ALASKA

State automobile licensing began in 1915 only for automobiles used for hire.  License plates began in mid-1921 when privately-owned automobiles and trucks were also required to register with the state.  At least two cities are known to have issued license plates by 1915, classifying them as pre-territorial issues, and Ketchikan was issuing "auto licenses" as early as January 1921.  Anchorage passed its first motor vehicle licensing ordinance on June 1, 1921, requiring a 6" x 9" plate with white numbers at least 5 inches tall and 2 inches wide on the rear of each vehicle.  The city sold such plates for $1, but this was four weeks after the territory began issuing 1921 plates, so they aren't pre-territorial.  Similarly, Wrangell issued plates as early as 1928, and Fairbanks first began issuing their "VEHICLE LICENSE" plates in 1930, ordering 400 pairs of black-on-yellow tags for that year.

Douglas (1,722)

Ordinance #46 was passed June 7, 1915, effective immediately, and published in the Douglas Island News on June 16, 1915.  It required an annual license from the city clerk, with fees as follows:  $10 per automobile, $5 per motorcycle, and $10 per motor truck up to 1 ton, plus $5 for each additional ton beyond that.  Section 3 required that "Upon the payment of the license fee aforesaid, the clerk of the town shall issue to the applicant a metallic tag containing the number of such license.  Such metallic tag shall be attached to the automobile, motor cycle or motor truck in a conspicuous place..."

Juneau (1,644)

Articles from the Alaska Daily Empire give us some background on automobile registration here.  On July 18, 1914, an article announced that the "AUTO ORDINANCE PASSED".  "The ordinance regulating the use of motor cycles, bicycles, auto trucks, automobiles, and other vehicles, was passed [last night].  The ordinance carries a provision for licensing auto trucks with a sliding scale adopted to the tonnage.  The ordinance provides for license numbers to be exposed on the rear of motor vehicles, and City Clerk Pettit was authorized by subsequent resolution to order fifty numbers for present use."  This may have been Ordinance #138.

On September 30, 1915, it was reported that "Automobile License No. 49 has been issued..."

In 1916, a new ordinance was passed requiring pairs of plates.  This may have been Ordinance #150.

On May 13, 1916, it was announced that "MOTOR CYCLE NUMBERS ARRIVE FOR CITY".  "The duplicate number for the front of motorcycles arrived on a recent boat and are ready for distribution.  The duplicates for the autos have not arrived yet.  The ordinance recently passed by the city requires that all machines carry numbers both forward and rear.  Auto License No. 75 was issued yesterday..."

On June 27, 1916, it was announced that "The duplicate numbers to be placed on both the front and rear of the automobiles and motorcycles have arrived and those holding licenses under the city are requested to call and get their duplicate."

On May 29, 1917, an article appeared stating that "AUTO MEN WILL CONFER WITH THE CITY COUNCIL".   ...Among the questions to be taken up will be that of having all auto licenses expire at the same time..."  This certainly implies that existing licenses may have expired one year from the date of issue, which would vary for everyone.

The June 14, 1918, edition explained that "City Clerk A. B. Cole is busy at present checking up auto owners and making them come through with the annual auto license of $10 for each car operated over the streets of the city.  The annual license is now due..."  It sounds like a uniform registration year for all auto owners was now in effect.

It was stated on May 26, 1920, that "For a number of years, George Burford has managed to have License Tag No. 1 attached to the rear axle of his big, National touring car.  The biggest machine in town sporting the smallest number.  But now Ben Phillips has evened up the score.  Mr. Phillips has recently annexed for himself a Ford "bug", the smallest car to be found climbing adjacent hills and to relieve the handicap, the City Clerk dealt him the highest license number, being No. 126."  The same issue mentioned that the "Records of the City Clerk show that a total of 128 automobiles are sporting license tags..."

On July 28, 1921, the paper reported: "It is believed that Juneau leads all other Alaskan towns in the number of automobile licenses issued with a total of 164."

Ordinance #183 was passed September 16, 1921, and published on April 26, 1923.  It mentioned that Ordinances #138 and 150 were repealed.  All licenses expired on May 31 annually, and motorcycle plates were issued singly.

Undated white-on-black plates #31 to #152 are known, which are believed to be the 1914-21 issue.  The earliest dated plates are 1922/23 embossed plates, known from #38 to #109, although an example #890 exists which is likely a factory sample.

Ketchikan (459)

The Alaska Daily Empire reported on January 19, 1921, that "Eighty-five driver's licenses have been issued at Ketchikan so far this year.  Sixty-three auto licenses were issued within one week."  Without knowing whether "driver's" and "auto" licenses were the same, we can still conclude that 63 of the latter being issued in such a short time is a good indication that so many applying at the same time was probably the result of a new ordinance then being placed into effect.

An undated embossed plate #79 is known, as are 1927-30 embossed dated issues.  Although the undated style could date from anytime up through 1926, it seems probable that it may have begun in January 1921, before territorial plates started.