01/23/2021
Cloth purse in the shape of a lantern with embroidery showing the Summer Palace in Beijing, from 1980-1990.
Donated by Grace Chun. #CAMOCCollections #ChineseChicago #ChineseAmericanHistory
Chinese American Museum of Chicago - Raymond B. & Jean T. Lee Center
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The Chinese American Museum of Chicago - Raymond B. & Jean T. Lee Center (CAMOC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation located in Chicago, Illinois.
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Our mission is to advance the appreciation of Chinese American culture through exhibitions, education, and research and to preserve the past, present, and future of Chinese Americans primarily in the Midwest. The Museum building, formerly the Quong Yick Co., is located in Chicago's Chinatown, at 238 West 23rd Street, Chicago, IL 60616 1/2 block west of Wentworth Ave. and 3 blocks from the Chinatown station of the CTA's Red Line.
Operating as usual
01/20/2021
In addition to the museum's own celebration, we are partnering with Jewel-Osco for two virtual Chinese New Year events! Tune in to learn how to prepare for the new lunar year.
RSVP for the free events here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/jewel-osco-10699651925.
01/16/2021
Mid-1900s collar w/ embroidery. The Chinese characters for butterfly "蝴蝶" (pronounced hú dié) have similar sounds with characters meaning luck 福(fú) and elders 耋(dié), celebrating long life.
Donated by Frances Chung. #CAMOCCollections #ChineseChicago #ChineseAmericanHistory
01/14/2021
Consumer Action will host a webinar focusing on the affordable housing crisis. The webinar will feature Bridgett Simmons, an attorney with the National Housing Law Project, and Sam Gilman, co-founder of the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 @ 12pm CST
Register for the free webinar here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4268626707296008976
01/09/2021
Always changing with the times, Wentworth remains a central avenue in Chicago Chinatown. This 1920s photo shows the street cars and tracks that used to run on it!
Courtesy of David Wu. Donated by Susan Lee Moy. #CAMOCCollections #ChineseChicago #ChineseAmericanHistory
01/04/2021
Timeline Photos
01/02/2021
A curious moment with a person in a happy buddha mask during a CNY parade. From our collection of the Tse family's film negatives from 1900-1980, which document life in Chicago's Chinatown.
Donated by Don Tse. #CAMOCCollections #ChineseChicago #ChineseAmericanHistory
12/31/2020
Timeline Photos
12/29/2020
It's not too late to donate to our #GivingTuesday campaign this year! We've been able to put on exhibitions like #AtticTreasuresII this year because of your generosity! Now's your chance to help us stay afloat. You can donate here: https://givingtuesday.mightycause.com/story/Camoctuefundraiser
12/28/2020
Talk Stories: An Asian American/Asian Diaspora Storytelling Show
If you missed last week's Talk Stories you can still watch the event here: http://ow.ly/LPK250CUEHG or on Chicago cable TV channel 27 at the following times:
Tuesday, Dec 29 @ 10:30PM
Thursday, Dec 31 @ 9:30PM
Friday, Jan 1 @ 7PM and 8:30PM
Saturday, Jan 2 @ 10AM and 10PM
Join the Chinese American Museum of Chicago, Japanese American Service Committee, and National Cambodian Heritage Museum and OCA Greater Chicago for storytel...
12/26/2020
Some studio inspo for your Saturday! What sort of projects have been keeping you busy during the pandemic? Photograph of child making a kite, late 20th c.
Donated by Ruth Kung. #CAMOCCollections #ChineseChicago #ChineseAmericanHistory
12/25/2020
Timeline Photos
12/23/2020
Ben Lau and Soo Lon Moy were interviewed by StoryCorps to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected CAMOC, their lives, and the Chicago Chinatown community. StoryCorps' mission is to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. We are excited to have their interview as part of their expansive archive! Check out the interview here: http://ow.ly/VECn50CK7K0
12/22/2020
It's not too late to give to CAMOC this year! You can still support to our #GivingTuesday campaign here: https://givingtuesday.mightycause.com/story/Camoctuefundraiser We're able to preserve the past, present, and future of Chinese Americans in the Midwest because of donors like you!
12/19/2020
Season's greetings from CAMOC! Here is a 1965 holiday card from the Tun's donated by LaVerne Chan. How have you been keeping in touch with loved ones this holiday season?
