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...

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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.

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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.

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Richard and Jane Liu briefly talk about their early lives in China and Taiwan. Richard discusses his time working for a newspaper in Taiwan before moving to NY to work as an editor for a newspaper in Chinatown. The two further discuss their thoughts on child rearing and the current political climate of country for Chinese Americans.

Abstract Richard Wong, later changed to Richard Ong, was born to a paper son who later became naturalized through the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. His mother was able to come to America through the War Brides Act of 1945. His family eventually settled in a suburb in East Rockaway New York, where they worked and lived in and behind a laundromat. Richard became a Catholic during his childhood years. He later went on to attend Princeton, describing his suburban upbringing as an experience...

Abstract Sandy and Doug Lee sit down with MOCA to discuss the history of their family, as found through archival and family research. They bring up the curio shop that their family kept and finding pictures from this business through a cousin. They discuss their father’s involvement in the U.S. Army and his position as translator for American diplomats who met with Mao and his party. They discuss how their Uncle funded one of the first Chinese-American film companies in the U.S., called Great Wall...

Abstract The four sisters Grace Chin Chan, Judy Chin Wong, Anna Chin Tze, and Jennifer Chin Dussich sit down with MOCA to discuss their family history. They begin by describing growing up in Brooklyn and the communities and activities that they participated in there. They recount family stories from vacations and being rebellious teenagers. The sisters take turns discussing how grateful they are for their parents’ sacrifices, but also how they feel so grateful to have been raised with their parents’...

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Washington SyCip recounts his experience enlisting in the US military during World War II. He goes on to talk about incarceration of his father during the Japanese occupation and how he helped his father rebuild after the war. He goes on to talk about how he began to establish his own accounting firm and finally discusses his home life in the US and Manilla. His son George also chimes in to discuss incidents of discrimination growing up and in the business world.

Abstract Theodore Chao, born in Shanghai, China, immigrated to Virginia and grew up in Hampton at a young age. He begins the interview by sharing his connection to the MOCA which he was first introduced to by his mother. He continues to speak of his mother colorful upbringing as a Virginia native of Toisan heritage and touches on her educational background in NYC where she met his father. He describes his father tumultuous journey, escaping reeducation camp in Guangdong, eventually reuniting with his...