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Collector/curator’s description reads: “Late 1920s, Vancouver. A hand colourized photo of Carter Singh and his young wife, Basant Kaur. The Yucho Chow seal, which would have originally been on the cardboard frame, has been removed and attached to the front of the print.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Early 1930s, Vancouver. A hand-colourized photo of three South Asian women (likely related by birth or marriage) with two unidentified female children. We know the name of only one of the women: Basant Kaur is second from the right.”

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

Collector/curator and donating family’s description reads: “1936, Vancouver. From left to right: Sylvia (b. 1926) with headband; Grandma Sam Chun May b. 1920 with baby Peggy (b. 1936 ) in her arms; Loy (b. 1922) with V-neck sweater vest; Peter (b. 1928) in white shirt buttoned up; my dad Harry (b. 1920) with East Richmond lacrosse jersey; Grandfather Jae Tong Yuen (arrived 1911 on Empress of Japan. This is his second marriage - his first wife died giving birth. He worked [at] Hastings Sawmill, land clearing Shaughnnessy); Dennis (b. 1933) with shorts between grandpa's legs; and Ken in the sweater vest with horizontal lines (b. 1931); Uncle John (son #2 and born in 1922) has already passed away in 1928 at age 6 or 7 from pneumo-meningitis (re: Mitchell School disease outbreak which killed 3 of the 4 children that cont[r]acted it.)
When this photo was taken at the Yucho Chow Studio, the family lived on Jacombs Road Richmond, (at the time Jacombs was a private road and Cambie was known as 20th).
Grandma Sam Chun Moy (not her real name). Brought over alone as a 5 year from Yin Ping County of Guangdong Province on Blue Funnel Line - S.S. Teucer (Her mother let her go due to health issues). Grandma Sam Chun Moy was raised by the Sam family in Powell River, Union Steamship Company days (pre- BC Ferries). She never wanted to talk about this chapter in her life.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “Early 1940s, Vancouver. Photo of a Sikh Canadian couple and their three daughters.”

Collector/curator’s description reads: “C. 1938, Vancouver. Photo of Basant Kaur Singh (right), her daughter Esther Kaur (left) and an unidentified woman, likely a relative.”

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: “Early 1920s, Vancouver. Photo of Toy Wong with his two wives and children.”

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: “1940s, Vancouver. Photo of Wong and Mah family members. Back row, left to right: Robert Mah; Adelaine (Mah) Wong, and Edward Wong. Children: Ivan Wong (on lap), Lee Lin Choy (seated); Ernie Wong; Sam Gong (seated) and Alfie Wong (on lap). Robert was a student and went on to become a draftsman. Edward owned and operated Park General Store on 269 Powell Street. He also worked as a real estate agent.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1936, Vancouver. Soo Lum Woo family. Left to right: William Woo; Soo Lum Woo; and Mary Woo.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1931, Vancouver. Woo Lee Shee and children. Standing (left to right): Effie; Ruby and William. Seated (left to right): Edith; Margaret; Helen (infant); Woo Lee Shee.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Early 1940s, Vancouver. Photo of Chou Heung Leong Wong family. Back row (left to right): Leah (Wong) Gong, Bing Chew Wong. Front: Tommy Wong; Frank Wong; Frances (Wong) Lim; Chou Heung Leong Wong (mother); Tommy (Bing Tong) Wong; and May (Wong) Eng.”

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: “1944, Vancouver. Photo of Thomas Kwok Hung Wong with Juney. Photo is not taken in the studio. Note on frame reads: ‘To Leslie. With best wishes Juney and Tommy. 1944.’”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1940, Vancouver. Photo of Tommy CG Wong with his mother, Mah Hang and his sister May Wong. This is one of the only photos of Tommy with his mother. His parents separated when he was only six. With his mother returning to China, and his father working in the logging camps, Tommy lived in a tiny boarding-house room with his younger brother. They were alone and had to fend for themselves. On weekends, his father would visit, prepare a meal, and cut it into enough pieces to last the boys for a week. This photo was taken when Tommy's mother finally returned to Canada with his sister.”

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: “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: “1942, Vancouver. Photo of Thomas Kwok Hung Wong with Juney. Note on frame reads: ‘To Leslie. With best wishes Juney and Tommy. 1942.’”

