Martha Black: Her Story from the Dawson Gold Fields to the Halls of Parliament

by Martha Louise Black, Florence Whyard (Editor)

Adventurous Martha Black headed for the Klondike in 1898. After working placer gold claims, she became a successful businesswoman, and was elected to the Canadian Parliament at age 70.

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

Reviews

[Carolyn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The memoirs of the second woman to be elected as a Canadian member of parliament. Martha Black participated in the Klondike Gold Rush. She hiked the Chilkoot from Alaska to the Yukon trail in the attire fashionable for an American society lady enjoying a day outdoors in the the 1890s including a corset, high collared blouse, long skirt and bloomers. The chapters about the Gold Rush are filled with evocative details that describe everyday life in the Yukon at the time. The later chapters are less detailed and I would have been interested to read more about her own political career and her husband's career as Speaker of the House of Commons. There are some interesting glimpses of the royal family over the course of the memoir as Martha Black met four generations of royalty from Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Louise to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happened to find this used at Value Village just in time for my trip to the Yukon. Right off the bat, Martha impressed me. She wanted a Yukon adventure, and she got one -- and even ditched and divorced her husband to do it. But then she kind of lost me... Her new husband is a Conservative and an Anglican, so she adopts both philosophies. She says if her husband was a cannibal she would be too. I don't know how she made such a 180... Anyway, this book taught me a lot about Yukon and Canadian history. The second woman in Parliament at age 70, Martha seemed like quite the lady. If you're travelling to the Yukon, I'd definitely recommend this book.

[Donna Beckley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book. This book is written like a lot of books whose authors write their own stories. There are mentioned a lot of names of people they have met and places they have travelled but often the story isn't strong. This book will give you a understanding of the woman that Martha Black was through her own words. She was a woman of strength and personality. She had the advantage of been born into an affluent family, at a time when women were getting an education and the freedom to express themselves and be more independent. A little bit of Canadian history from a part of our country that is often overlooked.

[Colleen]

Amazing lady. Interesting read.