Trial by Fire: The Race to Save 200 Years of Chinese American History

This was MOCA's Collections and Research Center. These photos were taken two weeks before the fire. At the time, we had no idea they would become the final images of this beloved space.

Handwritten letters, photos, oral histories, paintings, store signs, textiles, sculptures, film reels, furniture and other artifacts documented the rich history of the Chinese experience in America.

Although our collections staff have digitized over 35,000 objects (10,000 of which are accessible in our online database), the historical artifacts themselves are irreplaceable.

Artists, authors, scholars, filmmakers and playwrights have used MOCA's archives as source material for their creative work. Among these are David Henry Hwang's "The Dance and the Railroad", Ursula Liang's "9 Man" documentary and Lisa See's novel "China Dolls", to name a few.

70 Mulberry Street has served as the original home for several incarnations of the Museum, with several name changes along the way. This sign that greets visitors in the main hallway of MOCA's archives honors the individuals who recognized early on the importance of history, family stories and community when MOCA was called the Museum of Chinese in the Americas before adopting its current name.

MOCA publishes the first post in what will become its daily social media coverage of the fire. The Museum's social media channels become a lifeline for millions of people around the world riveted to learn of the fate of the archives.

The first post, MOCA's first public communication about the fire, reads:

"MOCA is deeply saddened and shocked by the devastating fire at Chinatown’s beloved 70 Mulberry. The MOCA team stayed on site until hoses stopped last night. We have reached out to emergency conservators. Thank you for the outpouring of community support re: MOCA archives. We will update as we get more information."

For 10 straight hours, firefighters try to extinguish the flames with what seems like an ocean's worth of water. The MOCA team is anxious to begin recovery, since the first 48-72 hours are critical to salvaging and stabilizing materials that have endured a fire.

However, city and fire officials warn MOCA staff that the soonest any one can safely enter the building is three weeks. With the weight of tons of debris from the collapsed roof, 5th, 4th and 3rd floors threatening to cave-in the 2nd floor housing MOCA's archives, the New York Times publishes a grim headline: "85,000 Pieces From Beloved Chinatown Museum Likely Destroyed in Fire". The story would capture the world's attention and crystallize everyone's worst fears that the collection is completely lost.

MOCA President Nancy Yao Maasbach kept in close round-the-clock communication with city officials about retrieving collection artifacts, but inspectors deemed the building too dangerous to enter.

MOCA's social media post of the day on 1/27/2020:

"Thank you for your continued support. We are waiting to hear from #NYC officials as to when MOCA's collections and archives can be safely extracted. This picture is keeping us focused on recovery, which will be a long, complex and costly process. We will update you as soon as possible."

Reaction on social media is swift. MOCA's tweets about the fire go viral and galvanize hundreds of people around the world to donate to MOCA's fire recovery fund on GoFundMe. In the first days after the fire $100,000 in digitally crowdsourced donations is raised.

But the support on social media isn't all about money. Thousands of people find creative ways, especially through Instagram Stories, to express their love for MOCA and sadness for what might be lost.

To prepare for recovery, volunteer conservation experts from the NYC Department of Records and Information Services, and Alliance for Response NYC stay on standby. Hundreds of first-time volunteers also respond to MOCA's call for help and together with MOCA staff create a temporary recovery area at MOCA's main museum space at 215 Centre Street.

Finally, on 1/29/2020 (five days after the fire), city officials decide one room in MOCA's archives is safe enough to enter and authorize crews to rescue its contents. MOCA sends a tweet read 'round the world: "FIRST BOX IS OUT!"

"Extraordinary efforts today. Deep gratitude to all City agencies, elected officials, and MOCA volunteers. We recovered approximately 160 boxes today. Holding tight to hope and focused on continued recovery of the MOCA Collection. We took our first steps today."

Among the artifacts recovered are documents, playbills, compositions and notes from the iconic musical Flower Drum Song.

