Marie Drake

Marie Drake, author of the words to Alaska's Flag, the state song, was born Feburary 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.