SHEM Alexander

Description

Biographical informationShem Alexander (See Ching) was the son of Quan Ah Sam and his wife Jan. He was born in about 1893 in Melbourne, Victoria (BDM 1893/14771). In 1898 he travelled back to China with the family and lived in Canton for a couple of years. The family then moved to Macao in Hong Kong. He was Chinese by nationality. He was five feet six inches in height. He was the brother of Shem Harold.

He travelled to Melbourne around 1904 to attend school. He stayed with his uncle Quan Pat at 228 Little Bourke Street. He attended Scotch College, Perth, in 1909 because his father had moved to Perth by this time. He remained in Perth after his schooling and married Me Lin Cheok Tan (May PON), in Perth in 1917 (BDM 100376/1917).

They had a son named Alan (b. 17 Apr 1916) who trained as an architect and enlisted to serve in WW2 in 1940. BDM records show Alex Shem and May Pon had four children: Kenneth Sehin (b. 1914, d. 1982), Alan (b. 1916), Queenie (b. 1917) and Joyce (b. 1920).

Shem Alexander was a produce merchant and a partner in the company Ah Sam and Co., 112 Barrack Street, Perth (E). He was President of the Chung Wah Association 1922 to 1923 and President of the Chinese National Association. By 1829 he was running a store selling imported chines goods, including needlework and metal work. His store supplied most of the fireworks for celebration on November 5.

He travelled overseas twice: July to November 1924; and February to June 1931 (D). At that time Shem Alexander was living at 84 Brewer Street, Perth.

He died in Subiaco in 1971 at the age of 77. On his death certificate, his father's name was recorded as Kwan Ah Shem and mother's name unknown (BDM 100376/1971).Other nameShem, Alex (differentiated name)QUAN SEE CHING (also known as)Shem See Chin (also known as)Date of birth1893Date of death1971

Shem Alexander photograph aged 38 in 1931 from his Certificate of Exemption from Dictation Test 1931(source: NAA: K1145, 1931/9)

Employment

Job titleMerchantDate employed[date unknown]

Family

ParentQUAN AH SAMJan (female)SpouseME LIN CHEOK TAN (female)SiblingSHEM HaroldSHEM SEE KONGSHEM SUEY LAND (female)SHEM SUEY LIN (female)SHEM AlbertChildShem Alan

Connections

Subject (organisation)Chung Wah AssociationAh Sam & Co., PerthSubject (place)112 Barrack Street, Perth84 Brewer Street, PerthSubject (topic)Chinese heritage in Western AustraliaShop keeperMerchantRelated collectionAnne Atkinson CollectionRelated linkNAA CEDT File 1924NAA CEDT File 1931NAA Immigration File 1924-1931 <Not digitised #4317274>

Item information

ContributorSchool of Social SciencesSource of informationAsian immigrants to Western Australia, 1829-1901 (Atkinson, 1988)

Significant place

RelationPlace of birthPlaceMelbourneDate1893

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UWA Collected

SHEM Alexander

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA