Meed, William E.

William Meed went to Dawson, Yukon Territory, in 1898. He was an amateur photographer and photograph collector who took many of his own photos of life in Dawson and the Klondike Gold Rush, and also collected photos taken by others. Meed worked in river transportation as freight and passenger agent of the Lake Bennett and Klondike Steam Navigation Company, in the same capacity for the Canadian Development Company, and as general manager of the Stewart River Gold Dredging Company. He was founder, chief owner, and manager of the Yukon Dock Company. Meed designed and built the sternwheel river steamer "Prospector," which provided service between Dawson, Whitehorse, and Eagle, Alaska, and wrote articles about his experiences in the Yukon for various Canadian newspapers.

From the description of William E. Meed collection, ca. 1898-1953 (bulk, ca. 1898-1907) [graphic]. ca. 1898-1953. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 39180317

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.

From the guide to the William E. Meed collection, ca. 1898-1953, ca. 1898-1907, (University of Washington Libraries Special Collections)