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Yucho Chow Studio Item With digital objects
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1943 - Graduating class

Collector/curator's description reads: “1943, Vancouver. On location photo of the graduating class. The boy in front row, centre is Harvey Eng (son of Henry Eng). Back row (left to right): Miss Montgomery; Miss Lily McCarger; Mrs. Jack Chan; and Miss Esther Fung? Third Row: Unidentified; David Lim; Kong (Ken) Young; Unidentified; Unidentified. Middle Row: May Chu?: Valerie Lee; Audrey Yip: Jenny Jang; Unidentified. Front Row: Unidentified; Mary Phyllis Kett?; Harvey Eng, Mavis Yuen, Unidentified. This picture was taken at the Chinese United Church complex on Pender and Dunlevy Streets. These steps lead up to the men's dormitory where the church rented out rooms to single young men. The actual church was to the right of this building. The kindergarten classes were held in the basement of this building.”

1945 - Graduating class

Collector/curator's description reads: “1945, Vancouver. Class photo. Front row (left to right): Phyllis Moy; Donna Yee; Lucie (Ying) Lum; Victor Huang; Janice Yuen; Raymond Chung; Nancy Eng. Middle row: Ruby Lam; Larry Wong; Joe Lee; Lila Chew; Shirley Jang; Anna Chow; Sonny Choy; Ken Lee. Back row: Lily May McCargar; Isabel Montgomery; Marion (Lowe) Mah.”

Alvaro - Rosina Agostino - 1941

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1941, Vancouver. Colourized studio portrait of Rosina Alvaro (nee Agostino). This portrait was taken to send copies back to her family in Italy.”

Alvaro - Rosina Agostino - 1947

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1947, Vancouver. Portrait of Rosina Alvaro (nee Agostino). Photo was taken to send back to family in Italy. She was 20 at the time and working at the library and Main and Hastings. Her grandfathers had come in the 1800s to work on the railroad, then returned to Italy. Yucho was [so] enamoured with this photo that he displayed it in the studio's front window for about seven years.”

Association of United Ukrainian Canadians - Orchestra & Choir

Collector/curator's description reads: “1939, Vancouver. Orchestra & Choir of the Ukrainian Labour Farmer's Temple Association (ULFTA) with Conductor Chitrenky. Yucho Chow signature can be seen in white ink at the bottom right of the stage on the photo. The Organization was first known as the Ukrainian Labour Temple Association (ULTA), then the Ukrainian Labour Farmer's Temple Association (ULFTA), and finally in the 1940's it became the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians (AUUC).”

Association of United Ukrainian Canadians-BC Provincial Committee

Collector/curator's description reads: "c. 1944, Vancouver. Members of the BC Provincial Committee, Ukrainian Canadian Association, 1944-45. The Organization was first known as the Ukrainian Labour Temple Association (ULTA), then the Ukrainian Labour Farmer's Temple Association (ULFTA), and finally in the 1940's it became the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians (AUUC)."

Aulack - Germail Singh (RCAF) with sisters - 1954

Collector/curator's description reads: “1954, Vancouver. George Germel Singh Aulack in his RCAF uniform along with his sisters: (left to right) Gaily, Chindow, Germail and Mindow. Germail was a Flying Officer with the RCAF. He was born in India but arrived in Canada with his mother in 1934 when he was two years old. This photo was taken at South Airport (or Van Airport in those days) in 1954, two weeks before he died in St Hubert, Quebec while on a rescue flight with the RCAF. He was only 23. Their parents were Aulack Giana Singh and Tante Kaur Singh.”

Aulack - Giana Singh and Tante Kaur - 1930s

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1938, Vancouver. Photo of Giana Singh Aulack (left) and his wife Tante Kaur Aulack. Giana arrived in Canada by ship in 1906 as a British subject from Punjab, India. He worked first on the railroad; then in a sawmill in New Westminster while living with some other single Punjabi men in a cookhouse (sort of a communal residence). Over time he saved and bought three homes while having a trucking business. Around 1931, during the Great Depression, he travelled to India to get married. He brought along with him a photo of the Vancouver City Hall and claimed it was his home. He won over and married Tante Kaur. However, on his return to Canada, much to his horror, Giana learned he had lost all three homes and his trucks due to the depression that was gripping the country. Tante Kaur arrived in 1934 only to find the comfortable life she thought she might have was gone. The couple would raise eight children. The oldest, Germael Singh Aulack, was born in India but became a Flying Officer in the RCAF. He perished in an airplane accident at the age of 23 years. The other children were born in Canada: David Singh; Sadu Singh; Gaily kaur; Jernail Singh; Chindow Kaur; Mindow Kaur and Javinder Singh.”

