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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. early 1930s, Vancouver. Standing portrait of Fannie Lim likely taken before she was married to Shong Buck Chong. November 22, 1913 - August 30, 1967.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “July 9, 1950. Vancouver. Wedding photo of Ging Chong and May (nee Lee) Chong.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “October 28, 1947. Wedding photo (head and shoulders) of Irene and Harold Chong.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “October 28, 1947. Wedding of Harold and Irene Chong along with their wedding party. Left to Right: Ernest Lew; George Chong; Willie Chong; Violet Cahn (flowergirl); Harold Chong; Irene Chong; Violet (nee Chan) Chong; Elsie Lowe; Eva Lew and Florence Eng.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1944, Vancouver. Photo of Chong Sat Chong (seated) with his four sons (left to right): Harold; Jackie; George and Willie.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa early 1940s. Black and white portrait of Peggy Chong (who later married and became known as Peggy Lee.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “C. early 1930s. (Left) Shong Buck Chong (July 27, 1911- September 27, 1962). He was the oldest son of Chong Fan Yow. (Right) Dick Sam (originally a Wu). He was often referred to as the Beansprout Man. Photo was taken during the Great Depression when many Chinese lived in poverty. And to save money, people would sometimes pool their money to pay for the photographs. As well, it was common to borrow a suit from a friend. It would appear that Dick Sam's suit is too big for him and may be the reason why he is sitting, rather than standing.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1935, Vancouver. Black and white wedding photo of Shong Buck Chong and Fanny. Chong was an entrepreneur. Between the 1940s and 1960s, he owned a grocery storec alled Ah Kai Co. located at Granville and Davie Street. In the 1950s, he also owned a restaurant called The Horseshoe Restaurant located at Renfrew and Hastings Street. His wife was a homemaker and later had to look after the grocery store when Chong passed away.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “1935, Vancouver. Hand colourized wedding photo of Shong Buck Chong with Fannie Lim. Song Buck Chong was the eldest son of Chong Fan Yow. Left to right: Allena Chong Chinn (November 8, 1918 - ); - Fannie Lim Chong (November 22, 1913 - August 30, 1967); Shong Buck Chong (July 27, 1911 - September 27, 1962); Unknown man; Lily Lim Chung (August 18, 1927 - ) - younger sister of Fannie. Lives in San Francisco California.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “November 18, 1948, Vancouver. Black and white wedding photo of Willie Chong and Edith (nee Woo) Chong. The same photo was also hand colourized.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “November 18, 1948, Vancouver. Hand-coloured wedding photo of Willie Chong and Edith (nee Woo) Chong. Willie Chong served with Force 136 during the Second World War. He later became a fisherman. The couple had three daughters.”

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 description reads: “Mid-1940s, Vancouver. Photo of Harold Chong.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Circa 1946, Vancouver. Hand colourized Portrait of Second World War veteran Willie Chong, in uniform. Chong served with Force 136 in Southeast Asia and was trained as a guerilla fighter.”

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: “Late 1930s, Vancouver. Full-length studio portrait of Helena (Wong) Chow, who was married to Peter Chow. She was born in Banff, Alberta in 1917. Her husband, Peter Chow, was oldest son of commercial photographer Yucho Chow. Peter took over the running of the studio when he father died in November 1949. He operated the business with his brother Philip Chow, until they both retired in 1986. Helena and Peter had eight children.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa: early 1920s, Vancouver. Photo of two children: Kay and Bill Chow. These were the mixed-race children of Charles Soloman Chow (Yucho Chow's younger brother) and Mary Chow (nee Feica). The family lived in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1928, Vancouver. Photo of Chow King Tong family. Tong (1874-1932) worked on the railroad and later turned to farming. He lived with his wife #3, named Chow Wong Shee (1892-1942) and their family in Agassi but later moved to Ashcroft, following the CPR route. Tong was also from Hoy Ping and would stay at the back of Yucho Chow Studio when in Vancouver. ‘Chow King Tong, my Grandfather: 1874-1932; Chow Wong Shee, my Grandmother: 1892-1942. The family name is Chow.....some continued using Tong as a surname
But the males used Chow (my dad had it legally changed in the 1950's). My generation of my Chinese name has Tong on the end...my dad's was different. My grandmother's name was changed from her birth name to Wong Shee which meant that she was the wife of someone (this was apparently quite common). I hope this helps. Franklin.’”

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 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: “Circa 1930, Vancouver. Copy of a photo of the Chow Wone family who ran a successful business in Kaslo, British Columbia. The photo was believed to be taken before the family departed for a trip to Hoy Ping, China. All of the eight children were born in British Columbia. More children followed, and Chow Wone had other children from his other wives. Chow Wone's name was composed of his surname first, then his given name. However, since that was the opposite of British convention, all his children born in Canada were given the name Wone as their surname. Back row, left to right: Hell Lee (nee Wone) and Lily. Front, left to right: Mona (nee Wone) Wong; Moy Foon (wife #2) holding infant Diane; Bill Wone with brother Tommy in front; patriarch Chow Wone; unidentified toddler; and Irene Jung (nee Wone).”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Vancouver, 1939. Toy and Lily Choy with the newly-adopted son, Wayson. They were an older couple unable to have children. Toy was a cook with CPR ships, while Lily worked in a sausage shop in Chinatown. Years later, their son Wayson would become a celebrated Asian-Canadian writer who would author popular stories of growing up in Chinatown, including ‘The Jade Peony’ and ‘Paper Shadows.’ Only at age 56 did Wayson learn he was adopted and that his biological father had been a member of a Cantonese opera company.”

Collector/curator’s description, prepared with donating family, reads: “1935, Vancouver. Wedding of 1935 wedding photo of CHU Dit Young ‘Harold’ and YOUNG Soo Hing ‘Leila.’ 1. What was Leila's maiden name? - Young; full name Young Soo Hing ‘Leila’

2. Were they both born in Canada? - Yes
3. What did Harold (or Leila) do for a living? - Harold Chu worked for his family's store, Wing Wah Co and eventually took over the ownership and management with 2 of his cousins; Wing Wah sold dry goods, grocery, tobacco products, ‘pat medicines,’ cigars, and wholesale, and eventually focused on tobacco; it was in business from ~1913-1990
4. How many children did they have? - 6 children
5. And did they settle outside of Vancouver? - No
6. Anything interesting about either of them that you would like to share? - When I was growing up, Harold and Leila were always going out to help someone. As a child, I did not pay much attention to the reasons why. It was only when our family arranged Leila's funeral service a few years ago that we realized what an impact Harold and Leila made on the Chinese community. Many people we didn't know came to the service to pay their respects, taking the time to tell us how Harold and/or Leila had taken them to doctor's appointments, translated for them with bureaucrats, helped them find houses, showed them the best places to find groceries, helped them find schools for their children, and the thousand other tasks that are so hard for new immigrants to the country.”

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: “1956, Vancouver. Photo of the 3 generations of the Chun family. (Left to right): Lynda Chui; Mary (Chun) Chui; April Chui (on lap); Eng Sim Low ‘Lily’ (mother to Mary); Bing (Lily's father whose full first name is not remembered); and Judy Chui.”