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: “1946, Vancouver (518 Main Street). Photo of Wong Kung Lai family, owner of Modernize Tailors. Back row, L to R: Helen; Jack; Bill; Allan and Anna. Front row, L to R: Milton; Uncle (name unknown); Mother Man Ming (nee Chu); Irene (superimposed); Maurice; Father Kung Lai Wong and May.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1930, Vancouver. Photo of two sisters: Lena Wong (left) and Kay Wong. They were the daughters of Quong John Wong, a businessman who ran a produce store and invested in several Vancouver Chinatown restaurants, including the famous W.K. Gardens Chop Suey restaurant on East Pender Street.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1940, Vancouver. Photo of Wong Mow (a tailor and owner of the Modern Silk Shirt Company) with his four children. (Left to right): Jennie, Wah, Larry (seated on father's lap) and Git. Their mother had died a few months before this photo was taken.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1933, Vancouver. Photo of shirt tailor Wong Mow (seated) and his son's by second wife: Wah Wong (left) and Git Wong. Wong Mow owned and operated the Modern Silk Shirt Company on Main Street in Vancouver's Chinatown.”

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: “1949 or 1950, Vancouver. Photo of the extended Weinstein family who were Romanian Jews. Front row, left to right: Esther Weinstein, Izadore Weinstein, Phillip Weinstein on lap (first grandchild and son of George and Mildred), Miriam Weinstein and Lily Weinstein. Back row, left to right: Harold Rome, Reta (Weinstein) Rome, Pauline (Weinstein) Smith, Harry Weinstein, Mildred (Weinstein) Simons, George Weinstein.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Mid-1940s. Vancouver. Back row (left to right): Robert Mah; Adelaine (Mah) Wong; Edward Wong. Adults seated: Lee Lin Choy (mother to Robert and Adelaine); and Sam Goong (3rd uncle). Children (left to right): Ivan Wong; Ernie Wong; and Alfie Wong. Robert Mah was a student at the time this photo was taken. He would go on to become a draftsman. Edward Wong owned and operated Park General Store at 269 Powell Street in Vancouver. He also moonlighted as a real estate agent.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1932, Vancouver (23 W Pender). Photo of the Modernize Tailor family. L to R: Mother Man Ming (nee Chu); Anna (on lap); Jack; Father Kung Lai Wong; Helen; Bill; Unknown relative; Allan. Kung Lai Wong arrived in Vancouver from southern China in 1911 at the age of 20, and had to pay a $500 head tax. He worked for a time as a houseboy then apprenticed himself to an English tailor to learn a trade and open his own shop. For his staff, Kung Lai imported "paper relatives" from China, bachelor tailors who would never have a chance to marry. His two eldest boys, Bill and Jack, born a year apart, did everything together. As toddlers, they were allowed to play with scraps of wool and spools of thread at the tailor shop. Later, they would go help out in the shop after attending English school, followed by Chinese school. The 1950s, when the brothers took over Modernize, were prosperous years, with some 20 tailor shops operating in Chinatown. The so-called zoot suit was introduced by jazz musicians in the U.S. in the 1940s and became wildly popular with young men in Vancouver a few years later. This louche style called for wide-legged, high-waisted trousers pegged at the ankles and long jackets with wide lapels and exaggerated shoulders. Modernize produced scores of such suits. They also made costumes for Vancouver's Theatre Under the Stars musical productions and for performances at the historic town of Barkerville in the B.C. interior. The popularity of the suit began to wane in the 1960s, under the influence of such blue-jean wearing film stars as Marlon Brando. A trend toward informality in office wear followed with the introduction of "casual Fridays." Mass manufacturing of clothing in Asia meant a flood of cheap off-the-rack clothing that had not previously existed.”

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 1917, Vancouver. Photo of unidentified woman sitting with an infant on her lap. This photo was found in the collection of Michael Dragan, who was from a Ukrainian Canadian family.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. late 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of an unidentified white woman in a hat, holding onto a baby.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “January 21, 1949, Vancouver. Wedding photo of George and Mildred Weinstein. Front row, left to right: Esther Weinstein (standing), Reta Weinstein, George Weinstein, Mildred (Simons) Weinstein, Ruth Simons and Lily Weinstein (standing). Back row (left to right): Joe Colberg, Cissie Ofstein, Helen Sweid, Sam Northy, Elizabeth Weinstein and Harry Weinstein.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1934, Vancouver. Postcard photo of Mrs. Miriam Weinstein and her two Canadian-born daughters: Lily (left) aged 3 and Esther, aged 4. The family were Romanian-Jewish immigrants that lived for a time in the Chinatown/Strathcona neighbourhood. Although Jewish, the two young girls attended a Christian kindergarten in a nearby church. There they learned a number of favourite Christian children songs like "Jesus Loves Me" which they would sing at home much to the consternation of their mother.”