Aulack - Giana Singh and Tante Kaur with family -1952

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1952, Vancouver. Photo of Giana Singh and Tante Kaur Aulack family. Front row from left to right: Sadu Singh Aulack, Giana Singh Aulack, Jarnail Singh Aulack, Tante Kaur Aulack and David Singh Aulack. Back row left to right: Chindow Sidhu (nee Aulack), Gaily Koonar (nee Aulack) Mindow Sidhu (nee Aulack). Missing from this photo: Their oldest son, and RCAF Flying Officer named Germail Singh Aulack was away at the time this photo was taken. He killed in October 1954 in a plane crash at age 23. Their youngest and 8th child, Javinder Singh Aulack, had not been born when this photo was taken.”

Barazzuol - Antonia family - 1938

Collector/curator's description reads: “1938, Vancouver. The Antonia Barazzuol Family. Left to right: Emily, Clarice, Mary, Antonia (seated), Emilio, Joe, Peter. Antonia Barazzuol (seated) came to Canada from Italy in 1910 with her husband Antonio. He died in 1929 while working at the Clayburn Brick Factory in Abbotsford. The family lived at 526 Union St. until moving to Abbotsford in 1919. In 1929, the family moved to 633 Atlantic St and she lived there until her passing in 1967. She is surrounded in this photo by her 6 children, from left Emily, Clarice, Mary, Emilio, Joe and Peter.”

Barazzuol - Antonia family 1938

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1938, Vancouver. Photo of the Antonia Barazzuol Family and her children. Antonia Barazzuol (seated, centre) came to Canada from Italy in 1910 with her husband Antonio. He died in 1929 while working at the Clayburn Brick Factory in Abbotsford. The family lived at 526 Union St. until moving to Abbotsford in 1919. In 1929, the family moved to 633 Atlantic St and she lived there until her passing in 1967. Standing (left to right): Emily, Peter, Emilio and Joe. Seated (left to right): Clarice, Antonia, Mary.”

Barazzuol - John

Collector/curator's description reads: “1943, Vancouver. Photo of 14-month old John Barazzuol. A member of an Italian-Canadian family that lived at 633 Atlantic Street.”

Benedetti - Irma (nee Miotto) - 1947

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1947, Vancouver. Head and shoulders portrait of Irma Miotto (later Irma Benedetti) at age 17. Irma lived in Strathcona and came from an Italian-Canadian family. She went on to marry Ramon Benedetti. Together they owned and operated Benny's Market on Union Street and Princess in Vancouver.”

