Pioneer Stories | Vancouver Public Library

Photo of Chinese cook/servant in residence, 1902. Location unknown. VPL 32250

Chinese cook/servant in residence, 1902. Location unknown. VPL 32250

Reading about the lives of Chinese Canadian pioneers and their families may provide insights that will help as you explore your own family history. Explore some of the published works available at the Vancouver Public Library as well as the free online resources listed below.

Online Exhibits

The Ties That Bind

Chinese Canadian Women, 1923-1967

Chinese Canadian Stories [ARCHIVED]

Individuals and Families

David Hung Chang Lew

Lee Mong Kow Family

Yip Sang Family

Useful Websites

UBC - Chinese Canadian Stories Collection

A searchable database of images, documents, and interviews pertaining to early Chinese Canadians immigrants.

Dictionary of Canadian Biography - Chinese-Born Canadians

Recommended Titles

Chinese Canadian Biographies and Family Histories

Cover Image for Being Chinese: Voices from the Diaspora

Being Chinese: Voices from the Diaspora

Cover Image for Brokering Belonging Chinese in Canada's Exclusion Era, 1885-1945

Brokering Belonging Chinese in Canada's Exclusion Era, 1885-1945

Cover Image for Canadian Steel, Chinese Grit: A Tribute to the Chinese Who Worked on Canada's Railroads More Than A Century Ago

Canadian Steel, Chinese Grit: A Tribute to the Chinese Who Worked on Canada's Railroads More Than A Century Ago

Cover Image for Chinese Canadians: Voices from a Community

Chinese Canadians: Voices from a Community

Cover Image for Chow: From China to Canada: Memories of Food and Family

Chow: From China to Canada: Memories of Food and Family

Cover Image for The Concubine's Children: Portrait of a Family Divided

The Concubine's Children: Portrait of a Family Divided

Cover Image for David Lam: A Biography

David Lam: A Biography

Cover Image for Dim Sum Stories: A Chinatown Childhood

Dim Sum Stories: A Chinatown Childhood

Cover Image for Eating Stories

Cover Image for Finding Memories, Tracing Routes

Finding Memories, Tracing Routes

Cover Image for First Son: Portraits by C.D. Hoy

First Son: Portraits by C.D. Hoy

Cover Image for History of the Struggles of an Overseas Chinese

History of the Struggles of an Overseas Chinese

Cover Image for Jin Guo: Voices of Chinese Canadian Women

Jin Guo: Voices of Chinese Canadian Women

Cover Image for Memories of Cumberland Chinatown

Memories of Cumberland Chinatown

Cover Image for Opening Doors

Cover Image for The Other Side of Gold Mountain: Glimpses of Chinese Pioneer Life on the Prairies from the Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection

The Other Side of Gold Mountain: Glimpses of Chinese Pioneer Life on the Prairies from the Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection

Cover Image for Paper Shadows: A Chinatown Childhood

Paper Shadows: A Chinatown Childhood

Cover Image for The Peasant's Gold: The Story of Peter Wing

The Peasant's Gold: The Story of Peter Wing

Cover Image for Song of the Azalea: Memoir of a Chinese Son

Song of the Azalea: Memoir of a Chinese Son

Cover Image for Tong: The Story of Tong Louie, Vancouver's Quiet Titan

Tong: The Story of Tong Louie, Vancouver's Quiet Titan

Cover Image for Way of the Bachelor: Early Chinese Settlement in Manitoba

Way of the Bachelor: Early Chinese Settlement in Manitoba

Cover Image for Yip Sang and the First Chinese Canadians

Yip Sang and the First Chinese Canadians

Cover Image for Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family

Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family

Cover Image for Banana Boys

Cover Image for China Dog and Other Tales from a Chinese Laundry

China Dog and Other Tales from a Chinese Laundry

Cover Image for Diamond Grill

Cover Image for Disappearing Moon Cafe

Disappearing Moon Cafe

Cover Image for Escape to Gold Mountain: A Graphic History of the Chinese in North America

Escape to Gold Mountain: A Graphic History of the Chinese in North America

Cover Image for The Excluded Wife

The Excluded Wife

Cover Image for The Jade Peony

Cover Image for Many-Mouthed Birds: Contemporary Writing by Chinese Canadians

Many-Mouthed Birds: Contemporary Writing by Chinese Canadians

Cover Image for Midnight at the Dragon Cafe

Midnight at the Dragon Cafe

Cover Image for Mrs. Spring Fragrance

Mrs. Spring Fragrance

Cover Image for Strike the Wok: An Anthology of Contemporary Chinese Canadian Fiction

Strike the Wok: An Anthology of Contemporary Chinese Canadian Fiction

Cover Image for Tales From Gold Mountain: Stories of the Chinese in the New World

Tales From Gold Mountain: Stories of the Chinese in the New World

Cover Image for Generations. The Chan Legacy

Generations. The Chan Legacy

Cover Image for Chinese Restaurants

Chinese Restaurants

Cover Image for Comrade Dad

Cover Image for From Harling Point

From Harling Point

Cover Image for Heroes Remember = Ying Xiong De Hui Yi

Heroes Remember = Ying Xiong De Hui Yi

Cover Image for I am the Canadian Delegate

I am the Canadian Delegate

Cover Image for In the Shadow of Gold Mountain

In the Shadow of Gold Mountain

Cover Image for Under the Willow Tree: Pioneer Chinese Women in Canada

Under the Willow Tree: Pioneer Chinese Women in Canada

Cover Image for Wayson Choy: Unfolding the Butterfly (Secrets & Memories)

Wayson Choy: Unfolding the Butterfly (Secrets & Memories)