<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gordon_(bishop_of_Alaska)" class="extiw" title="w:William Gordon (bishop of Alaska)">William Gordon</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episcopal_Diocese_of_Alaska" class="extiw" title="w:Episcopal Diocese of Alaska">Episcopal bishop of Alaska</a>, poses at Valdez with his airplane, "The Blue Box".  After taking office as bishop, Gordon spent two seasons following in the footsteps of his predecessors in getting around Alaska mostly by water transportation.  After doing the math, he figured he would be better off learning to fly and visiting the church's outposts by air.  His first plane, dubbed "The Canary", was very small and did not afford him much opportunity to transport passengers and supplies.  This plane was given its name in honor of the "Blue Box" offering campaign initiated by the United Thank Offering, a fundraising ministry of women within the Episcopal Church.
Published by the Episcopal Missionary District (present-day Diocese) of Alaska, photographer uncredited.
<i>The Alaskan Churchman</i>, May 1953 issue, p. 6