The Klondike Gold Rush: Stories Behind the Search for Gold

In August 1896, on the banks of a quiet creek in the remote Yukon territory, the promise of unimaginable fortune shimmered beneath the surface. Skookum Jim (Keish), Tagish Charlie (K̲áa Goox̱), and George Carmack discovered gold in Bonanza Creek. Their find set into motion one of the most legendary gold rushes in North American history: the Klondike Gold Rush.

This extraordinary chapter in history is now vividly documented and accessible through the new Phil Lind Klondike Gold Rush Collection, part of the UBC Library’s Open Collections. The digital archive includes photographs, maps, postcards, and more, offering an in-depth look into the hopes, hardships, and human stories that shaped this rush for gold.

Photograph depicts three men sitting outside an open tent (1898-99).

The Rush Begins

It wasn’t until nearly a year after the discovery that the rest of the world caught wind of the gold buried in the frozen north. In July 1897, the steamship Portland docked in Seattle, reportedly carrying “more than a ton of gold.”

The news ignited a frenzy.

Approximately 100,000 gold seekers scrambled to reach the Klondike region of Yukon, hoping to strike it rich.

Postcard titled “Over Half a Million Pyramid of Gold Bars.” Bank of BNA, Dawson, Y.T.

Choosing a Path

For the would-be prospectors, they faced a critical decision at the outset: which trail to take?

Map shewing the “White Pass” route to Yukon Goldfields via Skagway Bay.

The White Pass Trail, referred to as the “Dead Horse Trail,” was known for its narrow, muddy terrain that claimed the lives of many pack animals.

Photograph depicts prospectors and horses on the White Pass trail, at the foot of a rocky slope (not before 1896).

On the other hand, the Chilkoot Trail, steep and treacherous, was carved into the mountains by the boots of thousands. Known for the “Golden Stairs”—a seemingly endless climb of 1,500 steps carved into ice—it was as punishing as it was direct.

Stereograph of people at the base of Chilkoot Pass, preparing to climb “the golden stair” and Peterson’s Trail, Chilkoot Pass, Alaska (1897?).

As Tappan Adney wrote in The Klondike Stampede (available in the BC Historical Books Collection), “It is impossible to give one an idea of the slowness with which things are moving. It takes a day to go four or five miles and back; it takes a dollar to do what ten cents would do at home … They have arrived here with outfits and means of transportation; they have thought their expenses ended, but they have only just begun” (p. 98).

What Did It Take to Get There?

Every stampeder was required to bring a year’s worth of food and supplies before crossing the Canadian border.

According to the HISTORY.com Editors, this list included:

  • Around 1,000 pounds of food
  • Warm clothing and outerwear
  • Boots and moccasins
  • Blankets and mosquito netting
  • Mining tools and camping gear
  • Medicines, first aid, and soap

The enormous logistical challenge of transporting supplies through snow-covered passes and rugged terrain meant that many stampeders did not reach Dawson City, the centre of the gold rush, as quickly as they had hoped.

Bonanza Creek, Dawson City (between 1897 and 1910).

Fortune or Fable?

While the early stakeholders (also known as the “Klondike Kings”) became wealthy, most prospectors arrived too late. By the time the majority reached the gold fields, every creek had been claimed. Many newcomers found themselves working not for themselves but for others, earning wages of $1 to $10 a day.

Stereograph depicts miners with a sluice channel, looking for gold (1901).

Meanwhile, some individuals found their own ways to profit. In Seattle, outfitting businesses boomed as hopeful miners stocked up for the journey. Others found opportunity by running hotels, trading posts, and supply stores along the way.

The Seattle Hotel, Klondyke (1898).

When gold was discovered in Nome, Alaska in 1899, many disheartened Klondikers left Dawson once again in search of treasure. A new cycle of hardship and high hopes began.

Legacy in the Archives

Today, the Klondike Gold Rush lives on not just in legend but in the preserved images, books, and artifacts left behind. The Phil Lind Klondike Gold Rush Collection offers an immersive portal into this dramatic period—one marked by the timeless allure of gold.

Thank you for reading!

References

Klondike Gold Rush (2025). HISTORY.com Editors.

The Trails. Smithsonian National Postal Museum.

The Klondike Gold Rush (2002). University of Washington Libraries.

What Was the Klondike Gold Rush? (2024). National Park Service.

