Women in the Gold Rush
In
1897, journalist Annie Hall Strong wrote in the "Skagway News:" "First
of all, delicate women have no right attempting the trip...Those who love
luxury, comfort and ease would better remain at home." She outlined a
list of the basic necessities that a woman must bring with her to the
Klondike, noting that "First and most important of all, by far...is the
selection of proper footwear." At the top of her list were house slippers,
wool socks, walking shoes, arctic boots, felt boots, gum boots and ice
creepers. There were lots of mittens, underwear and bloomers, but only
"one summer dress" was recommended. Women from all walks of life joined
the Gold Rush. Some accompanied their husbands while others came on their
own as fortune seekers. Many women "struck it rich," some through mining
claims, some through hard and honest work, and some by catching the eye
of a wealthy man. Typical of these hardworking women adventurers was Mrs.
Willis, who left her disabled husband at home and set out alone to the
Klondike, vowing that she would not return until she could bring a fortune
with her. True to her word, she staked a claim that yielded $300,000.
She also opened a lucrative laundry business in Dawson City, complaining
that she "once had to pay $250 for a box of starch." Women came north
as tourists, miners, shopkeepers, housewives, medical professionals, cooks,
entertainers, prostitutes, nuns, teachers, secretaries, business women,
authors and newspaper correspondents. As the boom towns matured, women
were not such a rarity. By 1900, 23% of Skagway's citizens were Euroamerican
adult women (about 525), 16% were children, and 61% were adult men. By
comparison, Nome, which was still at the height of its boom in 1900, had
only a 10% female population
Back
to index of stories.
Used with
permission.
Gold Rush Centennial Task Force, State of Alaska.
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