A volunteer carries a recovered box of Oscar-winning film director Ang Lee's personal mementos donated to MOCA's Collections.

Once boxes arrive at MOCA's temporary recovery area, volunteer professional conservators immediately begin looking for any damage to the contents.

As more objects are examined, MOCA begins to understand more fully the Herculean task ahead, and the extraordinary expense and work needed to repair, recover, and rebuild its collections and archives.

On 1/31/2020, a second round of recovery begins, focusing on over 500 boxes of paper documents and many three dimensional objects like folded paper sculptures, hand laundry equipment, and travel trunks.

MOCA's social media posts on 1/31/2020:

"Just retrieved from our priceless Golden Venture paper sculpture collection! Condition unknown."

"Retrieved two boxes of the original Chinese American Times founded by William Yukon Chang that was the first Chinese American newspaper published entirely in English! Condition unknown."

"Another artifact from our Golden Venture paper sculptures collection retrieved. Condition unknown. This was shown in our FOLD exhibition in 2017."

With the completion of the second stage of recovery, MOCA rescues one third of the collection, thanks to all the amazing volunteers!

"These paper sculptures were created by survivors of the Golden Venture, a ship that trafficked 286 undocumented Chinese passengers from Fujian province and ran aground off New York City in 1993."

MOCA's social media post on 2/8/2020:

"Here is a retrieved artifact that wasn't so lucky. This is a sculpture made by Golden Venture survivors that depicts the U.S. Capitol dome but is set within Chinese city walls."

"This photo is of remnants and pieces from one of the seven-tiered paper “Thank You” towers made by Golden Venture survivors. Strange to think that the men who created these once thought of them as ephemera and never imagined they would last long.

They survived so long, only to end up like this."

MOCA's social media post on 2/9/2020:

"This framed water-damaged Chinese calligraphy scroll was recovered. It says 'Museum of Chinese in the Americas,' which was the precursor to MOCA before the museum changed its name in 2009. It has been accidentally placed upside-down during the retrieval process."

MOCA's social media post on 2/10/2020:

"Here’s a sign we recovered. When it comes to how much we treasure every object and every life story told through our collection, we think that last line says it all: ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD."

MOCA's social media post on 2/11/2020:

"This is the Singer sewing machine donated to MOCA’s Collections by Sui Ling Tsang. It belonged to her mother Mok Sim Tsang."

"Mok Sim Tsang worked as a seamstress at a garment factory in Manhattan’s Chinatown from 1968 until she passed away in 1977. The lives of garment workers such as Mok Sim speak to the many untold stories that are told through MOCA's collections."

MOCA's social media post on 2/13/2020:

"This item is from our P.S. 23 collection. It is a drawer containing the records of students back when 70 Mulberry Street was a public school in 1892."

By this point, more than a month has passed since the fire. With each passing day, artifacts are further exposed to extreme weather in the dead of winter. Fearing that further delay will destroy the remaining archives beyond repair, MOCA makes a carefully deliberated decision to stage a peaceful march and rally to be held on 2/27/2020 to draw more attention to the need for urgent action to recover the MOCA archives and the belongings of other 70 Mulberry Street tenants.

The staff circulate a factsheet to the public under the rallying cry "Save Our Stories, Save Our Heritage, Save Our History, 70 Mulberry."
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Community members and volunteers gathered at MOCA to create and design posters and signs, and think up slogans to embody the rally's message.

Within 24 hours of informing the public about the rally, MOCA is notified by the city that it will retrieve the remainder of the collections in the coming week.

MOCA states the following via social media on 2/26/20:

"Given the clear timeline and action plan to retrieve the remaining items at 70 Mulberry, MOCA will replace its march and rally with a recovery sign-up and breakfast gathering at 9:30AM on Thursday, February 27 at 215 Centre Street. The retrieval process is an ongoing one and we are committed to working with the community and gathering your input to ensure DCAS fulfills its commitments. ⁣
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MOCA is indebted to all of you for your support…and most of all…your stories.⁣
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This is not just a victory for MOCA. This is a victory for the entire community, for Chinatown, for every family whose life stories enrich the American narrative. This is a victory because each of you showed the power of what can be achieved when we come together in unity. Thank you.⁣ - The MOCA team⁣"

On 2/27/2020, signs and posters that originally had been created for the march instead become an impromptu mini-exhibition at MOCA's community gathering held in lieu of the planned march and rally.

