William E. Meed collection, approximately 1898-1953

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Meed, William E.
Title
William E. Meed collection
Dates
approximately 1898-1953 (inclusive)
approximately 1898-1907 (bulk)
Quantity
327 photographic prints, 42 clippings, 1 journal, 4 panorama photographs (2 boxes)
Collection Number
PH0246
Summary
Photographs, clippings, letters and a journal documenting the Klondike gold rush.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Selected images can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

William E. Meed, with his wife Mabel, traveled to Dawson, Yukon Territory, Canada, in 1898 to work in river transportation during the Klondike gold rush. Meed became the freight and passenger agent for the Bennett Lake and Klondike Navigation Co. shortly after his arrival at Dawson in 1898. The company operated the vessels Ora , Nora , and Flora between Whitehorse and Dawson. He soon also became an agent for the Canadian Development Co., which operated the steamboats Victorian , Columbian , and Canadian .

At the turn of the century, Meed became chief owner and manager of the Yukon Dock Company at Dawson. He then formed the Stewart River Co. on Dec. 22, 1900, for the purpose of building and operating the first boat that was suitable for navigating the Stewart River. The sternwheel steamer Prospector was built in Whitehorse in 1901, the name indicating the exploratory purpose of the boat, and also identifying it with those men whom it was intended to serve. The Prospector was designed by a prominent Victoria boat builder, and Capt. James A. Ritchie was given command of the vessel.

The Meeds moved in 1907 to Victoria, British Columbia, where William was an orchardist and manager of a shipyard. Little is know of intervening years, but by 1936, William Meed was a salesman living alone in Vancouver, B.C., near his daughter Edna. In the 1940s, he wrote reminiscences of his Klondike experiences for a Vancouver newspaper.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection primarily contains photographs compiled by William E. Meed documenting the Klondike gold rush and related activities in the vicinity of Dawson, Yukon Territory. Some images were taken by prominent commercial photographers such as Eric A. Hegg, Kinsey & Kinsey (Clark Kinsey and Clarence Kinsey), H.J. Goetzman, H.C. Barley, and George G. Cantwell. These depict Klondike mines and mining activities in the Dawson vicinity, Dawson street scenes, views along the Chilkoot Trail and the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad, steamboats and steamboat landings, and other Klondike scenes. Meed was an amateur photographer himself and took a number of photographs that document his own activities, his family and friends, and his fellow workers for the Stewart River Co. and aboard the steamboat Prospector . The snapshots show Dawson's cabin residences, the Dawson docks and freighting activities, outings by dogsled, wilderness roadhouses, and domestic scenes. The collection is accompanied by a series of captions derived from Meed's journal, a narrative account of his Klondike experiences that is keyed to the photographs. Also included are related newspaper clippings and correspondence.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Lake Laberge is variously referred to as Lake Laberge, Lake LaBarge, and Lake LeBarge in the text accompanying the photographs.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The original order of the collection has been retained.

Acquisition Information

Source: Edna Meed; received 1986.

