Showing 639 results

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1948, Vancouver. Photo of the Kosovic family. (Left to right): Rose, Petar, Tully, Robert, Dragica and Mary Car.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Late 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of Mah Bing and his family. Back Row (left to right): Mary, Polly, Emily, William, Betty, Charles, Ming. Front Row: Rose, Wilfred, Chuen Ho Wong, Mah Bing, Jeannie. Mah Bing was born on August 1, 1879 and passed away on October 10, 1949. He was a farmer and was the first Chinese landowners in Richmond. He purchased and farmed 160 acres of land on No. 1 Road between Williams and Francis Road. All produce would be taken by horse and carriage into Vancouver to be sold at the market. Mah Bing had two children with his first wife in China. Hen then had 11 children with his second wife in Canada. The son born between Ming and Wilfred died at 2 months old. Mah BIng's last name was Mah. However, when the kids went to school they were all incorrectly registered with the last name of Bing. So they grew up going to school with the last name of Bing but they were the Mahs to others. The mother in this photo passed away in 1937. Her maiden name was Wong. This photo was taken probably in 1938 or 1939. The family believes that another lady sat in the chair for the photo shoot. Later, the head of her deceased mother was superimposed onto the other woman's body. From 1929 to 1931, Mah BIng took his family back to the village, Hoi Sun (Canton), to arrange marriages for Emily and Betty. Hong Kong immigration said if Betty and Emily did not return to Canada with the family, the two girls would never be able to go back to Canada. The family returned to Canada together. Once back in Canada, Wilfred, Rose and Jeannie were born.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1948, Vancouver. Photo of the Mijacika family along with godparents to their youngest son, Jerry Mijacika (dressed in the sailor suit). Jerry is flanked by his two godparents sitting on either side of him. The godmother was Amelia Aleksich, a family friend. And the godfather was his Uncle Nick Mijacika from San Pedro, California. Standing is Jerry's own family: Zorka Mijacika (sister to Jerry), John Mijacika (father), Danica Mijacika (mother) and Anton Mijacika (brother to Jerry).”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1924, Vancouver. Der Shee Quan Gow holding Ben; Dorothy (standing back); Allen (standing front); Mary and Quan Gow (aka Gow ‘Harry’ Quan).”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1929, Vancouver. Family photo of the Quan Gow family (aka Gow ‘Harry’ Quan). Back row standing: Allen Quan (1919-2001) and Dorothy Quan (unknown). Front row (left to right): Ben (1923-1989); Der Shee Quan Gow (1892-1963); Jean (1928-1965); Dick (1925-2020); Quan Gow (1892-1969) and Mary (1921-1991).”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1940, Vancouver. Photo of Nargen and Daljeet Sengara and their children. Note that the children in the front row are each holding a book suggesting to the viewer that all of them are getting an education, including the girl. There were only seven children in the original photo. Daljeet was pregnant at the time. Once the 8th child was born, she asked that he be added to the photo. That child can be seen sitting on the floor in the front. The photo was also cut into an oval shape to fit in an oval frame.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1929, Vancouver. Rose Separovich with two unidentified men: likely her first husband (first name and surname unknown) and likely their son (name unkown). Photo was taken the same day this trio attended the wedding of Marija Prpich to Jakov Tomljenovich.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa: early 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of four South Asian women (Hindu) and two young children. The women are dressed in traditional garments. Only one person in this photo is identified: the tall woman with glasses is Janki Shori.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1944, Vancouver. Photo of Janki Shori and her son Tab (1936-2011) and daughter Sylvia (later known as Sylvia Mahal). Tab became a well-known musician who was inducted into the Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2016. The judges described him this way: "...played violin and guitar at an early age as ‘Bobby Soxers' at local events. In his early 20's, encouraged by watching the Ed Sullivan Talent Show, he became the lead guitarist for the ‘Hi-Fives’ a well-known multi-racial band, recording and performing many hits regularly at the New Delhi Cabaret. Popularity rising, they opened for major entertainers and organized many benefit performances for charities. Exploring his passion for Flamenco and Guitar, Tab travelled internationally, jamming with well- known bands such as the Beatles He was a pioneer in teaching and advising students with his approach to music, opening Vancouver's first R & B studio. In the late 1960's he moved to the Interior, opening his own Night Club, where top entertainers from Canada and the US, performed. He continued to develop a legacy, inspiring students, musicians and friends with his involvement in many charities and his vivid personality.’”