Showing 1687 results

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: “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: “Early 1940s?, Vancouver. Photo of Grant family. This 1940 photo shows Agnes Grant from the Musqueam community and Hong Tim Hing from Zhongsan along with three of their children (L to R: Helen, Larry and Gordon). Hing met and married Agnes while working on a Chinese farm located on the Musqueam reserve. The family was forced to straddle two worlds. As son Larry recalls, ‘We grew up as Musqueam children, but one day the government decided we would be classified as Chinese.’ Their story, movingly told in the documentary ‘All Our Father's Relations’ exemplifies the strong connections between many Indigenous and early Chinese people.”

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: “1943, Vancouver. Goon Ling Dang family - with second wife and their children. Back row (Left to right): Susie Goon; Mary Goon; and Rose Goon. Front row: Lily Goon, Goon Wong Shee (second wife); Goon Ling Dang; and Emily Goon.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1939, Vancouver. Photo of Goon Lin Dang with his extended family. Back row (left to right): Mary Goon; Rose Goon; Lily Goon; Lawrence Goon (son of Tyson and Ruth); Emily Goon and Mildred Goon (daughter of Tyson and Ruth). Front row: Susie Goon; Mrs. Ruth Goon; Goon Wong Shee (second wife); Goon Ling Dang; Tyson Goon (son of first wife) and Raymond Goon (son of Tyson and Ruth).”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1939, Vancouver. Three generations of the Fung family pose in a studio photo to celebrate the 80th birthday of family patriarch Fung Chong Gee (front row, 4th from right) who owned Fung & Son company, a produce store on Kingsway. The children in the photo belong to his son Harry Fung and Harry's wife Mary (Jang) Fung. Front row (L to R) Florence Fung (daughter #6); Mary Fung (mother); Maternal Grandmother Tang; Fraternal Grandmother Fung; Arthur (son #7); Grandfather Fung Chong Gee; Mrs. Sing; Harry Fung; Rose (daughter #5). Back row, (L to R): Edward Fung (son #4); Henry (son #2); Arlene Sing; Peter (son #1); and Tommy (son #3).”

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: “1938, Vancouver. Photo of the Dang Yee Gee Family. Left to right: Soo Hoo (mother); Jean; Larry; Gilbert; Flo and Yee Gee.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Early 1950s, Vancouver. Photo of four young adults from the Dong family. Left to right: James Dong; Lily Dong; May Dong and Bill Dong. Fri, Jul 26, 9:39 AM (2 days ago). ‘The four siblings were all studying @ UBC and were going out to a function. They took the photo to send back to their parents who were @ our home Alert Bay.’"

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 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.”

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: “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: “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 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: “1928, Vancouver. Family of CPR worker Cheng Ging Butt. Back row, L to R: William, Harry, Edward, Henry. Front row: L to R: imothy, Maurice, wife Lena Jang holding Cecil, Cheng Ging Butt holding Beatrice, Ellen and Bevan (Clarence). Cheng Ging Butt literally tried his hand at building the railway, but when he lost a finger under the weight of a steel rail, he gave it up for less dangerous work. ‘Conditions were really primitive, it was really cold, it was not safe and Grandpa decided that he was not going to do this anymore,’ said his grandson, Kevin Jangze. ‘He ended up with a grocery store, a temple, a cherry orchard, a still to make ‘beverages,' and some houses of gaming. And so Grandfather, being quite the entrepreneur, built up this little empire.’ Cheng Ging Butt, proprietor of Cheng Foo's in Yale, B.C., last stop on the steamship run, before the Cariboo, was a Chinese Canadian pioneer. His store provisioned the Chinese railway workers, who had to pay their own way while working for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Cheng landed in New Westminster, B.C., around 1871, at age 22, from Sun Hui village, early enough to avoid the head tax, but not the discrimination. He raised a family with Lena Jang, the wife he bought from the Leong family, who gave him eight boys and two girls. Cheng died in 1929, the year the Great Depression took away everything he'd earned.”

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: “Circa 1944, Vancouver. Portrait of two sisters: Lily Chin (left) and Jennie Chin.”

