Lauren Zuchowski Longwell
Japanese American National Museum
100 North Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 830-5615
Email: collections@janm.org
URL: http://www.janm.org/
© 2016
Japanese American National Museum. All rights reserved.
Finding aid for the Miné Okubo Collection
Collection number: 2007.62
Japanese American National Museum
Los Angeles, California
- Processed by:
- Lauren Zuchowski Longwell
- Date Completed:
- June 2016
- Encoded by:
- Lauren Zuchowski Longwell
© 2016 Japanese American National Museum. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Miné Okubo collection
Dates: 1938-1998
Bulk Dates: 1942-1946
Collection number: 2007.62
Creator:
Okubo, Miné
Collection Size:
17 linear feet
2 oversize artifacts
197 digitized items
Repository:
Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Los Angeles, California 90012
Abstract: The collection contains paper materials related to Miné Okubo's career and personal life. Many items are related to her book,
Citizen 13660.
Physical location: Japanese American National Museum. 100 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Access
By appointment only. Please contact the Collections Management and Access Unit by email (collections@janm.org) or telephone
(213-830-5615). Advanced notice is required.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections
Management and Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum (collections@janm.org).
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Miné Okubo collection. 2007.62, Japanese American National Museum. Los Angeles, CA.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Miné Okubo Estate, 2007.
Alternative Forms of Material Available
Digitized Citizen 13660 drawings are available on the Japanese American National Museum's website, http://www.janm.org/collections/mine-okubo-collection/
Biography
Miné Okubo was born on June 27, 1912 in Riverside, California to Tametsugu and Miyo (Kato). She was one of seven children,
each of whom were encouraged from a young age to explore artistic careers by their mother. Okubo’s mother was an artist and
her father was a merchant and gardener. She graduated from Poly High School and then attended Riverside Junior College, eventually
earning both her Bachelor of Art and Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley. In 1938 she
received the Bertha Taussig Traveling Scholarship, which allowed her to travel to Europe. Okubo was travelling in Switzerland
when England and France declared war on September 3, 1939, with all of her belongings in Paris. She had spent all of her money
on train fare from Budapest to Berne and money she was expecting had not yet arrived at the American Express Office. Mail
services were suspended and the French border closed. Temporarily stranded, Okubo stayed with friends in Berne but was encouraged
to return to the United States as the situation grew worse with the bombing and invasion of Poland. When Okubo received word
that her mother was seriously ill back home in California she decided to secure passage immediately. It ultimately took three
months but she was able to board the last boat leaving Bordeaux.
After docking in New York City, Okubo telegrammed her family for money and made her way to California. Her mother passed away
soon after and she subsequently made her way up to Berkeley to settle with her younger brother. Okubo became active with the
San Francisco Art Association (SFAA) and joined its annual painting and watercolor exhibitions at the San Francisco Museum
of Art, known today as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She was selected to assist Diego Rivera in painting murals
at the Golden Gate Exhibition.
Okubo created mosaics for Fort Ord and the Servicemen’s Hospitality House in Oakland, California as part of the Federal Arts
Program when the United States declared war on Japan. On Sunday, April 26, 1943 she reported to Pilgrim Hall of the First
Congregational Church in Berkeley to register herself and her brother as a family unit of two. Her family name was reduced
to No. 13660 and she was given several tags bearing the family number. Their family unit was scheduled to leave with the next
to last group at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 1. Their destination was Tanforan Assembly Center, which was located at the Tanforan
Race Track in San Bruno, California.
After six months at Tanforan, Okubo and her brother were transferred to the Topaz Relocation Center in Utah. By this point,
the Okubo family was spread throughout various concentration camps in the West Coast. Her father had been arrested and incarcerated
at the Department of Justice camp in Missoula, Montana. Her older brother, Benji, was at Heart Mountain, where he opened an
art school. Other siblings were incarcerated in Poston. Okubo taught art classes while incarcerated at Topaz and helped found
a literary review, Trek, for which she drew cover designs and illustrations. Okubo documented the incarceration experience
through drawings and produced over one thousand sketches depicting camp life. Some of these sketches would be transformed
into formal drawings and paintings.
In 1943 Okubo’s drawing of camp sentries was reproduced by the San Francisco Chronicle after it won a prize in an exhibition
at the San Francisco Museum of Art. The Chronicle’s editors then commissioned a series of camp sketches to use in the newspaper’s
Sunday magazine, The World. This exposure led to a job offer from Fortune as an illustrator, a position that allowed her to
leave camp after two years and relocate to New York City.
