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‘The Ballard of Sweet Betsy from Pike’
‘Sweet Betsy from Pike’ is an American ballad about a pioneer named Betsy and her lover Ike who migrated from Pike County to California during the gold rush. There are Pike Counties in both Missouri and Illinois from where many gold seekers began…
Mary Ballou’s letter to her son
Mary Ballou was one of many thousands of women who made the journey to the gold fields, travelling either with their husband or father or occasionally alone. On arrival in California Mary and her husband set up a boarding house at a mining camp but…
Lenihan's report on his visit to the Indian villages on the Lower Fraser from Yale to the Gulf of Georgia together with those on the Harrison River and at the head of Harrison Lake
This is a written report from James Lenihan, who was the Fraser Superintendent, serving the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia. The source has the feel of a merchant trip, with trade of gifts, sharing of tobacco and attempts by the indigenous…
Letter, Emma Crosby to Jessie Harris, June 23, 1926
The source is a written letter from Emma Crosby, a missionary from Vancouver, B.C., written to Jessie Harris of London. The letter discusses Crosby’s activities relating to the Church ‘seeing the kindergarten’ being educated, what her family has been…
Northern Paiute burden basket, Ca 1910.
Below is a Northern Paiute burden basket made by an indigenous women belonging to the Northern Paiute tribe. The tribe occupied east– central California, western Nevada and eastern Oregon. This tribe is known traditionally for their hunting and…
Image of ‘Hanging of the Mexican Woman”
William Downie wrote Hunting for Gold which incorporated the image titled “Hanging of the Mexican Woman,” referring to the lynching of Josefa Segovia. She was the only woman to ever be hung in California. Her killing places a large emphasis on the…
Image of a Chinese Bagnio (Bath House) in San Francisco
This black and white photo of a “bagnio” shows the conditions those working in Chinese Brothel Houses dealt with. The portrait photo depicts a bath house in Chinatown, San Francisco. Prostitution at the time was popular but it was not an easy…
Corinthia Elizabeth Sarah Anne Pierre, became Mrs. Thomas Alexander; born in Victoria 1868, daughter of Mr. and Mrs J.F. Pierre.
This is a black and white photograph taken in 1885. The portrait photograph shows a young female woman of an African-Canadian heritage. Unusually, she is pictured in Victorian style clothing such as a white ruff and it is apparent she is wearing a…
Enfranchising of Women
This is a typed, formal document presented to the Legislatives assembly of British Columbia, in order to ask for permission to include women in the political franchise. It is a black and white document printed by ‘Richard Wolfenden, Printers to the…
Sister Mary Providence, pioneer educator and philanthropist in British Columbia
This is a black and white photograph 35cm by 40cm portraying a female pioneer educator and philanthropist in British Columbia. The picture focuses on the religion of Christianity as sister Mary Providence is wearing a crucifix and holding onto a…