The great rush to the Arctic between 1898 and 1903
resulted in friendships that refused to end with time. Thirty years
after the Big Rush, a number of clubs had been formed to keep alive the
exciting memories of the Arctic.
The first joint meeting of these
clubs was held in Seattle in 1929. It was hosted by the Alaska Yukon
Pioneers Cabin #1 and the ladies of the Golden North. It was called a
“Stampede”.
In 1930, the meeting was sponsored
by the Vancouver Yukoners Association and held in Vancouver, B.C. At
that meeting the group voted to organize and appointed a committee to
prepare by-laws.
The Portland Alaska-Yukon Society
sponsored the next meeting in Portland in 1931. It was decided to change
the name from “Stampede” to “International Sourdough Reunion, Inc.”
By-laws were drawn up.
In 1932, a most colorful
convention was held in Calgary, Canada. The by-laws were adopted and
officers were elected. The name “International Sourdough Reunion, Inc.”
was officially adopted, and the Reunion was incorporated under the laws
of Washington State with copies filed in Ontario, Canada. At this
meeting Lulu Fairbanks was elected secretary and remained in this office
until her death in 1967.
By 1977, the ISR membership had
increased to fifteen affiliated clubs.