Portraits of Barkerville in Hong Kong

Posted by Daniel on Mar 2, 2013

The CBC has an item on its website (here) about a new exhibition of photographs at the Hong Kong Museum of History.

The display, called "Who Am I? Bridging the Pacific - From Guangdong to Barkerville and Back", illustrates the role played by early Chinese immigrants in the Cariboo and was organized by the Barkerville Heritage Trust. After Hong Kong the photos will tour several other cities in China.

What the CBC does not mention is that many of the photos were taken by C.D. Hoy, who came to BC in 1902 and became the first professional photographer in Quesnel as well as a leading entrepreneur in the Cariboo.

Hoy's beautiful photos, many of them of the early Chinese settlers attracted by the gold rush, were first brought to public attention several years ago by a young researcher named Faith Moosang. Faith tells the story in her stunning book, First Son: Portraits of C. D. Hoy, published by Arsenal Pulp Press in 1999.