Wylie Wong collection of May's Studio photographs and San Francisco Chinatown ephemera

Series 1. Photographs

Physical Description: The term "original print" is used to describe prints created by May's Studio through their original process. The term "copy prints" is used to describe prints which were made at a later date, probably during the 1980s or later. The date given for May's Studio copy prints is an estimate of when the original image was taken. If it was unclear when a print was produced, or if it appeared that a photograph was not associated with May's Studio, the more generic term "photographic print" was used.

Scope and Contents

This series contains photographic prints produced by May's Studio, primarily during the 1920s-1930s. Photographs in this series include numerous portraits of actors and actresses in traditional Chinese theater costume as well as stage scenes from Chinese operas and other forms of performance. A number of the photographs of actors and actresses are large hand-colored portraits; some of these are embellished with glitter. Also in the series are other photographs by May's Studio, such as wedding albums, images of life in San Francisco's Chinatown, including special events, portraits of businesses and employees, street views, and building interiors. Some photographs are in panoramic formats. This series also contains some miscellaneous photographs not taken by May's Studio, such as more recent photographs of Chinese Opera performers. In addition to photographic prints, the series contains a small set of black and white negatives and color transparencies.

box 1, folder 1-8

Actors and actresses in traditional Chinese theater costumes (original gelatin silver prints); some include May's Photo credit stamp, circa 1920s

box 2, folder 1-33

Actors and actresses in traditional Chinese theater costumes (copy prints); some include May's Photo credit stamp; many of the original prints can be found in box 1 folders 1-8; circa 1920s

flat-box 5, folder 8-14

Actors and actresses in traditional Chinese theater costumes (copy prints); some include May's Photo credit stamp; many of the original prints can be found in box 1 folders 1-8; circa 1920s

flat-box 5, folder 7

Actor in traditional Chinese theater costume (photographic print) circa 1920s

box 1, folder 14-15

California Historical Society archive sheets; used to evaluate material condition of loaned photographs for exhibition, "Chinese American Theater on the West Coast" 1983 (now in box 1 folders 1-8)

box 1, folder 9

Mei Lanfang, portraits in costume from Farewell My Concubine and other performances (photographic prints), circa 1920s

box 1, folder 10

Mei Lanfang, portrait in tuxedo (copy print), circa 1920s

box 1, folder 11

Mei Lanfang, portrait with three other men (copy print), circa 1950s

flat-box 6, folder 1

Mei Lanfang in "Heavenly Maid Scatters Flowers" (hand-colored photographic print mounted on Yung Cheong studio board), originally issued 1918

flat-box 6, folder 2

Mei Lanfang in "Heavenly Maid Scatters Flowers" (reproduction of hand-colored photograph), originally issued 1918

flat-box 11, folder 1

Mei Lanfang in "Heavenly Maid Scatters Flowers" (reproduction of hand-colored photograph), originally issued 1918

map-folder 41

Portrait of an actor in traditional Chinese theater costume (original hand-colored photographic print, embellished with glitter), circa 1920s

map-folder 43

Portrait of an actress in traditional Chinese theater costume (original hand-colored photographic print, embellished with glitter), circa 1920s

map-folder 44

Portrait of an actor/actress in traditional Chinese theater costume (original hand-colored photographic print, embellished with glitter), circa 1920s

map-folder 45

Portrait of an actor/actress in traditional Chinese theater costume (original hand-colored photographic print, embellished with glitter), circa 1920s

map-folder 46

Portrait of an actor/actress in traditional Chinese theater costume (original hand-colored photographic print), circa 1920s

map-folder 47

Portrait of an actor in traditional Chinese theater costume (original hand-colored photographic print, embellished with glitter), circa 1920s

map-folder 49

Portrait of an actor in traditional Chinese theater costume (original photographic print), circa 1920s

map-folder 42

Portrait of an actress with a parasol (original hand-colored photographic print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 31

Portrait of an actress with a parasol (reproduction of hand-colored photograph), circa 1920s

flat-box 11, folder 2

Portrait of an actress with a parasol (reproduction of hand-colored photograph), circa 1920s

map-folder 48

Portrait of an actress, seated in black dress (original hand-colored photographic print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 32

