Louis Family Papers

Unidentified man and woman.

Cars drive by a bear that is wearing a metal harness and chains connected to a wooden platform. The bear appears to be taxidermal.

An unidentified man seated in a room. A magazine entitled 'World's Fair in Pictures' rests in a magazine stand next portrait sitter.

Unidentified woman standing on street.

The woman is wearing a hat and glasses, and is holding a large envelope or folder in one arm. She is standing in front of a large garden sculpture next to the beach.

Unidentified woman in fur stole standing on sidewalk. Sign in background may include the words "cross country".

Construction project may be in waters near San Francisco during ferry ride taken by Louis family members.

The address number of the house appears to be 125.

The woman is wearing a white top and dress while standing near a washing station.

In the background is Frank A. Gottstein Plumbing at 226 Eighth Street in Oakland, California, research suggests this was the Chinatown area in Oakland.

Four women standing in front of a store, possibly in San Francisco. Behind them in the window of the store is a poster for the NRA, or National Recovery Administration, which was established in 1933.

An awning behind Louis reads 'Chinese Curios,' and the trolley in the background is labelled as 'Sacramento & Clay Streets'. There is also a Chop Suey sign in the far background, and a shop sign reading 'W. Sang Lu[obscured], Wholesale and Retail'.

Old St. Mary's Cathedral and Sing Chong Import Co. on California Street near Grant Avenue, San Francisco Chinatown.

A license for Ah Louis' (spelled Luis and Louis in the document) store to operate for three months. The text of license reads: 'Ah Luis, having paid into the City Treasury one dollar, License is hereby granted to transact business of [indecipherable] in the City of San Luis Obispo, Cal., for the period of THREE MONTHS, ending Sep. 30 A.D. 18__, in conformity with the provisions of the Ordinances of said City.' Signed by the City Clerk and the City Tax Collector.

A letter written to Ah Louis (addressed as "Ah Lui") from Hampton Hutton at Tar Springs, recording the labor of two men, presumed Chinese, who are referred to as Min and Manchee. Newspapers suggest Hampton Hutton (d. 1915) was a merchant and later involved in oil refining and mining, including asphalt leases of the Tar Springs rancho.

A license for Ah Louis' (spelled Luis on the document) store to operate for three months. The text of license reads: 'Ah Luis, having paid into the City Treasury one dollar, License is hereby granted to transact business of [indecipherable] in the City of San Luis Obispo, Cal., for the period of THREE MONTHS, ending Dec. 31 A.D. 18__, in conformity with the provisions of the Ordinances of said City.' Signed by the City Clerk and the City Tax Collector.

Text of the license reads: 'Ah Louis, having paid into the County Treasury FOUR DOLLARS, License is hereby granted him to transact the business of TRADING in S.L.O., said county, for Three Months, from July 1 A. D. 1891, to Sept. 30 A. D. 1892, in conformity with the provisions of a Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of San Luis Obispo County, California, dated February 3, A. D. 1892.' Signed by the County Auditor and the License Collector.

The license which approved the selling of liquor for Ah Louis' general store in 1892. The license lasted three months and cost fifteen dollars. Text of the license reads: 'Ah Louis, having paid into the County Treasury FIFTEEN DOLLARS, License is hereby granted him to sell spiritous, malt, fermented, or mixed LIQUORS in S.L.O., said county, for Three Months, from July 1 A. D. 1892, to Sept. 30 A. D. 1891, in conformity with the provisions of a Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of San Luis Obispo County, California, dated February 3, A. D. 1892.' Signed by the County Auditor and the License Collector.

Text of the license reads: 'Ah Louis, having paid into the County Treasury FOUR DOLLARS, License is hereby granted him to transact the business of TRADING in S.L.O., said county, for Three Months, from Oct. 1 A. D. 1891, to Dec. 31 A. D. 1891, in conformity with the provisions of a Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of San Luis Obispo County, California, dated January 1, A. D. 1891.' Signed by the County Auditor and the License Collector.

License issued to Ah Louis' to sell "spirituous and other liquors" at his store in San Luis Obispo. Text of the license reads: 'Ah Louis, having paid into the County Treasury FIVE DOLLARS, License is hereby granted him to keep a Bar and sell SPIRITUOUS and other LIQUORS in S.L.O., said County, for Three Months, from Oct. 1 A. D. 1891, to Dec. 31 A. D. 1891, in conformity with the provisions of a Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of San Luis Obispo County, California, dated January 1, A. D. 1891.' Signed by the County Auditor and the License Collector.