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: “1945, Vancouver. Photo of the Victory over Japan parade in Vancouver's Chinatown.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1924, Vancouver. Interior photo of the Ming Wo Hardware store (later known as Ming Wo Cookware). The owner, Wong Chew Lip, stands on the right of the photo. Ming Wo was located at 23 East Pender Street in Vancouver. In the first few decades, Ming Wo was primarily a hardware store. It eventually started supplying equipment to restaurants in the area and slowly became known as a cookware store. At one point, it even produced bean sprouts in the basement of the building and supplied the sprouts to local Chinese restaurants.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1924, Vancouver. Street photo showing the front of the Ming Wo store at 23 East Pender Street. In the first few decades, Ming Wo was primarily a hardware store. It eventually started supplying equipment to restaurants in the area and slowly became known as a cookware store. At one point, it even produced bean sprouts in the basement of the building and supplied the sprouts to local Chinese restaurants.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Late 1930s, Vancouver. Head and shoulders portrait of a Chinese opera actress named Shwu-Hoang Po Hing. The inscription around the photo reads: (right hand side) ‘For your keepsake as a father figure to our friendship. From daughter (not blood daughter) Po Hing.’”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1940s, Vancouver. Photo of an opera performer in costume and on stage. The performer looks to be the actress Shwu-Hoang Po Hing. Two young Chinese girls and two adult men, one of whom is Louis Gain Wai, the owner of the Chung King Restaurant in Vancouver's Chinatown and a big supporter of the arts. They are on stage with the actress and appear to be preparing to offer the actress some gifts. This is the first of two photos taken at this performance.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1940s, Vancouver. Vancouver restaurant owner Louis Gain Wai (front row, right) with two other unidentified Chinese men and a Chinese woman. It is believed the unidentified people were involved in a Chinese opera troupe. Gain Wai was a big supporter of the art in Chinatown.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1940s, Vancouver. Photo of an opera performer in costume and on stage. The performer looks to be the actress Shwu-Hoang Po Hing. Two young Chinese girls and two adult men, (one of whom is Louis Gain Wai the Chung King Restaurant owner who is hidden on the left) are on stage with the actress and appear to be offering the actress some gifts. This is the second of two photos taken at this performance.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1940, Vancouver. Raymond Jai (Jai Yew Gwong) with violin. He was born in Vancouver in 1916, was raised in Canton, and returned to Vancouver as an adult where he became very involved in teaching music and organizing Cantonese music performances.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1942 or 1943, Vancouver. Scan of newspaper photo showing Beatrice Jai posing with ballet shoes. Beatrice is about age 14 or 15 and was performing in a ballet. While this scan is from a newspaper clipping, the same image appears in a poster advertising a performance. That poster also includes a photo of my Beatrice's younger sister Betty doing acrobatics. The poster is dated March 21 with no year, but the performance was likely 1942 or 1943.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Late 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of Shwu-hoang Po Hing (actress), Louis Gain Wai and Leung Siu Cho (actor). Louis Gain Wai was a Vancouver Chinatown businessman who owned The Chung King Restaurant and was a big supporter of the arts.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “C. 1940, Vancouver. Raymond Jai (Jai Yew Gwong) with violin and an unidentified Asian boy. Raymond was born in Vancouver in 1916, was raised in Canton, and returned to Vancouver as an adult where he became very involved in teaching music and organizing Cantonese music performances.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “April 4, 1942, Vancouver. Full length-photo of a Chinese woman (believed to be Cantonese opera performer Shwu-Hoang Po Hing) wearing a cheongsam and holding five Canadian $100 bills. On the pedestal are the words "Please Keep." This is likely a publicity shot as the photo appears in a few family collections. This was taken during WWII and she may have been fundraising for China relief.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1939, Vancouver. On location photo of a Chinese opera. The young girl on stage, to the right, is Tse Gar Yin. Born in China, at the age of 14 she began training with a Chinese opera troupe. She learned to read and write Chinese by memorizing operas. Yin arrived in Canada in 1938 and performed in Vancouver until May 1940. She continued to act throughout North America before retiring in Toronto in 1957 to raise a family. By then she was known as Jacqueline Gar Yin Hune.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Sept. 9, 1939, Vancouver. Group photo of Ching Won Music Society. Taken to commemorate an award they won for their participation in the ‘One Bowl of Rice’ fundraising drive in September 1939 to aid Chinese war refugees. Held at the same time as the Moon Festival events, the ‘One Bowl of Rice Drive’ campaign was organized by Vancouver's Chinese community and collected $25,000 in funds. The festival included a bazaar, a Chinese opera performance, dance, and an art exhibition. The banner reads: ‘golden sound and jade vibration’ meaning resounding clarity, harmonious. ‘Golden sound’ represents kindness, and "jade vibration" represents sageness, so it can also be a metaphor for people's knowledge and ability to learn. Beatrice Jai (Lew Yew Wah) b. 1928 is the young girl seated at the front. Her future husband, Raymond Jai (Jai Yew Kwong) b. 1916, is seated directly in front of the banner on the left side.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1945, Vancouver. Photo of a Chinese opera float that appeared in the Victory over Japan parade in Vancouver's Chinatown. This photo has been hand colourized.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1927, Location unknown (likely Vancouver). Inscription at top of mat/frame: ‘Group photo of actors taken after a performance to raise funds for disaster relief (fire somewhere?) by the Canadian Vancouver Chinese Christian Society for the Abolition of Unequal Treaties.’ Dated: 1930 March 2nd (note this is different from the date of the performance noted below). Chinese characters on black header: ‘Nurturing human rights.’
Text below photo (line by line): 1. Names of the eight actors; 2. Photo taken ‘with electric light’ by Yucho Chow 1927; 3. September 5 Canadian Labour Day (the actual word used was ‘Festival’); 4. A play by the Canadian Vancouver Chinese Christian Society for the Abolition of Unequal Treaties; 5. For the purpose of raising funds for publicity; photo of the entire acting team taken after the performance to commemorate the occasion.
Inscription at bottom of frame: ‘Photographed by Yucho Chow at the ‘Big Stage Theatre’ (good to verify the English name of this theatre).’