Surviving Exam Season Display

Surviving Exam Season display in the Law Library

New Books at the Law Library – 25/04/16

LAW LIBRARY level 3: K727.4 .S3313 2023
M.Hirte & J. Dillinger, Treasure and Treasure Hunting in Law and History translated by R. Dievernich (Sankt Ottilien: EOS-Verlag, 2023).

LAW LIBRARY reference room (level 2): KE9445 .R44 2025
S. Reid et al, Youth and the Law, 5th ed (Emond Montgomery Publications, 2025).

LAW LIBRARY level 3: KPA970 .A31 2022
Haegwang Ch'ulp'ansa P'yŏnchippu, Kukche hanghae sŏnbak tŭng e taehan haejŏk haengwi p'ihae yebang e kwanhan pŏmnyul : yakch'ing haejŏk p'ihae yebangbŏp : pŏmnyŏng, sihaengnyŏng, sihaeng kyuch'ik 해광 출판사 편집부. , 국제 항해 선박 등 에 대한 해적 행위 피해 예방 에 관한 법률 : 약칭 해적 피해 예방법 : 법령, 시행령, 시행 규칙 (Pusan Kwangyŏksi : Haegwang Ch'ulp'ansa, 2022). (부산 광역시 : 해광 출판사, 2022).

Irving K. Barber Learning Centre undergoing building maintenance from April 28 to May 16

Building exterior of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC) at the UBC Vancouver campus

The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC) will be undergoing scheduled maintenance work above the entrance to the Chung | Lind Gallery from Monday, April 28 to Friday, May 16, 2025. During this time, visitors can expect elevated noise levels from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

The Chung | Lind Gallery will be closed during this time, and is expected to reopen on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Please refer to Library Hours and Locations to find additional study spaces across campus.

Nüshu: China’s Secret Language of Women in Our Open Collection

In the rich tapestry of cultural expressions, few narratives are as quietly impactful as that of Nüshu (女書, meaning “women’s writing” in Chinese). Nüshu is a syllabic script that was primarily used by Yao women in Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, China.

For generations, this unique writing system allowed women to express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a societal context where their voices were often constrained by limited access to formal education. This hidden language, developed within the community, provides insight into a world where women created their own means of communication.

In this post, we will introduce Nüshu and explore its historical significance through records from Kinesis and Ubyssey (UBC Publications), available in the Open Collection.

Cover of the June 1999 issue of Kinesis, featuring the documentary film about Nüshu directed by Yue-Qing Yang.

Kinesis: A Window into Women’s Lives

Kinesis was a Canadian periodical published from 1974 to 2001 by the Vancouver Status of Women (VSW). It served as a vehicle for social change and women’s liberation, aiming to highlight news and stories often overlooked by mainstream media. It provided a platform for diverse perspectives on social issues.

Cover of the February 2000 issue of Kinesis, showing a beautiful passage: “… sing the sun, drink the rain, sway the wind, pray the sky for justice.

In the June 1999 issue of Kinesis, a documentary directed by Yue-Qing Yang titled “Nü Shu: A Hidden Language of Women in China” was featured. The article notes that in the 1980s, when Nüshu was first recognized as a written language, China’s Central Television Station aired a national news broadcast on the topic. This broadcast reached audiences in Canada, helping to raise awareness about Nüshu.

In the interview, Yue-Qing Yang stated, “Nü Shu says a lot about the past and present status of women. Not many people know about Nü Shu, even in China.”

Yue-Qing Yang on location. In the June 1999 issue of Kinesis.

Cultural Context of Nüshu

Historically, sociocultural norms placed significant restrictions on women’s roles and opportunities, often limiting their access to formal education and participation in community traditions. Interestingly, Yue-Qing Yang observed that “perhaps it wasn’t oppression that initiated Nüshu’s invention, though this undoubtedly explains its secret use. Its creation may be better explained by the relative freedom and equality of Yao culture, which allowed women’s natural creativity to flourish.”

Within this context, Nüshu developed as a unique form of expression. Featuring a simplified and phonetic writing system, it was often written in letters or embroidered on textiles, shared within women’s communities. Over time, it became closely associated with personal expression, storytelling, and coded messages of unspoken hardships.

Writing in Nüshu. In the June 1999 issue of Kinesis.

Note: More sample works can be viewed through the Endangered Alphabets Project.

