Alaska State Song

"Alaska's Flag"

Written by Marie Drake
Composed by Elinor Dusenbury

 Adopted on February 23 1955.

The words to the song "Alaska's Flag" were written by Marie Drake, a long-time employee of the Alaska Department of Education, and set to music composed by Elinor Dusenbury, whose husband was commander of Chilkoot Barracks at Haines from 1933 to 1936. The Territorial Legislature adopted Alaska's Flag as Alaska's official song in 1955. Alaska's State Song was adopted on February 23, 1955.

Alaska State Song: "Alaska's Flag"

"Alaska's Flag"

1st Verse of Alaska's Flag Song

Eight stars of gold on a field of blue,
Alaska's flag, may it mean to you,
The blue of the sea, the evening sky,
The mountain lakes and the flowers nearby,
The gold of the early sourdough's dreams,
The precious gold of the hills and streams,
The brilliant stars in the northern sky,
The "Bear," the "Dipper," and shining high,
The great North Star with its steady light,
O'er land and sea a beacon bright,
Alaska's flag to Alaskans dear,
The simple flag of a last frontier.

2nd Verse of Alaska's Flag Song
-- Words by Carol Beery Davis


A Native lad chose the Dipper's stars
For Alaska's flag that there be no bars
Among our culture. Let it be known
Through years the Native's past has grown
To share life's treasures, hand in hand,
To keep Alaska our Great-Land;
We love the northern midnight sky,
The mountains, lakes and streams nearby.
The great North Star with its steady light
Will guide all cultures, clear and bright,
With nature's flag to Alaskans dear,
The simple flag of the last frontier.

Source : Alaska Blue Book 1993-94, 11th ed., Juneau, Department of Education, Division of State Libraries, Archives & Museums.

Copyright for Alaska's Flag is held by the University of Alaska. For further information contact the University Archivist at the Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-6808.

Verse 2 by Carol Beery Davis. 1986.

Origin of the Song: "Alaska's Flag"

The words to the song Alaska's Flag were written by Marie Drake, The Territorial Legislature adopted Alaska's Flag as Alaska's official song in 1955.

"Alaska's Flag" written by Marie Drake a long-time employee of the Alaska Department of Education, and set to music composed by Elinor Dusenbury, who husband was commander of Chilkoot Barracks at Haines from 1933 to 1936 was adopted as the official state song in 1955, and was gifted to the University of Alaska in April 1960. Carol Beery Davis wrote the second verse to "Alaska's Flag" and gifted the words (protected by copyright) to the University of Alaska Foundation in February 1987.

Carol Beery Davis, an Alaskan pioneer and poet laureate, as the maker of the second verse. While the official Alaska state song recognizes and describes Alaska's flag, the words of Davis in the second verse of "Alaska's Flag", "A Native lad chose the Dipper's stars, For Alaska's flag that there be no bars", provides recognition of Bennie Benson who designed Alaska's official flag in 1927. Benny Benson described his design of the flag:

"The blue field is for the Alaska Sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaskan flower. The North Star is for the future of Alaska, the most northerly in the union. The Dipper is for the Great Bear - symbolizing strength."

Marie Drake:

Marie Drake, author of the words to Alaska's Flag, the state song, was born February 11, 1888. In 1907 she married James Drake in Van Wert, Ohio, where she was engaged in social work with the Y.W.C.A. and the Red Cross. They came to Alaska when her husband was assigned to work with the Bureau of Public Roads. In 1917, Lester Henderson was appointed first commissioner of education, and he hired Marie Drake as his secretary. She remained with the Department for 28 years, retiring July 1, 1945.

Marie Drake assumed the post of assistant commissioner of education in 1934. She edited and wrote most of the material for the department's School Bulletin, that was circulated throughout the territorial school system. The poem that later provided the words for the official state song first appeared on the cover of the October 1935 School Bulletin. In recognition of her devotion to the young people of Alaska, Marie Drake received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Alaska in 1958. She died March 5, 1963.

Source : Alaska Blue Book 1993-94, 11th ed., Juneau, Department of Education, Division of State Libraries, Archives & Museums

Alaska Law

The law designating the song "Alaska's Flag,"  as the official Alaska state song is found in the 2015 Alaska Statutes, specifically Title 44, Chapter 09, Section 060 .

TITLE 44. STATE GOVERNMENT
Chapter 44.09 STATE SEAL, FLAG, AND EMBLEMS

Sec. 44.09.040. State song.

The song "Alaska's Flag," with music composed by Elinor Dusenbury and words by Marie Drake, is the official song of the state. The words of the official song are as follows: Alaska's Flag
Eight stars of gold on a field of blue -
Alaska's flag. May it mean to you
The blue of the sea, the evening sky,
The mountain lakes, and the flow'rs nearby;
The gold of the early sourdough's dreams,
The precious gold of the hills and streams;
The brilliant stars in the northern sky,
The "Bear" - the "Dipper" - and, shining high,
The great North Star with its steady light,
Over land and sea a beacon bright.
Alaska's flag - to Alaskans dear,
The simple flag of a last frontier.

HISTORY (Sec. 1 ch 6 SLA 1955)