Bodlak - Frank and Helen

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa mid to late 1940s, Vancouver. Frank and Helen Bodlak (nee Lis) were married in Pleszew, Poland. Frank came to Canada in 1927 and at first worked on farms on the prairies. Upon coming to BC he worked in a coal mine in Squamish and later at Eburne Sawmill for many years until his retirement. Helen joined Frank in Canada in 1929. Their first child, my father Stanley, was born in Vancouver in 1930, and their daughter Jean in 1934. Helen was primarily a homemaker, but was also employed for a time in the kitchen at the White Spot restaurant in Vancouver's Marpole area at 67th and Granville, where Stan worked as a carhop. The family never lived in or particularly near Vancouver's Strathcona area. One of their residences was located at 6 East 14th Avenue in Vancouver in approx. 1943, when Stan was in Grade 8. They also lived for a time in a house in the 2800-block of West 37th Avenue. For a relatively short time they lived at 428 Bridgeport Road in Richmond (where Aunty Jean tells me they had chickens and a cow named Molly). From Richmond they moved back to Vancouver, to the Marpole area, where Jean attended David Lloyd George Elementary School. The last house that Frank and Helen lived in for many years until Frank's death in 1991 (Helen predeceased him in 1988) was at 181 West 46th Avenue, Vancouver.
For the early years of their schooling, both Stan and Jean attended a Catholic elementary school in Vancouver (I believe it was St Patrick's). As teenagers, they attended Point Grey and Magee Secondary Schools in Vancouver. Jean married Frank Brach (pronounced ‘Brock’), who came to Canada from Poland following World War II, in approximately 1948. They were married in 1952, and shortly thereafter moved to Powell River, BC, where Frank worked as a welder at the local pulp mill. There they raised three sons, Ken, Gerry and Steven. Frank is now deceased, but Jean and two of her sons (Gerry and Steven) still reside in Powell River with their own families. Ken lives in Victoria, BC. Jean Brach now has 9 great-grandchildren. Stan married Joan Shirley Rees in Vancouver where they raised two daughters (Karen b. 1957) and Corinne (b. 1962). Both girls attended and graduated from Point Grey Secondary School, in 1975 and 1980 respectively. Stan had a long career in social work in Vancouver, with the Children's Aid Society and later with the BC Provincial Ministry responsible for child welfare, where he became a district supervisor. Early in his social work career, Stan was employed for a time in the Kamloops area (where his daughter Corinne was born), before moving back to Vancouver in 1964.
Jean does not have a clear recollection of exactly what year the family was photographed by Yucho Chow, or whether the portrait was taken in honour of a special event or occasion (although it could quite possibly have been to commemorate Stan's high school graduation). This would have been a significant achievement to Frank and Helen, as neither of them had much schooling in Poland beyond the first few elementary grades. They were very proud that Stan continued his education and eventually earned a Master’s degree in Social Work at UBC.”

Budwick, Michael

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Late 1930s or early 1940s, Vancouver. Photo of Michael Budwick. The image has been partially hand coloured. On the cardboard frame is written 'To Betty. With best wishes for a happy birthday. Michael Budwick.' This photo was found in the personal collection of Elizabeth Fox (nee Tarnowsky).”

Burns - Natara family

Collector/curator's description reads: “1938, Vancouver. Photograph of the Burns family. Left to right: Natara Singh Burns (born 1907) and holding baby Davinder ‘Mindry’; Bhaghleant ‘Bonto’; Ajeet ‘Doc’; and mother Chanana Kour Burns. Natara came to Canada around 1921. He worked as a sawmill labourer and owner, but also as a priest in Abbotsford. The couple spent their later years in Lake Cowichan and there is a little street named after Natara called Natara Place.”

Busch - John and Caroline family

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa mid 1940s, Vancouver. Photo of the Busch family. Front row (left to right): Alice Barazzuol; John Busch; Caroline Busch; Agnes Busch. Back row (left to right); Jake Busch; Ed Busch; Albert Busch; Johnny Busch; and Clarence Busch.”

Canatarutti - Angelo and Livia - wedding - 1930s

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Early 1930s, Vancouver. Wedding photo of Angelo Cantarutti and Livia (nee Clozza) along with their families. Back row (L to R): unknown man; Emilio Pigin; unknown man; Nellie Brogga; Prodich (Russian family friend); Giaca Clozza; and Gino Clozza. Middle row: Alex Clozza; Nora (Clozza) Pigin; Unknown man; Grandmother Angelina Clozza; Unidentified bridesmaid. Front row: Margaret McPherson; Angelo Cantarutti; Livia (nee Clozza) Cantarutti; and Rosina Girone Clozza.”

Cantonese opera performer holding money

Collector/curator's description reads: “April 4, 1942, Vancouver. Full length-photo of a Chinese woman (believed to be Cantonese opera performer Shwu-Hoang Po Hing) wearing a cheongsam and holding five Canadian $100 bills. On the pedestal are the words "Please Keep." This is likely a publicity shot as the photo appears in a few family collections. This was taken during WWII and she may have been fundraising for China relief.”