Processing Note

Processed by Rebekah Dalby, 2003. Revised by Kate Norgon, 2020.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Photographs of Alaska and YukonReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/1 1
Steamer City of Seattle (Barley 2415)
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1900?
1/1 2
Steamer Cutch, Port of Skagway (Barley 2145)
H.C. Barley, Skagway (photographer)
1900?
1/1 3
Totem pole, Wrangell, Alaska (Goetzman 318)
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
1900?
1/1 4
Chilkat Indian in full dance costume (Barley 2242)
H.C. Barley, Skagway (photographer)
1900
1/1 5
Pack train approaching Chilkoot Pass (Goetzman 618)
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
Spring 1898
1/1 6 Spring 1898
1/1 7 Spring 1898
1/1 8 Spring 1898
1/1 9
Ascent of Chilkoot Pass (Goetzman 602)
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
Spring 1898
1/1 10
Packers ascending summit of Chilkoot Pass
Eric A. Hegg (photographer)
1898
1/1 11
Packers at summit of Chilkoot Pass (Goetzman 607)
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
Spring 1898
1/2 12 Spring 1898
1/2 13
Packers and freight at summit of Chilkoot Pass (Goetzman 604)
H.J. Goetzman (photographer)
Same image as item 47, without photographer's imprint.
Spring 1898
1/2 14 1898
1/2 15 1898
1/2 16 1898
1/2 17 1898?
1/2 18
Bird’s-eye view of Bennett (Goetzman 621)
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
1898
1/2 19
Whipsawing in the Klondike (Goetzman 259)
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
1898?
1/2 20
Boats waiting to navigate Miles Canyon and White Horse Rapids (Goetzman 619)
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
1898?
1/3 21
Steamer Nora at Miles Canyon
H.J. Goetzman (photographer)
July 1899
1/3 22 1899
1/3 23
Entering Miles Canyon (Goetzman 611)
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
between 1898 and 1899
1/3 24 1898
1/3 25
Two boats navigating Miles Canyon
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
1898?
1/3 26 between 1898 and 1899
1/3 27
Boat navigating White Horse Rapids
Eric A. Hegg (photographer)
1898
1/3 28 1898
1/3 29
View of Lake Laberge (Goetzman 606)
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
between 1897 and 1903
1/3 30 April 7, 1902
1/4 31
Steamer Merwin ascending Five Finger Rapids (Goetzman 615)
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
1898?
1/4 32 1899?
1/4 33
Ice jam at Five Finger Rapids, Yukon River
Kinsey & Kinsey (photographer)
1899?
1/4 34 1898?
1/4 35
Steamer Victorian’s first trip up the Yukon
Hegg & Co, Dawson (photographer)
1899
1/4 36
“Steamer Victorian starting for White Horse"
Hegg & Co, Dawson (photographer)
July 8, 1899
1/4 37 1899
1/4 38 October 1901
1/4 39 1899?
1/4 40
Steamer Australian, above Miles Canyon
1899?
1/5 41 1899
1/5 42 November 24, 1899
1/5 43 1901
1/5 44 October 21, 1899
1/5 45
Bird’s-eye view of Dawson (Goetzman 614)
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
September 2, 1900
1/5 46 November 21, 1899
1/5 47
Office building in Dawson
Hegg & Co (photographer)
1899
1/5 48 June 1899
1/5 49 between 1899 and 1900
1/5 50
Dawson warehouses and docks (Goetzman 476)
H.J. Goetzman (photographer)
July 23, 1900
1/6 51
Grandstand at Dawson
George G. Cantwell (photographer)
July 4, 1901
1/6 52 1905
1/6 53 1900?
1/6 54
Frozen house near Dawson
1900?
1/6 55
A house with a Klondike bottle window
George G. Cantwell (photographer)
1900?
1/6 56
Group in front of the Savoy Hotel
1898?
1/6 57 1900?
1/6 58 1900?
1/6 59 1900?
1/6 60
Savoy Hotel
1900?
1/7 61
Two miners in cabin
George G. Cantwell (photographer)
1898?
1/7 62 1900?
1/7 63
Men mining at Skookum Hill, Bonanza Creek
Eric A. Hegg (photographer)
1900?
1/7 64 1900?
1/7 65 1900?
1/7 66
Underground mining at #16 Eldorado (Cantwell 19)
George G. Cantwell (photographer)
1900?
1/7 67
Mining underground
George G. Cantwell (photographer)
1900?
1/7 68
Miner “going down the shaft”
Simulation of mining accident.
Kinsey & Kinsey (photographer)
1900?
1/7 69
Miner being rescued
Kinsey & Kinsey (photographer)
Simulation of mining accident.
1900?
1/7 70
Miner being resuscitated
Kinsey & Kinsey (photographer)
Simulation of mining accident.
1900?
1/8 71
Miners sluicing at claim #39 below Hunker Creek
George G. Cantwell (photographer)
1900?
1/8 72
“Haywood Cate’s $2,000.00 dog team,” Dawson
Hegg & Co, Dawson (photographer)
1900?
1/8 73 Feb. 11, 1900
1/8 74
U.S. Mail leaving Dawson
George G. Cantwell (photographer)
1900?
1/8 75 1900?
1/8 76 1900?
1/8 77
Dogsled team on Front Street, Dawson
Hegg & Co (photographer)
1900?
1/8 78 1900?
1/8 79
Moose-hunter en route to Dawson (Goetzman 205)
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
1900?
1/8 80
Children with dogsled team
Kinsey & Kinsey (photographer)
1900?
1/9 81 1900?
1/9 82 1900?
1/9 83
“First lady stampeder on Thistle Creek”
[Eric A. Hegg?] (photographer)
1900?
1/9 84 1900?
1/9 85 1900?
1/9 86 1900?
1/9 87 1900?
1/9 88 1900?
1/9 89
Men in front of cabin in snow
1900?
1/9 90
Hunters around campfire at night
1900?
1/10 91 1900?
1/10 92
“Girl wanted,” man washing clothes outside of tent
Eric A. Hegg, Dawson City (photographer)
1900?
1/10 93 1900?
1/10 94
“Exhausted stampeder,” man sleeping
Eric A. Hegg (photographer)
1898
1/10 95 1900?
1/10 96
Mining tunnel in hillside claim
George G. Cantwell (photographer)
1900?
1/10 97
Frost at the mouth of a mining tunnel
Kinsey & Kinsey (photographer)
1900?
1/10 98 Jan. 1901
1/10 99
“Ptarmigan,” birds
George G. Cantwell (photographer)
1900?
1/10 100
“Moose calfs”
Hegg & Co , Dawson (photographer)
1900?
1/10 101 1899?