#CAMOCCollections #ChineseChicago #ChineseAmericanHistory
12/17/2020
CAMOC is a partner organization for Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community- CBCAC Holiday Window Display on The Magnificent Mile! We are celebrating the strength and resilience of the Greater Chinatown community this holiday season. You can see the display at 131 E. Superior until Jan 6, 2021.
12/15/2020
Did you know that you can easily deduct your first $300 in nonprofit donations when you file your 2020 tax return? This means for more tax savings for you! Please consider donating to CAMOC before the end of the year! Donate here: https://ccamuseum.org/donate/
12/12/2020
Lilac child's jacket with teal trim and pink liner. Orange swirls accentuate the collar. It has two front pockets and frog closures, which are both very typical of Chinese jackets.
Donated by Ruth Moy. #CAMOCCollections #ChineseChicago #ChineseAmericanHistory #ChineseFashion
12/10/2020
We're a proud promotional partner of FINDING YINGYING, streaming @Filmcenter beginning 12/11. Within weeks of her arrival on the University of Illinois' Urbana-Champaign campus, 26-year-old Chinese post-grad student Yingying Zhang--an aspiring young scientist and teacher--went missing from the campus in broad daylight. Follow the emotional journey of the Zhang family in this new doc. Read more at: https://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/finding-yingying
Join the Gene Siskel Film Center on Monday, Dec. 14, 7pm CT for a Zoom Q&A for FINDING YINGYING with director Jiayan “Jenny” Shi, moderated by Chicago filmmaker Steve James.
See the film here: https://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/finding-yingying
Register for the Q&A here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/finding-yingying-qa-director-jiayan-jenny-shi-moderated-by-steve-james-tickets-131957850483
12/08/2020
If you missed last week's #GivingTuesday, our campaign is still up here: https://givingtuesday.mightycause.com/story/Camoctuefundraiser. We ask that you consider donating to CAMOC this holiday season so we can continue to tell the history of Chinese Americans in the Midwest!
12/05/2020
Father Thomas J. Bauer with 3 children in the front yard of St. Therese Church. Donated by Pat Moy. #CAMOCCollections #ChineseChicago #ChineseAmericanHistory
12/01/2020
We need your support more than ever this #GivingTuesday! Help us stay afloat by donating here: https://givingtuesday.mightycause.com/story/Camoctuefundraiser
11/28/2020
What's for dinner in your home? Here are restaurant workers in Hunan, China, catching fish for dinner!
Photograph taken in 1979, donated by Margaret Larson. #CAMOCCollections #ChineseChicago #ChineseAmericanHistory
11/27/2020
Help us stay afloat this #GivingTuesday! We need your support now more than ever. Donate here: https://givingtuesday.mightycause.com/story/Camoctuefundraiser
11/26/2020
11/25/2020
We are grateful for you!
11/24/2020
Though the museum isn't open, you can still see "Portraits of Care" on your next drive/walk AND online thanks to ABC7 Windy City Live's coverage! Check it out here: https://abc7chicago.com/family-caregiver-home-caregivers-care-national-day-2020/8043318/ #NationalFamilyCaregiversMonth
11/21/2020
Though your family get-togethers may not be as crowded as last year's, how do you plan on staying in touch safely this holiday season?
Family dinner photographed by Harry Tun, donated by Susan Moy Lee. #CAMOCCollections #ChineseChicago #ChineseAmericanHistory
11/18/2020
Per the Tier 3 mitigations issued by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on Tuesday (November 17, 2020), CAMOC will be closing temporarily starting Friday (November 20, 2020) until further notice. Our staff is working remotely, and is available to answer any questions by email.
We will continue to closely monitor the situation and send out updates by email, social media, and on our website. CAMOC will also continue to host virtual programming through December.
Please stay safe, wear a mask, and take care of yourselves and each other this holiday season.
Thank you for your continued support during this difficult time.
11/18/2020
Our very own Soo Lon Moy was interviewed on Cultural Connections! Check out the interview here: https://youtu.be/d1m064wZ-Z8
🎙️Episode 2 is LIVE! 🎙️
If you'd like to support the Alliance toward a fundraising goal of $50,000, text " CULTURE " to 243-725!
On this week's episode of Cultural Connections we are joined by @ccamuseum's Soo Lon Moy, where we get into:
✔️Supporting Asian businesses
✔️Racism towards Asian communities
✔️Visiting cultural heritage centers + more
Link below for full episode ⬇️
https://youtu.be/d1m064wZ-Z8
11/17/2020
People love us on Yelp! Thank you for your reviews over the years!
