This is a photograph of a Peranakan family, Lee Chuan Neo (1912 – 1989), Gwee Luan Neo (1884 – 1953) and Tan Chong Beng (1908 – 1975). Photographed at the driveway of their home at 97 Devonshire Road, Lee wears the cheongsam and Tan wears a western suit, while the seated matriarch wears the sarong kebaya. The back of the photograph reads, “Taken on 1/2/38 by W.B. Chay". Wee Bit Chay was Tan's brother-in-law and took numerous photographs of the couple during their wedding in 1933.The Peranakan household at 97 Devonshire Road was headed by Gwee Luan Neo and Lee Eng Khoon (d. 1930). The donor, Mona Tan is the granddaughter of Gwee. The young woman photographed, is the daughter of Gwee while the man is her husband and son of Mr and Mrs Tan Hoon Siang from Malacca. Tan was employed at P&O Shipping Company, where he was a purser on the SS. Bulan till after the war.The photograph and description of the house and matriarch Gwee Luan Neo, are published in William Gwee's memoir, "A Baba Boyhood: Growing Up During World War 2".
