Description
The Yamashita Family Papers include
correspondence, writings, photographs, photograph albums, genealogical research, and other
family documents and belongings spanning over a century and including three generations of
the Yamashita family. The collection covers the initial immigration of Kishiro and Tomi
Yamashita from Japan to California to raise a family, through the generation of their
grandchildren in the mid to late 20th century. Part of the Issei generation, Kishiro and
Tomi had seven children, all of whom were born in Oakland between 1901 and 1921. Materials
from these seven children—Kimi, Susumu, Chizu, John, Iyo, Kay, and Tom—make up the bulk of
the collection showcasing the experiences of the Nisei generation growing up in California,
including the exclusion and incarceration legislation that impacted the family during World
War II. Materials from the children of the Nisei generation (the Sansei generation) are also
included.
Background
The Yamashitas are a Japanese American family who were mainly based in California during
the 20th century. The first generation of the Yamashitas who immigrated to the United States
(called the Issei generation) were Kishiro (1873-1931) and Tomi (née Murakami, 1882-1972),
who arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area from Japan around the turn of the 20th century.
Kishiro and Tomi had seven children after settling in the United States, who comprise the
Nisei generation: Kimi (born 1902), Susumu "Sus" (1905), Chizuru Dorothy "Chizu" (1908),
Hiroshi John (1912), Iyo (1915), Kiye "Kay" (1918), and Isao Thomas "Tom" (1921). The
children of the Nisei members, called the Sansei generation, were born throughout the 1920s
to the 1950s. During World War II, members of the Yamashita family were forced to leave
their homes after President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. They were
incarcerated first at the Tanforan Assembly Center in San Bruno, California, before being
moved to the Central Utah Relocation Center, more commonly known as Topaz. After the war,
some Yamashita family members returned to the California Bay Area, and others moved to New
Jersey, Chicago, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Ohio, Philadelphia, and New York.
Extent
68.1 Linear Feet
55 boxes, 1 map-case drawer
Restrictions
Copyright for the items in this collection is owned by the creators and their heirs.
Reproduction or distribution of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair
use requires permission from the copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the user to
determine whether a use is fair use, and to obtain any necessary permissions. For more
information see UCSC Special Collections and Archives policy on Reproduction and Use.
Availability
Collection open for research. Audiovisual media is unavailable until reformatted. Digital
files are available in the UCSC Special Collections and Archives reading room. Contact
Special Collections and Archives in advance to request access to audiovisual media and
digital files.