11/16/2020
You can now find us on the worldwide museum database, ViMuseo! Check out the photos from #AtticTreasuresII like this photograph of Billy Moy through our page here: https://vimuseo.com/museum/chinese_american_museum_of_chicago-chicago
11/14/2020
At CAMOC, we love your family memorabilia! Here is a "10 Moys and 1 Boy" screen-printed tote bag with family members: Yee, Gin, Leong, Wong, Moy, Fung, Luke, Rowland, Hong Cheung, and Gee, listed on the back. Donated by Celia Cheung.
Since we know not everyone may be able to make it to the museum these days, we'll start sharing highlights from the collection regularly here! Check back here for more of #CAMOCCollections #ChineseChicago #ChineseAmericanHistory
11/13/2020
Thank you to those who joined us for the Honor and Duty Panel Discussion! Whether or not you were able to join us for the event, if you would like to learn more you can order E. Samantha Cheng's new book with the information below here: https://www.heritageseries.us/
11/09/2020
November is National Family Caregivers Month! We partnered with AARP to install a photo mural honoring our local Chinatown seniors and their caregivers. Portraits were taken by photographer Peter Tsai. Stop by the museum and see the work in person! #NationalFamilyCaregiversMonth
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238 W 23rd St
Chicago, IL
60616
Opening Hours
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 14:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 14:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 14:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 - 14:00 |
| Saturday | 11:00 - 15:00 |
| Sunday | 11:00 - 15:00 |
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To take the #2020Census in your preferred language, go to my2020census.gov and click “English” on the upper-right corner of the window & pick your language! For help completing your Census, call 1-844-330-2020. To access TDD for the hearing impaired, call 1-844-467-2020. 請到網站my2020census.gov，選擇視窗右上角的「English (英文)」來轉換語言成「中文(簡體)」以連到您的中文版2020年人口普查問卷。如果您填寫2020年人口普查問卷時需要任何協助，請撥打免付費電話1-844-391-2020(中文) 或1-844-398-2020
Chinese Railroad Workers Historical Memorial Monument From Steven Lee: Hi everyone, It's been a long four year road and the monument is finally here at its temporary home at the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento. You all should be congratulated for all the hard work selecting the right artists, creating a exhibit, attending the fundraisers, and donating time or money. We are still dealing with the application details with Caltrans and hopefully will can start work in Gold Run later in the year. In the meantime, the California Railroad Museum will host the Monument until were ready. You can see it in your own or we are scheduling bus tours to see it will be made once a month all summer long. I will keep you informed of the dates if you want to join us.. The attached video clip shows you how strong and powerful the Chinese Workers were, no negative stereotypes here. Please share it with whomever I missed on the email thread and to new interested donors before we close off the names to be placed on the bronze plague for the CRRW Plaza at Gold Run. These donations can help us cover the $150K needed to finish the Chinese Railroad Workers Plaza now. Thank you all again.
Got to see the Gold Mountain musical at Peery's Egyptian Theater tonight http://egyptiantheaterogden.com/node/1043
2018 Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration
Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival celebrated in East Asian countries on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. This year, it falls on September 24, so we got the festivities started early!
Live from Ping Tom Memorial Park
We are open July 4! Stop by and see us if you can!
We had fun at The Adler Planetarium for Adler After Dark: Solstice Bash
Live at “What does it mean to be Chinese in America” with Chicago-based artist Mark Yee and storyteller Dr. Ada Cheng, co-sponsored by University of Illinois at Chicago Global Asian Studies Program and co-hosted with Coalition for A Better Chinese American Community ORIGIN Youth Program (Pt. 2)
Live at “What does it mean to be Chinese in America” with Chicago-based artist Mark Yee and storyteller Dr. Ada Cheng, co-sponsored by University of Illinois at Chicago Global Asian Studies Program and co-hosted with Coalition for A Better Chinese American Community ORIGIN Youth Program (Pt. 1 - sorry, phone died after 1.5 hours)
Let the show begin!
Chinatown My Chinatown - Cynthia Yee - Emily Chin - Avis See-Tho - Pat Nishimoto
More of what’s to come tomorrow
Practice for tomorrow from Grant Avenue Follies
Head AND tail (that’s auspicious according to Chinese customs)
Head AND tail (it’s auspicious according to Chinese customs!)