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1933, Vancouver. A photo of the Stark family who immigrated from Croatia. Left to right: Joe Stark, John (Johan) Stark, Luisa Stark, Marika Stark holding infant John Stark. The family lived in the Strathcona neighbourhood as did many other newly arrived Croatian immigrants. All three children were born in Vancouver. Later in life, the daughter Luisa (b: 1931) visited her family's ancestral homeland with a youth group that helped rebuild the railroads after the Second World War. There she met a well respect[ed] engineer/business man and had a daughter, Ines. Luisa ended up fleeing back to Vancouver with her 4.5 year old daughter. Luisa could easily leave the communist country as she was born in Canada. Unfortunately, her husband could not escape and he would not see his daughter Ines again until she was 32 years old.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “October 6, 1962, Vancouver. Photo of Japanese Canadian family attending a wedding. (Left to right): Kazuo Takasaki, Mayumi Takasaki and Toshiko Takasaki (nee Niwatsukino).”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1942, Vancouver. Photo of several Croatian Canadian couples and their children, likely all the families are related. The only people who can be identified are those members of the Jakov (Jack) Tomljenovich family. Back row, standing: Jakov Tomljenovich (third from left); and Anne Tomljenovich (far right). And in the front row, John Tomljenovich (far left); Lucy Tomljenovich (fourth from left); and Marija (Mary) Tomljenovich (fifth from left); and Matthew Tomljenovich (fourth from right).”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1940, Vancouver. Photo of the Trca family Arthur and Mary (nee Shorrock) and their two eldest children: Dave (left) and Gordon (on mother's lap). Arthur was originally from Bohemia, an area in the Czech Republic. His wife Mary was of Scottish descent. They would have five children together, but had a very tumultuous marriage. Eventually Mary would leave the marriage. Unable to care for five children, Arthur places the children in an orphanage for a time.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa: late 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of an unidentified South Asian (Hindu) couple. Only the woman's first name is known: Muni. They were close friends of the Jogi Ram and Janki Shori family.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1920s, Vancouver. Photo of two unidentified Caucasian men, two women and an infant. Appears the photo may have been taken to commemorate a baptism. This photo was found in the collection of the John Grskovic family.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa mid-1940s, Vancouver. Photo of an unidentified Caucasian couple (likely the parents) with two male children in their late teens.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Early 1930s, Vancouver. A postcard photo and unidentified young Asian girl and an Asian man in a cap.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa mid-1940s, Vancouver. Photo of the Izadore and Miriam Weinstein Family who were Romanian Jews. Front row, left to right: Esther, Izadore, Miriam and Reta. Back row, left to right: George, Lily, and Harry.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa: 1936, Vancouver. Photo of Wong Kim Sing and family. Left to right: Moy; Ping; Dorothy (seated); May; Wong Lee Shee (wife #3) holding infant Edmund; Joe (son of wife #2); Kang (son of wife #2); Ken; George; Raymond (seated). Wong Kim Sing did a variety of jobs including selling vegetables wholesale and operating a copperstill to brew alcoholic medicines.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1924, Vancouver. Wong Mark Shee with her daughter Helena Wong. Mark Shee was the second wife of Wong Chew Lip who owned Ming Wo Hardware (later known as Ming Wo Cookware) which opened on East Pender Street in Vancouver around 1922. Helena would take over running the store later.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “March 1925, Vancouver. Portrait of Wong family. Left to right: Seto S. Wong; son Quon Hipp Wong; nephew William Wong; and father Shih Park Wong. Shih Park operated the Hong Yee On general store on Canton Alley. His son, Quon H Wong because a notary and also ran a travel agency on Pender. William Wong was a nephew whose father had passed away. He later operated the famous Ovaltine Cafe on Hastings Street. His son, Randall Wong, went on to become the first Chinese Canadian federally-appointed judge in British Columbia.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Late 1940s, Vancouver. Photo of Wally and Della Wong with their children and an unidentified older man. It is rumoured that Wally came to Canada as a 'paper son' of businessman Quong Wong. Back row (left to right): Della and Wally Wong. Front row: Gerry, Gladys, unidentified older Asian man, Gilby and Gordon Wong.”.

