In 1970, the author successfully bid on a trunk in an Alaska State Surplus Auction. Among the trunk's contents were Native Alaskan baskets and beadwork, fine china, a British flag, and a delicate shot glass with the word JESSIE roughly etched on it. Clues in the trunk about the owner's life-a photo album, a journal, a postcard collection and a diary-led the author on an international treasure hunt which revealed the story of Jessie.