1910-Picture Brides

In the early 20^th century, Sara Choe was the first picture bride to come from Korea.  She came to Hawaii and married someone named Yi Nae-su.  The way picture brides worked out was that a matchmaker would receive photographs and pair couples together solely based on these photographs and family advice.  While this is just an extension from the traditional matchmaking that was the standard in Korea, it was completely different.  The majority of picture brides that came to the United States were from Japan and Korea.  Sara Choe was only the first of 950 picture brides that will eventually arrive in America during the early 20^th century.  This was a way for immigrant workers to marry.  The concept also closely links to the origins of the mail-order bride. 

 

Japanese labor workers and Korean picture brides arrived in Hawaii as early as 1910 on the SS Gaelic.  Their arrival caused a bit of controversy.  All of these labor workers were men and they came with very few women of their race.  With such a disproportionate gender ratio, the demand for Asian wives was extremely high in Hawaii.  The influx of “wives” that made their way to America to keep agricultural workers company were matched up based on a photograph.  Immigrant laborers would send in a picture to a matchmaker and a matchmaker in Japan would put two photos together and decide who would be a couple.  The families and matchmakers would both work together to figure out the best match.  The bride to be would leave Japan or Korea on a ship and once she arrives on Hawaii soil she is legally bound to her awaiting husband.  Sometimes the husband to be will be deceiving and send in a false or old picture to the matchmaker making them seem younger.  The sad thing is that when the picture bride comes to Hawaii she has no way of getting out of the pre arranged marriage.  These picture brides could be as young as 14, and when they are tricked into a marriage it can be extremely terrifying for them.   This gave Asian women a sense of daring bravery.  Their willingness to leave their home and come to a new world to be with someone they’ve never met makes them pioneers. 

 

The Picture Brides arrival in Hawaii and the United States made an impact on immigration and family life for Asian Americans.  Their presence led to more agricultural workers coming and even starting families.  They helped add to the development of Asian American existence in America, and even built communities. 

 

Andi Long