Martha Black
Martha Black, born Martha Louise Munger on February 24, 1866, in Chicago, Illinois, was a prominent figure in the Yukon Territory, known for her contributions as a botanist, adventurer, and politician. After completing her education in botany and elocution, she embarked on a journey to the Yukon in 1898 during the gold rush, where she established a sawmill and a stamp mill for ore analysis. An avid botanist, Black published "Yukon Wild Flowers" in 1936, showcasing her expertise in local flora. In the political sphere, she stepped into office in 1935, filling in for her ailing husband, George Black, and served for over four years. Her achievements earned her numerous accolades, including being made a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and receiving the Order of the British Empire in 1948. Black's legacy is commemorated by a street named in her honor in Whitehorse and a commemorative stamp issued in 1997. She lived a rich life, marrying twice and raising three children, and passed away in Whitehorse on October 31, 1957, at the age of ninety-one.
Subject Terms
Martha Black
Politician
- Born: February 24, 1866
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- Died: October 31, 1957
- Place of death: Whitehorse, Yukon
Contribution: Martha Black, an American-born Canadian naturalist and author, became the first woman to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons as an Independent Conservative for Yukon, Canada, in 1935. She was the second female parliamentarian in Canada’s political history. Black was also known for her adventuring spirit at the time of the Klondike gold rush.
Early Life and Education
Martha Louise Purdy Black was born Martha Louise Munger on February 24, 1866, in Chicago, Illinois. She completed her early education at a finishing school in Chicago, specializing in botany and elocution. Black went on numerous field trips to the Yukon Territory to study the plants there and soon became known as an expert on the local flora.
Adventurer
As part of a group of adventurers, Black left for the Yukon Territory in 1898 in search of fame and fortune in the gold fields. In order to reach their destination, the party had to negotiate a dangerous route known as the Chilkoot Pass, a mountain pass along the historic Chilkoot Trail. After a difficult journey, Black finally arrived at the mining settlement of Dawson City, Yukon. In 1900, with the support of her parents, Black established a sawmill as well as a stamp mill for the purposes of assaying (analyzing) ore.
An avid botanist, Black collected numerous specimens during her time in the Yukon. She also published a book, Yukon Wild Flowers (1936), about the local flora.
Politician
Black’s husband, George, served as commissioner for the Yukon between 1912 and 1918. In 1921, he was elected as a member of parliament for the Yukon Territory. However, due to poor health, he was unable to fill his seat in the Canadian House of Commons and retired from politics. Claiming she was only temporarily filling in for her husband, Black was elected to office in 1935 at the age of sixty-nine. Black served for more than four years but did not enter the general election of 1940, during which her husband was reelected.
Awards
Black received numerous awards recognizing her achievements. After giving a series of lectures about the Yukon while on a trip to Great Britain, she was made a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society (FRGS). In 1948, Black was appointed to the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In addition, a street in Whitehorse, Yukon, was named in her honor, and a stamp was issued by the Canadian Post Office in 1997 to honor her contributions to Canadian society.
Personal Life
Black was briefly married to William Purdy, a railroad executive, with whom she originally intended to travel to the Yukon. However, after receiving an offer to go to Hawaii, Purdy left his wife. Black had three children with her first husband.
In 1904, she married George Black, a successful lawyer. Black died in Whitehorse, Yukon, on October 31, 1957, at the age of ninety-one.
Bibliography
Conrad, Margaret. A Concise History of Canada. New York: Cambridge UP, 2012. Print.
Duncan, Jennifer. Frontier Spirit: The Brave Women of the Klondike. New York: Random, 2010. Print.
Mole, Rich. Rebel Women of the Gold Rush. Surrey: Heritage, 2011. Print.
Porsild, Charlene. Gamblers and Dreamers: Women, Men, and Community in the Klondike. Vancouver: UBC P, 2011. Print.
Trimble, Linda, and Jane Arscott. Still Counting: Women in Politics across Canada. Toronto: U of Toronto P, 2003. Print.