During this time Okubo took jobs as a commercial illustrator and focused on her personal creative endeavors, one of which
was to arrange her camp life sketches into a narrative to be published. Her book, Citizen 13660, was published by Columbia
University Press in September 1946. In addition to the book, Okubo’s work appeared in the Time, Life, and the New York Times
as well as books for major publishing companies. She left commercial art and New York briefly from 1950 to 1952 to return
to Berkeley to teach art. When Okubo returned to New York she eschewed commercial concerns in pursuit of her own artistic
vision.
Like many other Nisei artists and writers, she was rediscovered by a new generation of Asian Americans in the 1970s and 1980s
as her wartime works were connected with redress efforts. Okubo testified in New York before the Commission on Wartime Relocation
and Internment of Civilians in 1981 and presented Citizen 13660 to the commission.
Okubo passed away in February 2001.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection includes artwork, correspondence, Citizen 13660 mock-ups, press clippings, publications, publicity materials,
documents, personal notebooks, and photographs. Materials primarily focus on Miné's creative and professional endeavors but
also includes personal items such as diaries and notes.
Arrangement
Items have been broken down into the following series:
Series 1: Press Clippings;
Series 2: Mock-ups;
Series 3: Artwork;
Series 4: Publications;
Series 5: Notes and Lists;
Series 6: Documents;
Series 7: Correspondence;
Series 8: Photographs;
Series 9: Publicity Materials;
Series 10: Topaz Reunions;
Series 11: Personal Notebooks;
Series 12: Artifacts.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Tanforan Assembly Center (San Bruno, Calif.)
Central Utah Relocation Center
Berkeley (Calif.)
Riverside (Calif.)
New York (N.Y.)
World war II
Japanese Americans--Civil rights.
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945.
Japanese Americans in art.
Japanese Americans--Reparations.
Citizen 13660
Related Material
Miné Okubo Collection at the Riverside Community College, http://library.rcc.edu/riverside/okubo/.
Separated Material
Over-sized items are stored in separate file drawer or box.
Box 1
Series 1
Press Clippings
Physical Description: 16 folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Approximately 278 press clippings covering Miné Okubo's career.
Folder 1-3, 15-16
Miscellaneous
Scope and Content Summary
Approximately 35 miscellaneous press clippings.
Folder 4-10
Citizen 13660
ca. 1946
Scope and Content Summary
Approximately 131 clippings related to the 1946 release of Citizen 13660.
Folder 11
Topaz Reunion
1993
Scope and Content Summary
3 press clippings about the 1993 Topaz Reunion.
Folder 12-14
Drawings
Scope and Content Summary
Approximately 108 clippings of Okubo's commercial illustration from various magazines and newspapers.
Box 1
Series 2
Mock-ups
Physical Description: 21 folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Mock-ups for Amerasia and Citizen 13660.
Folders 16-17
Amerasia
1987
Scope and Content Summary
Mock-ups for the 1987/88 Issue of Amerasia. Contains a letter from the editor and financial information.
Access Note
Folder 17 is restricted.
Folders 19-37
Citizen 13660
Scope and Content Summary
Illustrations, draft text, and cover mock-ups for Citizen 13660.
Arrangement
Illustrations and text have been put into order based on the published book.
Box 4
Citizen 13660 Manuscript
Scope and Content Summary
Original manuscript for Citizen 13660
Access Note
Access is restricted due to fragile nature of manuscript.
Box 1
Series 3
Artwork
Physical Description: 43 folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes sketches, drawings, paintings, and one print by Okubo.
Arrangement
Materials have been arranged by medium and date when applicable. Includes some over-sized materials.
Folders 38-39
Sketchbooks
Scope and Content Summary
2 sketchbooks covering evacuation.
Box 5 Folder 1
Over-sized Sketchbooks
Scope and Content Summary
2 large sketchbooks. One covers evacuation and the other life at Topaz.
Box 1 Folders 40-52
Evacuation Sketches
Scope and Content Summary
Approximately 126 ink and pencil sketches of evacuation.
Folders 53-54
Camp Sketches
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
4 sketches covering Okubo's experiences at Topaz.
Access Note
Folder 53 contains sketch and paper fragments saved by Okubo.
Folders 55-60
Congressional Hearing Sketches
1986
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Approxmiately 62 sketches depicting the congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. and William Hohri.
Access Note
Folder 53 contains sketch and paper fragments saved by Okubo.
