Descriptive Summary
Important Information for Researchers
Collection Scope and Content Summary
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Postcards of Chinatown, San Francisco, California
Date: 1901-1987, undated
Collection Number: MS-R127
Extent:
0.2 linear feet
(1 box)
Languages: The collection is in English.
Repository:
University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Abstract: The collection comprises 159 postcards, primarily of Chinatown in San Francisco, California, from approximately 1901 to 1987.
Subjects include individuals, families, restaurants, tea gardens, markets, bazaars, joss houses, shops, parades, and street
scenes. The collection also includes a few postcards of Chinatowns in Los Angeles, New York City, and Victoria, British Columbia.
Important Information for Researchers
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Intellectual property rights are retained by the creators of the
records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation
Postcards of Chinatown, San Francisco, California. MS-R127. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine,
California.
Acquisition Information
Acquired, 2006.
Historical Background
Established in 1850, San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America and contains one of the largest concentrations
of ethnic Chinese people residing outside of Asia. From approximately 1850 to 1900, it was the port of entry into the United
States for most Chinese immigrants from the southern Guangdong province. Chinatown covers approximately 24 to 30 blocks in
downtown San Francisco.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The collection comprises 159 postcards, primarily of Chinatown, San Francisco, California, from approximately 1901 to 1987.
Subjects include individuals, families, restaurants, tea gardens, markets, bazaars, joss houses, shops, and parades. Images
also include street scenes from Grant Avenue in the heart of Chinatown. The collection also includes two autographed postcards
of film star Chingwa Lee and a few postcards of Chinatowns in Los Angeles, New York City and Victoria, British Columbia.
Some of the postcards bear messages from people who visited Chinatown.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Chinese -- California -- San Francisco -- Pictorial works.
Chinatown (San Francisco, Calif.) -- Pictorial works.
California -- Archives.
Genres and Formats of Materials
Postcards -- California -- San Francisco -- 20th century.
No online items
