The Gold Rush (1858 to 1863) was an important period in British Columbia’s history that brought thousands of prospectors and adventurers to the province. All the activity produced by the Gold Rush led to significant impacts on BC’s people and land, such as conflicts with the native peoples who inhibited the land, increased development throughout BC, and increased business and activity on Vancouver Island. Similarly, the Klondike Gold Rush (1897-1899) affected the landscape and development of the Yukon with the discovery of gold in 1896, resulting in the establishment of the Yukon Territory.

UBC’s Digital Collections has a number of materials relating to the Gold Rush within various collections, such as: The Chung Collection, BC Bibliography, the Royal Fisk Gold Rush Letters, Delgamuukw Trial Transcripts, BC Sessional Papers, BC Historical Newspapers, and the Okanagan Historical Society Reports.

Have you found resources in our collections about the Gold Rush that have helped you with research or peaked your interest? Let us know in the comments!

Below are some examples of the resources you can find in our digital collections:

Skagway, Alaska before the [gold] rush | Chung Collection

Gold in Kootenay Boundary Country and Cariboo reached by the Canadian Pacific Railway | Chung Collection

Gold, Gold, in Cariboo: A Story of Adventure in British Columbia book from our BC Bibliography collection

[Letter, John McCraken to Royal Fisk, April 3 1868] | Royal Fisk Gold Rush Letters

[Proceedings of the Supreme Court of British Columbia 1989-06-20] | Delgamuukw Trial Transcripts

Life and labour in the far, far West : being notes of a tour in the western states, British Columbia, Manitoba, and the North-west territory. With specially prepared map, showing the author’s route from … the BC Bibliography collection

Lots of individuals involved in the Gold Rush are written about in the Biographical dictionary of well-known British Columbians : with a historical sketch via the BC Bibliography collection

Biography of Alexander Munro from Biographical dictionary of well-known British Columbians : with a historical sketch (p. 243)

Fourth annual report of the Okanagan Historical and Natural History Society

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF MINES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER, 1897 | BC Sessional Papers

“Beats the Klondike” The Fernie Ledger, November 8, 1905 | BC Historical Newspapers

Sources:

http://www.canadahistoryproject.ca/1871/1871-05-gold-rush.html

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/fraser-river-gold-rush/

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/klondike-gold-rush/