Abstract

Philanthropist Diane Woo talks about her family illustrious history in the Chinese academic world. She goes on to talk about her life in Hong Kong and later her life in the US. She goes on to talk about the differences in Chinese and American culture and how Chinese fraternities helped her when she first came to the US. She concludes by talking about raising her son and her grandson and how life has been different from when she first entered the US.

Abstract This oral history interviewed Fay Chew Matsuda, director of the City Hall Senior Center, a division of the Hamilton-Madison House, and her life story. Fay grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan as the first generation Chinese-American girl born to immigrant parents. Fay would describe herself as a nurturing environment with parents who never pressured her to succeed and instilled in her values of the importance of family and togetherness, and respectation. Fay attended the elite Hunter...

Abstract Dr. Fred Hu is a renowned Chinese economist who obtained his PhD in Economics from Harvard University and now runs Primavera Capital Group, his own capital investment firm. Today, he speaks to us about his childhood in the 1970s during Mao culturally repressive programs of Mao, his ascension to university right after the reopening of the higher education system and studying abroad at Harvard University in the 1980s. He then expands on his career choice in Economics and talks about his time...

Abstract

In this interview, Tina and John Yuan share the journey of their families from China to Taiwan, where they were born, to the US, where they met and built their own family. They mention their parents’ experiences in China, their early childhood in Taiwan, culture shocks when migrating to the US during the 1970s, adolescent school years, the encounters of Chinese communities, and fostering their son as a Chinese American.

Abstract Writer Kenneth Hsien-Yung Pai talks about his tumultuous childhood living in China during and after the Second Sino-Japanese war. He was diagnosed with Tuberculosis as a child and it affected his views on the world. He discusses his inspirations to become a writer and talks about writing the biography about his father Bai Chongxi, a Kuomintang general. His travels led him to the US at the age of 25 to pursue his studies and eventually becoming a professor at the University of California...

Abstract Lucy Kan sits down with MOCA to discuss her family’s journey from China, then to Peru, and eventually to the United States. She discusses her grandfather’s beginning in the Peru and the shop he owned there, and then how her father eventually moved back to China to start his family. Lucy describes growing up trilingual in Peru, speaking Chinese at home, Spanish with her classmates, and doing her homework in English. She discusses being one of the few Chinese people living in her community in...

Abstract For over forty-five years, Ming Cho Lee has served on the faculty at Yale School of Drama, including as the co-chair of the design department. As a recipient of the National Medal of Arts in 2002 and the Tony award for lifetime achievement in 2013, Ming Cho Lee is one of the most acclaimed living set designers in the U.S. He is originally from Shanghai but moved to Hong Kong during his childhood, and went to the United States to attend Occidental College in 1949. He then attended UCLA and...

Abstract

Nancy C. Lee, JP, distinguished arts and education philanthropist. MOCA 2018 Legacy Awards Gala honoree, Chairman of the non-profit organization Friends of the Hong Kong Museum of art, discusses her life journey to become an arts historian. She recounts her family journey that spanned from China to Latin American, the US, and finally Hong Kong. She also discusses the importance of art and philanthropy.

Abstract

Rita and Patrick Lee are first-generation Chinese Americans. In this interview, they address memories including Patrick’s journey from Hong Kong to America, the development of Patrick’s financial career, his business philosophy, their parenting philosophy, and their Chinese identity. They also bring family photos to the interview and give a short description to each of them.