The pro shows us how it’s done (lobster head and tail)
We’re live from DANK Haus German American Cultural Center at their International Game Night
He’s definitely got rhythm (our Board Director Ed Jung showing off his dance moves)
2018 Chinese New Year Celebration
Minister of Overseas Chinese Affairs- Office of the State Council
It’s an honor we had Qiu Yuanping, Minister of Overseas Chinese Affairs- Office of the State Council, come to visit the museum this Friday.
We’re live from Chicago Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade
We’re live from Chicago Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade
We’re live from the Chicago Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade
Pre-lion dance practice at Jewel-Osco on Broadway Chinese New Year Celebration
Live from Broadway Jewel-Osco, here’s Kerry Leung, our perennial favorite!
We’re live from Jewel-Osco on Broadway at their Chinese New Year Celebration
Get ready to hear all about how food has evolved from The Field Museum scientists
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Our Story
Our mission is to advance the appreciation of Chinese American culture through exhibitions, education, and research and to preserve the past, present, and future of Chinese Americans primarily in the Midwest. The Museum building, formerly the Quong Yick Co., is located in Chicago's Chinatown, at 238 West 23rd Street, Chicago, IL 60616 1/2 block west of Wentworth Ave. and 3 blocks from the Chinatown station of the CTA's Red Line.
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Comments
US Postal Service to issue stamp honoring a Chinese-American.
https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/chien-shiung-wu-S_480204?fbclid=IwAR0b5EVti4dHTaQteX203kvz2CzWv0qETQoxTYCr7KNedSz7POwnErjWx4Q
“Story of My Ancestors Who Built the First Transcontinental Railroad”
Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society published my article - “Story of My Ancestors Who Built the First Transcontinental Railroad.”
I describe the odyssey of Bein Yiu Chung, my great great grandfather, from Hoyping, on Gold Mountain – America. He labored as a railroad worker on Transcontinental Railroad, from 1865 to 1869.
I also tell the tales of:
- My great great great grandfather who mined for gold during California Gold Rush (1849-1855)
- My great grandfather who owned a gambling parlor and opium den in Boston Chinatown (1892-1926)
- My grandfather who owned a Chop Suey house at Central Square in Cambridge (1923-1936)
- My father who was an aircraft mechanic for US Navy during World War II (1943-1945) and was a minor partner for a Chinese nightclub in San Francisco Chinatown (1946-1950)
ASAMNEWS – Army General with a Cause: Chinese Am WWII veterans
On behalf of ASAMNEWS, I wrote an article about retired Army Major General William Chen. He was a key leader for Chinese American World War II Veterans Congressional Gold Medal.
THE SECOND TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD – From California to New Mexico (1869 to 1881)
For AsAmNews, I wrote an article about the Second Transcontinental Railroad – “Here’s how Chinese built the “other” transcontinental railroad”.
ASAMNEWS - Racism impact: 5 Generations of a Chinese Family in the US
For AsAmNews, I wrote an article about Bruce Quan, Jr.’s book - BITTER ROOTS – Five Generations of a Chinese Family in America.
In Part One: The Rise and Fall of the First Chinese Industrialist in America, Quan talks about Lew Hing, his great grandfather. Lew faced racism impact in America as he developed his cannery business and other business ventures.
BITTER ROOTS book is available from Amazon.
ASAMNEWS - Racism impact: 5 Generations of a Chinese Family in the US
For AsAmNews, I wrote an article about Bruce Quan, Jr.’s book - BITTER ROOTS – Five Generations of a Chinese Family in America.
In Part One: The Rise and Fall of the First Chinese Industrialist in America, Quan talks about Lew Hing, his great grandfather. Lew faced racism impact in America as he developed his cannery business and other business ventures.
BITTER ROOTS book is available from Amazon.
NEW ENGLAND - Chinese Restaurant Finances in the 1920s
For SAMPAN, the only bilingual Chinese-English Newspaper in New England, Richard Auffrey has written “Chinese Restaurant Finances in the 1920s.”
Richard describes the financing at Royal Restaurant in Boston Chinatown and at Imperial Restaurant in Central Square of Cambridge. Moi Chung, my grandfather, from Hoyping, Kwangtung, Cathay, was partner for both restaurants. He was a grandson of a railroad worker of the First Transcontinental Railroad.
THE ZHANG CLAN ODYSSEY: Zhang Weiming - My Kaiping Journey - From Gold Mountain To Dragon Hill Village
On my The Zhang Clan Odyssey website, I poignantly describe the journey to my ancestral land of Kaiping at Jiangmen in Guangdong, China.
My Dragon Hill Village is nestled in the countryside of the Pearl River Delta, in the Wuyi region.
