Henry Phillips
Henry Phillips was a Chilkat man who was well-known from Haines, Alaska to Fort Reliance, on the Porcupine River, as “Honest Henry.” In March 1903, he travelled to the Tanana area and then returned to Dawson.1) Henry entered the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania in December 1887 and departed in January 1892.2) Phillips was the only First Nation printer west of Carlisle and was very popular with the newspaper fraternity.3)
In Dawson, he took part in a New Year’s night First Nations show and acted as the Master of Ceremonies.4) There were dancers from Pelly River, Peel River, Fortymile, and Mackenzie River.5) Nearly 100 people took part in the performance and it was held over for another night.6)
Henry Phillips was employed for many years by the Whitehorse Star. In 1908, he became the editor of the Skagway Alaskan. A Whitehorse Star commentary noted that what Phillips knows about the printing business “would fill a World’s almanac.”7)