Museum of Chinese in America

Sponsor an Object

Please consider sponsoring an object to help fund its repair and conservation. Each week, MOCA Collections will make available a new object for sponsorship based on assessment of conservation and exhibition needs. Please visit this page every Friday for a new available object. With your help, we can preserve these family and community treasures object by object– each an important piece of Chinese American history.

Please click through the image icons below to read available object profiles. If you are interested in sponsoring a particular object, please click to navigate to MOCA’s Sponsor an Object Donation Page and follow the steps provided. Every contribution helps support our work of restoring these important historical treasures.

Available Objects:

2012.022.123a Wooden drawer containing P.S. 23 boys' student records. Photograph taken post-fire.
2012.022.123a Wooden drawer containing P.S. 23 boys’ student records. Photograph taken post-fire.

P.S. 23 Boys’ Student Record Cards

2010.041.031 Pagoda paper sculpture and accompanying base made by a refugee of the Golden Venture while detained at York County Prison, Pennsylvania. H-40.5 W-12.5 L-12.5 inches. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Fly to Freedom Collection.
2010.041.031 Pagoda paper sculpture and accompanying base made by a refugee of the Golden Venture while detained at York County Prison, Pennsylvania. H-40.5 W-12.5 L-12.5 inches. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Fly to Freedom Collection.

Pagoda and Garden Paper Sculpture

TS5032 and TS5054 Post-Fire Condition. Antique Sad Iron and Trivet, ca. 19th century to early 20th century. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
TS5032 and TS5054 Post-Fire Condition. Antique Sad Iron and Trivet, ca. 19th century to early 20th century. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

Hand Iron and Trivet

Condition pre-fire. Mounted black and white photograph of marchers carrying a giant Chinese national flag in a 1938 show of unity parade supporting China's war of defense against Japan. Courtesy of Warren Chan, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
Condition pre-fire. Mounted black and white photograph of marchers carrying a giant Chinese national flag in a 1938 show of unity parade supporting China’s war of defense against Japan. Courtesy of Warren Chan, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

1938 Solidarity Day Parade Photograph

2010.040.028 Original copy of a handwritten constitution drafted by the Chinese Sportswear Workers Social Association (CSWSA) dated June 1980. Photograph taken post-fire. Courtesy of Heung Sang Tam, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
2010.040.028 Original copy of a handwritten constitution drafted by the Chinese Sportswear Workers Social Association (CSWSA) dated June 1980. Photograph taken post-fire. Courtesy of Heung Sang Tam, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

Chinese Sportswear Workers Social Association Constitution

Group photo of Shavey Lee's basketball team, taken ca. 1944. Standing, from left to right are: Dory Lum, Leung Gay Lee, Stanley Chin, Shavey Lee, Lung Chin, Richard Chin, and Moody Chin. On the bottom row are: Danny Lum, Stephen Chin, Donald Chin, and Newton Chin. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
Group photo of Shavey Lee’s basketball team, taken ca. 1944. Standing, from left to right are: Dory Lum, Leung Gay Lee, Stanley Chin, Shavey Lee, Lung Chin, Richard Chin, and Moody Chin. On the bottom row are: Danny Lum, Stephen Chin, Donald Chin, and Newton Chin. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

Chinese American Basketball Team Photo

2006.203.824 Crayon portrait, likely of a Chin family member, ca. 1860s-1910s. Courtesy of Marcela Dear, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
2006.203.824 Crayon portrait, likely of a Chin family member, ca. 1860s-1910s. Courtesy of Marcela Dear, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

Chin Crayon Portrait

2010.040.027 Garment workers strike poster calling ILGWU members and supporters to rally at Columbus Park on Thursday, July 15, 1982 to defend their union contracts. Black ink printed on orange-colored background. 20 in. x 29 in. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Chinese Sportswear Workers Social Association Collection.
2010.040.027 Garment workers strike poster calling ILGWU members and supporters to rally at Columbus Park on Thursday, July 15, 1982 to defend their union contracts. Black ink printed on orange-colored background. 20 in. x 29 in. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Chinese Sportswear Workers Social Association Collection.

1982 Garment Workers Strike Poster

T-2034874 and T-2035267 Large bronze Laughing Buddha from the Savoy Inn, a Chinese restaurant opened by Edward L. Hong in Freeport, Long Island in 1933. Measures approximately 4 ft. tall x 3 ft wide. Photograph taken post-fire. Courtesy of Rocky Chin, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
T-2034874 and T-2035267 Large bronze Laughing Buddha from the Savoy Inn, a Chinese restaurant opened by Edward L. Hong in Freeport, Long Island in 1933. Measures approximately 4 ft. tall x 3 ft wide. Photograph taken post-fire. Courtesy of Rocky Chin, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

Laughing Buddha Sculpture

TS1009 Chinese of Greater New York Celebrating China's Independence Day and Testimonial Dinner in Honor of Major General Claire L. Chennault at the Hotel Astor in New York City on October 11, 1945. Scanned post-fire. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
TS1009 Chinese of Greater New York Celebrating China’s Independence Day and Testimonial Dinner in Honor of Major General Claire L. Chennault at the Hotel Astor in New York City on October 11, 1945. Scanned post-fire. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