Tears, Sunshine, and Sisterhood

The beauty of Nüshu lies not only in its distinctive script but also in the deep emotions it carried. It represents a “culture of sunshine,” offering warmth to the women of Jiangyong, drying their tears and carrying their spirits forward.

At the heart of Nüshu’s tradition was the concept of “sworn sisterhood,” a bond that extended beyond family ties. In the regions where Nüshu flourished, women who shared a deep emotional connection could become sworn sisters, committing to lifelong support and companionship. They expressed this bond through heartfelt letters and songs.

A Nüshu poem recorded in a 1999 issue of Ubyssey beautifully reflects this sentiment: “Beside a well, one won’t thirst; beside a sister, one won’t despair.”

He Yian Xin (left) shows Wu Liang Yu how to write Nüshu. In the June 1999 issue of Kinesis.

More than just a form of communication, Nüshu became a space where women could gather, share their joys and sorrows, and support one another. The sworn sisterhood communities functioned as literary circles, embroidery workshops, and informal schools where women passed down both their craft and their knowledge. Through Nüshu, these bonds created a shared world of emotional refuge.

Preserving and Reviving Nüshu

With the passing of Yang Huanyi, the last fluent native speaker and writer, in 2004, Nüshu has been considered at risk of extinction. Researchers, artists, and cultural institutions have worked to document and promote its legacy. Through documentaries, exhibitions, and language revitalization efforts, Nüshu continues to reach wider audiences.

Beyond its historical significance, Nüshu stands as a testament to the evolving nature of language in response to community needs. Whether through letters, songs, or shared stories, it remains a powerful symbol of cultural heritage, bridging past and present.

Thank you for reading!

2025 UBC Undergraduate Prize in Library Research winners announced

UBC Undergraduate Prize in Library Research graphic with badge.

UBC Library is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of the UBC Undergraduate Prize in Library Research.

Launched in 2023, the UBC Undergraduate Prize in Library Research is a way to showcase students’ effective and innovative use of library services, information experts and resources provided by UBC Library. The Prize was established by UBC Library to encourage more and deeper use of its resources and collections, to advance information literacy at UBC, and to promote academic excellence at UBC.

This year’s winners:

  • Joshua Bransford, 5th year Faculty of Arts student, won a $3,000 prize for his reflective statement on his project, “The Neoliberal Production of Urban Space and Urban Subjects in India and Bolivia.”
  • Sophie Pavey, 4th year Faculty of Arts student, won a $2,000 prize for her reflective statement on her project, “Cosmographia.”
  • Ciara Albrecht, 4th year Faculty of Arts student, won a $2,000 prize for her reflective statement on her project, “A Memory of Skin and Bone: Lace as a Lifeline in Nineteenth Century Ireland.”
  • Ethan Lui, 4th year Faculty of Arts student, won a $1,500 prize for his reflective statement on his project, “Conflict, Cruelty, and Concern: Exploring the Negative Reactions to Vesalius’ ‘On the Fabric of the Human Body.’”
  • Ridhwanlai Badmos, 2nd year Faculty of Science student, won a $1,500 prize for his reflective statement on his project, “Investigating Suicide Rates Across Demographic Subgroups in the Muslim American Community Using Introductory Qualitative Grounded Theory and Thematic Analysis.”

“UBC Library is delighted to present this third annual Prize to our student winners. The submissions for this year’s Prize included a diverse and fascinating array of research projects that demonstrated outstanding use of the scholarly information and resources available at the Library,” says University Librarian Dr. Susan E. Parker.

Adjudication for the prize was carried out by a committee that included librarian, faculty and student representation from both UBCO and UBCV and was led by the Associate University Librarian Research and Scholarship, Aleteia Greenwood. Notably, the committee’s student representatives are previous winners of the Prize.

“The adjudication committee was thrilled with the quality of this year’s submissions. In fact, the number of excellent submissions exceeded the number of awards available to distribute,” says Greenwood. “The winners’ reflective statements were thoughtfully written, and represent an

exciting breadth of research practices across a variety of disciplines.”

Prizes will be awarded at a reception to be held in May. Congratulations to Joshua, Sophie, Ciara, Ethan and Ridhwanlai!

Learn more about the UBC Undergraduate Prize in Library Research and how you can apply for the 2026 prize, or support the prize going forward.

