APRIL 2, 1895

TLINGIT ALASKAN LEGISLATOR FRANK PERATROVICH BORN

Born in Klawock, Alaska (AK), of Tlingit-Serbian descent, Frank served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After attending Haskell Indian Nations University (Lawrence, Kansas) and Capitol Business College (Portland, Oregon), Frank became an accountant in Oregon before returning to Klawock where he opened a store and was a commercial fisherman, logger, and cannery operator. A member and President of the AK Purse Seiners’ Union, AK Marine Workers, American Legion, and AK Native Brotherhood, Peratrovich was also Klawock’s mayor as a Democrat before being elected to the AK Territorial House of Representatives (House) in 1946-47, serving in the Territorial Senate (1947-51 & 1957-59), and participating in the first AK Constitutional Convention of 1955. Following statehood, Frank served in the AK Senate (1959-67) and House (1969-73). Frank died on January 4, 1984, in Ketchikan, AK. His sister-in-law Elizabeth Peratrovich led the petition for AK’s Anti-discrimination Act of 1945 in Alaska.

Sources:

“Frank Peratrovich,” Creating Alaska, University of Alaska.  Retrieved 11/26/2022, Frank Peratrovich | Creating Alaska

“Frank Peratrovich,” 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature, Alaska Legislature.  Retrieved 11/26/2022, 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature (akleg.gov)

Wikipedia

Photo:  State of Alaska, undated.  Public Domain.  Source: 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature (akleg.gov).