Presentation on the history of Alaska’s first arctic hospital

MOULTONBOROUGH ― The Moultonborough Public Library welcomes Geoffrey Burke on March 18, at 6 p.m. for a presentation on a remarkable chapter of Alaskan history.

Burke will share the story of his grandparents, Grafton and Clara Burke, whose service to Native communities in Northern Alaska is documented in "Hospital and Haven: The Life and Work of Grafton and Clara Burke in Northern Alaska," by Mary F. Ehrlander with Hild M. Peters.

Originally planned for January, this rescheduled event explores the Burkes' impactful arrival in Fort Yukon. Faced with a local death rate that exceeded the birth rate, the couple established a mission home, an orphanage, and essential health care services.

Their efforts were so effective that they reversed the population decline within a single year.

Their legacy is anchored by the Hudson Stuck Memorial Hospital, which became the first facility north of the Arctic Circle to be accredited by the American College of Surgeons. Burke’s talk offers a personal look at this history, drawing from the research of authors Ehrlander and Peters. This program is free and open to the public, offering a unique glimpse into early 20th-century medicine in the far north.

Registration is required. Visit the library website at moultonboroughlibrary.org and click on the Events & Programs tab for the library calendar.