Interracial Marriage

New York was one of only nine states where interracial marriage was never outlawed. Many Catskills newspapers reported with sensational flair on mixed unions nationwide. In other states, miscegenation was treated as a felony, punishable by prison—until the Supreme Court’s Loving v. Virginia decision in 1967.

  • Marriage of State College Girl

    Marriage of State College Girl to Chinese Student Is Revealed

    Albany Evening News, January 21, 1927

    Mrs. Clarence Shu who was married recently to a Chinese student at Union college.

    Miss Eva Dietz Became Bride of Clarence Shu, Union College Man, in Albany, December 27.

  • East and West, Bridge Racial Gap, Plan Honeymoon in China

    East and West, Bridge Racial Gap, Plan Honeymoon in China

    The Knickerbocker Press, January 22, 1927

    White Girl and Chinese Challenge Age Old Race Philosophy by Marriage

    Both Are Students

    Mrs. Shu at Teachers’ College; Husband, Heir to Silk Business, at Union

    Challenging the age old philosophy of conflict between the alien races of East and West, Mrs. Eva Dietz Shu, student at New York State College for Teachers, and her Chinese bridegroom, Clarence Shu, a sophomore at Union college, yesterday made ready for a deferred honeymoon trip to Shanghai, the home of Mr. Shu.

  • Chinese Weds White Woman Three Times

    Chinese Weds White Woman Three Times

    Syracuse Journal, August 1919

    Cook in Navy Wanted to Be Sure He Was Really Married.

    New York, Aug. 23–He was a Chinese. And she was a Portuguese, the widow of a Spaniard. So Wing Ching having heard the foreboding expression “not a Chinaman’s chance,” decided, as far as possible, to eliminate all hazards. When he was married to Mrs. Elvira de Olivera he had the knot tied three times.

  • After 17 Years Chinese Weds American Woman

    After 17 Years Chinese Weds American Woman

    Ithaca Daily News, July 23, 1912

    BALTIMORE, July 23—After a wait of seventeen years during which he suffered many heartaches, happiness came to George P. Wing-son, a full-blooded Chinese today when he walked to the altar with his bride, Mrs. Lottie Winsor, an American woman, aged 32 years…He was born in China and came to American when a boy.

  • Persistent Chinese Weds White Girl Second Time

    Persistent Chinese Weds White Girl Second Time

    Buffalo Evening News, August 10, 1927

    DENVER, Aug. 9 (U.N.)—Ong De King, a Chinese cook, has married the white girl of his choice for the second time—this time with the consent of the bride’s parents…”Elizabeth refused to give him up so there was nothing else to do but give my consent. I guess I’ll have to get accustomed to Oriental ways.”

  • Chinese Weds Co-Ed

    Chinese Weds Co-Ed

    Cortland Standard, June 18, 1933

    Ithaca—Waiving the ceremonous details of accepting their diplomas at Cornell University’s 70th annual commencement exercises Monday morning, Dr. and Mrs. Sian Yu Tang started on the mid-night train Friday for Hongkong, China, via Chicago. Mrs. Tang, until 10 a.m. Friday…was Miss Margaret Anna Buckland, 21, of Perry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Buckland.

  • Syracuse Girl Is Bride of Chinese

    Syracuse Girl Is Bride of Chinese

    Watertown Daily Times, February 23, 1924

    Weds Former Student of University

    HER PARENTS TO FORGIVE

    Bridegroom Is Member of Presbyterian Church—Part Owner In Two Chinese Restaurants.