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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.”

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.”

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.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1920s, Vancouver. Mr. and Mrs. Chong Fan Yow are pictured with their young sons Chong Buck Sun (left) and Chong Buck Shong (right). This stunning 1920s family photo was discovered in a Value Village Thrift Store. The photo had gone silent: There was no information about the people in the picture. As well, part of the Yucho Chow logo had been cut off to make the picture fit into the frame. The photo with frame was purchased by Roma Kuzhler, a young Russian immigrant artist. In 2019, the image was printed in the Vancouver Sun newspaper as part of an article on Yucho Chow. Joyce Chong was sitting on the Langdale Ferry flipping through the newspaper and recognized the boy on the right as her father, Chong Buck Shong. She had not seen this photo before but knew father.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1940s, Vancouver. Chong Fan Yow Family. Back row left to right: Sally Chong Chew (October 20, 1926) (Lived in Oakland California); Pearl (Chong) Lee (October 3, 1938 - ); Jean (Chong) Mah (August 27, 1937 - ); Shong Sun Chong (November 5, 1916 - May 7, 2004). Front row from left to right: Gladys (Chong) Yip (Feb 18, 1940 - ); Mrs. Shong Buck Chong (nee Lim) (November 22, 1913- August 30, 1967); Mrs. Chong Fan Chow (December 2, 1884 - June 8, 1960); Stephen Chong (December 22, 1943 - December 31, 2007); Chong Fan Yow (May 6, 1879 - April 26, 1962); Diana Chong (August 27, 1942); Shong Buck Chong (eldest son) (July 17, 1911 - September 27, 1962); Leona (Chong) Quan (July 7, 1945 - ). Not born yet: Joyce Chong (December 27, 1950).”

Collector/curator’s original description reads: “C. 1911, Vancouver. Portrait of the CHOW Ten Lam Family. Left to right: George; Chow Ten Lam; Henry standing in front; Lillian standing in back); Victoria (baby) and Mrs. Chow Ten Lam. Chow Ten Lam was born in China in 1877 and arrived in Vancouver on 21 July 1897. His father (whose name is not remembered) had arrived in Canada in the 1860s. The elder Chow made his way to Barkerville looking for gold and eventually returned to China with his fortune. Chow Ten Lam worked at many jobs over his lifetime. He was as an accountant in his uncle’s store; he was a news correspondent for a Chinese newspaper; a partner in a wholesale grocery business and finally an interpreter and general insurance agent. Early on, he learned English from a Methodist Sunday school teacher. He was eventually baptized and the Chow family were one of the first Chinese Christian families in Canada.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1920s, Vancouver. Photo of Won Alexander Cumyow and his wife, Eva Chan. Cumyow is believed to be the first Chinese person born on Canadian soil. He spoke several languages worked as a court interpreter for the Vancouver Police Dept.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1939, Vancouver. Photo of Harry Fung (also known as Fung Soon Wo) and his ailing wife Mary (Jang) Fung (also known as Jan Sui King). This photo was taken shortly before Mary's death on November 11, 1939. She was only 39 years old. Harry Fung owned and operated H. Ping Market, a produce store on Kingsway. They had seven children together.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Early 1920s, Vancouver. Photo of Sam Hopp with his wife and family. Sam Hopp was born in China around 1860. It is uncertain when he arrived in Canada but it was some time in 1880's or 90's. He settled in Richmond in an area called Lulu Island, where he worked as a farmer. Sam Hopp died August 25, 1935.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1946, Vancouver. Photo of Ben Den Hoy (father) and his one-year-old son Gordon Hoy. In the 1940s, Ben owned a grocery store on Main Street and in the 1950s owned another store at 164 Pender called Hop Yat. This photo was made into a postcard print and inscribed with greetings to family back in China. The postcard was never mailed. At the time, Ben's first wife as well as his son (Raymond Hoy) and daughter were still in China. However, Ben Den also fathered two more children (of unknown mixed race) here in Canada. A son (Gordon Hoy pictured) and a daughter.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1936, Vancouver. Standing photo of Klimec family along with friends and relatives. Left to right: friend Nina (surname unknown), mother Juliana Klimec, Helen Klimec, father Alexsander Klimec, Nellie Klimec, and Walter Rudyka (cousin to Juliana). Alexsander had immigrated to Canada in 1929 and saved for several years to bring over his family from Poland. This photo was taken shortly after the family was reunited. About two years later, Alexsander would die in a work-related accident in March 1938. This was one of about three photos taken that day at Yucho Chow Studio to celebrate the reunion.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1940, Vancouver. Full standing portrait photo of sisters Helen Klimec (17) and Nellie Klimec (14). Helen would later be known as Helen Zesko.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1939, Vancouver. Photo of the Klimec family. Left to right: Helen; Mother Juliana; Nettie (seated on lap) and Nellie. Their father, Alexsander Klemic, had arrived from Poland in 1929. He saved for several years to bring his wife and two daughters over to the Canada. The family was finally reunited in 1936 and the occasion was celebrated with several photos taken at Yucho Chow Studio. A year later, Alexsander was killed in a work-related accident at a sawmill. Juliana was pregnant at the time with her youngest, Nettie.”

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.)”