Women Of Yukon, Klondike Focus Of Book

Thousands of men (and women) streamed north to the Yukon and Alaska at the end of the 19th century, bound for rumored fields of gold.

Some sought adventure, others were running away from something, and all seemed convinced fabulous wealth lay at the other end of boat trips and arduous hikes over the Chilkoot Trail. For a few, the dream panned out. Many, though, simply stayed on in Alaska and fashioned new lives in this frontier.

The stories of the men - prospectors, miners, saloon owners, criminals - have been told in books, film, history books. But there hasn’t been much written or told of the women who went to the Klondike gold rush.

Prompted in part by the 100th anniversary (on July 17) of the Klondike and Alaska gold rushes, writers Clair Rudolf Murphy and Jane G. Haigh started gathering stories of the women who opened the territory. Both Murphy, a Spokane native and author of children’s books, and Haigh live in Fairbanks.

The result of their research is published in a new book, “Gold Rush Women” (Alaska Northwest Books, $16.95). At first, the writers focused on dance hall girls in the North, the most visible and infamous women, like Klondike Kate.

“When we broadened our scope, we found there were other women doing things other than the stereotypical dance hall girls, and little credit has been given to these women,” says Murphy. “Women were trying to make money with things not usually done to support families. Women’s rights and labor movements started to be organized.”

The writers found many of the women arrived in the territories unattached - either beyond the normal age for marriage or unhappy marriages they left behind.

“The interesting thing about the women was they were not as discouraged as the men when they arrived and found there weren’t many good claims left,” says Murphy. “They started baking bread or they opened a tent restaurant or took in sewing. The women weren’t as hooked on actual prospecting as the men were. They wanted to make some money and forge a new life.”

As part of the Klondike Gold Rush Centennial Celebration in Seattle, Murphy is making a number of appearances.

Besides her talk about “Gold Rush Women” Saturday at Auntie’s Bookstore, Murphy will also appear from 1 to 3 p.m., Tuesday, at The Children’s Corner Bookshop to discuss and sign her books, “A Child’s Alaska” (Alaska Northwest Books, $15.95), “Gold Star Sister” (Penguin, $4.99) and “The Prince and the Salmon People” (St. Martin’s Press $19.95).

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: FREE SLIDE SHOW Clair Rudolf Murphy will give a free slide show and discuss “Gold Rush Women” at 11 a.m., Saturday, at Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington.