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...

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Investment banker Savio Tung talks about his family life in China and their journey to the US. He talks about his father restaurant in Hong Kong, which went bankrupt and led to him crossing paths with American businessman Cornelius Vander Starr. He talks about how Starr was able to help his family in the US and provide valuable advice and guidance to him growing up. In the US, after going to school he gets a job working for Chase Manhattan bank and has a long time career in banking.

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Various members of the Kung family recount their journey to the US and how they adapted to American culture. They further explore the changes in the Chinese community from when they first arrived to current day.

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In this interview, Wong family representatives, David, Nancy, and their mother discuss their early lives in Colorado, move to California and LA, their lives in San Francisco at school and at their grocery store, and family history of paper sons. This interview was conducted in English with few conversations in Toishanese.

Abstract Tina Yao & William Yao talk about their immigration life experience, their family tradition and the cultural legacy they want to leave to their offspring. William Yao talks about his childhood in Shanghai, his father who worked in the silk business died of a stroke when he was young. Although three of her five children lived with her brother it was still hard for William mother to raise her children, financially. After WWII William went to the Shanghai provincial State High School, later...

Abstract Victor Kan discusses his philosophy and the history of his family with MOCA. He discusses his education at the University of Chicago and his experience growing up Chinese in America with only a small understanding of English. He discusses this experience in depth, and growing up learning from his classmates at age 13 how to speak English. His classmates encouraged him to join Boy Scouts and go to school dances with them, and he felt very supported by this American community. Victor went on...

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Virginia Moy Burcher talks about her family journey to the US from Toisan. Her family then moves to New York and establishes a large series of businesses in Chinatown. She goes on to talk about growing up in the city and helping out at the various businesses before going to Hunter college to pursue education. She marries a man from Bermuda and talks about raising a biracial child and interracial marriage.