Dorothy Toy Fong papers, 1910s-2010s

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Summary

Creators:
Toy, Dorothea and Fong, Dorlie
Abstract:
Manuscripts, photographs, programs, music scores and ephemera from the dance career of Dorothy Toy Fong (born Shigeko Takahashi) covering her time as part of the dance duo Toy and Wing during the 1930s through 1950s, as well as her travelling Revue during the 1960s.
Extent:
30 Linear Feet 71 boxes [49 manuscript boxes, 2 cartons, 2 card boxes, 18 flat boxes]
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], Dorothy Toy Fong papers (M3073). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection covers the dance career and personal life of Dorothy Toy Fong (born Shigeko Takahashi). Materials pertaining to her dance career span the 1930s through the 1970s and include advertisements, programs, and newspaper clippings covering performances, as well as more administrative business files detailing the logistics, expenses, and planning that went into running a travelling dance troupe. There are also a large number of behind-the-scenes photographs and handwritten musical arrangements used for performances. Many of the musical arrangements were done by Dorothy's sister Helen Toy (born Chiyo Takahashi). Later materials cover the recognition and documentation of her dance career and that of the Chinatown nightclub scene in San Francisco during the 1940s and 1950s. The collection also includes a large amount of personal documents, family history materials, and family photographs.

Biographical / historical:

Shigeko Takahashi was born in 1917 in San Francisco, California to Japanese immigrants Kiyo and Yataro Takahashi. In 1920, the family moved to Los Angeles where they opened the Cherry Blossom Cafe across the street from the Regent Vaudeville Theatre. As a young child, Dorothy began ballet lessons after her mother negotiated free lessons in exchange for meals at the restaurant. In 1930, Dorothy and her sister Helen met vaudeville performer Paul Wing. The trio started a tap dancing act called "The Three Mahjongs." Helen eventually left the group to pursue singing and Dorothy took the stage name Dorothy Toy. The dance duo of Toy and Wing toured around the United States throughout the 1930s and were featured performers in a number of short films and movies. While performing at the London Palladium in 1939, England declared war on Germany. On their return to the US, Dorothy and Paul married in New York City and began performing in Broadway theatres.

With the onset of Executive Order 9066 and the incarceration of Japanese Americans in 1942, Dorothy's parents and extended family were sent to Topaz, Utah, and Dorothy was unable to enter the state of California. This meant that Toy and Wing lost their contracts to perform in Hollywood films with Chico Marx and Kay Kyser. In 1943, Paul Wing was drafted into the army. Dorothy paired up with her sister, Helen, and performed at USO shows as the Toy Sisters. Toy and Wing reunited after World War II and continued touring. Even after divorcing in 1950, the pair were headliners on the so-called Chop Suey circuit of Chinese nightclubs around the US. While performing at the Forbidden City in San Francisco, Dorothy met her second husband, Leslie H. Fong. They married in 1952 and had two children, Dorlie and Peter.

In 1960, Toy and Wing produced a musical revue featuring an all-Asian cast, including Helen Toy as a singer. The Revue toured under the name Toy and Wing's Oriental Playgirl Revue and Dorothy Toy's Oriental Doll Revue following Paul Wing's departure in 1965. The group travelled throughout the US, Canada, Japan, and Europe during the 1960s. Dorothy closed the Revue in 1972.

After her professional dance career, Dorothy Toy worked a variety of jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area. She and Leslie divorced in 1972, but remained close until his passing in 1983. She was involved in various fundraising activities for the Asian community in Oakland and San Francisco and during the 1990s, she opened Studio 653 out of her home in Oakland where she taught ballet and tap. While Helen Toy and Paul Wing passed away in the 1990s, Dorothy lived to be recognized for her contributions to the Asian American community and dance in a number of books and documentaries. She passed away at age 102 in Oakland on July 10, 2019.

Acquisition information:
This collection was given by Dorlie Fong to Stanford University, Special Collections in January 2025.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in eight series:

  • Series 1. Business Files
  • Series 2. Publicity Materials
  • Series 3. Music Scores
  • Series 4. Photographs
  • Series 5. Legacy and Recognition
  • Series 6. Personal Papers and Ephemera
  • Series 7. Family History Documents and Photographs
  • Series 8. Audiovisual Media

Physical location:
Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36 hours in advance.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.

Terms of access:

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], Dorothy Toy Fong papers (M3073). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Location of this collection:
Department of Special Collections, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6004, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022
specialcollections@stanford.edu
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