Gold Rush Women

Gold Rush Women

Written by: Claire Rudolf Murphy

"The women who joined the gold rushes in the Yukon and Alaska between the late 1880s and the early 1900s get scant attention in the history books. This collective biography draws on primary sources to tell their stories, with fascinating historical photographs and portraits on every page. Some women went with men, some went alone. They panned for gold, ran boardinghouses and grub tents, worked as dance-hall girls and prostitutes. Ethel Berry was one of the first Klondike millionaires. Klondike Kate, a Tagish native, never got any money from the gold she helped discover. One whole section is devoted to the important roles played by Native American women in the region. Martha Louise Block, a wealthy Chicago matron, said of her adventure: "What I wanted was not shelter and safety, but liberty and opportunity." Lots of sidebars provide general information, including one newspaper article telling women what to pack and what to leave behind. With its handsome, browsable design, this will be welcome for classroom reports and for personal reading."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://www.goldrush.com/~joann/
http://www.sierrafoothillmagazine.com/women.html
http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/gold/women.html
http://www.clairerudolfmurphy.com/Gold_Rush_Women.html