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Chan family Panama Cafe collection, circa 1936-1948, 1976-1998

Overview of the Collection

Title
Chan family Panama Cafe collection
Dates
circa 1936-1948, 1976-1998 (inclusive)
Quantity
.45 cubic feet (1 box and 1 oversize folder)
Collection Number
5515 (Accession No. 5515-001)
Summary
Collection of menus and papers pertaining to the Panama Cafe (Victoria, B.C.) and other restaurants in Canada during the World War II years
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English, Chinese
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Biographical Note

Chan Dun landed in Victoria, B.C., in the 1880s, making the Chan family one of the oldest Chinese families in the city. With the help of eight sons and four daughters, the Chans owned and operated several restaurants in Victoria, ending with the Panama Cafe. This western-style eatery on Government Street served the working class of the city through the depression and the war years. Despite several sons leaving for military service, the Panama Cafe remained in operation from around 1930 until 1967. In 1996, grandson Anthony B. Chan directed a documentary about the Panama Cafe called The Panama.

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Content Description

The Chan Family Panama Cafe Collection contains menus, papers and records pertaining to the Panama Cafe and other contemporary restaurants of Victoria and Vancouver, B.C. Menus include those of Chinese cafes, Canadian Pacific hotel restaurants such as The Empress, and the B.C. Coast Steamship "SS. Princess Maquinna" (circa 1936-1946). Pamphlets, newspaper issues, and fliers of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board provide information about food, labor, and price regulations in Canada during World War II (1938-1948). Also included are souvenir programs of the National Convention of Hoy Sun Association of Canada and papers of the Chin Wing Chun Tong Society of Canada (1976-1998).

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

The collection includes three compact discs provided by the donor with scanned images of the menus.

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged into three series:

  • Menus and pamphlets
  • Wartime papers
  • Chinese-Canadian association convention programs and papers

Acquisition Information

Source: Anthony B. Chan, 4/21/2007

Processing Note

Partially processed in 2008

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Chan, Dun

Corporate Names

  • Panama Cafe (Victoria, B.C.)

Family Names

  • Chan family

Geographical Names

  • Victoria (B.C.)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)


2008 (Last modified: 4/12/2018)

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