Guide to the Child Collection of Klondike Gold Rush Photographs
ca. 1898-1899

Scope and Content

This collection contains 23 glass plate negatives documenting activities and places during the Klondike gold rush. The images reveal the arduous journey thousands of prospective miners experienced on their way to the Yukon gold fields near Dawson. The images begin with the Chilkoot Pass and end with images of Dawson and the Grand Forks Hotel near the gold fields. The photographs may be by Cantwell.

Restrictions on Access

Glass plate negatives are not available for viewing.

Historical Background

The Yukon gold rush began in 1897, when news of the previous year's gold discovery in the Canadian Klondike region finally reached Seattle, prompting thousands to make the journey to the Yukon. Two trails were popular routes. The Skagway route went over White Pass, while the Dyea route took miners over the Chilkoot Pass, both on the way to Lakes Bennett and Lindeman. At this point, miners stopped to "whipsaw" logs used for building the boats they needed to haul their supplies down the Yukon River. They navigated the treacherous Whitehorse rapids and Miles Canyon on their way down the river to Dawson and then ultimately, the gold mines.

Acquisition Info

The name "Child" is associated with this collection but has not been not confirmed as the donor.

Processing Info

Processed by Jocelyn Spicer, 2002.

Inventory

Folder

Item

From the Chilkoot Pass to a miner's cabin

1

1

Canyon City tent city at the head of the Chilkoot Trail (Child 8)

2

Tents, men, and freight ascending the Chilkoot Pass (Child 11)

3

Piles of freight on the summit of Chilkoot Pass (Child 6)

2

4

The tent city at Lake Lindeman, B.C., part of the White Pass Trail from Skagway, Alaska (Child 10)

5

Whipsawing logs in preparation for boat building (Child 4)

6

Boatbuilding, possibly at Lake Bennett (Child 5)

3

7

Three boats with people and freight--probably on Lake Bennett or Lindeman (Child 21)

8-9

A boat caught in the White Horse rapids (Child 18 and 22)

4

10

Boat navigating Miles Canyon near White Horse, Yukon Territory (Child 17)

11

A large crowd of people at First Avenue in Dawson (Child 23)

12

At Grand Forks, showing the Grand Forks Hotel (Child 3)

13

Interior of a miner's cabin (Child 13)

Folder

Item

Miscellaneous

5

14

A dog (Husky) in harness (Child 1)

15

River (Child 2)

16

Small boat with freight on shore of lake (Child 19)

6

17

Boats and tents on the shore of a river or lake (Child 20)

18

Unidentified lake with tents on the shore (Child 14)

19

A log cabin covered with snow (Child 16)

7

20

Cabins in the winter (Child 12)

21

A woman in furs with a dog in the snow (Child 15)

22

A man on snowshoes with a gun (Child 9)

23

A dogsled team pulling a load of freight (Child 7)

Photographer: Cantwell

Subject Terms

Names:

Cantwell, photographer.

Subjects:

Boatbuilding---British Columbia--Photographs.

Boats--British Columbia--Photographs.

Boats--Yukon Territory--Photographs.

Dogs--British Columbia--Photographs.

Dogs--Yukon Territory--Photographs.

Gold miners--Yukon Territory--Photographs.

Gold rushes--Yukon Territory--Photographs.

Lakes--British Columbia--Photographs.

Rivers--British Columbia--Photographs.

Rivers--Yukon Territory--Photographs.

Tents--British Columbia--Photographs.

Geographic Names:

Bennett, Lake (B.C.)--Photographs.

Chilkoot Trail--Photographs.

Dawson (Yukon)--Photographs.

Grand Forks (Yukon)--Photographs.

Klondike River Valley (Yukon)--Gold discoveries--Photographs.

Lindeman Lake (B.C.)--Photographs.

White Pass Trail (Alaska and Yukon)--Photographs.