This is a 1909 list of Seufert Brothers Cannery employees. It includes their certificate of identity numbers. They were probably all living the bunkhouse that was destroyed by a fire on 12 April 1909.
This letter is from Wong Fook’s employer. Wong Fook lost his original certificate of residence about 1901 or 2. He reapplied about three years later and received a duplicate certificate. That certificate was destroyed in a fire on 12th April 1909.
In the above letter Mr. Seufert states “…and Seid Beck can tell more about them then I can, he suplys [sic] the help here.”
Seid Beck (sometimes spelled Back) was a merchant and labor broker in Portland.
Photos, 1930, Chinese Exclusion Act case files, RG 85, National Archives-Seattle, Lee Chan Wah file, Box 833, Case 7031/43.
Photographs for Rev. Kai Chong Yeung and family. Rev. K. C. Yeung was the minister at The First Chinese Presbyterian Church, 225 East 31st Street, New York, New York. He applied to have his wife, Lee Chan Wah, and their four children join him in New York. Their eldest daughter, Margaret Mo-Hing stayed in China.
The 1924 United States immigration act specifically exempted from quota restriction professors and ministers of any religion as well as their wives and minor children.[1]
Section 4(d) An immigrant who continuously for at least two years immediately preceding the time of his application for admission to the United States has been, and who seeks to enter the United States solely for the purpose of, carrying on the vocation of minister of any religious denomination, or professor of a college, academy, seminary, or university; and his wife, and his unmarried children under 18 years of age, if accompanying or following to join him…[2]
[1] Roger Daniels, “Immigration,” Encyclopedia of the New American Nation, (http://www.americanforeignrelations.com/E-N/Immigration.html : accessed 14 August 2015).
[2] “Non-Quota Immigrants,” Public Laws of the Sixty-Eighth Congress of the United States. Sess. I, Chapter 190. 1924, p.155, (http://www.legisworks.org/congress/68/publaw-139.pdf : accessed 14 August 2015).
In 1930 Rev. K. H. Yeung was a minister at the Chinese Presbyterian Church in New York City. His wife, Lee Chan Wah and children were applying to join him in New York
Gin Yut Ching was born on 1 August 1930, 4:30 a.m. on SS President Jackson, Voyage 24-E, latitude: 42-13 N, longitude: 155-45 E. Arrived in Seattle, Wash. on 9 August 1930; address: 2245 Wentworth Ave.; certificate of identity 64172.
Gin Yut Ching, daughter of Gin Fook Tsue, merchant at 2245 Wentworth Ave., Chicago, Ill; mother: Pong Shee. Parents were from Sun Ning, Kwantong, China. The nurse attending the birth was Pauline Weidmann, 352 West Bertona St., Seattle, Wash.; doctor: J. H. Morrison, 1819 2nd Ave. N., Seattle, Wash.
Ng Mee Seu Bow, a 17-year-old student, arrived in Seattle with her mother, Wong Shee, on 6 October 1939 on the SS Princess Charlotte. They were on their way to New York City. While searching Ng Mee Seu Bow’s belongings, the matron at the immigration station found this booklet and a crumpled note written in Chinese in a wicker basket. Several packets of medicine were also in the basket. An interpreter was called to review the items. There is no comment in the file about their findings. Ng Mee Seu Bow was admitted with no further delay as a native. Her file mentions her birth certificate and certificate of identity, #79995.
Lee Mo, age 18, was living in Portland, Oregon when he obtained his Certificate of Residence. He was working as a laborer.
Helen Low, age 4-1/2, arrived on the SS President Jefferson on 16 July 1923 and was accompanied by her mother Virginia Lew. Their destination was Pittsburgh, PA. This file also contains Helen’s 1918 Ohio birth certificate and lists her parents as Mary Chan and Lew Ling Chong. A 1921 photo shows Virginia Lew holding Helen and another younger child.
In 1940 Helen Low, age 21, was applying to leave the United States via auto through Blaine, Washington. She needed to obtain permission from the Canadian authorities before entering Canada. She gave her address as 172 10th Avenue, Seattle, WA, in care of Mrs. Chin Kee.
Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files 