Chinese-Canadian History
Introduction
This study guide will help you find information in the Vancouver Public Library on Chinese-Canadian history, from the early years to the present day. The guide draws mainly on the collection in Fine Arts and History (Level 6), but also includes materials found in other Library collections.
For books, films and websites focusing on the stories of specific Chinese-Canadian individuals and families, see separate booklist, Chinese-Canadian Biographies and Family Histories.
Search Strategies
The Library has many books, videos and other resources on Chinese-Canadian History. The best way to locate this material is to use the Library Catalogue.
Searching the Library Catalogue:
- China - Emigration and immigration - History
- Chinatown (Vancouver, B.C.) [or other city]
- Chinese - British Columbia
- Chinese - British Columbia - Vancouver
- Chinese - Canada
- Chinese - Canada - History
- Chinese Canadians
- Chinese Canadians - British Columbia [subdivides geographically]
- Chinese Canadians - British Columbia - Vancouver [and further subdivisions]
- Vancouver (B.C.) - History - Riot, 1907
Searching the Canadian Encyclopedia website:
Searching the Encyclopedia of British Columbia database:
- Chinatowns
- Chinese
- Chinese History
Directories
Special Collections (Level 7) has a variety of Chinese telephone directories available in microfilm and print:
- B.C. directories dating back to 1860 have been microfilmed. Chinese directories appear on the microfilms as early as 1882/83.
- There is a print collection of Chinese directories, mainly for Vancouver (approximate coverage 1945-1988; some years missing).
- Several directories on the Vancouver Public Library's British Columbia City Directories website include Chinese sections.
Searching the Northwest History Index:
This card index (located in Special Collections on Level 7) provides access to the Northwest History Collection, a heritage collection covering the early history and exploration of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. The collection includes magazine and newspaper articles, as well as pamphlets, books, chapters in books and many other resources. As of August 1998, no new material has been added to the Northwest History Index. It is continued by the British Columbia Index.Northwest History Index headings for Chinese-Canadian history include:
- Chinatown, Vancouver, B.C.
- Chinese Benevolent Association
- Chinese-Canadian Historical Society
- Chinese Community Library Services Association
- Chinese Cultural Centre, Vancouver, B.C.
- Chinese Edition Lifestyle Magazine, Vancouver, B.C. (Publication)
- Chinese Free Press, Vancouver, B.C.(Publication)
- Chinese in Barkerville, B.C.
- Chinese in [name of place]
- Chinese Nationalist League
- Chinese New Republic, Vancouver, B.C.(Publication)
- Chinese Schools - Vancouver, B.C.
- Chinese Times, Vancouver, B.C. (Publication)
Searching the British Columbia Index database:
This index is an electronic continuation of the Northwest History Index, and similarly acts as a finding tool for documents and facts relating to Canada's westernmost province. The index covers resources from August 1988 to present. It can be searched by keyword or subject.Searching the Historical Photographs:
Special Collections (Level 7) has an extensive collection of historical photographs relating to Vancouver and British Columbia. To locate photographs on Chinese-Canadian history, look under the following heading in the Historical Photographs card index, or search the digitized Historical Photographs of BC and the Yukon database.
- Chinese Canadians - B.C.
Additional headings under which useful references may be found include:
- Junks
- Vancouver - Districts - Strathcona
- Vancouver - Streets - [name of individual street in Chinatown area, e.g. Keefer]
Searching the B.C. Provincial Library Newspaper Index microfilms:
This microfilmed index of B.C. newspapers, covering the years 1900-1982, can be consulted in the Special Collections Department on Level 7 or in the Online Information and News Department on Level 5. Relevant headings include:
- Chinese immigration
- Chinese in B.C.
- Chinese in Canada
- Chineses in Vancouver
- Chinese in Vancouver Island
- Chinese in Victoria
- Royal Commission on Oriental Immigration
* Personal names are also indexed.
Searching the Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA) database:
Click on the Advanced Search tab at the top. Enter the following search strings in the first search box:
- chinese-canadians AND canadian history
You can substitute or add other search terms, e.g.
- chinese canadians AND canadian history AND vancouver
You can also limit your search by date of publication and retrieve full-text or scholarly articles only. Click on the Help link at the top right of the search screen for further details.
Searching the Canadian Newsstand database:
Recommended search strategy:
- Enter Chinese Canadian* in the first search box.
