American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Signed ("Wong Hees James"). Galena, D.T., 2[?] May 1882. One page, 5 x 8 1/2 in., mounted to board, fully separated along horizontal line, losses to upper edge, soiling, residue. Addressed to "Miss Lizzie A Fales."

In part: "Befor [sic] I going up your places To School I have a time Me Ermember [sic] you Said I go leave places write Letter to you. I though I would i write a few Lines to Let you know wat what i was Dowing [sic]. I am working for Stearns & Co. Coal Camp i get forty Dallar [sic] pr month...me am very Delighteth [sic]."

Cabinet photograph on cardstock mount (trimming to all edges, toning, spotting, soiling, heavy wear and loss to verso). Deadwood, [Dakota Territory]: Pollock & Boyden, ca 1882. Photographers' pictorial imprint to verso, though much of it is lost to surface damage. Print with period ink inscription: "This boy I taught English in Deadwood SD. 1881 / [?] was a neighbor of Wing Tsue." Mount recto with period ink identification: "Wong Jim He."

The subject poses standing next to a studio pillar, wearing a hat and a wide draped shirt with Mandarin collar. He appears to have an unknown object crumpled in one hand.

Provenance: The estate of Miss Lizzie Fales of Providence, RI, who taught school in South Dakota in the 1880s (consignor note).