What was a Gold Miner like?

What was a Gold Miner like?

If you had to write a description of the typical Alaskan gold miner, what words come to mind first? Where do you think you got your ideas?

Can you describe a miner?

Many of our ideas about the past come from photographs. Look at the photograph called "4 below Discovery Gold Stream".

Does it match your original description of a gold miner? What is different?

Teeland & Co. 4 Below Discovery Gold Stream. A woman with shovel, two children, and two men with a harnessed horse. Wolfe Photo (no. 133).

Is a miner a pioneer?

The Pioneers, a poem written by C. Edward Cone, "Bard of the Kuskokwim" ca. 1886-1927.

There are many ways to tell a story. Sometimes we use pictures and sometimes we use poetry. Read the poem written by C. Edward Cone. He was called the Bard of the Kuskokwim.

What do you think a pioneer is? Was a pioneer also a gold miner? What words does Mr. Cone use to describe his idea of a pioneer? Judging from Mr. Cone's poem, how highly does he value a pioneer? What does he think is the role or purpose of a pioneer? Do you agree?

Do you believe this?

Another view of the miners can be found by reading old newspaper reports. Newspapers were very important to the gold seekers. Read the description by the Yukon Midnight Sun in 1898.

How believable are the descriptions? What do you learn about the author of the article? Where do these ideas or stereotypes come from? What is the problem with stereotypes?

Newspaper: Yukon Midnight Sun, Dawson, June 27, 1898.

Was Scipio a successful miner?

Sometimes we can get another view about the miners by piecing together a collection of photographs, diary entries and objects. Look at the diary entry, the photographs and the objects.

Sales receipt Red Front Clothiers San Francisco, CA. 1897.

Diary cover (no date).

Photograph of John Timmin's store in Dawson City, "Royal Grocery".

Photograph of two men weighting gold at a store.

Balance scales in a wood and glass case; used in the assay office of the A-J Mine. Ca 1910-20.

What ideas do you have about Scipio Ratto? How successful do you think he was as a miner? What evidence do you have for your opinion? How do you think he survived in the Klondike? Judging from these few bits of information, what do you think happened to him?

Who profited from gold mines?

The dream of striking it rich and returning home with gold brought thousands of people to Alaska. But not everyone was adventurous enough to travel to Alaska. In fact, there were opportunities to take part in the Alaska gold rush without even leaving home.

Magazine advertisement for financial opportunity from Harper's Bazaar, ca 189.

Brockton-Alaska Mining and Commercial 1000 shares issued to J.K.Pine Feb. 2,1904

Brockton-Alaska Mining and Commercial Stockholder's letter to J.K.Pine Oct. 13, 1904. 2 pages

Brockton-Alaska Mining and Commercial 100 shares issued to J.K.Pine Mar. 1, 1905.

What story can be told from the information in these documents? Read each item carefully. What information about getting rich is in each document? How do they link together to tell part of the story? What do you think the ending to this story was?

Overview I How do I get the gold? I What was a gold miner like?
Is that legal?

Homepage I Alaska's Gold Lode I The Discovery of Gold I Traveling to the Gold Fields
Gold Mining I Daily Life Our Legacy I The Edgren Saga I Gold Rush Stories
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Alaska's Gold was developed through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission by the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums, the Alaska Dept. of Education and Early Development. © 1999. All rights reserved. Alaska Gold Themes written by Cristine Crooks, Alaska Consultants in Education. Alaska's Gold Themes website developed by WEBDesign.