Uniting pivotal chapters of British Columbia and Yukon history, the Chung | Lind Gallery highlights the intertwined experiences of Indigenous communities and Chinese immigrants—alongside themes of human and transcontinental migration.

Housed within UBC Library’s Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, the Chung Collection encompasses the mid-1850s to the mid-1940s—with rare items dating back to the late 1700s—while the Lind collection covers a distinct episode of the Klondike Gold Rush. Between them, the galleries reveal the foundations of Canada’s west coast as it exists today.

The over 3,000-square-foot Chung | Lind Gallery was meticulously renovated to meet curatorial standards, ensuring the preservation of both heritage collections.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring together these two avid and dedicated collectors—Dr. Chung and Mr. Lind,” said Katherine Kalsbeek, head of rare books and special collections at UBC. “We know the collections will continue to enrich and inform each other, providing new and exciting possibilities for learning and scholarship.”

The gallery renovation was made possible through generous contributions from the late Phil Lind, the UBC President’s Priority Fund, the London Drugs Foundation, library donors, and the Canadian government’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, administered by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

“We’re thankful to everyone who made the Chung | Lind Gallery a reality,” says university librarian, Dr. Susan E. Parker. “Displayed together, these two outstanding collections will create a new focal point for historical research, teaching and learning at UBC, and in time become a magnet for scholars across Canada who wish to view these rare materials first-hand.”

Donated to UBC in 1999, the Chung Collection comprises over 25,000 rare and unique items, including documents, books, maps, posters, paintings, photographs, tableware, and other artifacts. It offers a rich portrayal of early BC history, immigration, and settlement, with a particular focus on Chinese communities in North America and the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 2019, the Chung Collection was added to UNESCO’s Canada Memory of the World Register.

“This collection started with an interest in my neighbourhood. My family was confined to Chinatown, and I became curious about the history of the people that lived there,” said Dr. Wallace Chung. “Many people do not know how difficult things once were for early Chinese migrants. Our future is tied to history; to move forward, we must forgive the ills of the past, but we should never forget.”

Donated to UBC Library in 2021 by UBC alumnus and Canadian telecommunications icon Philip B. Lind, CM, the Phil Lind Klondike Gold Rush Collection is an exceptional archive of rare books and historical materials from the Klondike Gold Rush era. Along with the collection, Lind’s gift included $2 million to support its preservation and the gallery’s renovation.

Reflecting on his father’s legacy, Phil Lind’s son, Jed, shared his thoughts: “The Lind family is honoured to have the Phil Lind Klondike Collection housed at UBC Library. Our father’s collection stemmed from a fascination for his grandfather, John Grieve Lind, and grew into a passion that followed him through his life.”

He adds: “It is truly unique to share this space with The Chung Collection, bringing together two disparate histories of west coast Canada.”