On February 7 , 1966 , Ryan was appointed the first archbishop of the Archdiocese of Anchorage , Alaska , by Pope Paul VI . He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 25 from Cardinal Francis Spellman , with Bishops Edward Joseph Maginn and Edward Ernest Swanstrom serving as co-consecrators . The Anchorage Archdiocese was erected following the 1964 Good Friday earthquake , and was formed from the South Central area of the Diocese of Juneau . After nine years in Alaska , Ryan was named Coadjutor Archbishop for the Military Vicariate and Titular Archbishop of '' Gabii '' on November 4 , 1975
1964 Good Friday earthquake
1964 Alaska earthquake
Joseph T. Ryan