Inventory of the Kenneth Kantor papers

Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff

Hoover Institution Library and Archives

434 Galvez Mall

Stanford University

Stanford, CA 94305-6003

hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu

URL: http://www.hoover.org/library-and-archives

Title: Kenneth Kantor papers

Date (inclusive): 1937-1975

Collection Number: 2012C24

Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives

Language of Material: In English and Japanese

Physical Description: 7 manuscript boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 1 negative (5.1 Linear Feet)

Abstract: Contains printed newspaper writings, drafts of articles, letters, and photographs relating to the post-World War II American occupation of Japan, the Korean War, and other subjects.

Creator: Kantor, Kenneth

Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Access

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Use

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Acquisition Information

Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2012.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Kenneth Kantor papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Biographical Note

Born on January 22, 1920, Kenneth Dwight Kantor was an American journalist who spent most of his career in Japan and Korea. He covered post-World War II Japan and the war in Korea, including subjects such as the status of women's rights in Japan and refugees in Korea. He worked for the National Broadcast Company. In 1948, he married Margaret (Marjorie) A. Crook, who had also worked for the Far East Command.

Scope and Content of Collection

Contains printed newspaper writings, drafts of articles, letters, and photographs relating to the post-World War II American occupation of Japan, the Korean War, and other subjects.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Journalists

Japan -- History -- Allied occupation, 1945-1952

Korean War, 1950-1953

box 1, folder 1

Byline articles 1949-1964

box 1, folder 2

Correspondence to the National Broadcasting Company (United States) and public relations 1944-1975

box 1, folder 3

National Broadcasting Company (NBC), "News on the Far East," 1950-1951

box 1, folder 4

Professional references and recommendations 1947-1965

box 1, folder 5

Article drafts 1947-1950

Scope and Contents note

Includes:

"Japan's Nurses are Becoming Professional RN's"

"The Story That Could Not Be Told"

"Jet Ride To Danger" in Saga: The Magazine of True Adventure, March 1951

"Hiroshima Hero" (plus alternate titles), "I Bummed A Jet Ride to Korea"

"American Sailor on Horseback Upsets Japanese in Ancient Sport"

"Kimono Revolt!"

"Cultured Pearls to Be Available in Large Quantities"

"Anomaly on Wheels"

"...On Our Children and Our Children's Children"

"Mama-San's Kids"

"Oil Horizon's Expanding in Volcanic Japan"

"China's Natural Gas May Be the Answer to Tokyo's Shortage"

"Oil for a New Japan"

"Pipe Line or Pipe Dream?"

"Big Blow"

"Tokyo's Water System"

"New York to Los Angeles in 288 Diapers!"

box 1, folder 6

"What Is America Thinking?," article undated

box 1, folder 7-8

Writings, clippings, and correspondence from Kantor's time in Japan 1947-1950

Articles by Kenneth Kantor for Lurton Blassingame undated

box 1, folder 9

"I Hunted the World's Biggest Animal" by William M. Terry, as told to Ken Kantor

box 1, folder 10

"Nightmare Above the World" or "Nightmare 10,000 Feet Up" by Lt. Hugh Casey, as told to Ken Kantor

box 1, folder 11

"The Story That Could Not Be Told"

box 1, folder 12

"Can the Communists Take Japan?"

box 1, folder 13

"Kimono Revolt" article and accompanying photographs

box 2, folder 1

"Photographic Picture Book of Nikko, National Park of Japan," dedicated to Marjorie Kantor 1948

box 2, folder 2

Photograph album depicting kimonos and Buddha statues undated

box 2, folder 3

We Japanese, Volume II. Yokohama, Japan: Yamagata Press 1937 June

box 2, folder 4

Photographs of the whale hunting trip "Nisshin Maru No. 1 Expedition" and photograph booklet titled In Commemoration of the Visit of Foreign Commercial Representatives to Japan 1948-1949

box 2, folder 5

Osaka police force press release and accompanying photographs 1950

box 2, folder 6

Photographs 1950

Scope and Contents note

Includes subjects such as the Korean conflict, Inchon, MacArthur, refugees, Japanese police, and Japanese education.

box 2, folder 7

Photographs of Japanese women pertaining to the "Kimono Revolt" article 1947-1949

box 2, folder 8

Army photographs of Japan 1940s

box 2, folder 9

Army photographs and Associated Press wire photos 1941-1943

box 2, folder 10

Panoramic photographs of rooftops undated

box 2, folder 11

Photographs from Japan circa 1948

Scope and Contents note

Includes undated images of an old woman and her grandson, an old Japanese woman laughing, and Ken and Marjorie Kantor in front of Radio Tokyo in 1948.

