Showing 295 results

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.”

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 original description reads: “C. 1911, Vancouver. Portrait of the children of CHOW Ten Lam. This photo was taken the same day as a family portrait which included the parents. (Left to Right) Henry; Lillian; Baby Victoria; and George. Their father, Chow Ten Lam, who arrived in Canada in 1897, earned a living doing many different things. 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. Their father was eventually baptized and the Chow family were one of the first Chinese Christian families in Canada.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1911, Vancouver. Photo of Wah Yip and his wife Emma (formerly known as Emma Haywood) and their two children, Mary (left) and Winnie. They are an example of an early and rare, mixed-race marriage. The couple married relatively late in life: Wah was 35 and Emma was 30 when they married in Vancouver in March, 1908. Wah was listed as born in Victoria and his occupation was listed as "store keeper". Emma had been born in Nashville, Tennessee and on the marriage certificate she is listed as a "widow." The identified their home as 102 East Pender St in Vancouver. Interestingly, the two witnesses to their marriage were not Chinese, but had the surnames Arnault and Barbour. This photo was found in the album owned by the Methodist Church.”

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: “1914, Vancouver. Wong Wing family standing on Keefer Street. Left to right: John Wong, Chan Dai Yuen, Wong Wing Fong, Ben Wong.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1914, Vancouver. Family standing on Keefer Street? Left to right: John Wong, Chan Dai Yuen, Wong Wing Fong, Ben Wong.
Wong Tan Soo was born on August 6, 1872 in Canton, China. In China he purchase fabric from the city and would make clothes for the village. Wong Tan Soo came to Canada in 1889, as a businessman for a better life. His two brothers came to Canada too but no idea when.
1889-1914. Victoria, BC. He owned a dry goods store and also did tailoring. The family home was located on the corner of Government Street and Fisgard, 1818 Government Street. 1914 -1949, Vancouver. Moved to Vancouver - the New City and used the name Wong Wing Fong. 1914- Lived at 316 Keefer. 2 treadle sewing machines and 2 commercial electric sewing machines were in the front room with chairs lining the walls for people to sit on. In 1943 he bought a home at 626 Keefer Street with his son John Wong. Other son Ben then moved into the house with his wife Pearl and 4 children.
Wong Wing Fong worked as a tailor for 50 years. Last worked as a tailor in 1933. He and his wife would make clothes for the family and did contract work to sew uniforms for Hotel Van and Hotel Georgia's bellboys and waiters. A contractor would show at the house and drop off bundles of fabric. The chairs that lined the walls were often filled with Chinese bachelors who come to Wong Wing Fong to have letters read and written for them. Wong Wing Fong could read and write in Chinese. Not sure if the bachelors paid him or not.
Wong Tan Soo was listed as Wong Tim Soo on Ben Wong's birth certificate (mistake?).
In Vancouver Wong Tan Soo went by the name of Wong Wing Fong a name given to him by a Chinese Astrologer in China to bring him better luck.
Died on June 9, 1949. Death certificate is under the name of Wong Tan Soo and the gravestone is Wong Wing Fong.

