From the forgotten histories of the earliest Chinese American filmmakers in New York and Shanghai to Chinese suffragettes and Chinese pioneers in Arizona and Guatemala, explore the breadth of MOCA’s vast collection with research-based stories about hidden gems within MOCA’s collection. Click through our archive of collection stories below to learn more about the fascinating histories documented by highlighted collections and objects.

2023

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January 2023

2016.025.005 Shifu Woo Chai Meng holding a dragon head along with members of the New York Honan Shaolin Association's Golden Dragon Team during the 1979 Lunar New Year celebration in New York Chinatown. Photograph taken by Richard Zak. Courtesy of the Honan Shaolin Association, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

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March 2023

2022

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December 2022

1993.007.070 Film reel plus canister of "Poor Daddy," an original silent film produced by the Great Wall Film Company in 1929. Directed by Yang Xiao Zhong. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Sun Sing Theatre Collection.

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November 2022

2011.031.003 Don Rodolfo Lau and family in Almacén El Bien Mutuo, 5a. avenida, Guatemala City, early 1950s. First row, left to right: Alberto, Esperanza. Second row, left to right: Armando, Amelia, Gloria. Third row, left to right: Adolfo, don Rodolfo, doña Graciela Chang de Lau. Courtesy of Amelia Lau Carling, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

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October 2022

2015.043.351-a This postcard depicts the interior of New Fulton Royal Chinese American Cocktail Lounge. A horseshoe-shaped bar, red columns and dining tables surrounding a dance floor. The New Fulton was one of a number which chose to advertise and describe themselves in name as a Chinese American rather than Chinese restaurant during WWII and in the two decades after. Courtesy of Eric Y. Ng, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

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September 2022

2018.001.001 A wooden mooncake mold that was used at the Nom Wah Bakery at 15 Doyer Street in New York. Courtesy of Wilson Tang, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

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August 2022

2013.018.011 Photograph taken at the first Chinatown Health Fair on Mott Street at the intersection of Mosco Street in summer 1971. The seated men were waiting for some of the free screening tests (TB Tine, blood pressure, drawing blood, etc.) provided by over 100 medical volunteers and college students trained to administer these simple tests. White folding chairs line the street. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Basement Workshop Collection.

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July 2022

2001.015.009 The Tang family and their family store, Ong Yee Lung Grocery Store, in Arizona in 1922. From left to right are: Mary (Fong Shee Tang), Mabel Tang, Eleanor (friend), salesman, Sing John Tang, and Mae Tang. Courtesy of Lois Tang Leung, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

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June 2022

2012.002.002 A group photograph of the participants in the New York City Chinatown baby contest held on June 17, 1939 in Columbus park. Second from the right are mother and daughter Vivian Dai and Meling Dai (18 months). Third from the right are Meme Chen with her daughter Jaqueline Young (2 years). First from the left are May Moy with Patricia Moy (2 years). Third from left are Grace Lee Mok and her daughter Jade Mok, who won the prize for healthiest girl. Pictured at far right is Rose Lee Liu, wife of Dr. Arthur Liu, with her son Allan Liu. The Commissioner of Health and policemen, standing behind them, were the guests of honor. Courtesy of Meiling Dai, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

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May 2022

2004.029.007 Three children—one Scottish, one Russian, and one Chinese—were chosen by artist Margery Ryerson to be models for paintings to be used by the Ninth Federal Savings and Loan Association at 1457 Broadway, New York, NY to boost the sale of war bonds. The children are, from left to right: Susan Murray, of Stillwell Avenue, Brooklyn; Andriusha Branitzka, of 57th Street, Manhattan; and Virginia Chin (née Lee), of 73 Mulberry Street, Manhattan. Photograph taken by Larry Gordon. Courtesy of Virginia S. Chin, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

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April 2022

2006.010.001 This industrial strength Singer sewing machine is an old 1938 model that a garment factory no longer wanted and that Mok Sim Tsang, a garment worker, took home and put to good use as a home sewing machine. Courtesy of Sui Ling Tsang, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

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March 2022

2015.037.199 Grace Typond, Douglas Chu's great-grandmother, is on the right. The other women are unidentified. Date unknown. Courtesy of Douglas J. Chu, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

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February 2022

2015.043.032 Crowds flood the streets to see a lion dance outside the Chinese Rathskeller Restaurant on 45 Mott Street during a Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration. Other shops on the street include Pagoda Restaurant, Lee's Restaurant, Typond & Lee, Po On Co. It is a grand celebration with balloons, confetti, firecrackers, and a parade with dancers and portable shrines, undated. Courtesy of Eric Y. Ng, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection. 2015.043.032 在纽约华人农历新年庆祝活动期间，人群涌入街道，观看位于勿街 45 号的中国 Rathskeller 餐厅外的舞狮。街上的其他商店包括 Pagoda 餐厅、Lee's 餐厅、Typond & Lee、Po On Co.。这是一个盛大的庆祝活动，有气球、五彩纸屑、鞭炮，还有舞者和便携式神龛的游行，日期不详。由伍锐贤提供，美国华人博物馆 (MOCA) 馆藏。

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January 2022

2021

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December 2021

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November 2021

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