Folders 55-60
Congressional Hearing Sketches
1986
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Approxmiately 62 sketches depicting the congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. and William Hohri.
Access Note
Folders 55 and 56 contain fragile works.
Citizen 13660 Drawings
Scope and Content Summary
197 drawings illustrated life in Tanforan Assembly Center in San Bruno, CA and Topaz concentration camp in Utah. These drawings
were ultimately used as the basis for Citizen 13660. Includes drawings numbered 2007.62.7 through 2007.62.205.
Access Note
Access is restricted.These drawings have been digitized and are available online: http://www.janm.org/collections/mine-okubo-collection/
Oversized Charcoal Drawings
Scope and Content Summary
6 charcoal drawings by Okubo. Includes drawings numbered 2007.62.1 through 2007.62.6.
Access Note
Access is restricted.
Box 2
Series 4
Publications
1944-1998
Physical Description: 1 linear foot
Series Scope and Content Summary
Contains full news articles, magazines, journals, and books saved by Miné Okubo.
Arrangement
Full articles are at the front arranged chronologically. Books and serials follow, also arranged chronologically.
Folder 1
"Issei, Niseei, Kibei: The U.S. has put 110,000 people of Japanese blood in 'protective custody'"
1944
Scope and Content Summary
Copy of article.
Folder 2
The Sunday Review of Literature
1946
Scope and Content Summary
Article saved from the March 1946 edition.
Folder 3
"The Nisei discover a larger America"
1947
Scope and Content Summary
Article saved from April 1947 Mademoiselle magazine.
Folder 4
"Capitalizing jobs and futures in Washington, D.C."
1950
Scope and Content Summary
Article from the January 1950 issue of Mademoiselle magazine.
Folder 5
"Miné Okubo, artist"
1979
Scope and Content Summary
Thesis by Edna Ikeda.
Folder 9
Fortune magazine
December 1943
Folder 10
Time magazine
21 May 1945
Folder 11
Broadman Book Review
September 1946
Folder 12
Common Ground
Autumn 1946
Folder 13
The Southern Patriot
June 1949
Folder 14
Ten Against the Sun
1957
Creator:
Nugen, Marianne
Scope and Content Summary
Published by Friendship Press, illustrated by Miné Okubo.
Folder 15
The Price of Prejudice
1962
Creator:
Arrington, Leonard J.
Folder 16
The World at War: 1941-1945
1971
Scope and Content Summary
Part of Profile of America series.
Folder 17
The Lost Years 1942-46
1972
Creator:
Embrey, Sue Kunitomi
Scope and Content Summary
Signed edition.
Folder 18
Amerasia journal
1977
Scope and Content Summary
Volume 4, Number 1.
Folder 19
Expressionism from Exile, 1942-1946: Japanese American Art from the COncentration Camps
1979
Scope and Content Summary
Catalog from a Japanese American art class at San Francisco State University.
Folder 20
JACP 1978-1979 Catalogue
1978
Folder 21
Images in Isolation: Japanese American Art from the Concentration Camps
1982
Scope and Content Summary
Published by San Francisco State University.
Folder 22
The Japanese American Experience
1985
Scope and Content Summary
Published by the Museum of the Balch Insittute for Ethnic Studies.
Folder 23
Amerasia
1986-1987
Scope and Content Summary
Volume 13, Number 2.
Folder 24
Rikka
1987
Scope and Content Summary
Volume 12.
Folder 25
WCA Honor Awards
1991
Scope and Content Summary
2 copies.
Folder 26
CA History
1991-1992
Scope and Content Summary
Winter edition.
Folder 27
The View from Within
1992
Scope and Content Summary
Published by the Japanese American National Museum.
Folder 28
Rikka
1992
Scope and Content Summary
Volume 13.
Folder 29
There is Always Tomorrow: An Anthology of Wartime Haiku
1993
Scope and Content Summary
Part of Amerasia Volume 19, Number 1. See folder 30.
Folder 30
Amerasia
1993
Scope and Content Summary
Volume 19, Number 1.
Folder 31
Asian American Literature Association Journal
1994
Scope and Content Summary
Number 1.
Folder 32
Day of Remembrance [booklet]
1994
Folder 33
Contemporary Asian Success Stories: Famour People of Asian Ancestry
1995
Creator:
Marvis, Barbara J.
Scope and Content Summary
Part of the Mitchell Lane Multi-cultural Biography Series.
