The Craft Shop is staffed and managed entirely by volunteer members of the Auxiliary. The revenue from this all volunteer run Craft Shop goes to the individual artists, Patient Services, and scholarships. The Heritage Art Collection located throughout the hospital is owned & maintained by the ANMC Auxiliary. Craft Shop History
Traditional crafts created by the Native people of Alaska were first sold at the Medical Center by a switchboard operator who, in the mid 1960’s displayed a few items at her station in the lobby of the hospital. Upon her retirement in 1975 the Auxiliary undertook the project of providing an outlet for Native artists and craftspeople. After operating from a small table in the lobby for a year, the Auxiliary was given a small room in the original hospital for a permanent Craft Shop. As volunteer-managers of the Craft Shop, Jeanne Dougherty, Agnes Coyle and Karin Vogeler have maintained a close personal involvement with Native artists all over Alaska throughout the years, emphasizing attention to quality and pride in Native heritage. The Craft Shop has provided a continual source of encouragement and support for Native artists and craftspeople. The Craft Shop has been a success only because of the dedication of the hundreds of volunteers who have given thousands of hours in service to the Native people of Alaska.