Collector/curator's description reads: “1945, Vancouver. Photo of a Chinese opera float that appeared in the Victory over Japan parade in Vancouver's Chinatown.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1940s, Vancouver. Unidentified Chinese man, likely an actor. The photo was found in the collection of Louis Gain Wai, a Vancouver Chinatown businessman who owned The Chung King Restaurant and was a big supporter of the arts.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Circa 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of an unidentified Chinese opera performer dressed in an elaborate stage costume. Photo appears to be taken outside the studio, likely on a stage or set. Yucho Chow's seal has been embossed in frame (right, bottom). The photo was found in a collection that was kept at the Ming Wo Cookware store in Vancouver, B.C.”

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: “C. 1941, Vancouver. Hand colourized photo of Chinese actress Shwu-Hoang Po Hing. This photo was found in the collection of Louis Gain Wai, a Vancouver Chinatown businessman who owned the Chung King Restaurant. He was a big supporter of the arts and in his collection are seven different photos of this actress.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1940s, Vancouver. Portrait of Shwu-Hoang Po Hing, an actress. This photo was found in the collection of Louis Gain Wai, a businessman in Vancouver's Chinatown who owned the Chung King restaurant on East Pender Street. He was a big supporter of the arts, and in his collection are several photos of this actress.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Late 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of two actors with inscriptions on either side of the image. The image was found in the collection of Louis Gain Wai, who owned the Vancouver Chinatown restaurant ‘Chung King’ and was a big supporter of the arts. (Top of photo and right hand side): ‘Sir, from both of us, our deepest friendship to our father figure, Louis Gain Wai.’ (Left side of photo) Leung Siu Cho (actor) Shwu-hoang Po Hing (actress).”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Late 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of Shwu-hoang Po Hing, an actress. This photo was found in the collection of Louis Gain Wai, a Vancouver Chinatown businessman who owned The Chung King Restaurant and was a big supporter of the arts. He had several photos of this actress in his files, including one photo that he took with the entertainer.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “1945, Vancouver. Photo of Marjorie Yok-Lan Young (born March 9, 1944) was the daughter of Norman and Elsie Young (nee Lim). Marjorie was a Vancouver artist who worked in mixed media. She produced original water media work on paper and canvas along with handcrafted origami-iris fold, embossed, pop-up and printed art cards.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Early 1930s, Vancouver. Photo of Jimmy Lowe.”

Collector/curator's description reads: “Early 1930s, Vancouver. Two unidentified young Chinese girls pose in silk Cheongsam gowns. The photo was found in the archives of the Harry Con family of Vancouver.”