Finding Aid for the Kango Takamura Paintings, 1942-1945

Santa Fe

Box 1, Folder 1

Our pet hawk died, 1942 May 22.

Physical Description: (21 × 29 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper, matted)

Scope and Content Note

“Our pet hawk died on May 22. The following day Mr. Sato of Chula Vista died. But same day over 80 of us internees were released.”

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Box 1, Folder 2

Our guard became a spring baseball fan, n.d.

Physical Description: (21 × 28 cm. Watercolor and pencil on paper, matted)

Scope and Content Note

“Our guard in the watch tower became a spring baseball fan at Santa Fe.”

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Box 1, Folder 3

At evening I sketched this unusual cloud formation, 1942 May 31.

Physical Description: (25.5 × 37.5 cm. Watercolor on paper, matted)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Signed.

Box 1, Folder 4

Surprised guard on night watch at Santa Fe, n.d.

Physical Description: (27.5 × 42.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on heavy paper)

Scope and Content Note

“His bald pate shined as bright as a full moon.”

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

[Also], Pencil and ink sketches of women in kimono verso.

Box 2, Folder 1

Early birds, 1942 June 8.

Physical Description: (19 × 27.5 cm. Watercolor and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 2

Chow time at the mess hall, 1942 June 8.

Physical Description: (19 × 30 cm. Watercolor and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 3

Relaxing after supper, 1942 June 8.

Physical Description: (21 × 29 cm. Watercolor and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 4

Santa Fe's sunsets were beautiful, n.d.

Physical Description: (17.5 × 26.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 5

Enjoying the recording music, 1942 June 8.

Physical Description: (20.5 × 29 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Mr. Murayama, Mr. Hoshimiya. Enjoying the recording music.”

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 6

Dawn in the winter, n.d.

Physical Description: (20.5 × 28.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Box 2, Folder 7

Santa Fe internment camp, n.d.

Physical Description: (20 × 29.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Santa Fe internment camp.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 8

Panorama of Santa Fe internment center and mount, 1942 April 26.

Physical Description: (Painting 13 × 25 cm; mount 20 × 28 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper. Mount is card stock and rice paper with ink caption)

Scope and Content Note

No caption on painting.

Signed with Japanese characters. Caption on mount reads: “Panorama of Santa Fe internment center. Drawn on writing paper - with anxiety - during early days when I was not sure that drawings of any kind were permitted.”

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Box 2, Folder 9

Administration office, n.d.

Physical Description: (19.5 × 28 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Mr. Ohkado, Mr. Nozaki R., Mr. Kitagawa M.”

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 10

A canteen for the convenience of Santa Fe internee, 1942 June 11.

Physical Description: (19.5 × 29 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Mr. Arai, Mr. Funahashi.”

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 11

Sewing room, 1942 June 10.

Physical Description: (21.5 × 29.5 cm. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Mr. Kamimura, Mr. Kamei, Mr. Kishi.”

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Box 2, Folder 12

Barber shop, 1942 June 8.

Physical Description: (21 × 28.5 cm. Watercolor and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 13

We made wooden clogs, 1942 June 10.

Physical Description: (21 × 30 cm. Watercolor and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 14

We made tubs, n.d.

Physical Description: (18.5 × 30 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 15

An adobe house inside our Santa Fe camp, n.d.

Physical Description: (17.5 × 29 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“An adobe house inside our Santa Fe Camp.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 16

Singing in the mess hall, n.d.

Physical Description: (21 × 30.5 cm. Watercolor and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Signed with Japanese characters.

Box 2, Folder 17

Our umpire Mr. Higashikuze, n.d.

Physical Description: (20.5 × 29 cm. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Mr. Higashikuze. Our umpire Mr. Higashikuze knew the rules but the players dint it. However we all had a good time.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 18

This was the Santa Fe barrack no.5, 1942.

Physical Description: (21 × 21.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“This was the Santa Fe barrack no.5 where I stayed.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 19

A butane tank, 1942 June 8.

Physical Description: (20.5 × 29.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“A butane tank was used to strike the gong that summoned us to mess hall. Santa Fe internment camp.”

Signed in pencil.

Box 2, Folder 20

June 1942, 1942 June / May 23.