Portrait of an actress, seated in black dress (reproduction of hand-colored photograph), circa 1920s

flat-box 11, folder 3

Portrait of an actress, seated in black dress (reproduction of hand-colored photograph), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 25

Portrait of Gee Lan Niu (copy print), circa 1920s

flat-box 12, folder 1

Portrait of an actor in the role of a Hua Dan (original print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 22

Group portrait, actors and actresses in club house (copy print)

box 4, folder 23

Group portrait, actors and actresses (copy print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 24

Group portrait, women/actresses (copy print)

box 1, folder 12

Stage scene and cast of actors in traditional Chinese theater costume (original prints), circa 1920s

box 1, folder 13

Scenes from traditional Chinese theater productions (original prints); some include May's Photo credit stamp; productions were probably staged at the Great China Theater (later the Great Star Theater), circa 1920s

box 3, folder 1-33

Scenes from traditional Chinese theater productions; also includes patriotic political plays, including play on Sun Yat-Sen and the Chinese Republican era (copy prints); some include May's Photo credit stamp; productions were probably staged at the Great China Theater (later the Great Star Theater), circa 1920s

flat-box 5, folder 2-6

Scenes from traditional Chinese theater productions (copy prints); some include May's Photo credit stamp; productions were probably staged at the Great China Theater (later the Great Star Theater), circa 1920s

flat-box 10, folder 1

Scene from traditional Chinese theater production (original print); probably staged at the Great China Theater (later the Great Star Theater), circa 1920s

flat-box 5, folder 1

Scene from traditional Chinese theater production (photographic print mounted on board), circa 1920s

flat-box 11, folder 4

Theater scene (photographic print mounted on board), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 56

Illustrations of traditional Chinese theater (copy prints)

box 4, folder 1

Miscellaneous black and white negatives

box 4, folder 2

Transparencies of hand colored portraits of actors/actresses, others

box 4, folder 3

Great China Theater, inaugural photograph (copy print), 1925

box 4, folder 4

Chinatown lobby/bar (original prints), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 5

Chinatown parade, marching band (original and copy prints), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 6

Chinatown parade, dragon (original and copy prints), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 7

Chinatown parade, group portrait in costume (original and copy prints), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 8

Chinatown parade, float with women in costume (original and copy prints), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 9

Chinatown street view with Shanghai Low cafe (original and copy prints), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 10

Banquet at Shanghai Low cafe for Yellow Cab Company, 1928 (photographic print)

flat-box 11, folder 6

Chinatown, exterior of Hop Sing Tong building decorated for a convention (original print), circa 1920s

flat-box 11, folder 7

Chinatown, interior of a store with staff (original print), circa 1920s

flat-box 11, folder 8

Chinatown, interior of a store with staff (photographic print mounted on board), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 11

Portrait of large group in front of Wing Fung and Co. (copy print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 12

Royal China Theater stage (copy print) circa 1880s

flat-box 12, folder 2

General Tsaiting Kai, welcome celebration (original print), circa 1930s

box 4, folder 13

General Tsaiting Kai, welcome celebration (copy print), circa 1930s

box 4, folder 14

General Tsaiting Kai, welcome celebration (copy print of panoramic photograph), circa 1930s

map-folder 40

General Tsaiting Kai, welcome celebration; pictures youth groups and other groups in front the grandstand (original panoramic photographic print), circa 1930s

flat-box 11, folder 9

Group portrait at an event with Republic of China flag (original print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 15

Group portrait with Republic of China flag; includes May's Studio photo stamp (copy print)

flat-box 6, folder 12

Group portrait with Republic of China flag; includes May's Studio photo stamp (copy print), circa 1920s

flat-box 13, folder 4

Panoramic photograph of group portrait aboard S.S. Guatemala, with Republic of China flag (original print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 16

Group portrait aboard S.S. Guatemala, with Republic of China flag (copy print of panoramic photograph), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 17

Group portrait (copy print)

box 4, folder 18

Group portrait in front of National Herbal Institute of China (original and copy print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 19

Interior of National Herbal Institute of China (original print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 20

Exterior of National Herbal Institute of China (original print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 21

Group portrait in front of May's Studio (original and copy print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 26

Exterior of China Emporium (original and copy print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 27

Interior of Chinatown store (copy print) circa 1890

box 4, folder 28

Interior of Chinatown store (original and copy print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 29

