Day 76: Katherine Wai, Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio
📌APIA Every Day (76) - Katherine Wai was the first Chinese woman to graduate from Otterbein College in 1918. Born in 1884 in Guangdong Province, South China, Katherine Wei was first documented in a 1910 census entry as a 16-year-old Chinese woman lodging with a white family on Lincoln Street. Regina Bigler, a medical missionary in the ancient city of Guangzhou, fostered Jan Wah Way (Katherine Wai) upon discovering that Wai's father had sold her into slavery to settle his debts.
In 1909, Bigler and Wai journeyed to Hong Kong, boarding a ship to America. Upon reaching the mainland, Wai informed immigration officials that Bigler had covered her passage, seeking exemption from Chinese Exclusion Act restrictions. Additionally, she indicated Westerville as her final destination, implying her intention to become an Otterbein student. This arrangement was likely facilitated due to Bigler's affiliation with the United Brethren church, associated with the college.
Katherine Wai resided with the Gantz family and entered a college preparatory program at Otterbein, later becoming a full-time student until her graduation in 1918. During her time at Otterbein, Wai encountered language and financial barriers, alongside racist remarks from her peers. Post-graduation, she returned to China, married John Siew, and started a family. Although newspaper clippings briefly mention her as a teacher, limited information is available about Wai's life after graduation. However, insights into her experience migrating to America and attending Otterbein provide a unique perspective on the life of a Chinese woman during the Chinese Exclusion period. How can we look explore the life story of Katherine Wai through a place-based historic preservation lens?
LEARN MORE:
Westerville History Museum: Katherine Wai (Ep.3)
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