Physical Description: (19.5 × 29.5 cm. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“June 1942. Ending months of uncertainty, we were released from Santa Fe internment camp to return to our families at relocation centers. Everyone cheered as we left camp. Now there was hope we would return home.”

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Box 2, Folder 21

Strange cloud, n.d.

Physical Description: (36 × 25.5 cm. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Unsigned.

[Also], copy print with identical dimensions.

Box 2, Folder 22

We stopped briefly at a small town, 1942 June 15.

Physical Description: (20.5 × 28.5 cm. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“We stopped briefly at a small town - Needles, they said. To our pleasant surprise, Japanese workers brought us boxes of food.”

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 23

Mojave, California, 1942 June 15.

Physical Description: (19.5 × 27 cm. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Mojave, Calif. We waited for our bus here for seven long hours in a desert windstorm - after we disembarked from the train.”

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Box 2, Folder 58

Original mounts and titles, n.d.

Physical Description: (Paper)

Box 3, Folder 1

Our roommates in barracks no. five, n.d.

Physical Description: (38.9 × 57.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper, matted. Source of title noted in pencil verso)

Scope and Content Note

“Mr. Okaski, Mr. Sugiyama, Mr. Tsuyuki, Mr. Hagio, Mr. Yamamoto, Mr. Tanaka, Mr. Hatori, Mr. Yamada, Mr. Musashi, Mr. Takamura.”

Unsigned.

Manzanar

Box 1, Folder 5

Making rice cakes, 1942 December 31.

Physical Description: (21 × 28.5 cm. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper, matted)

Scope and Content Note

“Making rice cakes (mochi-tsuki). New Year custom. No 2 kitchen.”

Unsigned.

Box 1, Folder 6

Mr. Hirozawa, n.d.

Physical Description: (27 × 34 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper, matted)

Scope and Content Note

“Mr. Hirozawa. The chemists work incessantly in search of a better method of extracting rubber. Here a chemist is preparing latex from guayule.”

Signed.

Box 1, Folder 7

Some characteristics of guayule strains, n.d.

Physical Description: (19.5 × 25 cm. Watercolor [?] and ink on paper, matted)

Scope and Content Note

“Some characteristics of guayule strains.”

Unsigned.

Box 1, Folder 8

First successful growing of guayule, 1942 October 19.

Physical Description: (20 × 28.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper, matted)

Scope and Content Note

“The first successful growing of -- guayule rubber plant cuttings.”

Signed.

Box 1, Folder 9

Progress after one year, 1943 May 14.

Physical Description: (22 × 32 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper and inset black and white photograph, matted)

Scope and Content Note

“Progress after one year. The mess hall line.”

With inset photo caption: “Wall painting by Takamura.”

Signed.

Box 1, Folder 10

Mr. Akaboshi, 1943.

Physical Description: (25.5 × 36 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper, matted)

Scope and Content Note

“Rooted cuttings are transplanted to milk cartons and then to the field. Transplanting is done carefully and speedily by hand of the experimenters. Mr. Akaboshi.”

Signed.

Box 1, Folder 11

Manzanar High School commencement of 1944, [1944].

Physical Description: (23.5 × 41.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Manzanar High School commencement of 1944. Our democratic country has people representing all nation[s] -- Mr. Ralph P. Merritt.”

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Box 1, Folder 12

Untitled view of camp street, [1944?].

Physical Description: (24.5 × 39 cm. Watercolor on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Signed.

Box 1, Folder 13

Keeping the camp clean and tidy, n.d.

Physical Description: (37.5 × 51 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Box 1, Folder 14

A huge blender, n.d.

Physical Description: (37 × 27.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“A huge blender speedily stirring gallons of water mixed with chopped guayule, forces rubber out of the wood. This is a mechanical method which has been proved most efficient in extracting rubber from guayule shrubs.”

Signed.

Box 1, Folder 15

Mr. Nishimura, n.d.

Physical Description: (26.5 × 36.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Mr. Nishimura. Analysis of the plant extracts is one of many research works which are carried out by the chemists. Here a chemist is working with a special apparatus for the determination of nitrogen.”

Signed.

Box 1, Folder 16

Easter sunrise service, 1944 April 9.

Physical Description: (36 × 50.5 cm. Watercolor on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Easter sunrise service.”