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).”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1915, Vancouver. Photo of (Left) Chin Shee (b. 1885-1948) was the wife of farmer Sam Hopp Eng (1860-1935) who owned a farm on Lulu Island. The other woman is believed to be a friend although she appears in a family photo showing Chin Shee, her husband and her children. Likely she was a relative of Chin Shee.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1915, Vancouver. Unidentified Chinese man in a three-piece suit. Photo was found in a collection that once belonged to Wong Shih Park, who was based in Vancouver. The man's lip and the flowers have been hand-painted with red dabs of paint.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “C. 1915, Vancouver. Quong John Wong in a suit. Quong was a Vancouver businessman who ran a grocery store and invested in restaurants. It is believed that, for some period, he was a partner/owner in the W.K. Gardens Chop Suey restaurant, a popular banquet-style restaurant that operated in Vancouver's Chinatown from about 1917-1985.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1917, Vancouver. Shirt maker Wong Mow (seated) with his unnamed business partner. It is believed they pooled their money to open the Modern Silk Shirt Tailors on Main Street in Vancouver. Back of card reads: Postcard Yucho Chow, 23 Pender Street West.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1917, Vancouver. Portrait of a Chinese man whose last name was Lowe.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1917, Vancouver. Photo of Mabel Chow in the studio at 23 West Pender, Vancouver. Mabel was Yucho Chow’s oldest daughter and spent many years working with him as his main assistant.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1918, Vancouver. Photo of five young Chinese-Canadian men dressed in suits. It is uncertain what the relationship is among these men. The names are unknown with the exception of one: Henry Eng who is back row, right. He had worked as a houseboy.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “C. 1918, Vancouver. Photo of Mabel Chow and an unidentified Chinese girl in the studio at 23 West Pender, Vancouver. Mabel was Yucho Chow’s oldest daughter and spent many years working with him as his main assistant.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “C. 1918, Vancouver. Head and shoulders portrait of Mabel Chow in the studio at 23 West Pender, Vancouver. Mabel was Yucho Chow’s oldest daughter and spent many years working with him as his main assistant.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “C. 1918, Vancouver. Photo of Mabel Chow in the studio at 23 West Pender, Vancouver. Mabel was Yucho Chow’s oldest daughter and spent many years working with him as his main assistant.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1919, Vancouver. Photo of businessman Quong Wong and his wife and children and other relatives. Back row standing (Left to right): Quong Wong and Nellie Wong. Middle row: Mary (standing); Hum Shee (spouse of Quong Wong) holding infant son Ted Wong; Grandfather Sam Leong; Grandmother Foong Heng holding Yuet Yuen; and Yet Yee. Front row: Dorothy; Kay/Kathleen and Leonard (children of Quong Wong and Hum Shee); Wing Gee; Gin Goong.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1919, Vancouver. Quong John Wong with his wife Hum Shee Wong and their children. Left to right: Mrs. Wong holding son Ted; Leonard (#1 son); Quong John Wong; and daughter Kathleen. Quong was a Vancouver businessman who ran a grocery store and invested in restaurants. It is believed that, for some period, he was a partner/owner in the W.K. Gardens Chop Suey restaurant, a popular banquet-style restaurant that operated in Vancouver's Chinatown from about 1917-1985.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1919, Vancouver. Jung Association medley of head and shoulder portraits of men who were members of the Jung/Jang Association. Photo was presented to ?????”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1920s, Vancouver. Portrait of Luk Hung Fan, who was one of the founders of the Mon Keong Chinese School which operated above the Wongs Benevolent Association. This photo was found in the archives of the Wongs Benevolent Association.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1920s, Vancouver. Photo of several men who were part of a Chinese business association. Wong Mow (owner Modern Silk Company; later called Modern Shirt Company) is second from left. Yucho Chow (studio photographer) is fifth from left.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “C. 1920, Vancouver. Mabel Chow (centre) oldest daughter of photographer Yucho Chow, poses with two other unidentified Chinese girls.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “C. 1920, Vancouver. Photo of Mabel Chow (later known as Mabel Ng), daughter of photographer Yucho Chow and his first studio assistant.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1920s, Vancouver. Photo, taken from the street, of members and children of Wong Kung Har Tong Benevolent Society. The photo was taken on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the Mun Sing Reading Room.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1920s, Vancouver. Photo of the Chong Fan Yow Family. This photo was discovered in an antique store and purchased by Mr. Arthur Close.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1920s, Vancouver. Photograph of businessman Goon Ling Dang, his wife Wong Shee and Betty Goon. Goong Ling Dang was a respected and influential businessman in Vancouver's Chinatown. When he passed away, even the English newspapers covered his passing. Betty Goon was not the daughter of Goon Ling Dang, but she was related in some way: a Goon from the same village in China. Betty originally was slated to be a maid to the wealthy Goon Ling Dang family, who over the years had of number of ‘mui tsai’ (child servants) working in their house. However Betty became a permanent playmate/friend to Pearl Goon, one of the patriarch's daughters. She was considered family and was included in every family function. ‘Mui tsai’ (which means ‘little sister’) were female child servants who [were] adopted and worked in the homes of wealth[y] Chinese. The girls often came from impoverished families. The promise made to the birth family was that as the girl came of marriageable age, the adopting family would arrange for her to be married.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Late 1910s or early 1920s, Vancouver. Unidentified Chinese family. The woman and child on the left have been superimposed into the photo. Whereas the man and young male were photographed at Yucho Chow Studio. Many early Chinese men living in Canada were separated for decades from their wives and young children. To bridge the distance, it was common to take two photos -- one taken in China, the other in Canada -- and merge them into one image. At last, the family was reunited, if only in a photograph. This photograph was found in the archives of Ming Wo Cookware (once known as Ming Wo Hardware).”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1920s, Vancouver. Wong Mow (a tailor who owned Modern Silk Shirt Company on Main Street in Vancouver).”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1920s, Vancouver. Photo of the Hune family. Standing in Back: Left to Right - Tan On also known as Don (m. born 1912); Gun Mee aka Connie (f. 1916); Sun Gim (f. 1913); Dun Wah (m. 1910). Front Row: Left to right: Tan Yu (m. 1920); Chew Shee, mother (born 1881); Gim Pen aka Gloria (f. 1925); Hune Quon, father, (b (1869); Far Right - Tan Chew (m. 1915).”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “C. 1920s, Vancouver. Head and shoulders photograph of an unidentified Chinese man wearing a 3-piece suit. The photo was discovered in the collection that once belonged to Vancouver-based Wong Shih Park. The photo may have been taken for use in a government identity document.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1920s, Vancouver. Portrait of a Chinese man who surname was Lowe.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1920s, Vancouver. Photo of an unidentified young girl doing acrobatics. Part of a series of 4 photos.”

