Documents & Records
Museums and Archives
Historic government records are held in national, provincial and municipal repositories. Individuals, families and organizations also frequently donate private records to museums and archives. Archives' across Canada have collaborated to create the Canadian Archival Information Network (CAIN). The network allows user to simultaneously search the holdings of many archival repositories in order to identify materials that may be of interest.
The list below is primarily derived from CAIN. It identifies Canadian museums and archives with records in their collections that may be of interest to Chinese-Canadian genealogists. Specific record collections at each repository are identified, with links to their archival descriptions in the CAIN database.
The collections vary greatly in content and scope. Some relate to individuals and families, others to organizations and businesses. Some include items that may allow the researcher to specifically identify an individual; others will be more useful in providing clues or background material for genealogical and historical research. Formats vary and include documents, photographs and audiotapes.
The list is selective and emphasizes older historical materials found in Canadian archives and museums. A search of CAIN using terms such as Chinese and Chinatown will yield fuller results, although some items may be quite recent and of limited genealogical value.
Currently, the list focuses on resources held by archives' in B.C. and Alberta, and in the collections of Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa. Other provinces and territories have been surveyed, but little material relating to Chinese-Canadians has been identified, and most of it is recent and of little or no genealogical value. If you prefer to do your own CAIN search, these search tips may be useful. In most cases, records have not been microfilmed and it is necessary to visit the repository where they are held in order to review them.
British Columbia
Barkerville Historic Town and Resource Centre
- Barkerville Historic Town Chinese Papers Collection
- Lee Chong Company Fonds
Note: Information and in some cases photographs of specific items in the Barkerville Historic Town and Resource Centre are available in the Historical Chinese-Language Materials in British Columbia electronic inventory. Go to the Catalogue Search page and search by Holding Location, entering Barkerville as a keyword.
British Columbia Archives
- David C. Lew Fonds
- Kwong Lee and Company Fonds
- Tye Chung Lung and Company Fonds
- Wing Chong Company Fonds
- Yee Lun Ark Ltd. Fonds
Bulkley Valley Museum
Campbell River Museum and Archives
City of Vancouver Archives
- Chinese Students' Athletic Association Fonds
- Lambert M. Sung Fonds
- Kuo Kong Silk Company Fonds
- Sam Kee Company Fonds
- Yip Family and Yip Sang Ltd. Fonds
City of Victoria Archives
- George Y. Lee Fonds
- Lim Li Bang Fonds
- Roy S.T. Chan Fonds
- Victoria Canada-Chinese Friendship Association Fonds
- Winnett A. Brand Fonds
Cowichan Valley Museum and Archives
Cranbrook Archives, Museum and Landmark Foundation
Cumberland Museum
- Chinese Nationalist League Cumberland Branch Fonds
Note: Information and in some cases photographs of specific items in the Cumberland Museum are available in the Historical Chinese-Language Materials in British Columbia electronic inventory. Go to the Catalogue Search page and search by Holding Location, entering Cumberland museum archives as keywords.
Fort Steele Heritage Town Archives
Kelowna Public Archives
Langley Centennial Museum
Nanaimo Community Archives
- Chu Yet Quai Fonds
- Kin Lee Jung Fonds: 1930-1994
- Quong Jan Yip Fonds
- William and Mary Cartwright Fonds: 1869-1904
- Wah Hing Land Company Fonds
- Wong Family Fonds
Note: Information and in some cases photographs of specific items in the Nanaimo Community Archives are available in the Historical Chinese-Language Materials in British Columbia electronic inventory. Go to the Catalogue Search page and search by Holding Location, entering Nanaimo community archives as keywords.
New Westminster Museum and Archives
The New Westminster Museum and Archives has records of the New Westminster Chinese Nationalist League (Kuomingtang) and the New Westminster Chinese Benevolent Association. The fonds include cemetery records, minute books, membership rolls, and other items. Virtually all of the material is in Chinese. Both fonds are unprocessed. For more information, contact the New Westminster Museum and Archives.
Quesnel and District Museum and Archives
University of British Columbia Archives
University of British Columbia Rare Books and Special Collections
- Britannia Beach Mining and Smelting Company Ltd. Fonds
- Chock On Fonds
- Foon Sien Wong Fonds
- Lee Family Fonds
- Thomas Whaun Fonds
- Wah Shun Company Fonds
- Won Alexander Cumyow Fonds
University of Victoria Archives
Alberta
City of Edmonton Archives
Glenbow Archives
- Ban Seng Hoe Chinese-Calgarian Oral History Project Collection
- Chinese-Canadian Heritage Program Collection
- James Mah Poy Family Fonds
- J. McKinley Cameron Fonds
- Judy Lo Fonds
- Kong Family Fonds
- Oi Kwan Foundation Fonds
Esplanade Archives [Medicine Hat]
Canada
Library and Archives Canada
- Chinese Canadian Association Fonds
- Chinese Freemasons Society, Cumberland British Columbia Fonds
- Concordia University Fonds
- Ernest C. Mark Fonds
- Leung Doo Wong Fonds
- Yee Yee Tam Fonds
Photo banner: Detail from VPL Historical Photograph 78362
