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32 Mott Street
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New York's Dads.
Story
A round-up of our favorite pics of your dads on Urban Archive.
Sai Wing Mock "Duck"
Story
Sai Wing Mock, or "Mock Duck," was the leader of the Hip Sing Tong, one of the "tongs," or controlling agencies in New York's Chinatown. Tongs were essential in preserving the culture, political agency, and independence of Chinese Americans in the early 20th century. Mock, who would rise to become one of the most notorious figures in the Chinatown crime scene, was born in San Francisco in 1878 to Cantonese immigrants. At 18 years old, he relocated to New York, going by the name "Mock Duck" until the late 1910s, when a Newark newspaper mistakenly reported his death. Taking advantage of the error, Mock reverted to his given name, Sai Wing, which afforded him some privacy after years in the spotlight. This story tells of the life of Sai Wing Mock "Duck."
32 Mott Street
Post
32 Mott Street (tall building, second from right), ca. 1890. 32 Mott Street is a dumbbell-shaped "old-law" tenement that was built in 1897 by the architect Louis Heimeeke. This section of Mott between Pell Street and Chatham Square was the center of late 19th century Chinatown. The ground floor of this building was occupied for more than 100 years by a Chinese store run by generations of the Lee family. The Quong Yuen Shing and Company shop opened here in 1899, changed its name to 32 Mott Street General Store in the mid 20th century and only closed in 2003 due to rising rents. Chinese-American architect Poy Gum Lee lived here at no. 32.
Shopfronts of Chinatown
Walk
This collection of locations in Chinatown was curated in collaboration with Think!Chinatown to celebrate, appreciate, and support the local community of Chinatown. This collection of historical photographs illustrates the diverse businesses, architecture, and communities that have occupied the streetscapes of this vibrant neighborhood over the last two centuries!
New York Loves Dads
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You submitted, and we rounded up our faves! Here are some spectacular shots of dads across NYC's five boroughs throughout the years. Happy Father’s Day!
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32 Mott Street
32 Mott Street
Clifford Lee, Toy Kin Lee's son, Quong Yuen Shing, 32 Mott Street Clifford Lee dressed in a cowboy costume in front of 32 Mott Street. Clifford is Toy Kin Lee's son. Toy Kin was manager of Quong Yuen Shing General store on 32 Mott from 1940 through 1971 and Poy Gum Lee's father Lee Yick Dep was a private business partner.
32 Mott Street
Letter from Hung Kwong Lee to Poy Gum Lee, Canton, China, September 9, 1948 This letter with envelope was found in the box (2015.044.275). From: HK Lee c/o Wu Yang Gold Shop, #33 S. Hai Chu Road, Canton, China To: Mr. Poy G. Lee c/o Kwong Yuen Shing, 32 Mott Street, New York City, N.Y., U.S.A. Postmarked stamp Canton 8.9.48 Letter: Dear Uncle Poy: \ I am very shameful not write you so long on account I doesn't know your address. I have try several times to learn from Harriet and Elaine but they giving one hopless. I was happen that I just came back Canton from Kunming and was told by those ok \[Shui Lou] they were back from New York that you're very after dropdown Kwong Yum Shing, so I try to send you a few lines of regards. \ I am working in a tobbacco company in Kunming as an outdoor job. I have a good chance to travel around about Canton Kwei Yang ChungKing etc. but my wages are very low actually I can't support my family. So I try to looking for another job. One day I paid a visit to Mr. \[Wang Cheng Fang] who was the manager of Bank of China, Canton. Formerly he was in Hongkew Branch Shanghai, and he promished willin to help me a supervision job for the new building. I wish it would be true. \ I learned from Elaine that you attained a big job and you will be for Canton to proceed the building construction. I wish you succeed and will be back as I very anxious to see you and all of the family. \[Zhou Weng Yang] still in Canton and started an architect office also constructor, and a hotel besides too. He seems like a millionair. \[Ge Hong Fu] in Kunming being a big architect and constructor, last month he went back to S'hai and he will be soon come back to Kunming. \ I like to have some books of architecture, if you have the old ones and not much use them. Please send me some of them, I intend to resign my job after I back to Kunming because I have a construction license in Canton, perhaps I obtain a job that I have to made the drawing and design. \ I was told by \[Little Wife Yi Hui] that she needs money very urgent so she intend to sale their share, if you have change drop in Kwong Yuen Ching. Please talk over this matter to the committee. \ Please write me as early as you can. Best wishes and love to all. \ Always Hung Kwong
32 Mott Street
Letter from Hung Kwong Lee to Poy Gum Lee, Canton, China, September 9, 1948 This letter with envelope was found in the box (2015.044.275). From: HK Lee c/o Wu Yang Gold Shop, #33 S. Hai Chu Road, Canton, China To: Mr. Poy G. Lee c/o Kwong Yuen Shing, 32 Mott Street, New York City, N.Y., U.S.A. Postmarked stamp Canton 8.9.48 Letter: Dear Uncle Poy: \ I am very shameful not write you so long on account I doesn't know your address. I have try several times to learn from Harriet and Elaine but they giving one hopless. I was happen that I just came back Canton from Kunming and was told by those ok \[Shui Lou] they were back from New York that you're very after dropdown Kwong Yum Shing, so I try to send you a few lines of regards. \ I am working in a tobbacco company in Kunming as an outdoor job. I have a good chance to travel around about Canton Kwei Yang ChungKing etc. but my wages are very low actually I can't support my family. So I try to looking for another job. One day I paid a visit to Mr. \[Wang Cheng Fang] who was the manager of Bank of China, Canton. Formerly he was in Hongkew Branch Shanghai, and he promished willin to help me a supervision job for the new building. I wish it would be true. \ I learned from Elaine that you attained a big job and you will be for Canton to proceed the building construction. I wish you succeed and will be back as I very anxious to see you and all of the family. \[Zhou Weng Yang] still in Canton and started an architect office also constructor, and a hotel besides too. He seems like a millionair. \[Ge Hong Fu] in Kunming being a big architect and constructor, last month he went back to S'hai and he will be soon come back to Kunming. \ I like to have some books of architecture, if you have the old ones and not much use them. Please send me some of them, I intend to resign my job after I back to Kunming because I have a construction license in Canton, perhaps I obtain a job that I have to made the drawing and design. \ I was told by \[Little Wife Yi Hui] that she needs money very urgent so she intend to sale their share, if you have change drop in Kwong Yuen Ching. Please talk over this matter to the committee. \ Please write me as early as you can. Best wishes and love to all. \ Always Hung Kwong
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