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: “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: “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: “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: “1920s, Vancouver. Portrait of unidentified man who photo was found in the archives of the Wongs Benevolent Association.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “C. 1920s, Vancouver. Portrait of an unidentified young Chinese woman. The photo was found in the album of James Wong Fong whose family ran a jewelry and watch store in Vancouver's Chinatown.”

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: “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: “April 11, 1920, Vancouver. Mabel Chow stands out front of Yucho Chow Studio at 23 West Pender Street, Vancouver. Mabel was the eldest daughter living in Canada of the photographer Yucho Chow and she worked for several years as his main assistant.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “November 13, 1920, Vancouver. Portrait of Jeu Gong Yick dressed in a suit and tie. The back of the photo is stamped: Yucho Chow Studio. 23 Pender St. W. Vancouver, B.C. November 13, 1920.

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1921, Vancouver. George Mook Chow, age 10, from Moose Jaw. His father was Charles Soloman Chow (Yucho's younger brother). George had travelled by train from Moose Jaw to Vancouver. His name was sewn into his coat so that he could easily be identified. The plan was for George to visit China along with his uncle Yucho Chow and his children. The trip was scheduled for March of 1921 on the ship the Empress of Russia. George stayed in China for approximately two years then came back to Moose Jaw. He left again for China as a teen when he became named in the divorce of a white couple. He only returned to Canada in 1943 after escaping a Japanese prisoner of war camp.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1922, Vancouver. Photo of child Yue Wing Lew (also known as Wing Lew). Born March 30, 1921, he was the eldest child of Mr. Ging Lew (aka Lew Hoy Sue). He owned a drycleaning company called Lew's cleaners.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1922, Vancouver. A pregnant Wong Shee Goon (far right) sits with two women from Portland, Oregon who were visiting Vancouver: Jin How (far left) and an unidentified woman with the surname How. Wong Shee was the second wife of Chinatown businessman Goon Ling Dang. The two How women were relatives of Goon Ling Dang's first wife, who had died. The two women came to visit their former brother-in-law and meet his new, second wife and this photo was taken. Wong Shee was born and raised in China, and was significantly younger than her husband.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1922, Vancouver. Photo of Lew Hoy Moy Sue (also known as Mrs. Ging Lew) and her eldest son, Yue Wing Lew who was born March 30, 1921.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Early 1920s, Vancouver. Photo of Toy Wong with his two wives and children.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Early 1920s, Vancouver. Photo of an unidentified man dressed in a suit. The photo was found in the archives of the Ming Wo Cookware collection (formerly known as Ming Wo Hardware.). Likely the photo has been given to Wong Chew Lip, the original owner of the store. This same unidentified man appears in a slightly earlier family photo where his wife and child in China are superimposed into the photo.”