’s history corroborates the inverse relationship between arts and crafts production and availability of other income sources suggested by Spencer (1959). Baleen basketmaking began and flourished during the depressed period following Yankee whaling, fell off when employment opportunities in the Arctic increased during World War II, and is living out a decline in the recent construction booms (Roberts 1954; Alaska Department of Labor 1960–80).

FORMATIVE YEARS, CA. 1915–1930

Beginnings