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Postcards of Chinatown, San Francisco, California
MS.R.127  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Historical Background
  • Collection Scope and Content Summary

  • Contributing Institution: Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
    Title: Postcards of Chinatown, San Francisco, California
    Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.127
    Physical Description: 0.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
    Date (inclusive): 1901-1987, undated
    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.
    Language of Material: English .

    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. Date accessed.
    For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

    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 Chingwah 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.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    San Francisco (Calif.) -- History -- Sources
    Postcards -- California -- San Francisco -- 20th century.
    Chinatown (San Francisco, Calif.) -- Pictorial works.
    Chinese -- California -- San Francisco -- Pictorial works.