Tsai Ting Kan (Tsai Ting-Kan or 蔡廷幹 Cai Tinggan) (1861-1935) was an Admiral of the Chinese Navy. At 13 he left China to study in the United States, and due to his English language skills and naval studies, served several posts in the Chinese government related to foreign affairs.

This portrait of Tsai is part of a collection from McBride and Anderson photographers. Born in 1863, Ella McBride began working in the photography field in 1909 when she managed the Edward Curtis Studio. She opened her own studio in 1917 with Wayne Albee. Albee moved to San Diego in 1925, and McBride continued to operate a studio in various Seattle locations. In 1932 she partnered with Richard Anderson; they continued to work together until she retired in 1954 due to her failing eyesight. She died in 1965 at the age of 102. This photograph was taken before the McBride-Anderson partnership began; it is not known which partner was the photographer.

Handwritten on image: Admiral Tsai Ling Kan 2-3-22
Handwritten on sleeve: Adm. Tsai-Ling Kan

Caption information source: "Tsai Ting-Kan Dies in Peiping Ages 75, Funeral on Oct 11", [Unknown Newspaper], Beijing, circa 1935 October, https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/5983/id/1219