Fong Family Photo from early 1900's.

On the back it says "Mrs. Parker, Fong Family, Niles District"

This photo is at the Fremont Main library. The background looks like a studio backdrop with some straw on the floor.

The middle child is holding either what looks like a Western hat - a Stetson or a Homburg hat. Why?

The stamp indicates that the photo was taken in China. Was the hat a studio prop?

"The Chinese characters say exactly the same thing as the romanized words. 
Cheun Chan is likely the studio or photographer's name, with logo. " (RL)

Zhongshan used to be called Hung Shan or Heung Shan. The name of the city was changed to Zhongshan in 1925 or 1926 in honor of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who is called Sun Zhongshan. So it's likely that this photo was taken prior to that year because one would assume the studio would have updated their printed materials when the city name changed. (RL)

From Wikipedia: Shekki, a former Chinese city in Guangdong Province, now the Shiqi District of Zhongshan.

So this picture could be <1925.

Lots of Questions:

• Is Mrs. Parker from Niles? How did she get this photo? Gladys Williamson's mother was a school teacher and her last name was Parker. Look for Parker in census records after 1930.
• Is the Fong Family from Niles? We know of one family and they do not recognize these children.
• Are these the children of a Chinese worker who lives in Niles? The census shows that many of the workers who lived at the California Nursery were married and so might have had their families in China.

Googling "cheun chan studio guandong" comes up with these interesting links, but none about the Cheun Chan studio:

• Chinese photographers in Hong Kong