On May 8, 2009, I wistfully honored my Zhang ancestors, with Qingming festival. Amid the stony tombs on the Hill of the Flying Swan: my great great great grandfather, the gold miner of California Gold Rush; my great great grandfather, the railroad worker on the Transcontinental Railroad; and my great grandfather, the Boston Chinatown gambling and opium entrepreneur.
https://www.mychinaroots.com/samples/zhang-odyssey/index.html#140
My China Roots, Beijing, China, created the Zhang Clan Odyssey site, for me.
PROFESSOR YONG CHEN AND “CHOP SUEY, USA” – A Zoom Webinar
The Conversation Kitchen of University of California at Irvine will feature Professor Yong Chen’s book Chop Suey, USA. He and Chef Jessica Van Roo will muse about the culinary dishes of Chop Suey in USA.
Chop Suey is the comfort food of the Cantonese sojourners on Gold Mountain.
From the iconic musical and movie, “Flower Drum Song,” a tasty ode to Chop Suey:
“Chop Suey”
Chop suey, chop suey!
Living here is very much like chop suey.
Hula hoops and nuclear war,
Doctor Salk and Zsa Zsa Gabor,
Bobby Darin, Sandra Dee, and Dewey,
Chop suey, --Chop suey!--
Stars are drifting overhead,
Birds and worms have gone to bed.
Men work late in laboratories,
Others read detective stories.
Some are roaming 'round the country,
Others sit beneath just one tree.
Tonight on TV's Late, Late Show
You can look at Clara Bow! --Who?--
Chop suey, chop suey!
Good and bad, intelligent, mad, and screwy.
Violins and trumpets and drums,
Take it all the way that it comes,
Sad and funny, sour and honey dewy,
Chop suey!
Ballpoint pens and filter tips,
Lipsticks and potato chips.
In the dampest kind of heat wave
You can give your hair a neat wave.
Hear that lovely La Paloma,
Lullaby by Perry Como.
Dreaming in my Maiden form bra,
Dreamed I danced the Cha-Cha-Cha.
Chop suey, chop suey!
Mixed with all the hokum and bally hooey.
Something real and glowing grand.
Sheds a light all over the land.
Boston, Austin, Wichita, and St. Louey,
Chop suey.
Chop suey, chop suey!
Chop suey, chop suey!
ASAMNEWS - 28 Chinese miners massacred in Wyoming in 1885 over jobs
On behalf of AsAmNews, I wrote an article about the ugly massacre of Chinese coal miners at Rock Springs in Wyoming Territory.
After the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, anti-Chinese sentiment swept the wildlands of the American West. Whites discriminated against the Chinese; Whites expelled the Chinese from Chinatowns; Whites slaughtered the Chinese at towns, fields, and mines.
A bitter memory of a brutal incident against the Chinese, on September 2, 1885 – The Rock Springs Massacre.
GIM SUEY CHONG - Chinese American World War II Veteran
As we honor and remember our veterans on Veterans Day, November 11, 2020, I reminisce about Gim Suey Chong, my father.
Gim was a Chinese American World War II Veteran. He served with United States Naval Reserve. His all-Chinese crew diligently maintained the China Clipper, the world-famous flying boat and other seaplanes, to and from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. They performed crucial maintenance at Treasure Island Station on the San Francisco Bay, east of San Francisco. He was discharged on December 7, 1945.
From Hoyping in Kwangtung province of China, Gim arrived at the Port of Boston, as a paper son – an illegal immigrant, on April 20, 1932. He was a victim of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. He was separated from his mother, for 34 years, until February 14, 1966. They reunited at Los Angeles International Airport.
Gim was a descendant of Chinese gold miner during the California Gold Rush and of Chinese railroad worker on the Transcontinental Railroad
On Angel Island Immigrant Station Foundation website, under Immigrant Voices, Gim is profiled in “Gim Suey Chong: Our Quiet Man.”
ASAMNEWS - Two Chinese men overcome racism to make history (Transcontinental Railroad)
On behalf of AsAmNews, I wrote about “Chinese Brothers, American Sons,” by Ed Shew of Saint Louis, Missouri.
“Ed Shew has written a historical novel – Chinese Brothers, American Sons. He tells the story of the brave two fictional Cantonese brothers, Li Chang, the eldest, and Li Yu under the backdrop of Chinese American history.” They faced racism during California Gold Rush, San Francisco Chinatown, and Transcontinental Railroad, from 1854 to 1869.