The collection consists of oral history interviews with Chinese women about their experiences working in British Columbia from the 1920s to the 1950s. The interviews, with nine first-, second- or third-generation Chinese-Canadian women, were recorded in Vancouver, Victoria and New Westminster during the first half of 1984. The project focused on "women's work" (whether paid or unpaid), including work in the home and in family businesses. The interviews discuss the kind of work these women did; what they experienced; how they perceived their roles in the family and the Chinese community; and the legislative policies which affected their work and their lives. The interviewees are to remain anonymous, and should be referred to only by the assigned pseudonyms. In addition, two of the interviews are closed to public access.

PERIOD COVERED: ;1900;-;1979 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1979 [summer] SUMMARY: Born in Victoria in 1913; father reported her birth to immigration and vital statistics as a boy; her marriage was an arranged match; speaks of her husband as a good person, but he gambles; was converted to Christianity and became happy; talks of her superstitious mother who predicted a short life for her, based on a fortune teller's prediction; returned to Canada from China in 1924 and lived in Vancouver Chinatown's Shanghai Alley; speaks of her children and their part-time work when they were young; speaks of the positive aspects of the Canadian government; refers again to her wishes of education for her children; talks of her involvement with community recreation activities since her retirement.

CALL NUMBER: T3719:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Jessie Lam Ross : Chinese at work in B.C. : The Hong Wo Store and the Richmond Gardens Farm PERIOD COVERED: 1890-1930 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-07-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Family arrived in B.C. in the 1890s. Her father, Ling Lam, arrived and worked first in Victoria then settled in Steveston. Hong Wo Store started in Steveston, 1895. Ling Lam died 1939. By 1939 he owned a mixed farm, general store and operated a fish contracting business to hire labour for the canneries. Jessie and her brother John bought-out other family members in the business after 1939. The company had contracts with vegetable/fruit canneries such as Empress Factories, Grower's Canneries (Royal City Brand), and to some wholesalers in Vancouver Chinatown. The farm hired full-time Chinese workers who lived on the farm and Japanese women and their families as day labourers. Description of Chinese farm workers' living and working conditions on the farm. Details of father and mother's family background prior to immigration to Canada. Description of second store after the first store burnt in 1904. Store built on stilts over water, and warehouse on wharf over deep waters for boats/fishermen to shop and pick-up supplies. Location of farm. Description of father as a "gentleman farmer" wearing three-piece serge blue suit. TRACK 2: Discusses veg/cannery contract with Empress Factories. Description of their farm's Chinese foreman and his sons who worked on the farm all their lives. Ling Lam did not permit swearing or gambling on the farm, or by any family members. Details of Ling Lam's children's education. Description of farm workers' meals. Ling Lam's invention of cucumber grader and his introduction of the Utah green celery to the area. Ling Lam was head of the Chinese Growers' Association, the group against B.C. Coast Marketing Board. Making boxes for farm produce.

CALL NUMBER: T3719:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Jessie Lam Ross : Chinese at work in B.C. : The Hong Wo Store and the Richmond Gardens Farm PERIOD COVERED: 1900s-1960s RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-07-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Farm produce on consignment to wholesalers up until the 1960s. Ling Lam supplied all Occidental and Oriental labourers to the Phoenix Cannery (ABC) until the 1930s; then just Oriental labourers. Ling Lam was active with the clan organization the Lum Association. Jessie Lam comments on the difficulties of her contemporaries in finding professional jobs after receiving post-secondary education. Describes some neighbouring farms. The credit/accounting system with farm workers on wages. Jessie Lam's summer vacation work experience on the farm. Shipping/transportation of pickles by railway to Eastern Canada. Chinese women day labourers working on the farm in the 1950s. The end of the fish contracts with B.C. Packers (Phoenix) in 1968. Sugar rationing during WW II. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T3719:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Jessie Lam Ross : Chinese at work in B.C. : The Hong Wo Store and the Richmond Gardens Farm PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1973 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-07-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mother had Caucasian cleaning ladies to help with the household. Jessie Lam went to chaperoned parties/social functions during her teens. Talks of the soup kitchens in Vancouver Chinatown during the 1930s Depression. Marriage of brother John and sister Mary. Talks of the family motorcar holiday trip to Oregon in 1928. Recalls mother's prized baking, and father's vegetable competition at the PNE. An anecdote of father's temperament. Refers to the community of Eburne on Sea Island. Attending church on Sundays at the Methodist Chinese Church in Vancouver Chinatown. Describes her typical Sunday activities with her family. Going to Chinese language school after regular school day. Jessie Ross was "Miss China" during WW II as part of the Allied countries effort to raise money for the troops. Helped sell government bonds during the war. Involved with the Chinese community's effort to raise funds for the "Rice Bowl" campaign. Chinese professionals in B.C. could only attract Chinese clientele in the 1920s-50s. TRACK 2: Chinese vegetable and fish peddlers in Jessie Lam's neighbourhood (as a child) and Jewish junkmen. Milk delivered by horse and carriage until WW II. Speaks of various prominent Chinese families in Vancouver during her youth. Refers to Chung Chuck, Delta farmer who fought with her father against the B.C. Coast Marketing Board (to the Privy Council). Problems farmers, especially the Chinese, had with the Board. The closure of the farm and store in 1971 and liquidation of the property and business in 1973. Lists of goods sold at the store. Anecdote of Jessie Ross and brother John rowing out to Steveston Island.