Canada’s Silk Trains

“Nothing material, not even the mail, moves across oceans and continents with the speed of silk”

– George Marvin (The Sunday Province, 10 February, 1929)


CP Rail News volume 11, number 2 (Centennial issue). The Chung Collection. CC-TX-206-1-2

We are delighted to announce a new display– Canada’s Silk Trains – which tells the story of the fast-paced silk train era. From the time that the first 65 packages of silk were unloaded in Vancouver on June 13, 1897, the race was on to find the fastest way to transport this valuable cargo across Canada and on to the National Silk Exchange in New York.

Between the late 1880s to the mid-1930s, the Canadian Pacific Railway, and later the Canadian National Railway, competed against time, the elements, and each other to transport silk to eastern markets. Insurance rates for silk were charged by the hour, incentivizing the rail companies to pursue faster and faster transportation times.

Despite the high speeds of the silk trains, there were very few accidents. The most well-known incident occurred on September 21, 1927, when a silk train derailed just beyond Hope, British Columbia, sending 4,500 bales of silk into the Fraser River. This accident was reported in newspapers at the time, and later provided the inspiration for the picture book Emma and the Silk Train. Images of the accident are not common, and so we were excited to identify two confirmed photographs (and one suspected photograph) of the crash in the newly available Price family collection. The display features books, photographs, and newspaper articles from across UBC Library’s Rare Books and Special Collections.

Canada’s Silk Trains is on display in the Rare Books and Special Collections satellite reading room on level 1 of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre and can be viewed Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through July 4, 2025. For more information, please contact Rare Books and Special Collections at (604) 822-2521 or rare.books@ubc.ca.

 

References

Lawson, J. (1997). Emma and the silk train. (Mombourquette, P. Illus.). Kids Can Press (PZ4.9.L397 Em 1997).

Marvin, G. (1929, February 10). Fast as silk? [Microfilm of The Sunday Province, Vancouver, p.3]. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/february-10-1929-page-43- 56/docview/2368257290/se-2

UBC’s Seed Lending Libraries: a growing movement in sustainability and community engagement

As spring blooms, UBC’s Seed Lending Libraries invite communities to grow gardens, share seeds, and cultivate a movement rooted in sustainability and connection.

New Books at the Law Library – 25/04/08

LAW LIBRARY level 3: KE4219 .R54 2023 B. Bird & D.B.M. Ross, Rights, Freedoms, and Their Limits: Reimagining Section 1 of the Charter (LexisNexis Canada, 2023). LAW LIBRARY reference room (level 2): KE9445 .R44 2025 S. Reid & R. Bromwich, Youth and the Law, 5th ed (Emond Montgomery Publications, 2025). LAW LIBRARY level 3: KPA970 […]

John Moran recognized with Honourary Blocker Award by UBC Athletics and Recreation

Photo of Sarah Barclay, Senior Director of Development & Alumni Engagement for Athletics and Recreation and award recipient John Moran, Digital Archivist at UBC Archives

Photo: Sarah Barclay, Senior Director of Development & Alumni Engagement for Athletics and Recreation and award recipient John Moran, Digital Archivist at UBC Archives.

Congratulations to John Moran, Digital Archivist at UBC Archives, who was awarded the Honourary Blocker Award at the annual Big Block Awards held by the UBC Athletics and Recreation at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on April 2, 2025.

For more than 80 years, the Big Block Club has honoured the best that UBC Athletics has to offer. More than 9,000 varsity letter winners have been inducted into the esteemed club, and hundreds of remarkable student-athletes have been recognized for their outstanding achievements.

The Honourary Blocker Award was given to Moran in recognition of UBC Archives’ “exceptional commitment to the archives and history of our varsity sport programs” through the creation of the UBC Department of Athletics & Recreation fonds.

“This project was my first major project as a new archivist,” says Moran, noting that the project was truly a team effort that would not have been possible without the expertise and support of University Archivist Erwin Wodarczak, Department of Athletics historian Fred Hume, and Candice Bjur, Archives Clerk at UBC Archives.

“Over the course of two years, I compiled the finding aid, with a special focus on documenting the information Fred [Humes] provided, so that former Thunderbirds and their descendants could locate images of themselves, teammates, or family members,” says Moran.

Learn more about the UBC Department of Athletics & Recreation fonds.