WAUHongJamesAlbumPHColl1582.xml Guide to the James Hong Photograph Album 1932-1941 Hong (James) Photograph Album Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2019 (Last modified: 1/31/2020)
Seattle, WA 98195
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections PH1582 Hong, James, approximately 1917- James Hong photograph album 1932-1941 1 photo album and 14 loose photographs (1 box) Collection materials are in English. Photograph album of a Chinese American man, James Hong, of his life in California, Idaho, and Washington

James Hong was born in Oakland, California in about 1917. As a young man he worked in a Vallejo, California National Dollar Store. He moved to Spokane, Washington around 1939 and went to work for the National Dollar Store there. He lived in a boarding house in Spokane with four other Chinese-American men who also worked at the National Dollar Store. One of the men, Alfred Hing (misidentified in the 1940 census as Alfred King) appears in photographs in the album.

The National Dollar Store, at which Hong and his associates worked, was a chain of discount stores in the American West. The first location was opened by founder Joe Shoong in Vallejo, California in 1901 as Sang Lee Dry Goods. The company underwent multiple name changes, adopting the name National Dollar Store in 1928. Despite its name National Dollar Store never enjoyed national distribution, but it did open several dozen locations across the Western United States and Hawaii.

The National Dollar Store chain was notable for being owned by a Chinese-American and managed predominately by Chinese-Americans. The chain’s founder, Joe Shoong, enjoyed and earned a reputation as the richest Chinese-American of his day and was one of the first Chinese-American millionaires. Shoong also maintained strong ties to China over the course of his professional life, using his success in business to found and fund schools in China, Chinese language schools and cultural centers in America, and to support recent Chinese immigrants.

Photograph album of a Chinese American man, James Hong, who was born in Oakland, California, depicting his activities with his friends and family in the Oakland and Vallejo area of California, and also in Idaho and Spokane, Washington. It also includes photographs of the National Dollar Store in Spokane where he worked.

Note: photographs identified as members of the Lee family were removed before the album was acquired.

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Source: Fairlook Antiques, October 11, 2017.

Processed by: Melody Smith, October 2018; Michael Lowry Lamble, May 2019.

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington) Photographs

 

Album 1 1a Portrait of James Hong taken in Oakland, CA 1933 1 2a-2e Portraits of James Hong 1933? 1 2f Portrait of James Hong in Oakland, CA 1933 1 2g-2h Portraits of James Hong 1932 1 2i Portrait of James Hong in Oakland, CA 1938 1 2j Portrait of James Hong 1933 1 3a Portrait of James Hong taken in Vallejo, CA 1938 1 3b James Hong and Al G. Fong at the Bass Derby in Vallejo, CA 1936 1 3c Portrait of Mae 1937 1 3d Portrait of James Hong taken in Vallejo, CA 1938 1 3e Portrait of Daisy 1932 1 4a James Hong walking on Market Street in San Francisco 1935 1 4b Color photograph of Stella Between 1930 and 1940 1 4c James Hong and Eddie in Courtland, CA February 20, 1937 1 5a Frank Tom sitting on the grass Between 1930 and 1940

Written on album page: "Winchell of Vallejo".

 1 5b James Hong in Vallejo, CA 1936 1 5c James Hong walking on Market Street in San Francisco 1935 1 6a James Hong with two men, identified as Gordon and Johnny May 1938 1 6b Betty Choy May 1938 1 6c James Hong standing in front of a wooden fence May 1938

Written on album page: "Hongsie!".

 1 7a Portrait of Tom Hong taken in China 1936

Written on album page: "Bro. Tom".

 1 7b Portrait of Tom Hong 1936?

Written on album page: "Tommy".

 1 7c Portrait of Mable Hong taken in 1936 1936

Written on album page: "Sister Mable".

 1 7d Mable Hong 1936?

Written on album page: "Mabel".

 1 8a James Hong and a man identified as Harvey standing near an automobile Between 1930 and 1940 1 8b Gwen in front of a house Between 1930 and 1940

Written on album page: "Sweet Sourpuss".

 1 8c James Hong with a woman identified as Pauline June 1938 1 9a Portrait of James Hong 1938 1 9b James Hong and four others walking along a road in Vallejo, CA April, 1938

Written on album page: "Just kids from 'Valley Joe,' ho sang yee mah?".