- Enter history in the second search box.
- Enter canada in the third search box. (Alternatively, substitute british columbia, vancouver, for canada).
- Click on Search.
Searching the CPI.Q database:
Enter one of the following search strings in the search box:
- chinese in canada
- chinese canadians
Searching the Newspaper Clipping Collection Index database:
The following files include newspaper clippings on Chinese immigration to Canada, and are available in the Online Information and News (Level 5). Most clippings date from 1994 or earlier.History & Government Clippings
- Immigrants - Canada
- Immigration and Emigration - Canada
- Immigration and Emigration - B.C.
- Refugees - Chinese
- Restitution Claim - Canada [relates to head tax and the redress campaign]
- Chinese in Canada [and related files]
Key Materials
A selection of related books and other library materials.
Related Links
Recommended web links on this topic.
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A comprehensive bibliography of 'overseas Chinese studies'
From the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a listing of almost 800 articles and books on the Chinese overseas.
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Across the Generations: A History of the Chinese in Canada
Provides a survey of Chinese-Canadian history, from early settlement to recent events. Includes many images of historical documents.
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Asian Canadian - Legal History
Links and citations to contemporary and historical Canadian legal documents relating to Chinese immigration and the notorious head tax.
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Chinatown Vancouver - Heritage
This City of Vancouver web page provides an overview of the history of Vancouver's Chinatown, and links to related information.
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Chinese Canadian Historical Photo Exhibit
Explores the history of the Chinese-Canadian community using photographs and other resources.
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Chinese Canadian Military Museum
The website features a Roll of Honour, commemorating Chinese Canadian soldiers who lost their lives.
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Chinese Cultural Center of Greater Vancouver
Provides information about the programs and facilities of the Centre, including its Archives and Museum.
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Chinese Experience in British Columbia: 1850-1950
Offers a rich portrait of the history of the Chinese community in B.C. Also provides access to digitized images of archival material from U.B.C.'s Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection and the City of Vancouver Archives' Yip Sang Collection.
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Chinese Immigration
This historical backgrounder on Chinese immigration to Canada is part of a CBC News in-depth feature on China.
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Early Chinese Canadians, 1858-1947
This extensive website created by Library and Archives Canada documents the history of the Chinese-Canadian community using personal narratives, government documents, letters, and audiovisual resources.
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Historical Chinese Language Materials in British Columbia: An Electronic Inventory
Provides a searchable database of over 11,000 Chinese-language materials, as well as an Image Gallery. Materials documented in the database include manuscripts, newspapers, correspondence, genealogical and family records, business transaction records, certificates, and more.
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Immigrants from China
This online research tool is based on Government of Canada documents that recorded the arrival of new immigrants from Canada between 1885 and 1949. The database is fully searchable by name, year of registration and immigration certificate number. Results are linked to digital images of the original records.
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Multicultural Canada: Search Our Digital Collections
The project's searchable digital collections include several historic Chinese-language newspapers and Chinese Benevolent Association papers.
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Perspectives on the 1907 Riots in Selected Asian Languages and International Newspapers
Presents materials that demonstrate how the 1907 anti-Asiatic riots in Vancouver were reflected in Asian-language newspapers in Vancouver, Hong Kong, the U.S., Taiwan and Britain.
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Tale of Perseverance: Chinese Immigration to Canada
This page created by the CBC includes archival film footage and audioclips on various themes in Chinese-Canadian history.
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Walking Tour: Chinatown
Sets out a guided two-hour walk of Vancouver's Chinatown, with detailed information and photographs of Chinatown landmarks.
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Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection
Information about a unique research collection at U.B.C. focusing on Pacific Northwest history, particularly the Chinese experience in B.C. Includes a searchable database.
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Yin & Yang: Chinatown Past & Present
This page created by B.C. Knowledge Network offers an interactive exploration of the story of Vancouver's Chinatown and the history of the Chinese community.
Related Newspapers, Articles, Encyclopedias & More
Selected online newspapers, journals, magazines, audiobooks, indexes, and other resources providing more information. Have your library card ready, as you may need to log in.
Canadian Business and Current Affairs
CPI.Q. (Canadian Periodical Index)
Encyclopedia of British Columbia
Encyclopedia of Canadas Peoples
Historical Photographs Database
Newspaper Clipping Collection Index
Last updated on February 24, 2010
