The Moys of New York and Shanghai: One Family's Extraordinary Journey Through War and RevolutionThe most extraordinary family you’ve never heard of. Born to Chinese immigrant parents, the Moy siblings grew up in an America that questioned their citizenship and denied their equality. Sophisticated and self-consciously modern, they challenged limitations and stereotypes in the United States and sought new opportunities in China’s tumultuous republic. Sometimes the risks they took paid off, but their occasional recklessness also led to infidelity, divorce, bankruptcy, and worse. Those in China faced pressure to collaborate with Japanese occupiers, making choices that had serious consequences for their siblings in the United States.Charlotte Brooks’s gripping tale follows the family back and forth across the Pacific and through two world wars, China’s Nationalist and Communist revolutions, and the Cold War—events that the siblings and their spouses helped shape. The Moys’ incredible story offers a kaleidoscopic view of an entire generation’s struggle for acceptance and belonging. |
Contents
PART | 7 |
Ernest New York 19101914 | 15 |
Alice New York 19141918 | 22 |
Ernest Chicago and New York 19151922 | 31 |
Kay and Ming Tai New York 19241927 | 44 |
Ernest and Ruth New York and Shanghai 19251928 | 50 |
IO Kay and Ming Tai New York 19281929 | 61 |
PART TWO | 81 |
Kay and Ming Tai New York 19371939 | 126 |
Ernest and Ruth New York and Shanghai 19371938 | 132 |
Alice and Alfred New York and Shanghai 19371938 | 136 |
Kay and Ming Tai New York 19391940 | 141 |
Ernest and Ruth Shanghai and Hong Kong 19391941 | 146 |
Alice and Alfred Shanghai 19401941 | 153 |
Kay and Ming Tai New York 19411943 | 159 |
Ernest and Ruth China 19421943 | 165 |
Kay and Ming Tai Glen Ridge and Newark 19301932 | 83 |
Ernest and Ruth Shanghai 19311932 89 | 89 |
Alice and Alfred Shanghai 19321934 | 94 |
Kay and Ming Tai Newark and New York 19331934 | 98 |
Ernest and Ruth Shanghai and New York 19331934 | 101 |
Alice and Alfred Shanghai 19341936 | 105 |
Kay and Ming Tai New York 19351937 | 110 |
Ernest and Ruth Shanghai 1937 | 114 |
Alice and Alfred Shanghai and New York 1937 | 120 |
Alice and Alfred Shanghai 19421943 | 170 |
Kay and Ming Tai New York 19431944 | 177 |
Ernest and Ruth Chongqing Kunming and Shanghai 19431945 | 181 |
Alice and Alfred Shanghai 19441945 | 189 |
Kay and Ming Tai New York 19441945 | 193 |
PART THREE | 209 |
Hong Kong 19581961 | 254 |
Acknowledgments | 265 |
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Common terms and phrases
Adelaide Alfred and Alice Alfred’s Alice and Alfred Alson American Exodus Ancestry.com apartment April arrived August August 20 Bert Lee Bill broadcast brother Chang Chen Chiang Kai-shek Chicago China Chinatown Chinese American Chins Chongqing citizens Club Communist Consulate daughter December EKMD Ernest and Ruth Ernest K family’s February felt finally foreign friends George Glen Ridge Guangzhou Helen Herbert Erasmus Moy Herbert Moy Hong Kong immigration Jack January Japanese July June Kay and Ming knew Koesun Kunming Leong lived Loring Moy Manhattan March March 25 married Mei Lanfang MFHR Ming Tai Ming Tai’s moved Moy Sing Nationalist Newark November NYHT October Palais D'Or parents Pete Peter Kim radio restaurant returned SCMP September Shanghai Shau Hong siblings sister Taiwan Typond United University Press Vivian wedding Wong Ying York young