 1 9c A portrait of Merle 1938? 1 9d-9e Portraits of James Hong 1938 1 10a James Hong and Emily Between 1930 and 1940 1 10b A man and two women, identified as Larry and the Halls Between 1930 and 1940 1 10c Mae Lee dressed as a cowgirl, pointing a gun Between 1930 and 1940 1 10d A Caucasian woman in a black hat Between 1930 and 1940

Written on album page: "Giggle Puss".

 1 10e A woman sitting in a restaurant booth Between 1930 and 1940 1 11a Koon and Ada sitting on a fire hydrant May 1938 1 11b James Hong standing on the sidewalk in a Nu Chi sweatshirt 1938 1 11c Frank sitting on the grass 1938 1 12a Two women identified as Pauline and Dodo standing on a sidewalk 1938?

Written on album page: "Sisterly Love".

 1 12b Ada Hall standing against a brick wall 1938? 1 12c Master Gordon Choy, seated on a folding chair May 1938 1 13a James Hong and six others standing on a rock May 1938

Written on album page: "Vallejo Gang".

 1 13b James Hong and Benson Fong 1938

Written on photo: "Nara".

 1 13c James Hong at the Fremont High Playground in Oakland, CA May 1938 1 14a The Choy family standing in a yard May 1938 1 14b James Hong and five women June 1938

Written on album page: "Ladie Killer?" [sic].

 1 14c Tower of the Sun at the Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, CA 1939

Written on album page: "Tresure Island" [sic].

 1 15a John Lowe and Douglas Foo sitting on a porch rail May 1938 1 15b Poy Yin and family kneeling in yard May 1938 1 15c James Hong and six others standing on a rock May 1938

Written on album page: "In Ole Valley Joe".

This photograph is the same image as 13a

 1 16a Pauline and Dodo holding hands near an automobile 1938?

This photograph is the same image as 12a.

 1 16b James Hong and five others April 1939

Written on album page: "'Fancy Faces' from Vallejo".

 1 16c James Hong with his arm around a woman May 1938

Written on album page: "Just Friends?".

 1 17a James Hong and Vernon at Newman Lake, WA 1938? 1 17b James Hong dressed as a cowboy 1938?

Written on album page: "Groucho".

 1 17c Alfred Hing at Post Falls, ID September 1938 1 18a James Hong in a Nu Chi softball uniform standing with four other men 1938? 1 18b Pacifica Statue at the Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, CA 1939 1 18c Fountain at the Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, CA 1939 1 18d Tower of the Sun at the Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, CA 1939 1 19a James Hong and the Nu Chi softball team June 1938 1 19b Paula and Gwen 1938? 1 19c Library in Los Angeles, CA 1938? 1 19d Paula standing by a brick wall 1938?

Written on album page: "So What?".

 1 20a James Hong sitting on a porch 1938?

Written on album page: "Boy's House Vallejo".

 1 20b Entry gate into Chinatown 1938?

Written on album page: "Chinese Village".

 1 20c Photograph missing 1938

Written on album page: "Mrs. Lee, Newman Lake, Wash".

 1 21a James Hong sitting on an automobile next to Doctor Sue 1938? 1 21b James Hong in softball uniform, standing in the field 1938?

Written on album page: "Bashfull?" [sic].

 1 21c Photograph Missing 1938?

Written on album page: "Mrs. Lee, Bowl and Pitcher, Spokane".

 1 22a Doctor Mack Sue at Mount Spokane 1939 1 22b James Hong sitting beside a river 1939 1 22c Tower of the Sun at the Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, CA 1939 1 23a Paula, Ada, and Beverly 1938 1 23b James Hong and another man dressed as cowboys with a third man in a suit 1938

Written on album page: "The Three Musketeers".

 1 23c Emma and Ada 1938

Written on album page: "Vallejo Dames".

 1 23d The Nu Chi softball team 1938 1 24a Doctor Mack Sue 1938? 1 24b James Hong and Dr. Mack Sue 1938? 1 24c Photograph missing 1938?

Written on album page: "Mrs. R. Lee at Coulee Dam".

 1 25a Spokane Boy's House 1939

This is likely a boarding house at which James Hong stayed during his time in Spokane.