Exterior of Chinatown store (original and copy print), circa 1920s

flat-box 6, folder 3-4

Kwong Hong Fat and Co. Importers; interior and exterior views with portraits of staff (original and copy prints) circa 1920s

box 4, folder 30

Portrait of a woman and interior (photographic print)

box 4, folder 33

Portrait of a woman/actress (original print); includes May’s Studio original enclosure, circa 1920s

box 4, folder 34

Portrait of two men/actors (copy print)

box 4, folder 35

Portrait of a man (original print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 36

Portrait of two men (original print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 37

Portrait of two men (original and copy print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 38

Portrait of a boy with flowers (original and copy print; original partially colored), circa 1920s

flat-box 6, folder 6

Portrait of a group of men in front of a building (photographic print), circa 1920s

box 4, folder 46

Group portrait (copy print)

flat-box 6, folder 5

Portrait of group of women/actresses (partially colored photographic print), circa 1920s

flat-box 6, folder 7

Portrait of a young boy with Christmas tree and ornaments (copy print), circa 1920s

flat-box 6, folder 8

Portrait of a boy in traditional clothes (copy print), circa 1920s

flat-box 6, folder 9

Portrait of a man in traditional clothes (copy print), circa 1920s

flat-box 12, folder 4

Portrait of seated men in traditional dress; includes May's Photo stamp (original print), circa 1920s

flat-box 12, folder 5

Portrait of seated men in modern dress; May's Photo stamp (original print), circa 1920s

flat-box 50, folder 1

Portrait of a man and woman (original hand-colored photographic print), circa 1920s

flat-box 6, folder 10

Family portrait (copy print) circa 1920s

box 4, folder 47

Portrait of Calvin Chin and Anthony Wong, Medical Corps commissioned officers (copy print)

box 4, folder 39

Postcard portraits, circa 1920s

box 4, folder 40

Photograph of framed poster showing officers of the San Francisco Lodge, Chinese American Citizens Alliance, 1934

box 4, folder 41

"Mandarin with a bodyguard" (copy print) circa 1904

box 4, folder 42

Lumber camp (copy print) circa 1880s

box 4, folder 43

Chinese Telephone Exchange (copy print), circa 1895

box 4, folder 44

Tye Leung (copy print), circa 1912

box 4, folder 45

Chinese priest in traditional robe (copy print)

box 4, folder 51

May's Studio, pornography (photographic prints)

flat-box 6, folder 11

Interior room (photographic print),circa 1920s

flat-box 6, folder 13

Photograph of poster for play The First Born circa 1920s

flat-box 6, folder 14

Photograph of war atrocity (copy print)

box 4, folder 48-50

Wedding photographs from album (original prints), circa 1920s

flat-box 11, folder 5

Wedding portrait (photographic print mounted on board), circa 1920s

flat-box 7, folder 1-37

Photograph album; includes wedding photos; other events; organization, group, and individual portraits; also objects and Chinatown buildings/street views; some with May's Photo stamp (original prints), circa 1920s

Physical Description: Album leaves were found loose and have been foldered individually; photos are usually mounted on both sides of leaves.

flat-box 8, folder 1-28

Photograph album; includes wedding photos; other events; organization, group, and individual portraits; also objects and Chinatown buildings/street views; some with May's Photo stamp (original prints), circa 1920s

Physical Description: Album leaves were found loose and have been foldered individually; photos are usually mounted on both sides of leaves.

flat-box 9, folder 1-23

Photograph album; includes wedding photos; other events; organization, group, and individual portraits; also objects and Chinatown buildings/street views; some with May's Photo stamp (original prints), circa 1920s

Physical Description: Album leaves were found loose and have been foldered individually; photos are usually mounted on both sides of leaves.

flat-box 10, folder 2-30

Photograph album; includes wedding photos; other events; organization, group, and individual portraits; also objects and Chinatown buildings/street views; some with May's Photo stamp (original prints), circa 1920s

Physical Description: Album leaves were found loose and have been foldered individually; photos are usually mounted on both sides of leaves.

