Chen Quin Jack

This 1905 membership booklet for the Sydney Long Du Association. Originally thought that all of the objects in my collection were connected only with Chen Quin Jack, however it seems that this membership booklet was inscribed and we have since discovered that it belonged to a Fung Gum Moon ⽅⾦滿 (Fang Jinman) — AKA 金滿 “Kum Moon” — from Ho Chung 濠涌 (Hao Yong) village in the south China district of Long Du (隆都).

We know from other objects in my collection including — a Silk Cloth inscribed with 金滿 “Kum Moon”, postcards and travel documents of his wife,  Ellen Mon How that Kum Moon is also known as: Fong Kum Moon, or Mon How, a storekeeper in Inverell, NSW.

Listed as #45 in Michael Williams’ Chinese Australian History in 88 Objects on his website Chinozhistory.org

This is a quick summary/paraphrase about the significance of the Long Du membership booklet by Michael Williams – Read more

The Long Du membership highlights the importance of regional and language identity in Australian Chinese history. Long Du, once part of Hsiangshan County (香山县) and now Zhongshan City (中山市), was established in the 13th century. One distinctive feature is that its approximately 80 villages speak a non-Cantonese language, fostering a strong sense of community both locally and among émigrés. Major destinations for Long Du emigrants include the United States, Hawaii, Peru, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Although there is no longer a specific Long Du society in Sydney, active societies still exist in Hawaii and San Francisco. The objectives of these organizations, outlined in this membership booklet, focus on self-help. They aim to pool resources and provide assistance to individuals from the Long Du district who find themselves in need while away from home. Membership is defined by language and place of origin in Long Du. Upon paying the membership fee, individuals gain access to benefits such as accommodation, financial assistance for travel back home, and help with immigration paperwork.