Album of Photographs of Alaska and YukonReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2

The album contains photographs relating to the Klondike gold rush in the vicinity of Dawson in the Yukon Territory during the years 1898 to 1899. Included are images of the Klondikers, the White Pass and Yukon Railroad, and the sternwheel steamers used to bring people and supplies up the Yukon River.

Container(s) Description Dates
Page item
inside cover 101a 1899?
1 102
Steamer Australian
Same image as item 40.
1899?
2 103 1899
3 104 1899
4 105
Steamer Victorian leaving Dawson for White Horse
Hegg & Co, Dawson (photographer)
1899
5 106 1899
6 107
Canadian Development Company’s dock at Dawson
Eric A. Hegg (photographer)
1899?
7 108 July 4, 1899
8 109 1899?
9 110
Steamer Sarah at dock, Dawson
Hegg & Co, Dawson (photographer)
1899?
10 111 1898?
11 112
Five Finger Rapids
H.J. Goetzman (photographer)
1898
12
[no image]
item
13 113
Five Finger Rapids
Eric A. Hegg (photographer)
July 1899
14 114
Dawson warehouses, Yukon Dock Company
H.J. Goetzman (photographer)
July 23, 1900
15 115 1899?
16 116
Log bridge
1899?
17 117
Fifty Mile River near Big Salmon, July 1999
H.J. Goetzman, Dawson (photographer)
July 1899
18 118 1899?
19 119
Lava walls of Miles Canyon
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1899?
20 120
Entrance to Miles Canyon
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1899?
21 121
White Horse Rapids
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1899
22 122
“The cataract of Miles Canyon”
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1899
23 123
White Horse Rapids
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1899
24 124 1899?
25 125
“Fishing at the mouth of Miles Canyon”
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1899
25 126
Steamer Australian at Miles Canyon landing
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1899?
26 127 1899?
27 128 July 1899
28 129 July 1899
29 130
Steamer Nora at upper end of tramway, Miles Canyon
H.J. Goetzman (photographer)
July 1899
30 131 1899?
31 132 1899?
32 133 1901?
33 134
Men in front of office buildings, Dawson
Hegg & Co (photographer)
Same image as item 47.
1899
34 135a
Dog pack train en route to the mines
Eric A. Hegg (photographer)
1898?
34 135b-135d
Cabin
Same image as item 47.
1899
34 135e
Man seated near trail
Same image as item 47.
1899
35 136 1900?
36 137
Treadwell Gold Mine, Juneau, Alaska
Winter & Pond (photographer)
1896
37 138 1900
38 139 1898
38 140
Surveyor with horse and dog
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1898?
39 141-142 1898
40 143
Timber near Skagway
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1898?
40 144
Juneau, Alaska
Winter & Pond (photographer)
1898
41 145 1898
41 146
Looking southwest from Pinnacle Gap
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1899?
42 147 between 1897 and 1898
42 148 1900?
43 149
Ice formation on glacier
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1900?
43 150
People in front of ice formation from the Muir Glacier
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1900?
44 151
Section of Muir Glacier
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1900?
44 152
Taku Glacier
Winter & Pond (photographer)
1895
45 153
Muir Glacier
1900?
45 154 1900?
46 155 1900?
46 156
Denver Glacier near Skagway
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1900?
47 157
People above crevasse on Muir Glacier
Winter & Pond (photographer)
1895
47 158 1899
48 159
Canoe on ice floe on Yukon River
Kinsey & Kinsey (photographer)
1899?
48 160
Portaging over ice jam at Five Finger Rapids
Kinsey & Kinsey (photographer)
1899?
49 161
Miles Canyon in winter
Kinsey & Kinsey (photographer)
1898?
49 162
Ice breaking up at Five Finger Rapids
Kinsey & Kinsey (photographer)
1899?
50 163 1899?
50 164
Miles Canyon in winter
Same image as item 161.
1898?
51 165
Man at Miles Canyon in winter
Kinsey & Kinsey (photographer)
1898?
51 166 1899?
52 167
Early morning on Lake Bennett
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1899?
52 168
Killing fur seals on St. Paul Island, Alaska
1899?
53 169
Auk Indian women and child, Juneau, Alaska
Winter & Pond (photographer)
1900?
53 170
Native women weaving baskets, Sitka, Alaska
Winter & Pond (photographer)
1897
54 171
Totem pole at Ketchikan
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1900?
54 172
Chief Shake’s totem poles, Fort Wrangel
Winter & Pond (photographer)
1895
55 173-175
“Sailor Bill” with fur coat
H.C. Barley (photographer)
1898
56 176
Klondike gold nuggets
1899?
57 177
"The Coming Queen of the Yukon," native child, Dawson
Hegg & Co, Dawson (photographer)
1899?
58 178a 1898?
58 178b
Man with horse pack train
1898?
58 178c
Horse pack train
1898?
59 179
Dogsled team on Lake Bennett
H.J. Goetzman (photographer)
1898?