flat-box 12, folder 3

Portrait of large group in front of Wing Fung and Co. (original print), circa 1920s

flat-box 13, folder 1

Panoramic photograph with five inset photos of actresses (original print), circa 1920

flat-box 13, folder 2

Panoramic photograph with five inset photos of actresses (original print), circa 1920

flat-box 13, folder 3

Panoramic photograph with five inset photos of a young girl (original print), circa 1920

box 4, folder 55

Actors in costume from the play Princess Cheung Ping (photographic prints), 2001

box 4, folder 54

Actors in costume from the play Lioness Roars (photographic prints), 2003

box 4, folder 53

Portrait of Marlene Dietrich (photographic print), 1937

box 4, folder 52

Traditional Japanese body tattoo (photographic print)

Series 2. Glass-Plate Negatives

Scope and Contents

This series contains a set of glass-plate negatives from May's Studio. Most are images of actors, actresses, and theater scenes. A few of the plates contain other types of portraits and subject matter.

Restricted Material

All of the images on the glass-plate negatives are represented as prints in Series 1. The plates are fragile, so access is partially restricted. Please inquire at the Department of Special Collections if you have a particular need to examine the glass-plate negatives.

box 18, items 1-10

Actors and actresses in traditional Chinese theater costumes (glass-plate negatives)

box 19, items 1-10

Actors and actresses in traditional Chinese theater costumes (glass plate negatives)

box 20, items 1-10

Actors and actresses in traditional Chinese theater costumes (glass plate negatives)

box 21, items 1-8

Actors and actresses in traditional Chinese theater costumes (glass plate negatives)

Physical Description: Items 7-8 are two pieces of one broken plate.

box 22, items 1-10

Actors and actresses in traditional Chinese theater costumes (glass plate negatives)

Series 3. Murals & Sign

Scope and Contents

This series contains a set of murals from the Shanghai Lo restaurant/bar (formerly in San Francisco's Chinatown) and the studio's sign. The panels are made of painted canvas on board. They contain imagery painted in a traditional Chinese style and depict scenes from mythological stories and operas as well as animals. The murals were painted by the same artist who painted the May's Studio backdrops and opera backdrops - Mok Huk Ming.

oversize-box 51

Mok Huk Ming mural; interior scene with a man and a woman embracing (painted canvas on board)

oversize-box 52

Mok Huk Ming mural; woman in a garden (painted canvas on board)

oversize-box 53

Mok Huk Ming mural; mythological scene with multiple figures in the clouds (painted canvas on board)

oversize-box 54

Mok Huk Ming mural; interior scene with a man and a woman and views towards the outside landscape (painted canvas on board)

oversize-box 55

Mok Huk Ming mural; rooster (painted canvas on board)

oversize-box 56

Mok Huk Ming mural; mythological scene with two women (painted canvas on board)

oversize-box 57

Mok Huk Ming mural; crane (painted canvas on board)

oversize-box 58

May's Photo Studio sign

Scope and Contents

Chinese characters carved in relief on both sides of wooden panel, with paint.

Series 4. Artwork and Ephemera

Scope and Contents

This series contains prints, posters, ephemera, and artwork. Printed material includes a set of Chinese opera publicity prints, produced in Hong Kong and Shanghai in the 1930s. Examples of other items include a souvenir booklet commemorating Mei Lanfang's US tour and an advertisement for Remy Martin cognac, printed in Hong Kong in the 1950s and featuring a Chinese opera scene. Later materials include other Chinese opera publicity materials as well as posters and pamphlets for a "Pear Garden in the West"--a 1980s celebration of the history of Chinese theater in America.

flat-box 13, folder 5

Chinese opera print (visual work); Yu Tang Chun, Story of Su San; printed by k and K printing co., Shanghai, circa 1930s

map-folder 23

Chinese opera print (visual work); actor/actress; K. and K. Printing, Shanghai, circa 1930s

map-folder 24

Chinese opera print (visual work); Hang Zhiying, "Lady in a Garden"; K. and K. Printing, Shanghai, circa 1930s

map-folder 25

Chinese opera print (visual work); Mei Lanfang, role of White Snake, circa 1930s

map-folder 26

Chinese opera print (visual work); two scenes; Zee Shin Kee Offset Printing, Shanghai, circa 1930s

map-folder 27

Chinese opera print (visual work); two scenes; Zee Shin Kee Offset Printing, Shanghai, circa 1930s

