This collection of papers relates to Chinese miners in Cumberland B.C. Letter G is a by air mail letter to Mr. Mah Done elik in Cumberland B.C. from Wong Sue Chong in Hong Kong. Letters C-E are from the Bank of Canada (New York Agency 40 Wall Street) and are addressed to Chung Hing Leong. Two of the books in this collection are textbooks.
Mr. Lap Yuen Sew was a miner in Cumberland B.C. Items included in this collection: Letter from Canadian Citizenship Act; Letter from Ottawa regarding citizenship; blank form from Canadian Citizenship Act; filled out notice of hearing from Canadian Citizenship Act ; hand written document with date of birth, date of leaving China, and occupation; hand written exercise book; envelope marked “passports”; passport pictures; rent receipts; envelope from permit department of liquor control board; ration book; voting registration certificate; envelope regarding Canadian Citizenship registration.
This was Jumbo’s (Hor Sue Mah) personal seal; there is a carved lion on the top and the mahogany base was made by Bill Johnstone. Jumbo gave this seal to Bill Johnstone just before he left Chinatown in Cumberland B.C. Jumbo was the last Chinese resident to leave Chinatown.
This is a photograph from the 2nd anniversary of the Cumberland Nationalist League, March 28, 1920. There are around 60 people in the photo, standing in front of, and on the porch of, the C.N.L. building, including Wing Ming Chu, 3rd from left on balcony; Chin Shea Yun, in front of left pillar by fence; Foon Sien Wong, right of front gate, and Mah Wai Shu, front of right pillar.
Baskets similar to this were given as a welcoming gift to mail order brides on their arrival from the old country. The baskets held a collection of buttons, slips of wool from a mail order company, needles, and thread.