Exhibit: Life in Chinatown a Century Ago

Monday, 4/14/2025
8:00 - 9:00
North Beach General Floor Area
North Beach

850 Columbus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94133
United States

415-355-5626

This exhibition features 50 postcards of San Francisco’s Chinatown produced between 1903 and 1915. Recording the everyday life of Chinese immigrants and the nostalgic scenes of the neighborhood, they bring the forgotten past to vivid life through cherished scenes which leave an indelible memory of Chinatown in the 20th century: Chinese children in colorful costumes; a fortune teller on the sidewalk; a cobbler in front of a shoe store; a peddler with livestock and Chinese vegetable; a clerk in front of a bazaar; traditional Chinese instruments in an association; Chinese pupils in a public-school classroom; an herbal doctor filling a prescription; a telephone operator station; a Chinese opera troupe; a funeral parade.

50 postcards donated by Herby Lam 林凯斌. On Loan from Golden Age Vintage. Text edited by Irene Lam.
Exhibition:  Tuesday, April 15th to Monday, May 12th, during Library open hours.  

本次展覽展出了50張1903年至1915年間描繪三藩市唐人街的明信片，它記錄了中國移民的日常生活以及唐人街內的懷舊場景。通過這些珍貴的圖片將被遺忘的過去生動地再現於我們的眼前：穿著色彩繽紛服裝的中國兒童；在人行道上的算命師；鞋店門前的修鞋匠；攜帶家禽和中國蔬菜的小販；集市前的店員；社團中的中國傳統樂器；公立學校教室裡的中國學生；正在配藥的中醫師；電話接線員工作站；中國戲曲團；以及葬禮遊行。


 

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This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Attending Programs

All programs are drop-in (no registration necessary) unless otherwise noted. All SFPL locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL), call (415) 557-4557 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.

This program will be conducted in English unless otherwise noted.

Notice: This event may be filmed or photographed. By participating in this event, you consent to have your likeness used for the Library’s archival purposes and promotional materials. If you do not want to be photographed, please inform a staff person or the photographer. A sticker will be provided to help identify you so that we can avoid capturing your image.

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The views and opinions expressed in programs presented by groups unaffiliated with SFPL do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SFPL or the City.