map-folder 28

Chinese opera print (visual work); actor/actress, circa 1930s

map-folder 29

Chinese opera print (visual work); actor/actress, circa 1930s

map-folder 30

Chinese opera print (visual work); actor/actress circa 1930s

map-folder 31

Chinese opera print (visual work); two scenes; Zee Shin Kee Offset Printing, Shanghai, circa 1930s

map-folder 32

Chinese opera print (visual work); actor/actress in winter scene, circa 1930s

flat-box 13, folder 6

Chinese print (visual work); woman in a garden pavilion, circa 1930s

flat-box 14, folder 2

Chinese print (visual work); ducks in a pond

flat-box 16, folder 1-4

Chinese New Year prints (visual work); opera/story scenes; printed in Shanghai

flat-box 16, folder 5

Chinese New Year Print (visual work); lion

map-folder 33

Print (visual work); mythological scenes from opera/operas; Li Shan Pictures Co., House No. 12, Shanghai (printed in Hong Kong), circa 1930s

map-folder 34

Lion print (visual work), circa 1930s

map-folder 36

Map of China during World War II; advertising poster for C.T. Sun and Son with images of products; map shows regions occupied by Japanese forces and the Chinese National Government

map-folder 35

Portrait print (visual work) of a woman/actress in contemporary dress (mounted on cardboard), circa 1930s

box 17, folder 1

Mei Lanfang, souvenir booklet; contains photographs, circa 1930

flat-box 16, folder 9

Remy Martin cognac poster; printed in Hong Kong, circa 1950

flat-box 14, folder 1

Miscellaneous water color painting

flat-box 14, folder 3

View of San Francisco Chinatown street, print (visual work)

flat-box 14, folder 4

View of Japanese Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park, print (visual work)

flat-box 14, folder 5

Chinese news clippings with photograph of beauty pageant contestant

flat-box 15, folder 1

Man on a horse; traditional style ink drawing with pigment

flat-box 15, folder 2

The Young Companion, no. 120, magazine cover, 1936

flat-box 15, folder 3

The Young Companion, no. 124, magazine cover, 1937

flat-box 15, folder 4

Chinese opera, photographs/posters, circa 1980s

flat-box 15, folder 5

"The Street of Gamblers"; poster with photograph by Arnold Genthe

flat-box 15, folder 6

San Francisco Chinatown map

flat-box 15, folder 8

Photocopy of scrapbook with images of Chinese opera and clippings

flat-box 16, folder 6

Chinatown Beatification Project poster

flat-box 16, folder 7

Chan is Missing, movie poster; signed by filmmaker, Wayne Wong, 1981

flat-box 16, folder 8

"San Francisco, drawn after nature" (1852); printed by Strawberry Hill Press, San Francisco, 1975

flat-box 16, folder 10

Philip Chan, bamboo photograph

box 17, folder 2

"Scene from the Spectacle of Sun and Moon"; engraving (visual work)

box 17, folder 3

"The Culture and Preparation of Tea"; engraving (visual work)

map-folder 38

Hong Kong Chinese opera poster, circa 1960s

box 17, folder 4

Miscellaneous Chinese art/ephemera

box 17, folder 5

Wylie Wong, business cards

map-folder 37

Lotus and Sun, print (visual work); no. 15/165, signed by the artist, 1974

box 17, folder 6

The Radiant Maiden, playbill, 1983

map-folder 39

Poster for "Last Emperor" opera performance

flat-box 15, folder 7

"Pear Garden in the West"; poster advertising "America Chinese Theater, 1852-1983" Exhibition and performances (original photograph used for the poster, "Ch'i-hsing-teng as a woman warrior" is in box 1, folder 2)

box 17, folder 8

"Pear Garden in the West"; program for Chinese American performing arts festival, 1984

box 17, folder 9

"Pear Garden in the West"; program for Chinese American performing arts festival, 1986

Series 5. Publications

Scope and Contents

This small series contains photo copies of books related to the history of Chinese Theater, particularly Chinese theater in America.

box 17, folder 7

With New Eyes: Toward an Asian American Art History in the West; photocopy of cover of exhibit catalog, 1995

box 17, folder 10

The Chinese Theatre: A Brief Consideration by George Kin Leung; photocopy of book

box 17, folder 11-13

The History of Cantonese Opera in San Francisco, California (1852-1941) by William C. Hu; photocopy of book draft