Person

Ko, Mathew

• Mathew Ko Bong

1909-2000

Mathew KO was born in Victoria, B.C. on December 1, 1909. He was one of 10 children born to G.B. (Go Bong) Simon and his wife Jew Fun Shee.

Mathew operated G.B. Simon Jewellers in Victoria from 1926 onward. He would continue to run the store until he was 89 years old.

In 1941, Mathew married Bessie Mah. They raised three daughters: Virginia, Valerie and Velma; and one son, Russell.

Mathew enjoyed making home movies, and from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, he amassed a significant collection of film footage. As noted by the University of Victoria that holds some of Mathew's film collection, "Though they contain no sound tracks, his films vividly document significant social, cultural and political events in Chinatown and other areas of downtown Victoria and surrounding neighborhoods, Vancouver Island, the City of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland."

Mathew died January 20, 2000.

Ko Bong (Family)

Ko, Bong (1880-1957)

Jew Fun Shee ([1875]-1938)

Ko, Mark (1911-1928)

Ko, Mabel Sue Wah (1913-1935)

Ko, Ruby Dain Wah (1915-1935)

Ko, Mary Chan Wah (1917-2011)

Ko, Andrew (1922-2002)

Ko, Garnet (1923-1931)

Ko, Luke (1912-1932)

Ko, John (1912-2008)

Ko, Peter

Description supplied by collector/curator