The Mongolia/Willow area is a segregated Chinese section. (On the map it's at 3:00 o'clock.) Today the sections near Willow are called Elks (north) and Hope (south), therefore I reason that the section now called Elks was once called Mongolia. This is where Won Alexander Cumyow (d. 1955, age 94) and his wife Eva Chan Cumyow (d. 1939, age 68) are buried, just east of ...
Category: Chinese Genealogy
True crime, the Wing Sang Co., and police records: A trip to the City of Vancouver Archives
Once you're on site, my best tip for getting the most out of an archives visit is asking for a quick tour. Most times the archivist will ask you what area, subject, or time frame you're researching. They will also show you how to fill out a record retrieval slip and while I am an experienced researcher, I always appreciate the reminders. Every archive follows archival best practises, which means...
A trip to the United Church of Canada Archives, Vancouver
After census records and vital statistics (birth, marriage, and death records), church records are some of the most important fonds in a genealogist's toolkit. For the Chinese, however, it was a circuitous path to worship and so it appears relatively few Catholic or Protestant records exist. I am working on understanding better how the Methodist Church ministered to the Chinese populations in Canada. My research shows they established missions for non-white congregants and it was the Vancouver and Victoria mission fonds I wanted to explore.
Asian History Month – What’s on?
May is Asian Heritage Month. There are events across Canada and the United States, virtually and in person. Here's a selection.
Over 5K new Chinese Canadian records are now online at Héritage Canadiana
In this post I will discuss the new release of digitized records at Héritage Canadiana, show you how to access them and then share some thoughts about what the aggregated collection can teach us. What is a C.I.9? A Chinese Immigration Certificate no. 9 is a Canadian reentry certificate. They were official government documents issued… Continue reading Over 5K new Chinese Canadian records are now online at Héritage Canadiana
Wing Sang: a house of memory
The committee chose Wing Sang at 51 E Pender Street to be the new museum. This iconic building, the first of its kind in Chinatown, the mythical touchstone of dreams for so many immigrants, and my family's historic home, will now be the house of our collective memories.
Gong Hey Fat Choi, Year of the Tiger (恭喜发财 虎年吉祥)
Very happy Year of the Tiger to everyone! Join me as I talk about the new edition of my book, Getting Started in Chinese Genealogy while snacking on some delicious New Year delicacies.
Past-Presence roundup: what’s new?
It's an exciting time to be a Chinese genealogist. In this post I'll share five quick stories about what's new in the run up to Chinese New Year on Tuesday. New edition of Getting Started in Chinese Genealogy New and improved: Tools for PC loversWhat are jiapus and how to find them onlineExpanded section for… Continue reading Past-Presence roundup: what’s new?
The Six: Interview with Grant Din
Have you seen "The Six" a documentary about the six surviving Chinese from the sinking of the Titanic? I watched it this weekend and was immediately inspired to learn more. Here's my interview with Grant Din, who worked on the project.
How to find your ancestral locations in China: geography basics, maps, and the UBC Register of Chinese immigration
In this post I'll take you through navigating the tricky world of Chinese maps and places. Regardless of where in China your ancestors originate, some basic Chinese geography will be useful. In the previous post Finding Mrs. Yip Sang, I located the immigration of my second great-grandmother, "Mrs. Yip Sang," or Dong Shee (鄧氏) on… Continue reading How to find your ancestral locations in China: geography basics, maps, and the UBC Register of Chinese immigration