Historic Joy Kogawa House, the house that was the childhood home of author Joy Kogawa before the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II, has announced a new writer-in-residence. Susan Crean will live and work in Joy Kogawa House from September 15 to December 15, while working on a new piece of historical non-fiction about headtax payer Wong Dong Wong. You can read about her connection to Wong Dong Wong on her website, What is Toronto. While she is in residence at Joy Kogawa House, there will be public opportunities to engage with her and her work through a reading series and other events. Keep an eye on the Historic Joy Kogawa House website!
The Chung Collection Exhibition will be closed to the public from August 24-26 and August 29. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The Chung Collection Exhibition will be closed to the public on August 22, 26 and 29. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The good news is that the closure is for the completion of a special project- stay tuned in the coming months!
There is something fascinating about photographs of wrecked or stranded ships (especially when you know that no one was hurt or injured). This month’s featured photograph was taken almost exactly 101 years ago, when the C.P.R.’s Princess May was stranded off of Alaska on August 5, 1910.
The Princess May was one of the coastwise ships that the C.P.R. used in the British Columbia Steamship Service. The Princess ships carried passengers and cargo along the “triangle route” of Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle, and also offered transportation up the coast to Alaska. It was on this route that the Princess May came into the predicament you see above. She ran aground on Sentinel Island after departing from Skagway. All the passengers and crew were safely evacuated in lifeboats, and a shipment of gold which was onboard was also removed for safekeeping. Naturally, the dramatic angle of the boat made for a great photo opportunity, and a number of views of this incident are available in the Chung Collection. The Princess May was successfully salvaged and later sold.
If this interests you, try searching the Chung Collection for ship accidents and shipwrecks.
Between August 2 and 28, the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver is hosting a traveling exhibition from the Memorial Museum of Generalissimo Sun Yat Sen’s Mansion, entitled Sun Yat Sen and American and Canadian Chinese. Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s visits to British Columbia had a great impact on the Chinese-Canadian community, which is why Vancouver’s classical Chinese gardens are named after him. The exhibition is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm.
From the Chung Collection, this image of Dr. Sun Yat Sen and his wife bears an inscription to the Vernon branch of the Chinese Nationalist League. For related items, try searching for the keywords “Chinese Nationalist.“
Last weekend I was very pleased to host a group of summer-campers who are enrolled in the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of B.C.’s summer youth program, Saltwater City for Youth. This day camp includes visits and walking tours to a variety of locations around the city, including the Museum of Vancouver, the Chinese Canadian Military Museum, and of course, the Chung Collection! The participants are learning about Chinese-Canadian history, citizenship and leadership. The campers were very enthusiastic and knowledgable, and after the tour they completed a scavenger hunt for historic facts in the Chung exhibition.
Thank you to the Chinese Canadian Historical Society for the visit, and congratulations on a terrific summer program!
The Chung Collection is a rich source of historical photographs on a mind-boggling array of subjects. To showcase this amazing variety, we plan to feature a photograph each month, related to the season or current/historic events.
In homage to the wonderful British Columbia fruit available this time of year, the feature photograph is of a fruit ranch in Kelowna taken in July of 1921:
This photograph is part of an album of photos of a “journey across Canada,” taken by an unknown photographer. This is an extensive album of more than 300 photographs from across the country, featuring landmarks, scenery, and shots of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
If you’re interested in the history of fruit growing in British Columbia, an interesting resource are brochures issued by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, describing the opportunities in British Columbia for fruit farming. These can be found in the collection by searching for books with the keyword “fruit”.
Speaking of fruit, here at UBC we’re all enjoying the Blueberry Fest!
From July 21 to 24, Richmond is hosting the Your Kontinent Film and Media Arts Festival, which is showcasing a variety of films and multi-media artworks, with an emphasis on Asian film through its collaboration with the DocuAsia Forum. The name “Your Kontinent” is a variation of the concept of “Urkontinent,” meaning one large continent which would theoretically create a mosaic of cultures on one continent- not unlike Richmond itself! Artists and viewers are encouraged to think about “one’s individual perception of their continent or culture.”
Check out their website for the festival schedule or ticket information.
Airing Saturday July 16th at 5 pm on CBC (Channel 3), “From C to C” is a documentary film which contrasts the struggles of early Chinese migrants to Canada with the experience of Chinese Canadian youth today. The documentary was produced by Simon Fraser University and S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
More information is available on the C to C website, including an historical timeline, and sections on current issues and personal stories.
This documentary won a Leo award, so it’s a must see! Tune in on July 16th.
Chung Collection fans may be interested in checking out the offerings of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s Summer Walking Tours series. Some have particular ties to the subjects of the Chung Collection (click on the links to search for related material in the collection):
– July 16: “Market Alley: Opium, Laundry and Pawnshops.”
– July 23: “Blood Alley.” This tour focuses on the early history of Vancouver (link searches for 19th century items concerning Vancouver).
– August 28: “Eveleigh Street.” According to the Vancouver Heritage site, “This little known one block long street, lost amidst the Bentall development, was once home to a number of CPR employees, a well known architect and some elegant homes.”
To register or learn more, click here!