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Mid-1940s, Vancouver. Photo of Jim and Mary Yuen and their children. Jim was a businessman who was involved in a number of enterprises. Before the Second World War, he bought the London Hotel with family money. Then he purchased a grocery store at 761 East Pender in Vancouver. He followed that up opening the Kubla Khan nightclub which, in 1966 was remodelled and renamed to Shanghai Junk. According to a February 1966 Vancouver Sun newspaper article, Jim spent $40,000 on the renovation. Back: Fred Yuen, Jeanne Yuen, Doug Yuen. Middle: Gordon Yuen, Mary Yuen, Beatrice Yuen, Jim Yuen, Robert Yuen. Front: Grace Yuen, Gilbert Yuen.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1949, Vancouver. Photo of David Zesko with his wife Helen (nee Klimec) and their daughter Judy Zesko.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1931, Vancouver. Photo of Jimmy Lowe with his mother Wong Shee. The photo has been hand coloured.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1945, Vancouver. Edith Woo (born 1927). In 1948 married WWII veteran and commercial fisherman, Willie Chong. Together they had three children.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “C. 1920s, Vancouver. Full length portrait of Chu Kum Suey. Lived in Nanaimo, BC. Born in Bak Chun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China May 12, 1885. Died in Vancouver, BC November 5, 1957.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Yucho Chow 1940s. Portrait of Gordon Jung. He would later own and operate a business called Gordy's Radio Service.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1940s, Vancouver. Black and white portrait of Lee Kung Mei (also known by his English name Lee Yuk). He was the owner of Sun Yuen shoes and repair store at 535 Main Street. There he made custom logging boots. He arrived in Vancouver in 1912 when he was 20 years old. And he passed away in 1959.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1920s, Vancouver. Head and shoulders Portrait of Lim Butt Sun (October 1889 - October 16, 1950). He was a herbalist and doctor from China. He opened a store, Kwong Chai Tong, at 92 East Pender St.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Early to mid-1930s, Vancouver. Head and shoulders of Bill Lim sent to Harry Lee (owner of On Wo Tailors).”).

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1949, Vancouver. Head and shoulders portrait of Fred Lowe (aka Chun). He was a businessman who owned Vancouver Packaging, and then in the 1950s owned Krispee Potato Chips. In the mid-1950s he married Rosemary Louie. The family changed their name from Chun to Lowe.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1949, Vancouver. Head and shoulders portrait of Rosemary Louie. She was born in Revelstoke. She married Fred Lowe who owned the Krispee Potato Chip Factory, so was later known as Rosemary Lowe.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Late 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of a Mak Fo. He is [in] a smart overcoat with his fedora hat to one side and holding a[n] unlit cigarette. The inscription reads ‘To paternal aunt Ju Sau to keep and commemorate. Humbly from nephew Mak Fo.’ This photo was found in the archives of Ming Wo Cookware (formerly known as Ming Wo Hardware).”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1910, Vancouver. Portrait of Ng Lin Kee. Came for the CPR and afterwards became the first Chinese merchant in Ashcroft operated a general store and market garden. Ng also created its first scandal. He had 9 wives: 3 of them Chinese, and the other 6 were local native [Indigenous] women. Altogether he had 40 children. It is rumoured that in one week he became a father three times. He did not live with his wives but provided for all of them and his children. He died July 17, 1923 and was buried in Kamloops Cemetery.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Late 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of a man named Poon Chew Ying. The inscription reads ‘To Mr. Chew Lip. Gift from younger brother, Poon Chew Ying.’ This photo was found in the archives of Ming Wo Cookware (formerly known as Ming Wo Hardware.)”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1942, Vancouver. Hand colourized full photo of Quan Chung Fune sitting on a chair. He was a close friend of Yucho Chow and his personal album contains several photos of Yucho with Fune's family. Fune owned with his three brothers a restaurant in Kamloops called The Rose Garden. This photo must have been taken when he was visiting in Vancouver. The family believes that the photo and colourization was done for free as a gift from Yucho.