1945 Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault Banquet Photograph

TS2010 1940 Convention and Eighth Anniversary of the Chinese American Restaurant Association of Greater New York, Inc. held on May 6, 1940. Photograph taken by Drucker Hilbert Co. New York. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
TS2010 1940 Convention and Eighth Anniversary of the Chinese American Restaurant Association of Greater New York, Inc. held on May 6, 1940. Photograph taken by Drucker Hilbert Co. New York. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

1940 Chinese American Restaurant Association Banquet Photograph

2009.023.026 The Chinese Women's Patriotic League's hosting of a testimonial dinner honoring General Tsai Ting Kai at Port Arthur Restaurant on September 1, 1934. Courtesy of Marilyn Chou, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
2009.023.026 The Chinese Women’s Patriotic League’s hosting of a testimonial dinner honoring General Tsai Ting Kai at Port Arthur Restaurant on September 1, 1934. Courtesy of Marilyn Chou, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

1934 Chinese Women’s Patriotic League Banquet Photograph

1989.002.381 Wooden trunk used by a Cantonese opera troupe to store makeup and hair accessories. Photograph taken pre-fire. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Chinese Musical and Theatrical Association (CMTA) Collection.
1989.002.381 Wooden trunk used by a Cantonese opera troupe to store makeup and hair accessories. Photograph taken pre-fire. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Chinese Musical and Theatrical Association (CMTA) Collection.

Cantonese Opera Costume Trunk

1996.061.045 Paper sculpture of the Golden Venture ship made by one of the refugees detained after this vessel ran aground at Rockaway Beach, Queens in 1993. Papier-mâché and colored marker, 1993-1996. Photograph taken post-fire. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Fly to Freedom Collection.
1996.061.045 Paper sculpture of the Golden Venture ship made by one of the refugees detained after this vessel ran aground at Rockaway Beach, Queens in 1993. Papier-mâché and colored marker, 1993-1996. Photograph taken post-fire. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Fly to Freedom Collection.

Golden Venture Paper Sculpture

TS6234 Yueqin, a traditional Chinese string instrument used in Cantonese music, and more prominently, in Beijing opera. Photograph taken post-fire. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Chinese Musical and Theatrical Association (CMTA) Collection.
TS6234 Yueqin, a traditional Chinese string instrument used in Cantonese music, and more prominently, in Beijing opera. Photograph taken post-fire. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Chinese Musical and Theatrical Association (CMTA) Collection.

Yueqin Instrument

Collage of photographs taken by Emile Bocian of various Chinatown events and streetscapes digitized before the fire. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
Collage of photographs taken by Emile Bocian of various Chinatown events and streetscapes digitized before the fire. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

Chinatown Community Historical Photographs

2016.004.002 An airman identification card that was issued to Maggie Gee by the Department of Commerce Civil Aeronautics Administration. The back has her photograph and fingerprints from her right hand. Pre-fire condition. Courtesy of Marissa Moss, in Memory of Maggie Gee, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection; 2016.004.246 Maggie Gee’s Honorable Discharge Certificate, December 20, 1944. Pre-fire condition. Courtesy of Marissa Moss, in Memory of Maggie Gee, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
2016.004.002 An airman identification card that was issued to Maggie Gee by the Department of Commerce Civil Aeronautics Administration. The back has her photograph and fingerprints from her right hand. Pre-fire condition. Courtesy of Marissa Moss, in Memory of Maggie Gee, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection; 2016.004.246 Maggie Gee’s Honorable Discharge Certificate, December 20, 1944. Pre-fire condition. Courtesy of Marissa Moss, in Memory of Maggie Gee, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

Maggie Gee’s Airman ID Card and Honorable Discharge Certificate

2012.022.123 PS 23 Drawer of Student Records, photo taken pre-fire. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
2012.022.123 PS 23 Drawer of Student Records, photo taken pre-fire. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

P.S. 23 Drawer of Girls’ Student Records

2014.016.001 A Chinese typewriter consisting of hundreds of individual print tiles, pre-fire. Courtesy of David and Lisa Tang--In memory of Ho Poy Sing, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
2014.016.001 A Chinese typewriter consisting of hundreds of individual print tiles, pre-fire. Courtesy of David and Lisa Tang–In memory of Ho Poy Sing, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

Chinese Typewriter

2014.001.162 Chinese hand laundry business sign, white letters on red metal board with wooden frame, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
2014.001.162 Chinese hand laundry business sign, white letters on red metal board with wooden frame, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

Chinese Hand Laundry Sign

Fully Sponsored:

2004.020.004 Business sign of Joy Luck Restaurant once located at 57 Mott Street in its pre-fire state. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Sign Collection.
2004.020.004 Business sign of Joy Luck Restaurant once located at 57 Mott Street in its pre-fire state. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Sign Collection.

Joy Luck Restaurant Sign

2015.006.001 Original Dong Kingman watercolor painting of Mott Street, ca 1953. Pre-fire condition. Gift of Elaine and Dong Kingman Jr., Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.
2015.006.001 Original Dong Kingman watercolor painting of Mott Street, ca 1953. Pre-fire condition. Gift of Elaine and Dong Kingman Jr., Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection.

Dong Kingman Watercolor