The Sam Fox Museum in Dillingham is home to dozens of native artifacts and pieces of native art. But Sam Fox himself was an artist never recognized during his life.
Sam Fox moved back to Dillingham in 1973 with his wife Alice and their six children. He taught carving to students throughout the area. Fox also created his own works, some of which are found in the Sam Fox Museum. Although he was well known in Alaska for his work, he wasn’t recognized for his artistic abilities until after he died. Alice Fox says that lack of recognition makes her mad.
“They gave him the Governor’s Award after he died. He worked hard on his art and also teaching so I think he would have been happy about it. But I was the one that went down to receive his award in Juneau. People should be awarded while they’re alive, not after they’ve died.”
Irma O’Brien and her family moved to Dillingham around the same time as Fox. She taught pottery classes to children and the community, as well as being an artist in her own right. O’Brien says she knew Fox and was friends with him.
“When he started teaching carving and I started teaching art, and actually he couched the Eskimo Olympics and I assisted coaching the Eskimo Olympics for a couple years. He was just genuinely loved by the people of this community and his students at the school.”
O’Brien worked with the museum for ten years, when she was there it was called the Dillingham Native Heritage Museum. When Fox died in a car accident in 1983, the museum board decided to honor his memory by naming it after him. O’Brien says The Sam Fox Museum was created in an attempt to keep Yup’ik artifacts and art in Dillingham.
“A lot of Alaska native arts and crafts were being sold to government agencies and people that came through and teachers got fabulous collections of native arts and crafts. Also the village people would come in with artifacts and would either sell to teachers or employees of the state. So what I saw was all the native arts and crafts and artifacts leave town.”
O’Brien says the artifacts and art that were part of the original collection started off in large displays in the high school. But in the early 80’s, the city decided to create an official museum. Once the museum was reopened, O’Brien says she was still very involved.
“I develop programs for the school district and what I was required to do, I changed displays monthly but three major programs a year I would bring kindergarten through 12th grade down to the museum for like specific programs like the basket weaving program.”
When the museum reopened in 1983, Alice Fox was there to cut the ribbon. She says although Fox was an artistic influence on the community, not many people continue to practice the art he taught them. O’Brien says the museum should be promoted and become an intricate part of the community again.
“I think the community should be very proud of this museum and I think the lights should be on all the time. I think the museum should be encouraged to go into that museum because it’s rich in history of this area.”
There is currently no one in charge of the museum, but it is still up and running, just go to the library and ask to have the lights turned on.