group of eleven photographs documenting the founding of the town of Ruby  in 1911 and the ensuing gold rush. Most on original card stock, larger format, image sizes range from 5 x 7 – 6 ½ x 8 ½ inches to 8 x 10 inches. All are titled and signed in the negative by the photographer, Clemons. The images are in good clean condition, some mounts have tack holes, else very good. The scenes listed chronologically as follows:

 First Restaurant in Ruby Alaska, 1911; “Sour Dough Bachelors, Home Sweet Home, Ruby Alaska, 1911; Front St. Ruby Alaska Jan. 11, 1912; The Nuahmah Bench, Flint Creek, Ruby Mining Dist. Alaska, April 1912; A Business Block in Ruby, Alaska. Photographed at Mid-Night June 22, 1912 F. 16 3 seconds – Clemons; Ruby, Alaska “The One Year Old Metropolis of the Yukon”, June 26, 1912; Godfrey & McMinin, Novikaket Asso. Long Cr. Ruby Mining Dist. Alaska, 1912; Carlin, Dulovich & Raspson, Long Cr. Ruby Gold Mining Dist. Alaska, 1912; Warren, Burk & Heney, Windy Bench Claim, Long Cr. Ruby Mining Dist. Alaska, 1912; Fernald & Altman, and Gil Edgar Glen Gulch Ruby Mining Dist. Alaska, 1912; and a group portrait posed in front of Clemons’ photo studio, entitled: Winners of the Ruby Kennel Club’s Ruby Derby from Ruby, Alaska to Long and Return 57 ½ miles.

Interesting photographs providing a visual record of the founding and early years of this gold rush boom town on the Yukon River. Gold was discovered on Ruby Creek in 1906 which brought more miners to the area. When word leaked out of the discovery of gold in 1910 on Long Creek, some 30 miles south of Ruby it sparked a gold rush. In 1912 gold was found on Greenstone and Poorman Creeks, in 1914 on Swift Creek and in 1920 on Moose Creek. Ruby became the supply center for mines in the area. The city of Ruby was established in 1911 and incorporated January 13, 1913, it was named for the garnets found in the streams, mistaken by the miners for rubies. In its early days it was sometimes called “The Hub of Alaska” for its location near the geographical center of the state.