Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4648
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1908-1975
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 3 folders of textual records + 180 photographs + ephemera + 1 map + 1 architectural drawing
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records acquired from the Chinese Herbalist shop “Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co” operating in Victoria from 1905 until 1968. Textual records include a few pieces of correspondence, receipts and ephemera addressed to "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Lim You and Lim Yau (Yew Long Lum) wh…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 3 folders of textual records + 180 photographs + ephemera + 1 map + 1 architectural drawing
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records acquired from the Chinese Herbalist shop “Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co” operating in Victoria from 1905 until 1968. Textual records include a few pieces of correspondence, receipts and ephemera addressed to "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Lim You and Lim Yau (Yew Long Lum) while the shop was in operation at 1620 Government Street in the 1940s. Some of the records are written in English while a portion are written in Cantonese and haven't been translated. Most of the photographs document the content of the original shop at the time of aquistion in 1975. Some photographs of unidentified people may be related to the owner or proprietor of the shop. A collection of other photographs document various Chinese Canadian organizations that were in operation in Victoria. Records are arranged into the following series: 1) Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. photographs series 2) Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. documents series
- History
- The Chinese Herbalist shop "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co" operated in Victoria, BC from about 1905 until [1968]. The meaning of "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co" can be translated as "Collection, Life, Source, Alive, Shop" although many interpretations can be taken since each Chinese character can have several meanings. Contents of the shop were purchased by the Burnaby Village Museum in 1975 and reassembled as a permanent display in the Burnaby Village Museum. The shop’s original owner was Ng Chee Fong who opened the shop ca.1905. In 1921, Ng returned to Hong Kong and sold the business to Lam Yuen and Wong Ying who were from Vancouver. Lam Yuen and Wong Ying employed Lum Chuck Yue to operate the shop. Lum Chuck Yue had formerly operated a small herbal counter in a Chinese apothecary store on the south side of Fisgard Street, Victoria. In 1924 Lam Yuen and Wong Ying purchased Wah Sun & Co. from Lee S. Yew and Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. moved into the Wah Sun premises at 1620 Government Street in the Lee Block . The furnishings and fixtures of both stores were combined, with the more elaborate fixtures from WSYWK remaining as part of the public part of the shop and the plainer fixtures of Wah Sun moved into the workroom and basement. In the 1930s Lum Chuck Yue took over the business and became the proprietor. In about 1934, Tan Yi Tang purchased the business and the shop reopened as Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. following renovations with Lum Yew Jong as the shop's proprietor. Lum Yew Jong continued to operate the shop until his death in 1967 at the age of 68 years. Following Lum’s death, the property and contents of the shop were purchased by Mr. J. Watson Marles, a local owner operator of an antique store at 1714 Government Street. The shop and contents went through a few more private owners including Rodney Pain before it was purchased by the Heritage Village Museum in 1975 with funds made available by the Vancouver Foundation and the Province of British Columbia. Contents of the original shop were reasembled in a reconstructed building as a permanent display on site at the Burnaby Village Museum.
- Creator
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Company
- Accession Code
- HV975.5
- BV985.5331
- BV017.7
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1908-1975
- Related Material
- See also Artifacts under Accessions HV975.5; BV985.5331 and BV017.7
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
![Elementary school students, [between 1912 and 1928] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/198553310005.jpg?width=280)
Elementary school students
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1257
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1912 and 1928]
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 21 x 27 cm, mounted on card 32.5 x 39 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of eighty-four boys dressed in uniform, seated and standing in formation in front of an elementary school with their ten teachers. Three Five Races Under One Union flags (national flag for the Republic of China) are prominently displayed.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 21 x 27 cm, mounted on card 32.5 x 39 cm
- Material Details
- Card mount has a decorative border
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of eighty-four boys dressed in uniform, seated and standing in formation in front of an elementary school with their ten teachers. Three Five Races Under One Union flags (national flag for the Republic of China) are prominently displayed.
- Accession Code
- BV985.5331.5
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [between 1912 and 1928]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 1/7/2010
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Note on verso of photograph is written in Chinese characters
Images
![Elementary school students, [between 1912 and 1928] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/198553310005.jpg)
![Group of young men, [192-] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/198553310004.jpg?width=280)
Group of young men
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1256
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [192-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm, mounted on card 30.5 x 35 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of seventeen unidentified young men seated and standing in three rows outside at an unidentified location. These men are believed to be Chinese Freemasons of British Columbia (previously named the Chee Kung Tong).