Chan - Mary Lee - 1948

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1948, Vancouver. Portrait of Mary Chan who was best known as a community activist in Vancouver's Chinatown and surrounding neigbhourhoods. She and her husband Walter founded SPOTA: the Strathcona Property Owners and Tenants Association. Along with her daughter Shirley, the Chan family organized the neighbourhood and stopped demolition and the building of a freeway through Vancouver's Chinatown.”

Chan - Quay and family - 1915

Collector/curator's description reads: “1915, Vancouver. Photo of Chan Quay and his wife, Lam Shee, along with their children. Front row (left to right): Git Sen (Lillian) Chan; Lam Shee; Chan Quay; and Nai Wing Chan. Back row (left to right): Nai Quong Chan and Keng Sen (Mary) Chan. Chan Quay Family. Chan Quay, shown here with his family in 1915, decided not to stay in Canada. He paid the head tax and arrived in Victoria in 1896. For years he successfully operated [Wo] Sang Merchant Tailor shops first in Victoria and then in Vancouver. Quay also was very active in his clan society and led the efforts to construct the Chin Wing Chun Tong society building on Pender Street. However, something drew him back to China. In 1928, he sold the tailor shop and left for China with his wife and two youngest children. He died in China in 1940. Lillian Chan Mah Collection (99).”

Chan - Walter - 1955

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1955, Vancouver. Head and shoulders portrait of Walter Wah Koh Chan. He was married to Strathcona community activist Mary Chan. Walter Chan was a leader in the fight to save Strathcona and Chinatown from urban renewal and the freeway. He wrote articles for the Chinese press rallying the Chinese community. Along with his wife, he made speeches and was one of the three initial Co-chairs of SPOTA. To earn a living, he worked as a Manager in Chinatown in the family store: Trans Nation Emporium which sold curio and antiques in the front (Pender Street side) and Chinese foods and herbal medicines in the back (Columbia Street). As Walter was educated and scholarly, he worked for the clan association Chin Wing Chun Tong as secretary treasurer. He wrote letters for illiterate members, he managed their books, he made speeches at gatherings etc. He had a chronic illness that was undiagnosed. He died 58. Hence, few people remember what he did for the community. His wife Mary Chan, carried on the community activism work for another 30 years.”

Charles Soloman and Mary Chow Anniversary - 1955

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1955. Location unknown. On location photo of Charles Soloman Chow (younger brother of Yucho Chow) and his wife Mary Chow (nee Feica) on the occasion of their 45th wedding anniversary. Mary (nee Feica) was of Romanian descent and the couple lived in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Charles died on June 27, 1957 at the age of 74 years.”

Cheng - Ging Butt - portrait - 1920

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa early 1920s, Vancouver. Head and shoulders studio portrait of Cheng Ging Butt. Butt came to Canada around 1880 to work on the railroad. But after an injury he decided to change occupations and became a businessman. He settled in the town of Yale and opened a dry goods store, a gambling parlour, an orchard, a temple and a still to make ‘beverages’ (i.e. liquor). He also served as a labour agent for new immigrants and purchased a few properties in the Fraser Valley.”

Cheng - Ging Butt family - 1928

Collector/curator's description reads: “1928, Vancouver. Family of CPR worker Cheng Ging Butt. Back row, L to R: William, Harry, Edward, Henry. Front row: L to R: imothy, Maurice, wife Lena Jang holding Cecil, Cheng Ging Butt holding Beatrice, Ellen and Bevan (Clarence). Cheng Ging Butt literally tried his hand at building the railway, but when he lost a finger under the weight of a steel rail, he gave it up for less dangerous work. ‘Conditions were really primitive, it was really cold, it was not safe and Grandpa decided that he was not going to do this anymore,’ said his grandson, Kevin Jangze. ‘He ended up with a grocery store, a temple, a cherry orchard, a still to make ‘beverages,' and some houses of gaming. And so Grandfather, being quite the entrepreneur, built up this little empire.’ Cheng Ging Butt, proprietor of Cheng Foo's in Yale, B.C., last stop on the steamship run, before the Cariboo, was a Chinese Canadian pioneer. His store provisioned the Chinese railway workers, who had to pay their own way while working for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Cheng landed in New Westminster, B.C., around 1871, at age 22, from Sun Hui village, early enough to avoid the head tax, but not the discrimination. He raised a family with Lena Jang, the wife he bought from the Leong family, who gave him eight boys and two girls. Cheng died in 1929, the year the Great Depression took away everything he'd earned.”