The different rally signs begin to represent a mosaic of people from all walks of life coming together to fight for the timely and proper recovery of the archives.

MOCA President Nancy Yao Maasbach addresses assembled volunteers, announcing that NYC DCAS will recover the remaining archives in the coming week. ⁣

Herb Tam, MOCA's curator, invites various community members in attendance to share their memories and stories of what 70 Mulberry Street means to them and to Chinese life in America.

MOCA's social media post of the day on 2/28/2020:

"Gratitude. That's what we're feeling in huge abundance right now. Immense heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported our fire recovery effort this past month. ⁣
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We would like to take this moment and share with you a letter we received in the mail from a school in New Jersey.

To the amazing students of 3rd and 4th Grade R of Stevens Cooperative School, we want to say a HUGE THANK YOU! ⁣
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Your donation means so much to us and we promise to use every hard-earned dollar wisely to recover, repair and rebuild our archives. ⁣
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We have pinned your letter to our wall so it has a special place in our office. We will always remember your kindness. ⁣
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From all of us at MOCA, thank you."

MOCA's social media post on 3/2/2020:

"A staff member of Children’s Museum of Art took the time to walk from their location at Hudson Square to personally deliver this letter along with a donation to aid MOCA’s fire recovery."

MOCA's social media post of the day on 3/7/2020: "Please support Chinatown Fire Relief and help the 5 non-profit organizations impacted by the fire at 70 Mulberry Street.

We know that a victory for any of us is a victory for all of us."

Dawn at 70 Mulberry on Sunday, March 8, 2020. The city is starting the retrieval of the remaining 80% of MOCA's Collections.⁣ This will continue all day until dusk. It's a critical day.

"For so many weeks, we’ve stared at this window. We could see our archive boxes as they endured water, weather, and the ravages of time day after day. ⁣Glad to see that room is empty."

Shortly before dusk on 3/8/2020, the recovery work ends.

MOCA's social media team publishes the last of its daily posts about the MOCA Archives Fire Recovery effort and signs off, thanking the hundreds of thousands of supporters who have been following the Museum's updates for the past 45 days.

MOCA's final social media post reads:

"Dear MOCA Friends and Neighbors,

We had a momentous day on Sunday, March 8. With the great leadership of NYC DCAS, including Quintin Haynes, NYC DCAS Executive Deputy Commissioner and his stellar team as well as multiple NYC agencies, the strong advocacy of community leaders, the generous spirit of our 70 Mulberry neighbors, Council Member Margaret Chin and Chief of Staff Gigi Li, MOCA was able to retrieve nearly all of its Collections (minus a few signs and boxes that were severely damaged).

We are calling it the miracle on Mulberry. What a day!"

In the six weeks following the fire on that fateful night of Jan. 23, 2020, MOCA ultimately retrieved 95% of the collection. Artifacts were sent to multiple vendors to undergo months-long stabilization and treatment.

MOCA immediately weighed its next steps: assessing total damage and cost; how to fund the years of work that would be required to repair, restore and rebuild the collection; and finding a new permanent home for the archives. ⁣

Eager to reflect on the lessons learned from its handling of the crisis, MOCA organized a mini-exhibition about the fire and its effort to save the archives.

However, on March 12, 2020, the day the mini-exhibition was scheduled to open, MOCA was forced to shut down until further notice as the COVID-19 coronavirus flared into a full-blown pandemic around the world.

The content, videos and images from the mini-exhibition have now been adapted and merged into this Google Arts & Culture online exhibit you have just experienced.