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Archival description
Chinatown (Vancouver, B.C.) Women--British Columbia--Social conditions--1918-1945
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Chinese women and work in B.C. collection

  • PR-1754
  • Collection
  • 1984

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.

Adilman, Tamara

Grace Lo [pseudonym] interview

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.

Nellie Chu [pseudonym] 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.

Ying [pseudonym] interview

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.