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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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201 results for: Chinatown International District

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Image of Tung On Chin in the Linyen Cafe, Seattle, July 1965
Photograph

Tung On Chin in the Linyen Cafe, Seattle, July 1965

Tung On Chin (1905-1989) was the owner of the Linyen Cafe, located at 424 Seventh Avenue South in Seattle's Chinatown International District. Chin first arrived in Seattle in 1923, then went back to China in 1929 and 1933 before returning to Seattle for good in 1934. The first newspaper ad for the Linyen Cafe appears in late 1939. Chin was…
ID Number:1986.5.21463.2
Date:1965
Image of Ruby Chow in the kitchen, probably in Seattle, 1960
Photograph

Ruby Chow in the kitchen, probably in Seattle, 1960

Ruby Chow (1920-2008) was a Chinese-American activist and restaurateur who was active in the community for over 50 years. She was born in Seattle and grew up in what was then Chinatown (now the Chinatown International District). In 1948, Ruby and her husband Ping opened Ruby Chow’s Restaurant, which quickly became popular especially with celebrities and dignitaries. Chow became the…
ID Number:1986.5.21497.1
Date:1960
Image of Akia Kuniyuki, Philip Hayasaka, and Ruth Chinn at Jackson Street Community Council office, Seattle, 1960
Photograph

Akia Kuniyuki, Philip Hayasaka, and Ruth Chinn at Jackson Street Community Council office, Seattle, 1960

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Seattle’s public-school system was growing. Proposition 22, a $5.5 million funding levy, appeared on the November ballot in 1960. While some of the money was for normal operations and maintenance, the Seattle School Board pointed to the system’s needs to cover additional pupils, rising supply costs, teacher salary increases and staffing of new…
ID Number:1986.5.32067.1
Date:1960
Image of Wesley Tao in his office, Seattle, July 1965
Photograph

Wesley Tao in his office, Seattle, July 1965

Wesley Tao (1924-2020) was born in Shanghai, China, and graduated from the University of Nanking in China, where he studied economics. From 1949 to 1951, he attended the University of Washington, receiving a BA in Business Administration. Tao worked in the personnel department at Boeing from 1952-1957 before opening Wesley Tao and Associates, an insurance agency in the Chinatown International…
ID Number:1986.5.43204.1
Date:1965
Image of Charles Y. Wah at 8 Immortals Restaurant, Seattle, July 1965
Photograph

Charles Y. Wah at 8 Immortals Restaurant, Seattle, July 1965

Charles Y. (Charlie) Wah (d. 1977) opened the 8 Immortals Restaurant in 1964 at 509 7th Avenue South in Seattle’s Chinatown International District. The restaurant served a wide variety of dishes, both simple and exotic, said to be served in 8 “immortal flavors”: Tom (bland), Teem (sweet), Seen (sour), Foo (bitter) Lot (hot), Heong (fragrant), and Gum (golden). A free…
ID Number:1986.5.44085.2
Date:1965
Image of Ping Chow and others rehearsing the Lion and Sword Dance, Seattle, February 8, 1952
Photograph

Ping Chow and others rehearsing the Lion and Sword Dance, Seattle, February 8, 1952

In this photo, Ping Chow, kneeling, is shown with other members of Seattle's Chinese community as they rehearse for a performance of the traditional Lion and the Sword Dance. The other performers, left to right, are Steven Wong, Bob Chinn, and Stanley Goong. Edward Shui “Ping” Chow (1916-2011) was born in Canton, China. Ping trained as a singer and became…
ID Number:1986.5.44999.1
Date:1952
Image of Tek Wong at Gim Ling Restaurant, Seattle, July 1965
Photograph

Tek Wong at Gim Ling Restaurant, Seattle, July 1965

Tek Hong Wong (1921-2016) was born in China and emigrated at 17 to Seattle, first working with his father at a laundry business, and later at neighborhood market. In 1944-1945, Wong served in the U.S. Army, earning a Purple Heart. Afterwards, he attended the University of Washington on the GI Bill. After college, Wong became a partner in a grocery…
ID Number:1986.5.45000.1
Date:1965
Image of Bob Santos, Seattle, 1971
Photograph

Bob Santos, Seattle, 1971

Bob Santos was a Filipino American community activist who helped start many organizations and programs in the Chinatown International District. In 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed Santos as the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) secretary's representative for the Northwest-Alaska area. Handwritten on sleeve: Robert Santos.Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ…
ID Number:1986.5.54102.1
Date:1971
Image of Kingdome site looking north, Seattle, 1971
Photograph

Kingdome site looking north, Seattle, 1971

Handwritten on sleeve: Domed stadium site, King Street Station.Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ by a month or more): March 27, 1971.
ID Number:1986.5.54113.1
Date:1971
Image of Ron Chew at Wing Luke Museum, January 1992
Photograph

Ron Chew at Wing Luke Museum, January 1992

Ronald A. "Ron" Chew (b. 1953) was born in Seattle, the son of Chinese immigrants who worked in the restaurant and garment industries in Seattle’s Chinatown International District (CID). Chew attended Franklin High School and University of Washington (UW), leaving UW in 1975 to pursue community-based journalism. Chew was a reporter for, then editor of, the CID newspaper International Examiner,…
ID Number:2000.107.035.07.01
Date:1992
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