Photographs of Alaska and YukonReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/11 180
Group of natives on the bank of the McQuesten River
1902
1/11 181-183
Meed’s second cabin home in the Yukon
Photograph missing as of 2002.
1902?
1/12 184 August 16, 1901
1/13 185 1901
2/1 186-187 1901
2/3 188
Steamer Whitehorse on Five Finger Rapids
Hamacker & Doody, White Horse (photographer)
1899?
1/13 189
Dawson warehouses (Goetzman 476)
H.J. Goetzman (photographer)
Same image as item 50.
July 23, 1900
2/4 190
Steamer S.S. Tees covered with ice
H.C. Barley, Skagway (photographer)
1900?
2/5 191
Steamer Prospector leaving Dawson for White Horse
O.C. Peck, Dawson (photographer)
1905
1/14 192 1901?
1/14 193 1902
1/14 194
[missing]
1/14 195 1901?
1/14 196
Mabel Meed sitting with another woman on the bow of steamer Prospector
1901?
1/14 197 1902
1/14 198 1902
1/14 199 1902?
1/14 200-201 1902
1/14 202-203 1905
1/15 204-215 1902
1/15 216-217 1902
1/15 218
William Meed at Fraser Falls, Stewart River
1902
1/15 219 1901
1/16 220 Summer 1901
1/16 221-222
People at Mayo Landing, Stewart River
Item 221 is the same image as item 141.
1902
1/16 223 1900
1/16 224 1900
1/16 225
Yukon Dock Company office interior
1900
1/16 226 1900
1/16 227 1900
1/16 228 1900
1/16 229 1900
1/16 230 1900
1/16 231 1900
1/17 232-233
Spectators on grandstand in front of Yukon Dock Company for Victoria Day
May 24, 1900
1/17 234 May 24, 1900
1/17 235 May 24, 1900
1/17 236-238 May 24, 1900
1/17 239 1901
1/17 240 1901?
1/17 241
Mabel Meed seated in cabin, Dawson
1902
1/18 242 1902
1/18 243 1902
1/18 244 1902
1/18 245 April 12, 1902
1/18 246
Mabel Meed
Photograph missing as of 2002.
1902
1/18 247
Mabel Meed outside of log cabin, Lake Laberge
April 1902
1/18 248
William and Mabel Meed outside of their first log cabin, Lake Laberge
1902
1/18 249 1902
1/18 250 1902
1/18 251
Mabel Meed and men ice fishing on Lake Laberge
April 29, 1902
1/18 252 April 1902
1/18 253
[number not used]
1/18 254-256 April 1902
1/19 257 1902
1/19 258
[number not used]
1/19 259 1902?
1/19 260
Crew of the steamer Prospector in front of Hotel Meed
1901?
1/19 261-264 August 1901
1/19 265 August 1901
1/19 266
Mudslide on MacMillan River
August 1901
1/19 267
Signboard nailed to tree announcing arrival of steamer Prospector, Fraser Falls
1901
1/19 268
[number not used]
1/19 269 1900?
1/19 270 1900?
1/20 271
Mr. and Mrs. Laurence McCarty with dogsled team on their wedding tour in the Klondike
Meed Photographer, Dawson (photographer)
November 1900
1/20 272
McCarty's honeymoon trip
Meed Photographer, Dawson (photographer)
November 1900
1/20 273-274 1900?
1/20 275 1900?
1/20 276 1900?
1/20 279-282 1900?
1/21 283-285 1900?
1/21 286
Mrs. J. Acklen and child with dog and sled, Dawson
1900?
1/21 287
Women and children playing with dog and sled, Dawson
1900?
1/21 288 1900?
1/21 289
Dogs on shore watching the Prospector, Selkirk
1902
1/21 290 1900?
1/21 291 1900?
1/21 292 1899?
1/22 293
Winter landscape
George G. Cantwell, Dawson (photographer)
1899?
1/22 294
