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Image provided by: Alaska State Library Historical Collections
Newspaper Page Text
(I l}? (L lilhiiTct, I)i:vnTKi> To Tin: Ixtkuksts Ok Tim: Nativk I'koim.k ok Ai.aska voi? 'J Sitka. Alaska. Ai'itil.. 1U10 No-'-' W. A. KELLY On Tuesday evening. April 5th theteachersofthe S.T.S. gave a reception at Pittsburg1 Cottage to the members of the Thlinget Presbyterian Church in honor of Mr. William A. Kelly who for many years was Superintendent of our school. Over ninety people were present and thoroughly enjoyed greeting Mr. Kelly who has been "a true friend to us ever since he came here", as one of the native people expressed it. There were a number of speeches by the people and Mr. Kelly en tertainerl every one present with reminiscences of early events in the history of the school when there were multitudinous hin drances to the mission work. During the evening several num bers of vocal and instrumental music were rendered and add ed to pleasure of the occasion. Mr. Kelly left on the Georgia of the 8th for Seattle and other coast cities. He expects to locate permanently somewhere in the Northwest. All who know of his connection with the mission and educational work in Alaska are sorry to see him leave our Ter ritory. He has always beenastal wart friend of righteousness and hischaracter as aChristian citizen has been in keeping with his Scotch-Irish ancestry and his Presbyterian training. Mr. Kelly was one of the first commis sioned teachers sent out by the Bureau of Education to Alaska. He reached Sitka in June, 1885, and was placed temporarily in charge of the Sitka Training School, which was then a con tract school. Later he was com missioned as its general superin tendent for a period of six years. In 1892 President Harrison ap pointed him United btatesuoni missioner and Probate Judge for southeastern Alaska to reside at Wrangell. In 18% the Board of Home Missions recalled Mr. Kelly to the superintendency of our school and he served in this capacity for eight years more. 1 lie was superintendent of the U.S. public schools of S.E.Alaska for a number of years during which time he visited every school and mission station in his district. Since resigning from this position he has served as National Bank Examiner for Alaska. During recent years he was connected with the Chicha goff Gold Mining Co. and was its secretary and treasurer hut last fall severed his connection with the company. Mr. Kelly has been an elder in the native Church here for many