 1 25b Gwen Hall 1939 1 25c Emily with children 1939 1 25d Ada Hall 1939 1 26a Alfred Hing at Post Falls, ID 1939? 1 26b Dr. Mack Sue at Post Falls, ID 1939? 1 26c James Hong and Alfred Hing at Post Falls, ID 1939? 1 27a Magazine department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 27b Tobacco department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 27c Millinery department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 28a Children's department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939

Written on album page: "La Virle".

 1 28b Dress department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 28c Photograph missing 1939

Written on album page: "Loren and Vernon Lee".

 1 29a "Skippy" Falquist standing in the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939

Written on album page: "Ready for Action".

 1 29b Household department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 29c Magazine display in the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 30a Eight women standing on the street next to an automobile 1939

Written on album page: "The Spokane Gang".

 1 30b Al in the grocery department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 31a Photograph missing 1939?

Written on album page: "Loren and Oscar".

 1 31b James Hong and Al Foo dressed up as cowboys for the Vallejo Rodeo July 1939 1 31c Dr. Mack Sue riding on Al's back 1939? 1 32a Household department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 32b Yardage department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 32c Alma Young standing on a stone in a river 1939? 1 33a Photograph missing 1939?

Written on album page: "The Lee Brothers".

 1 33b Daniel Louie 1938? 1 33c James Hong 1938 1 33d Photograph missing 1939?

Written on album page: "Loren Lee".

 1 34a Doctor Mack Sue crouching beside a river 1939? 1 34b Men's department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 34c Lingerie and hosiery department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 35a-35b The exterior of National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 35c Alfred, Doctor Mack Sue, and James Hong posing on an automobile 1939? 1 36a The lingerie window of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 36b The grocery window of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 37a Doctor Mack Sue 1938? 1 37b James Hong in a three piece suit walking down the sidewalk October 1938

Written on album page: "Lunch Hour".

 1 37c Alfred standing in a river 1938? 1 37d James Hong sitting near a river 1938? 1 37e James Hong and Doctor Mack Sue crouching side by side 1938? 1 37f Alfred and Doctor Mack Sue 1938? 1 37g Alfred stepping into a river 1938? 1 38a-38d The hosiery counter of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939 1 39a James Hong and another man, possibly Alfred Hing, playing in a river 1938? 1 39b Alfred Hing standing on Mt. Spokane 1938? 1 39c Photograph missing 1938

Written on album page: "Vernon Oscar".

 1 40a-40e People posing in front of a wall, including a boy in uniform Between 1930 and 1940 1 41a-b Couples in the snow Between 1938 and 1939 1 41c James Hong and another man, potentially Alfred Hing, leaning over a waterfall at Post Falls, ID 1939?

Written on album page: "Thoisty?".

