Name/Title
Panama Pacific International Exposition 1915 panoramaEntry/Object ID
2015.09.00001Description
Chinese Nationalist League of America at the Panama Pacific International Exposition photographed during the Exposition San Francisco Cal July ?? 1915.
In the lower right corner: 748.P. Cardinell-Vincent Co Official Photographer.
The Cathay Band is in the far left of the image. Name of the band at that time is on the drum, "Young China Military Band".Context
Chinese American history;
"Through a Chinese American Lens", by Doug Chan https://demospectator.tumblr.com/tagged/Cathay%20Band
"[Around 1911] thirteen Chinese boys went to Chinese Six Companies Association, the organization that led and controlled Chinatown, and asked if they could form a band that played western-style marching band music. The Six Companies agreed that such a band would be good for the community and in a matter of days raised the sum of 2,000 dollars for a band teacher, instruments, and a practice room.
The Chinese Boys Band was born. Led at first by Thomas Kennedy and then shortly after by original band member Thomas Lym (until 1964 when they disbanded), the Chinese Boys Band rapidly grew in size and status. When they merged with other Chinese boys bands, they became the Cathay Boys Band. When they incorporated junior bands in 1916, they became the Cathay Musical Society. By 1930 they became the Cathay Club Band or Cathay Band and in addition to music their charter included 'sports, community service, and social activities'."
Hung, Louise "Guiding Our Dead, Saving Our Spirit: The Cost of Being Chinatown’s Mortuary Band" May 31, 2021 https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/article/guiding-our-dead-saving-our-spirit-the-cost-of-being-chinatowns-mortuary-band/