CAIN No. 146820

TITLE:
Sam Kee Company fonds

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
4.2 m of textual records
46 photographs

DATES:
1888-1935

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY/BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
The Sam Kee Company, established in 1888, was one of the largest Chinese merchant firms in Vancouver. The company manufactured charcoal, contracted Chinese labour to shingle mills, canneries, and sugar beet farms, and operated a herring saltery in Nanaimo. It imported and exported food products to and from China, and served as agents for the Blue Funnel Steamship Line. The company also possessed sizable real estate holdings. Chang Yat Leong later managed the Sam Kee Company as an export firm until 1976.

SCOPE AND CONTENT:
The fonds consists of the correspondence and financial records of the Sam Kee Company and of related firms and operations. Fonds includes photographic portraits of Chinese families and individuals, school groups, and the Chang family.

REPOSITORY:
City of Vancouver Archives

FINDING AID AVAILABLE:
Item list available for photographs.

LANGUAGE:
Almost all the account books, and a large portion of the correspondence are in Chinese.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Title based on the contents of the fonds.

PROVENANCE:
Sam Kee Company

SUBJECTS:
Chang (family)
Sam Kee Company