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa late 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of a young Lillian Valerie Strowager (a caucasian) dressed in a Chinese opera costume. The back of the photo frame is stamped ‘Carrall Laundry. 330 Carrall Street. Side Door. Vancouver. For excellent services and exceptional prices. Suits cleaned and pressed...’.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1920s, Vancouver. Portrait of unidentified man who photo was found in the archives of the Wongs Benevolent Association.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1920, Vancouver. Full portrait of a young, unidentified Chinese woman wearing cheongsam. Behind her is a chair. The photo was found in the family album belonging to Lew Hoy Moy Sue (also known as Mrs. Ging Lew).”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1943, Vancouver. Head & shoulders shot of Helena Wong (aged 21). The photo has been hand painted. Helena was the adopted daughter of Wong Chew Lip who owned Ming Wo Cookware at 23 East Pender. It appears that this photo was once part of a larger image, but was then cropped down to focus just on Helena.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1920s, Vancouver. Portrait of Paul Wong from White Court, Alta. Paul was the first child from his family to be born on Canadian soil. His mother arrived in Canada on Sept 27, 1912 heavily pregnant with him. Two weeks later, on October 11, 1912 Paul was born in Victoria. Growing up, he moved around with his family [in] BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan where his father (Wong Wing Yun) worked and owned small town cafes, grocery stores and laundromats. His father had arrived in Canada in the 1880s to work on the railroad. The Great Depression of the 1930s left the family hungry and desperate at times. Legend has it, that Paul's mother (Poon Lin Tsing) caught a skunk and fed it to the family for supper. As an adult, Paul worked in the restaurant industry. He owned the New Look Cafe, High River, AB then became a partner in the Seven Seas Restaurant, Edmonton, AB. Around 1938 he met his wife while working at the Exchange Cafe. Together, they only had one child: a daughter named Margaret Wong later Margaret Verenka. In 1947, Canadian citizens of Chinese descent were granted the right to vote. Paul never missed his chance to vote in every election until he died August 21, 2004, Edmonton, AB at the age [of] 91.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Late 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of a woman named Wu Wai Ming dressed in a cheongsam and wearing large medallions. This photo was found in the archives of Ming Wo Cookware (formerly known as Ming Wo Hardware).”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1931, Vancouver. Portrait of Lowe Sui Hing The photo may have been taken for use as a travel document. On the front of the frame is written Feb 3, 1931.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Late 1920s, Vancouver. Photo of a man whose surname was Lowe, sharply dressed in a winter overcoat and holding a cane.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa: 1943, Vancouver. Portrait of WWII soldier, Richard Mar. He was the first Chinese Canadian paratrooper with the First Canadian Battalion. Hand painted colourized head and shoulder studio portrait of Richard K. Mar. (1917-1969) dressed in uniform. On the cardboard frame, in handwriting, is ‘To Lincoln and Jennie. Brother Dick 1st Can. Para. Bn.’ Richard was the first Chinese Canadian to serve in the First Canadian Parachute Battalion during WWII. He served two years in Europe and was parachuted into Germany as the Allies crossed the Rhine. Years later, Richard recounted what it was like to parachute. He said the first two jumps were exhilarating and fun. But the third jump was frightening as it was real and could mean life and death. After the war, Richard opened up a jewelry store, Richard Mar Jewelry - on East Pender (between Columbia and Main).”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1944, Vancouver. Photo of unidentified Black US Navy seaman. Found for sale on EBay.com.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Early 1950s, Vancouver. Wedding photo of Ramon Benedetti and Irma (Miotto) Benedetti. Together the couple would own and operate Benny's Market at the corner of Union and Princess Avenue in Vancouver.”

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.”