Men and dog in snow on Bonanza Trail
1899?
1/22 295
Winter landscape seen from Dawson Heights
George G. Cantwell, Dawson (photographer)
1899?
1/22 296 June 1900
1/22 297
“Sunrise from the Dome,” 2:20 a.m.
June 21, 1901
1/22 298 1902
1/22 299
Mrs. Creamer and family in front of cabin, Dawson
1905
1/22 300 Spring 1905
1/22 301 1905
1/22 302 1905?
1/23 303
“Frozen out,” cabin in snow
Same image as item 53.
between 1898 and 1901
1/23 304
“Frozen out,” dog in front of cabins in snow
George G. Cantwell (photographer)
Same image as itme 54.
between 1898 and 1901
1/23 305-306
“Frozen out,” cabins in snow
between 1898 and 1901
1/23 307 1898?
1/23 308 1898?
1/23 309
William Meed in front of Klondike River Bridge
1898?
1/23 310
Klondike River Bridge
1898?
1/23 311 1906
1/23 312 1899
1/24 313
Chief Isaacs of the Moosehead tribe
George G. Cantwell, Dawson (photographer)
1900?
1/24 314 1902
1/24 315
Dick Meed, Mabel Meed, and Eileen Munro on log tramway, White Horse Rapids
1902
1/24 316
William Meed and Eileen Munro at White Horse Rapids
1902
1/24 317
Mabel Meed, Dick Meed, and Eileen Munro picnicking at White Horse
1902
1/24 318 1902
1/24 319 1900?
1/24 320
Arrival of Peel River natives, Dawson
March 21, 1901
1/24 321 1902
1/24 322 1899?
1/24 323
Steamer Prospector
1902
Box
M291 324 August 17, 1899
Hanging File 325 1902
Hanging File 326 1902
XH1 327 1948
Box/Folder
1/25 328
Newspaper clippings relating to the Klondike gold rush in vicinity of Dawson, Yukon Territory
between August 19, 1901 and March 7, 1953
1/26 329
Letter written by Mabel Meed to her family in England
September 15, 1905
1/27 330
Journal
Extended notes compiled by William Meed about the Klondike gold rush.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Cabins--Yukon Territory--Photographs
  • Dogsledding--Yukon Territory--Photographs
  • Frontier and pioneer life--Yukon Territory--Photographs
  • Gold miners--Yukon Territory--Photographs
  • Gold mines and mining--Yukon Territory--Photographs
  • Hunting--Yukon Territory--Photographs
  • Steamboats--Yukon Territory--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Meed family--Photographs
  • Meed, Mabel--Photographs
  • Meed, William E.--Photographs

Corporate Names

  • White Pass & Yukon Route (Firm)

Geographical Names

  • Chilkoot Trail--Photographs
  • Dawson (Yukon)--Photographs
  • Klondike River Valley (Yukon)--Gold discoveries--Photographs
  • Macmillan River (Yukon)--Photographs
  • Pelly River (Yukon)--Photographs
  • Stewart River (Yukon : River)--Photographs
  • Yukon River (Yukon and Alaska)--Photographs
  • Yukon Territory--Gold discoveries--Photographs

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Barley, H. C. (Harrie C.),  -1909 (photographer)
    • Cantwell, George G., d. 1948 (photographer)
    • Goetzman, H. J (photographer)
    • Hegg, Eric A., 1867-1948 (photographer)
    • Kinsey, Clarence (photographer)
    • Kinsey, Clark (photographer)
    • Meed, William E (photographer)
    Corporate Names
    • Kinsey & Kinsey (photographer)