CALL NUMBER: T3719:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Jessie Lam Ross : Chinese at work in B.C. : The Hong Wo Store and the Richmond Gardens Farm RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-07-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: [No content summary available for this tape.] TRACK 2: blank.

RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1979 [summer] SUMMARY: Came to Canada in September 1950; Chinatown was dilapidated and run-down; some of the houses were tiny. Worked for a fish wholesaler for eight years and also as a farm labourer and shrimp peeler; husb;and was out of work in the shingle mill; didn't speak English but surprised people by being able to go out alone; people thought her very brave; bought a sewing machine on credit and learned to alter ;and sew clothes to earn money; when she first came to Canada she thought people in Chinatown were old-fashioned; they wanted women hidden away; if a woman were to look out a window in her home, she wa;s considered shameless and men would stare at them when they were out; there were not many native Indians in the Chinatown area twenty years ago; there are also more prostitutes in the area now; twent;y years ago she was very naïve and didn't know what these women did for a living; now a Canadian citizen and votes in every election; husband came to Canada at the age of fifteen; during the Sino-Japa;nese war, he was able to send money via San Francisco to support her; talks about the positive aspects of government social assistance to senior citizens; gives the wages she was earning in the fish c;annery; talks about the purchase of a rooming house by herself and her husband.;

CALL NUMBER: T3170:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Strathcona neighbourhood : the Chinese community RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977-12-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Chan discusses: her family background; life of her grandfather; 1907 Vancouver Chinatown riots as experienced by her mother; grandfather's desire to be part of the gold rush; life of her father, various jobs he held including wood cutter, gardener, farm work; being born on Slocan Street; memories of Chinatown in the 1920s; role of women in Chinese society. Mrs. Chan then discusses her family's return to China in 1922-23 because they were so poor: family's dissatisfaction with return to China and difficulties adjusting to it; Mrs. Chan went to a co-ed school in China, rare at the time; medical services in China were limited, but all of Mrs. Chan's siblings were straightforward deliveries. TRACK 2: More about Mrs. Chan's memories in China: burglar anecdote; becoming a teacher for a government school; marriage. In 1947, Mrs. Chan returns to Canada due to help from money sent over by her sisters. Discusses: changes in Vancouver Chinatown; arrival of her husband to Canada in 1949 (daughter Shirley is 1 year old at this point); being a Chinese teacher in New Westminster; family store; growth of Chinese community; other neighbours in Strathcona area. Mrs. Chan starts to discuss her interest in stopping the urban renewal campaign of City Hall. Shirley not involved until she was a university student. More discussion about the campaign to stop the city from demolishing Strathcona community.; CALL NUMBER: T3170:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Strathcona neighbourhood : the Chinese community RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977-12-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: More discussion about SPOTA and the campaign to stop urban renewal. Role of Mary's husband in SPOTA: failing health, but still chaired first meeting. Mrs. Chan is only founding member of SPOTA still on board. Mrs. Chan's plans to build Cultural Centre, another united Chinese community effort. Discusses how SPOTA achieved success. (End of interview);

CALL NUMBER: T3706:0001 PERIOD COVERED: 1910-1979 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1979 [summer] SUMMARY: Born n Vancouver; father came during the gold rush; lived in Kamloops until the fire; family moved to Vancouver/New Westminster area; went to school in Vancouver's East End; talks about family members; after her father died, Lillian and sister Ruth were boarded in a home in Victoria; describes experience in Victoria; returned to Vancouver and babysat to earn money; apprenticed to a hat maker; worked in a Chinese restaurant to help support family. Married at the age of 20, didn't last; adoption of two nephews, talks of the deaths of her natural and adopted daughters; description of her house.

CALL NUMBER: T3706:0002 PERIOD COVERED: 1895-1979 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1979 [summer] SUMMARY: Helped other Chinese ladies as an interpreter; active in many social organizations and activities since retirement; spends most days in Chinatown, and evenings at home; speaks of poor eyesight; born in 1895.

RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1979 [summer] SUMMARY: Came to Canada from Hong Kong in 1967 sponsored by her daughter; discusses her initial loneliness, language problems and cold climate when she first arrived; discusses improvement in Vancouver's Chinatown restaurants for the past ten years; belongs to senior citizen clubs in Chinatown and is active in these organisations; differences in social attitudes towards females in Canada and Hong Kong; talks of experiences of the Sino-Japanese war in China; talks of the inequalities in China towards females, i.e. treatment of females at village wedding banquets in China; living conditions and the hardships as a refugee in Hong Kong during the Japanese invasion; discusses the Communist takeover in China and how it affected her family and the confiscation of land and property; description of Vancouver's east side and of the residents; not able to speak English makes it difficult to mix with Caucasians; speaks of freedom of meeting people and enjoying herself now that she lives on her own in Chinatown, and not in the suburbs with her daughter.

RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1984-03-13 SUMMARY: Born 1924. Family history from 1800s, from China to Canada. Growing up in Vancouver's Chinatown and working in family store on Pender Street. Father died -- mother owned and ran store. Discussion about store. Food preparation. Women working on farms, picking beans. Ying's experience working in a factory. Chinese women's work in general. Discussion of tea room women and domestics. Chinese women working as store clerks. Women not going out of doors -- remaining inside. Ying's life as an adult and a married woman. Cooking. Ends with short discussion of foot binding.