 1 42a Man shoveling snow Between 1930 and 1940 1 42b A dam Between 1930 and 1940 1 42c-d A man seated in an office Between 1930 and 1940 1 42e A man standing behind a trailer Between 1930 and 1940 1 43a-43b People sitting on a house's porch Between 1930 and 1940 1 43c James Hong in a garden Between 1938 and 1939 1 43d-43f People sitting on a house's porch Between 1930 and 1940 1 44a The Golden Gate bridge Between 1930 and 1940 1 44b Photograph missing Between 1930 and 1940 1 44c Tower of the Sun at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco, CA 1939 1 44d Fountain at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco, CA 1939 1 45a Street at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco, CA 1939 1 45b Pacifica Statue at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco, CA 1939 1 45c Tower of the Sun at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco, CA 1939 1 45d Boat dock on a river 1939? 1 46a-46f James Hong and company posing near a fountain at the Golden Gate International Expostion in San Francisco, CA 1939 1 47a-47c The Grand Coulee Dam under construction Between 1938 and 1939 1 48a-48c James Hong's associates standing in the snow Between 1938 and 1939 1 49a-49c James Hong and associates playing in the snow Between 1938 and 1939 1 50a Woman sitting on a boat tie Between 1938 and 1939 1 50b James Hong sitting on a porch Between 1938 and 1939 1 50c Woman sitting on a porch Between 1938 and 1939 1 51a Man standing on a shore Between 1938 and 1939 1 51b James Hong and an associate standing on a shore Between 1938 and 1939 1 51c James Hong rowing a boat Between 1938 and 1939 1 51d James Hong sitting on a trailer Between 1938 and 1939 1 51e Two men sitting on a shore Between 1938 and 1939 1 52a Man standing in front of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939? 1 52b James Hong and a man wearing suits and standing in a yard 1939? 1 52c Man standing in front of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA Between 1938 and 1939 1 53a-b Men posing in swimsuits Between 1938 and 1939 1 53c A man, a woman, and two children in a rowboat Between 1938 and 1939 1 53d A man sitting on the side of a rowboat Between 1938 and 1939 1 54a James Hong and associate near a waterfall Between 1938 and 1939 1 54b A boy and a dog in a yard Between 1930 and 1940 1 54c Two men standing near a waterfall Between 1938 and 1939 1 55a James Hong and three others on rocks Between 1938 and 1939 1 55b Three men standing on grass Between 1938 and 1939 1 55c James Hong and two men standing in front of a brick building Between 1938 and 1939 1 56a Man and woman by a fence Between 1938 and 1939 1 56b Two women standing in a yard Between 1938 and 1939 1 56c Two children in a yard Between 1938 and 1939 1 56d A woman standing in a yard Between 1938 and 1939 1 57a John and Noy Low standing beside an automobile 1940 1 57b John and Noy Low sitting in a yard 1940? 1 57c Two women in a yard 1940? 1 57d Photograph missing 1 58a Doctor Mack Sue in front of an automobile Between 1938 and 1940 1 58b James Hong and an associate in front of a house Between 1948 and 1940 1 58c Man and woman seated on a fire hydrant June 1938 1 59a Man and woman seated on steps Between 1938 and 1940

Written on photograph: [illegible] greetings! Emma & Henry.

 1 59b Eight women in matching uniforms Between 1938 and 1940 1 59c Woman leaning against a small obelisk Between 1938 and 1940

Written on photograph: [illegible] Best wishes! Sincerely, Emma.

 1 60a Three women standing in a field in the mountains Between 1938 and 1940 1 60b A group seated amidst automobiles Between 1938 and 1940 1 60c A group photo in a field in the mountains Between 1938 and 1940 1 60d Three women standing in a field in the mountains Between 1938 and 1940 1 61a A group seated at a picnic Between 1938 and 1940 1 61b A woman standing near a pond in the mountains Between 1938 and 1940 1 61c A group seated at a picnic and one man sitting in an automobile. Between 1938 and 1940 1 61d A group seated at a picnic Between 1938 and 1940 1 62a Group photo in a field in the mountains Between 1938 and 1940 1 62b A group seated at a picnic and one man sitting in an automobile Between 1938 and 1940 1 62c James Hong and two others seated beside an automobile at a picnic Between 1938 and 1940 1 62d A dam seen from the shore Between 1938 and 1940 1 63a Three men, two women, and a child in front of a large building Between 1930 and 1940 1 63b A man and woman on steps Between 1930 and 1940 1 63c Three men, two women, and two children standing on steps Between 1930 and 1940 1 64a Two women seated on an automobile Between 1938 and 1940 1 64b Man standing in front of a brick building Between 1938 and 1940 1 65a-65b Men sitting on the fence of a paddock at a rodeo Between 1930 and 1940 Loose photographs National Dollar Store 1/1 66 A woman standing in the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939? 1/1 67 The hosiery department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939? 1/1 68 The clothing department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939? 1/1 69 The hat department of the National Dollar Store in Spokane, WA 1939? Hong and associates in suits 1/1 70 James Hong standing outside a house and wearing a three piece suit 1939 1/1 71-73 Men in suits 1939? Photos in the snow 1/1 74 James Hong and Doctor Mack Sue standing on either side of a snowman January 1941? 1/1 75 Two men and two women wearing skates standing on an ice rink January 1941 1/1 76 Doctor Mack Sue wearing skates and standing on an ice rink January 1941 1/1 77 James Hong, a woman, and a man skating on an ice rink January 1941 Signed photographs 1/1 78 Shirley in a sun hat standing at the foot of a steep slope Between 1935 and 1941

Written on photograph: "Sincerely, Shirley".

 1/1 79 Holton Foley standing in front of a small house Between 1935 and 1941

Written on photograph: "Best of Everything. Holton Foley".