Cheng Won - 1907

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1907, Vancouver. Photo of Cheng Won. Cheng Won was born April 28, 1858 in China (Kwai May, Sun Wui aka Guimei/Xinhui). He was also known as Jeng Tien Soon. Cheng Won arrived in Canada when the head tax was still $50. He owned Wo Hing General Store in Lillooet BC, until it burned down in 1948. He also had a pig farm, barber shop, dance hall, ‘moving picture room,’ and two restaurants. He was often called ‘Mr. Wo Hing’ because of this store. His son, Hing Dien Cheng was born in Lillooet/ North Bend, B.C., and also ran the store. As well, Hing Dien's cousin, Jim Cheng, was brought over from China to help work in the store, barber shop and other family businesses. Cheng Won died in Vancouver on February 3, 1953.”

Chin - Jennie

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1944, Vancouver. Head and shoulder portrait of teenager Jennie Chin. Writing on the cardboard frame reads ‘To Mae and Hank, Love Jennie.’”

Chinese Benevolent Association - 1949

Collector/curator's description reads: “July 12, 1949, Vancouver. Group photo of men who were part of the Chinese Benevolent Association. President of the CBA, Wong Foon Sein, is in the front row, second from right.”

Chinese Catholic Mission - 1934

Collector/curator's description reads: “1934, Vancouver. 572 East Georgia Street. Kindergarten class of Chinese Catholic Mission. Adult woman on left is Miss Sarah Chan. Nun on right is Sister Mary Gerlude (sp?).”

Chinese Fairgrounds opening - March 24, 1928

Collector/curator's description reads: “1928, Vancouver. Won Alexander Cumyow (left) and Vancouver Mayor L.D. Taylor at the grand opening of the Chinatown fairgrounds. In Paul Yee's book [Saltwater City], a slightly different version of this photo is accompanied by the caption ‘Opening of the Chinese Playground, 1928, behind the southeast corner of Pender and Carrall Streets. Standing by the stage is Won Alexander Cumyow, and on stage is Mayor L.D. Taylor.’ The banner lists, in Chinese, the schedule/line-up for the opening ceremony: ‘Grand Opening Line-Up; Group gather; Students play army song; unveiling; President speech; Vancouver Mayor Speech; Sing China National Anthem; Take Photo; Student Parade Proclaim 3 times, "Long Live the Republic of China"; Awards/Memorabilia "gold plaque"; Pass out Candies; End of Ceremony.’

Chinese football team [Chinese Students Football Club]

Collector/curator's description reads: “1933, Vancouver. Photo of Chinese Students Football Club. BC Mainland Champions 1932-33. Left to right: Spoon Wong; Buck Sing; Jack Soon; Charlie Louie; Harve Yip; Lemon (spelling); Jackson Louie; Yim; Arty Yip; Frank Wong; unidentified man; Doc Yip; Queene Yip; and two unidentified men wearing suits.”

Ching Won Music Society - 1939

Collector/curator's description reads: “Sept. 9, 1939, Vancouver. Group photo of Ching Won Music Society. Taken to commemorate an award they won for their participation in the ‘One Bowl of Rice’ fundraising drive in September 1939 to aid Chinese war refugees. Held at the same time as the Moon Festival events, the ‘One Bowl of Rice Drive’ campaign was organized by Vancouver's Chinese community and collected $25,000 in funds. The festival included a bazaar, a Chinese opera performance, dance, and an art exhibition. The banner reads: ‘golden sound and jade vibration’ meaning resounding clarity, harmonious. ‘Golden sound’ represents kindness, and "jade vibration" represents sageness, so it can also be a metaphor for people's knowledge and ability to learn. Beatrice Jai (Lew Yew Wah) b. 1928 is the young girl seated at the front. Her future husband, Raymond Jai (Jai Yew Kwong) b. 1916, is seated directly in front of the banner on the left side.”

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