Folder 34
The National Voter
1995
Scope and Content Summary
Volume 44, Number 3. March/April.
Folder 35
The Excavation Diary of hatsuye Egami
1995
Creator:
Gorfinkel, Claire
Folder 37
Dialogue
1998
Scope and Content Summary
Fall 1998. 2 copies.
Folder 38
Citizen 13660-
Creator:
Gorfinkel, Claire
Scope and Content Summary
Japanese edition.
Folder 39-41
Japanese Language Books
Scope and Content Summary
Requires translation.
Folder 42
What About Our Japanese Americans? [pamphlet]
1944
Box 3 Folder 1-2
Series 5
Notes and Lists
Physical Description: 2 folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Loose notes and lists created by Okubo. Includes 2 remitter's receipts, 1 receipt for Okubo's San Francisco Art Associate
dues, 5 packing slips and receipts related to Citizen 13660.
Box 3
Series 6
Documents
1938-1998
Physical Description: 11 folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Documents related to UC Berkeley, War Relocation Authority, Redress, Citizen 13660, and Okubo's art career.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged by subject.
Folder 3
UC Berkeley
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
1 statement of earnings and 1 report card.
Folder 4-7
War Relocation Authority
Scope and Content Summary
Miscellaneous documents related to the War Relocation Authority, including Okubo's photo identification, baggage tag, messages,
and forms.
Folder 8
Redress
Scope and Content Summary
Statement by William Hohri.
Folder 9
Citizen 13660
Scope and Content Summary
Quotes, forms, advanced information related to Citizen 13660.
Folder 10
Personal Statements and Resumes
Scope and Content Summary
Variations of Okubo's resume related to her art career.
Box 3
Series 7
Correspondence
1942-1988
Physical Description: 17 folders
Scope and Content Summary
Professional, government, and personal letters related to Okubo.
Folder 11
Letters to Mine Okubo
1942-1945
Scope and Content Summary
Professional letters sent to Okubo.
Folder 12
Letters to Catherine Scott
1946
Scope and Content Summary
Professional letters sent to Catherine Scott related to Okubo from various senders.
Letters to Mine Okubo
1945-1998
Scope and Content Summary
Professional letters sent to Okubo.
Folder 22-23
Letters to Mine Okubo
1938-1990
Scope and Content Summary
Letters sent to Mine Okubo from government agencies.
Folder 24-27
Letters to Mine Okubo
1942-1998
Scope and Content Summary
Letters sent to Mine Okubo by friends and family.
Box 3
Series 8
Photographs
Physical Description: 13 folders
Scope and Content Summary
Includes a wide variety of images spanning Okubo's life and career.
Folder 28
Pre-war Photographs
1939
Scope and Content Summary
4 photographs from Okubo's travels before World War II.
Folder 29-30
Camp Photographs
Scope and Content Summary
Miscellaneous camp photographs taken in Topaz.
Folder 31
Exhibition Photographs
1946
Scope and Content Summary
Photographs from the Common Council of American Unity exhibition.
Folder 32
Pacific Citizen
1946
Scope and Content Summary
1 photograph.
Folder 33-34
Redress
1987
Scope and Content Summary
Various photographs from redress efforts.
Folder 35
National Council for Japanese American Redress
Undated
Scope and Content Summary
Various photographs from redress efforts.
Folder 36
Miscellaneous Photographs
1985-1995
Folder 37-39
Miscellaneous Photographs- Early Years
Undated
Scope and Content Summary
Black and white photographs from Okubo's early years.
Folder 40
Miscellaneous Photographs- Later Years
Undated
Scope and Content Summary
Black and white photographs from Okubo's later years.
Folder 41
Miscellaneous Photographs- Later Years
Undated
Scope and Content Summary
Color photographs from Okubo's later years.
Folder 43
Artwork
Undated
Scope and Content Summary
Photographs of Okubo's artwork.
Box 3 Folders 44-48
Series 9
Publicity Materials
Physical Description: 5 folders
Scope and Content Summary
Miscellaneous publicity materials related to Okubo's art career between 1942 and 1946 as well as publicity materials covering
the publication on Citizen 13660.
Box 3 Folders 55-62
Series 11
Personal Notebooks
Undated
Series Scope and Content Summary
Variety of bound and unbound notebooks maintained by Okubo. Some are written in diary format. Many are calendars and datebooks
with notes.
Box 6
Series 12
Artifacts
Undated
Physical Description: 2 items
Series Scope and Content Summary
2 canvas bags.