Photos and Stories

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Hidden Histories: Bue Kee's 1917 Hop Farming Photos and Beyond

At the morning Hidden Histories panel I presented photographs of hop farming taken by my Uncle (1917-1922), shared family stories and offered insights. The afternoon Legacy Keepers panel discussed the stewardship and preservation of his art.

Anna Truxes (Executive Director) in the main gallery, moderator Chelsea Rose (Historical Archaeologist Souther Oregon University) on screen and seated panel members Jessica Courtesan (Archaeologist and Tribal Liaison, Oregon Department of Transportation) and Tiah Edmundo-Morton (Archivist, Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives at Oregon State University).

Hidden Histories Slides

Bue Kee was an avid photographer. His photos captured hop farming, family, community, landscapes, points of interest and stories.

The Kee Family Journey to Hop Farming

Grandfather Dong Chung Kee "...arrived in America at sixteen and worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad. He picked up enough English to act as an interpreter. However, he quit the Railroad "when asked to get in a roped basked and hang over the side of the mountain to pick a flat surface road bed...He went to Portland and established the Kee Kee Hand Laundry at 48th N. 6th Street...The laundry business became saturated and the Tongs were getting war like, so Grandpa decided to take an offer from cousin (Dong Family) and take over the operation of hop farming at the Mucke Ranch..." in Aurora. A story shared by Bue to his nephew Phil Jann Jr.

Legacy Keepers

Afternoon panel members included art historians and experts Sarah Baker Munro (author of Timberline Lodge: The History, Art, and Craft of an American Icon), Jennifer Viviano. (Managing Director of X Gallery) and Anna Truxes (Portland Chinatown Museum's Executive Director).

Also missing hundreds of sketch books and photograph negatives dating back to 1917.

...and Beyond

Bue Kee's Art School Years

https://dwkee.blogspot.com/2026/01/bue-kee-stories-drawing-and-paintings.html

Hand-Painted Black and White Photos

https://dwkee.blogspot.com/2026/01/bue-kee-stories-hand-painting.html

Resources

More Hop Farm Photos

https://vimeo.com/827071029

Hidden Histories Video Recording

https://vimeo.com/1122304701

Amy Wang's Portland Oregonian Article

Exhibit Rediscovers Legacy of Chinese American artist Bue Kee,

a Rising Star in the 1930s who fell into obscurity

www.hereisoregon.com/experiences/2023/06/exhibit

-rediscovers-legacy-of-chinese-american-artist-bue-kee-a-

rising-star-in-the-1930s-who-fell-into-obscurity.html

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Bue Kee Stories: Art School

About 1930, the family gave up farming and Uncle Bue came to Portland... During his stay Mom ...(May Kee Jann)...sponsored him through Portland Art School. The student body at this school was an elite group. They were from prominent families. Uncle Bue stood out like a "sore thumb". A hard of hearing, retired farmer, with not even a grade school education but like a"diamond in the rough" with a super natural artistic talent, he found his calling. Story told by Phillip Jann Jr. in the Kee Family Biographies.