Downie, William, 1819-1893
Person
William Downie (1819-1893), born in Glasgow, Scotland, worked as a sailor before joining the Gold Rush in San Francisco in 1849. He mined near Sacramento and along the Yuba River in California, in British Columbia (where he studied Canadian Indians and made reports about the topography of the land around the Skeena River), and in Panama
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
William Downie papers relating to exploration of British Columbia
Collection
Call Number: WA MSS S-2490
Overview:
Papers consist of diaries, correspondence, writings, printed works, photographs, maps, and other materials that document William Downie's life, interest, and travels in the Northwest, particularly during the 1850s and 1860s. The papers offer evidence of early exploration and mining operations in British Columbia, particularly in the Quesnel Forks area by the Quesnelle Mining Company. Downie's interest and encounters with indigenous inhabitants are recorded.
Dates:
1858-circa 1906