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm, mounted on card 30.5 x 35 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of seventeen unidentified young men seated and standing in three rows outside at an unidentified location. These men are believed to be Chinese Freemasons of British Columbia (previously named the Chee Kung Tong).
- Subjects
- Organizations
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Accession Code
- BV985.5331.4
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [192-]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 1/7/2010
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Notes on verso of photograph read: "[illegible] Chinese Freemason" and "Dr. Lam / [illegible] in San Diego" and "[not equal to] 1914"
Images
![Group of young men, [192-] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/198553310004.jpg)
![Portrait of Chinese man, [192-] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1975/1975_0005_0061_001.jpg?width=280)
Portrait of Chinese man
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4576
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [192-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 25 x 20 cm in matt 45 x 30 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph is a studio portrait of an unidentified man of Chinese origin. Matte has a cluster of Chinese characters on the bottom left corner and on the middle right side. Man is dressed in a suit and is wearing glasses. The portrait originates from the Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. shop on 1620 Gove…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 25 x 20 cm in matt 45 x 30 cm
- Material Details
- Matte has a cluster of Chinese characters on the bottom left corner and on the middle right side. Chinese characters were translated into English in 2018.
- On the right hand side, it is written ""for Mr. Wong Hong to keep"".
- On the bottom of the left hand side, it is written the name of the photographer (last name is Lam). The last character of his name has no matching word in Chinese. One of the characters on the bottom left generally means younger brother (related by blood), but with close friends, the younger person may refer himself as such too. Since they had two different last name ""Wong"" and ""Lam"", therefore these two people could not be related.
- The final character on the bottom left means ""a gift"".
- Scope and Content
- Photograph is a studio portrait of an unidentified man of Chinese origin. Matte has a cluster of Chinese characters on the bottom left corner and on the middle right side. Man is dressed in a suit and is wearing glasses. The portrait originates from the Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. shop on 1620 Government Street, Victoria.
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Accession Code
- HV975.5.61
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [192-]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Portrait of Chinese man, [192-] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1975/1975_0005_0061_001.jpg)
![Remittance promotion notice, [between 1921 and 1967] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1975/1975_0005_1534_001.jpg?width=280)
Remittance promotion notice
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9554
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1921 and 1967]
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a one page notice handwritten in Cantonese in black ink on rice paper. The notice publicizes the service offered by Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co where money could be transferred by an individual bank to their country of origin. The rear of the shop acted as an unofficial post office …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a one page notice handwritten in Cantonese in black ink on rice paper. The notice publicizes the service offered by Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co where money could be transferred by an individual bank to their country of origin. The rear of the shop acted as an unofficial post office for recent Chinese immgrants who needed a permanent mailing address. The notice was translated in English, the larger words translate to: "Our shop offers remittance service to Hong Kong. The process is faster than others no matter how much you are wiring. If the family of any overseas compatriots who are living in Hong Kong need money urgently, [we] can also speed up the remittance. Your patronage is very welcomed.". The smaller words translate to: "The valued customers have to take care of the remittance fee on your own. Connection to any city in the Canton province; fast and proper remittance."
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Accession Code
- HV975.5.1534
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- [between 1921 and 1967]
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Images
![Remittance promotion notice, [between 1921 and 1967] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1975/1975_0005_1534_001.jpg)
![Yue Shan Society, [192-] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1975/1975_0005_1456_001.jpg?width=280)
Yue Shan Society
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription895
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [192-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : 17 x 27 cm mounted on matt in frame 22 x 37.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of members of the Yue Shan Society gathered together in front of building on Fisgard Strett, Victoria, B.C. Society members are arranged together into four rows in front of building with a large banner with Chinese characters hanging above. A group of ten children are seated on the curb …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : 17 x 27 cm mounted on matt in frame 22 x 37.5 cm
- Material Details
- guilded wood frame is chipped and scratched
- glass is missing
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of members of the Yue Shan Society gathered together in front of building on Fisgard Strett, Victoria, B.C. Society members are arranged together into four rows in front of building with a large banner with Chinese characters hanging above. A group of ten children are seated on the curb in front of society members.
- Geographic Access
- Victoria
- Accession Code
- HV975.5.1456
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [192-]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-01-12
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Note in blue ink on verso of frame reads: "Yue Shan Society / on Fisguard St."
Images
![Yue Shan Society, [192-] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1975/1975_0005_1456_001.jpg)