Casper Mather of Ketchikan, a Tsimshian Indian, was the last of the original S.E. Alaska carvers. He carved Totems and other Tsimshian art from the 1930s through his death in 1972. Casper was born in 1876 in Metlakatla B.C. and traveled north to the new Metlakatla on Annette Island in Southeast Alaska with Father William Duncan, the leader of the Angelican (Church of England) Church.

Casper didnt know how old he was. "To the Indian, that was of little importance," "'We never kept track," he said. He was born before the white man took over the north coast, and he knew the ways of the Indian before they knew any other ways. He became a Christian as a very young man, and for many years he has preached in Tsimshian and English from the pulpit of the Indian Episcopal church in Ketchikan.

When the Goldrush to the Klondike started, Casper and his brother, the late Reverend Paul Mather, were packers on Chilkoot Pass. Then he roamed throughout Alaska, and later in about 1920, went to New York City to ask Archbishop Peter Trimble Rowe permission to build another church in Ketchikan for the Native Alaskan Indians which became St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church on Deermount St. in Ketchikan.

Casper at 25 years old and his brother Paul studied and received their master's papers and has been engineer and pilot on small vessels. Casper, during WWI, help guide ships through the rough Alaskan waters. When WWII happened, the Coast Guard renewed his license and asked him to be prepared in case he was needed. His brother Paul Mather died in January 1942.

Casper Mather at one time opened and ran a blacksmithing business and machine shop. A newspaper ad for the business read, "We Repair Anything". He was also known for a house foundation company whose motto in another newspaper ad read, "Come onto me with your foundation problems".

Casper had many children and all died from "The Consumption". (Tuberculosis) An adopted son named Paul died later in the 1990s.

Realizing full well that the culture of his people is lost, he was eager to help them make the transformation to the white man's culture as rapidly and easily as possible. Yet he is sad to see the great Tsimshian culture vanish without a trace, so he carves the totem figures as he remembers they should be, hoping those who buy them will understand and appreciate a little of their former significance.

His father and grandfather were master carvers. He carried on the tradition. He carved wooden totem figures on large and small poles, lamp bases, canes and such, and also made medicine men, masks, spirit rattles, charms and other artifacts in the tradition of the dying Tsimshian culture. He was once commissioned by the Alaska Steamship Company to carve ten totem poles.

Some of the art of Casper Mather can be seen displayed in the various Bars and Liquor establishments in Ketchikan, Alaska with the exception of a few artifacts at the Tongass Historical Museum in Ketchikan, Alaska. So far the biggest collection of Caspers art Ive seen has been the "Sourdough Bar", " and "Mikes Elbow Room" in Ketchikan.

Unfortunately, "very few" of the "new" carvers and sellers remembers or acknowledges him. Those who do remember him consider him a crude artist. Its sad.The author remembers him in a fond way from his childhood. He was an established figure in Ketchikans history. He could be seen on any given day on the waterfront of Ketchikan selling his wares to the locals and to the tourists off of the Steamships. Her was kind to the children of Ketchikan and remembered all of our parents.

My father bought me a small totem one day at the "Sourdough Bar" in Ketchikan in1965. Casper walked in and asked my Dad to buy me a totem pole for good luck. He did and Dad and I went home for dinner. Casper would stop me on the street and ask me if I still had my totem. I have had that totem ever since. I have treasured it all my life. Unfortunately, in my younger years, I accidentally broke the beak off of the top of the Thunderbird. I have lamented about breaking it ever since.

Up into his 90s, he climbed Deer Mountain often to get wood for his carvings. He continued to carve until before his death. Before the time of his death, he was one of six original founders of Metlakatla still living and was often quoted as saying "I am the oldest living carver".

Casper passed away on July 19, 1972.

He was 97 years old.

Thanks to Gertrude Johnson, (Daughter of Paul Mather)

Ketchikan Borough Mayor John W. "Jack" Shay

The Alaska Sportsman Magazine,

And The Tongass Historical Society

For the biographical material for this website.