Ronald T. Takaki papers

Title: Ronald T. Takaki papers

Dates: 1823-2009 (bulk 1968-2008)

Collection Number: CES ARC 2009/1

Creator/Collector: Takaki, Ronald T.

Extent: 42 Cartons, 33 Boxes, 5 Oversize Folders (66.2 linear feet)

Repository: UC Berkeley. Ethnic Studies Library

Abstract: The collection contains general correspondence, mainly with colleagues and students. Correspondence relating to other series are filed with those series: Professional activities, Writings, Teaching, Research files, and Personal papers. The Professional activities materials include Takaki’s numerous lectures and presentations, special projects, consultations, media interviews, and awards. They consist of correspondence, speeches, conference programs, proposals, drafts to review, event announcements, articles, newspaper clippings, background materials, certificates, posters, audiocassette tapes, compact discs, and photographs. Takaki’s many published works are represented in the collection with related correspondence, proposals and contracts with publishers, book reviews, promotional events, awards and citations, manuscript drafts and revisions, newspaper clippings, posters, compact discs, and photographs. Some of the titles included are Iron Cages: Race and Culture in 19th Century America (1979); Pau Hana: Plantation Life and Labor in Hawaii, 1835-1920 (1983); Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans (1989); and A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America (1993). There is also a large number of opinion editorials written by Takaki on various topics and responses to current issues. The teaching materials contain American Cultures Requirement proposals, meetings, and background materials; research grant proposals; some administrative information; and a large amount of University of California (Los Angeles and Berkeley) Ethnic Studies course materials from 1968 to 2004. The Research Files include alphabetically arranged subjects such as Affirmative action, African Americans, Asian Americans, Asian Indians, Chinese Americans, Hawaii plantation labor, Italian Americans, Japanese Americans, Multiculturalism, and World War II. These consist of correspondence, papers, reports, journal and newspaper articles, newsletters, notes, and photographs. There are also boxes of index cards with notes and bibliographic information, some research for books such as Pro-Slavery Crusade, Violence in the Black Imagination, Iron Cages, and Pau Hana; and some on topics for Black history class lectures. Takaki’s personal papers include correspondence, Japan and Hawaii family history information, photographs, course study notes from student years at University of California at Los Angeles, obituaries and materials from memorial events in 2009.

Language of Material: English

Collection is open for research.

Materials in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission of reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the curator, Ethnic Studies Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720-2360.

Ronald T. Takaki papers. UC Berkeley. Ethnic Studies Library

The Ronald T. Takaki papers were given to the Ethnic Studies Library by Ronald Takaki on September 6, 2008. Additions were made by Carol Takaki on May 16, 2011.

Ronald T. Takaki, grandson of Japanese plantation laborers in Hawaii, was born in 1939 on the island of Oahu. He received his PhD. in history from the University of California at Berkeley in 1967, began his teaching career at the University of California at Los Angeles where he taught the university’s first black history course, and returned to Berkeley in 1972 as a professor of Ethnic Studies. He was instrumental in the establishment of Berkeley’s multicultural requirement for graduation, served as Chairperson of the Ethnic Studies Department, and was chosen by the University faculty for the distinguished teaching award. He taught at Berkeley for over three decades before his retirement in 2004. Takaki also received awards for his numerous publications, his comparative and multicultural scholarship, and his service to the Asian American community.

The collection contains general correspondence, mainly with colleagues and students. Correspondence relating to other series are filed with those series: Professional activities, Writings, Teaching, Research files, and Personal papers. The Professional activities materials include Takaki’s numerous lectures and presentations, special projects, consultations, media interviews, and awards. They consist of correspondence, speeches, conference programs, proposals, drafts to review, event announcements, articles, newspaper clippings, background materials, certificates, posters, audiocassette tapes, compact discs, and photographs. Takaki’s many published works are represented in the collection with related correspondence, proposals and contracts with publishers, book reviews, promotional events, awards and citations, manuscript drafts and revisions, newspaper clippings, posters, compact discs, and photographs. Some of the titles included are Iron Cages: Race and Culture in 19th Century America (1979); Pau Hana: Plantation Life and Labor in Hawaii, 1835-1920 (1983); Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans (1989); and A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America (1993). There is also a large number of opinion editorials written by Takaki on various topics and responses to current issues. The teaching materials contain American Cultures Requirement proposals, meetings, and background materials; research grant proposals; some administrative information; and a large amount of University of California (Los Angeles and Berkeley) Ethnic Studies course materials from 1968 to 2004. The Research Files include alphabetically arranged subjects such as Affirmative action, African Americans, Asian Americans, Asian Indians, Chinese Americans, Hawaii plantation labor, Italian Americans, Japanese Americans, Multiculturalism, and World War II. These consist of correspondence, papers, reports, journal and newspaper articles, newsletters, notes, and photographs. There are also boxes of index cards with notes and bibliographic information, some research for books such as Pro-Slavery Crusade, Violence in the Black Imagination, Iron Cages, and Pau Hana; and some on topics for Black history class lectures. Takaki’s personal papers include correspondence, Japan and Hawaii family history information, photographs, course study notes from student years at University of California at Los Angeles, obituaries and materials from memorial events in 2009.