Books by Jane Haigh and Claire Rudolf Murphy
Women, Children, & Dogs of the Klondike and Alaska Gold Rushs, and Con-man Soapy Smith
Jane G. Haigh
King Con: The Story of Soapy Smith
ISBN: 978-0978036706
Claire Rudolf Murphy and Jane G. Haigh
Children of the Gold Rush
ISBN 978-0-9627530-4-6
Jane G. Haigh
Searching for Fannie Quigely:
A Wilderness Life in the Shadow of Mt. McKinley
Swallow Press
978-0804010979
Claire Rudolf Murphy and Jane G. Haigh
Gold Rush Dogs
ISBN 978-0-9627530-6-0
Claire Rudolf Murphy and Jane G. Haigh
Gold Rush Women
ISBN 978-0-9627530-5-3
Books by Jane Haigh and Claire Rudolf Murphy
Jane Haigh and Claire Rudolf Murphy spent three years researching and writing their first book together, ‘Gold Rush Women’ published for the 100th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1997. At the time, most Alaska history books focused on the exploits of men, and there was little information on the participation of women. “Fathers of the Yukon” were celebrated, while mothers of the Yukon were ignored. Most people seemed to assume that women who participated were dance hall girls or prostitutes.
Changing the Narrative
Jane and Claire set out to change the narrative by finding and telling the stories of women who participated, from the first Athabascan women who married the early American traders to intrepid entrepreneurs like Belinda Mulrooney, who hauled enough supplies for a hotel to Dawson and made her first fortune. Many women prospered and ensured their own ability to survive by opening restaurants or boarding houses.
Inspiration
While writing and researching, we were fascinated by the many photos and stories of children in the gold rush, so of course, we had to write “Children of the Gold Rush.” And then the dogs. Jane found that there were many dogs in the North who were as famous as people and even had obituaries in San Francisco, Seattle, and New York papers.
We wrote the books for middle grades, so they would be accessible to all.
