Chinese American in New York and California, 1920s

Photography

Archive

[Chinese American] [Photography] Chinese American professional studio photos from the 1920s. These two cabinet cards depict Chinese American individuals and family life during a period of significant social and political tension for Asian communities in the United States. Each measure around 10" x 7". One image from New York shows a well-dressed Chinese American man in a three-piece suit and hat, standing confidently with one hand resting on an ornate chair. The second photo marked "Hartsook, California" and has a penciled inscription "Rev. Lau Family 1928," features a Chinese American family composed of three adults and three children, dressed in Western-style clothing and posed formally for a studio portrait.

These photographs reflect the resilience and adaptability of Chinese Americans during an era shaped by exclusion and discrimination. The Chinese Exclusion Act, enacted in 1882 and not repealed until 1943, sharply limited Chinese immigration and naturalization. Yet despite these legal barriers and widespread anti-Asian sentiment, Chinese American communities thrived in urban centers like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. Families like the one pictured here were central to the establishment of Chinatowns, businesses, churches, and cultural institutions that preserved Chinese heritage while contributing to the broader American fabric.

Studio portraits such as these served not only as cherished family keepsakes but also as affirmations of identity, dignity, and belonging in a country that often denied them full citizenship or social acceptance. The confident poses, formal attire, and photographic quality underscore the subjects’ aspirations and rootedness in American life, even amid adversity. Some minor wear throughout, overall very good condition.

Item #21782

Price: $285.00