box 2, folder 12

NBC photographs 1946-1953

box 2, folder 13

Photograph of Kantor on Bob Hope's tour of the Far East 1957

box 2, folder 14

NBC photographs of Bob Hope and Ken Kantor 1957

box 9

Autographed photograph of Ken and Marjorie Kantor with Bob Hope 1957

box 3, folder 1

Identification cards of Ken and Marjorie Kantor 1946-1948

box 3, folder 2

Book of phone numbers undated

box 3, folder 3

Correspondence to family in California from Kantor in Japan 1948-1950

box 3, folder 4

Correspondence to Marjorie Kantor from Japanese individuals after she was interviewed by radio's "Uncle Come-Come" in Tokyo 1950

box 3, folder 5

Correspondence from Kantor's travel from Tokyo to Los Angeles 1949

box 3, folder 6

"Tattoo for a Warrior," Life Magazine, Vol. 30, No. 17 1951 April 23

box 3, folder 7

"Climbing Mount Fujiyama," Travel Magazine 1950 February

box 3, folder 8

News clippings 1944-1945

Scope and Contents note

From Cairo and Alexandria-based American newspapers and Cairo-based newspapers with American news.

box 3, folder 9

Pacific Stars and Stripes: Christmas Edition, for American Forces in Japan and Korea 1946 December 25

box 3, folder 10

Pacific Stars and Stripes: The First Year, for American Forces in Japan and Korea 1946 September 2

box 4

Best Ukiyoe Prints, slide film collection undated

Scope and Contents note

Includes 5 sets of 15 slides: (A) Hiroshige, (B) Utamaro, (C) Hokusai, (E) Kiyonga, (F) Sharaku.

box 4

Slides found in the rubble of Pyongyang 1950

Memorabilia undated

box 4

Korean passport

box 4

Dog tag for Marjorie A. Crook

box 5

Flags of Korea, Japan, and Pakistan

box 5

Maps of Tokyo, Japan, Asia, and the world

2018 Incremental Material 1940s

box 5

Newspaper clipping

box 5

Flyer for factory undated

box 5

Correspondence 1947

box 5

"Uncle Come Come" by Joe Hiragawa undated

Language of Material: Japanese.

box 5

"Approach to Yokohama Bay" map undated

box 5

Handwritten material undated

box 5

Photography receipts undated

box 5

Christmas card undated

box 5

Imperial Household Museum in Nara exhibit brochure 1946

box 5

Booklets undated

box 5

Postcards undated

box 5

The East Stars and Stripes Weekly Review newspaper clipping 1948

box 5

Restaurant menu 1946

box 5

Newspaper clippings undated

box 5

Eighth Army Octrogram World News issue

box 5

Club 25 Geisha Dance Performance program undated

box 5

Brochures undated

Language of Material: Japanese.

Photographs

box 5

Yokohama 1940s

box 5

V Rock Gibralter 1940s

box 5

VI Our Boat 1940s

box 5

People and Scenes 1940s

box 5

Photo cards 1940s

box 5

Korea 1940s

box 5

I Cairo Fayum 1940s

box 5

I Cairo Fayum: Envelope 1 1940s

box 5

I Cairo Fayum: Envelope 2 1940s

box 6

Extras 1940s

box 6

IV Boarding Transport + Port Said 1940s

box 6

Nippon Beautiful Land and Sea 1940s

box 6

Biwako 1940s

box 6

Hunt Pics 1940s

box 6

Photographs by 'Butch' 1940s

box 6

Views of Kamakua 1940s

box 6

Christmas Parade '49 1949

box 6

Undescribed photographs 1940s

Scope and Contents note

Contains images of unidentified persons, landscapes, and recreational activities.

box 7

Undescribed photographs (continued) 1940s

Scope and Contents

Contains images of unidentified persons, landscapes, recreational activities and cultural practices.

box 7

Loose photographs 1940s

Scope and Contents

Contains images of architecture, cultural practices, recreational activities, unidentified persons and landscapes.

box 8

Loose photographs 1940s

Scope and Contents

Contains images of architecture, cultural practices, recreational activities, unidentified persons and landscapes.

box T1, folder 1

1 acetate negative, captioned "Blind children are taught to live independent under Japan's reorganized school system" undated