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: “Late 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of an unidentified Croatian-Canadian couple with a young girl who looks to be in her early teens, and likely their daughter. Found in the archives of the Kosovic family.”

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: “C. 1915, Vancouver. An unidentified foursome posed for this unusual photo around 1915. The people may be related: perhaps parents with a daughter and a son-in-law or fiance? Or they may not be relatives. In any case, there are elements in this image not generally seen in other photos: the bottle and filled glasses on the table; a newspaper resting part way on the floor; and the older woman fixated on the younger woman. In early photography, every prop had meaning. However, all these odd pieces only add mystery to this photo.”

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 1942-43, Vancouver. Photo of the Tremblay family. Parents Fred & Emma are seated, with their 5 children standing. Fred & Emma Tremblay (seated) are pictured with their five children (L-R) Art, George, Freddie, Blanche and Bernie. Fred & Emma, both of French descent, immigrated to Vancouver from North Dakota (via Saskatchewan) in the late 1920s. Upon arrival, Fred opened Vancouver Auto Clinic on Keefer Street in Chinatown with his brother Alec. This is where Fred must have known Yucho Chow, as this family portrait was taken several years after Fred opened his solo business, Tremblay Motors, in Kitsilano in 1934. Fred, nicknamed Chief, later enlisted his four sons into the family business and renamed it Tremblay & Sons Motors (also the oldest Chevron dealership in Canada). Many Vancouverites passed through the garage doors and drove up to the gas pumps at Tremblay's on the corner of 4th & MacDonald, where it proudly stood until 1993. Unfortunately, the last member in this family portrait passed away in 2013. However, many of Fred & Emma's grandchildren, great grandchildren, and now great great grandchildren still call the Lower Mainland home. Photo Courtesy of Linda Tremblay, whose father Bernard (1931-2001) is pictured far right.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Late 1920s, Vancouver. Studio photo of an unidentified South Asian/Sikh couple taken at Yucho Chow's 23 West Pender Street studio. The photo was found in the collection passed down through the Ishar Singh Gill family, a businessman who owned and operated a wood fuel delivery business.”

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: “C. 1940, Vancouver. Photo of the Jack (Jakov) and Mary (Marija) Tomljenovich (nee Prpich) with their four children along with two unknown adults (standing). Left to right: Lucy; Jack, Matthew; Mary, John; and Anne. The family would go on to have one more child, a daughter named Linda. Jakov arrived in Canada around 1926. Mary came later and the two married in Canada in 1929. Yucho Chow took their wedding photo. Over the course of his life, Jack worked in every resource sector: mining, sawmill, fishing, logging. There greatest aspiration is that their children would get an education. And, indeed, three of their children went on to university.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1940, Vancouver. Family portrait of Bartol Sulina and Jovanna (Malatestinich) Sulina with their son Jerry Anthony Sulina (born 1938). Bartol was a fisherman. In 1958 he died while working at sea of a heart attack. He was only 53. Jovanna married again later in life, when her children were adults. She became the wife of a Croatian immigrant named Tony Baldigara. Jovanna lived to the ripe age of 105 years and 4 months. Jerry eventually worked with the City [of] Maple Ridge but died of lung cancer in 1995 at the age of 57.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1942, Vancouver. Photo of Jakov & Marija (Prpich) Tomljenovich and their children. Left to right: Anne, Jakov, John (front standing), Matthew, Marja and Lucy. They would have one other child after this photo was taken: a daughter whom they named Linda. Jakov arrived in Canada around 1926. Mary came later and the two married in Canada in 1929. Yucho Chow took their wedding photo. Over the course of his life, Jack worked in every resource sector: mining, sawmill, fishing, logging. There greatest aspiration is that their children would get an education. And, indeed, three of their children went on to university.”

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).”