Signed.

Box 1, Folder 17

Saturday afternoon looking south from block 8, 1943 May.

Physical Description: (31.5 × 50.5 cm. Watercolor on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Signed.

Box 1, Folder 18

Mr. Hata, 1943.

Physical Description: (26.5 × 37 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Propagation of plants by cutting method has been succeeded for the first time. Guayule cuttings are treated with a phytohormone before setting in a flat.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 24

Home sweet home, 1942 June 16.

Physical Description: (21 × 28 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Home sweet home for men coming home to Manzanar from [feet] furlough.”

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Box 2, Folder 25

First impression of Manzanar, 1942 June.

Physical Description: (21.5 × 29 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“First impression of Manzanar.”

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Box 2, Folder 26

I visited Dr. Carter today, 1942 October 8.

Physical Description: (21.5 × 29.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“I visited Dr. Carter today because school has opened and I am to make drawings of class scenes. It seemed a hundred people were rushing in and out of her office. All over her desk; the telephone rang all the time.”

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 27

Its nap time, n.d.

Physical Description: (22 × 28.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“It's nap time, but there's more noise than rest. The youngsters wriggle around, won't lie still. The teachers look exhausted. The scam in the foreground turns around: 'Hiya popa, watcha doin?' Rest time in the nursery class.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 28

Children in the classroom, n.d.

Physical Description: (20 × 29 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 29

Teacher, I know, n.d.

Physical Description: (22 × 26.5 cm. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“'Teacher, I know - ' At the other end of the same barrack. First graders of Miss Joh sit awkwardly about the mess table. A question has just been asked. Little Hiroshi, on the end slowly lifts his hand 'Teacher, I know.'”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 30

Did you ever see such individual dress attire?, n.d.

Physical Description: (21 cm × 28 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Did you ever see such individual dress attire? This is a high school gym class I ran into on the dusty field next to block 7. Facing each other in a circle, they would clap their hands, say something, laugh. Off in the corner another class came dashing by in a cloud of dust. But school is wonderful.”

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 31

A cooking class, 1942.

Physical Description: (22 × 30 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“A cooking class. What vitamins do potatoes have? Miss Smith teaches her girls in what used to be the kitchen of mess hall 7.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 32

Gee, that Angleworm's my name, n.d.

Physical Description: (22.5 × 29.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“'Gee, that angleworm's my name.' said Haruo, slouched over the classroom steps as Mr. Lamphere showed his shorthand pupils how to write their name in the Gregg manner.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 33

The boys in the woodcarving class, n.d.

Physical Description: (21.5 × 29 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“The boys in the woodcarving class of Mr. Bouche were being praised for their good work that day. The teacher was kept very busy showing his pupils how to hold the chisel.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 34

Manzanar High School, 1942 October 8.

Physical Description: (21 × 29 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Manzanar High School. Studies took on great importance in these barrack classrooms. This was a day before the week-end holiday.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 35

Roll call is taken, 1942 October 8.

Physical Description: (21.5 × 28 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Roll call is taken. This was first day of school he study hall. Converted from a former mess hall, resounded with laughter as Mr. Vanderjagt aide would call a name and a squeaky soprano would respond 'Here,' only to be followed by an off-pitch bass 'Heah.' Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 36

Students hurry to the classes, 1943 Feb.

Physical Description: (20 × 30.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Students hurry to the classes as the bell rings on this foggy morning.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 37

Approximately 200 students graduated, 1943 July 3.

Physical Description: (22 × 30.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Approximately 200 students graduated at second Manzanar High School commencement.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 38

More Mochi at Manzanar, n.d.

Physical Description: (18.5 × 27 cm. Watercolor, pencil, and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Signed with Japanese characters.

Box 2, Folder 39

Making rice cakes, n.d.

Physical Description: (21 × 28.5 cm. Watercolor and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Making rice cakes. New Year custom.”

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 40

Pounding the Mochi, n.d.

Physical Description: (21.5 × 28 cm. Watercolor, pencil, and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Signed with Japanese characters.

Box 2, Folder 41

Mochi-Tsuki, n.d.

Physical Description: (20.5 × 28 cm. Watercolor, pencil, and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Mochi-Tsuki.”

Signed with Japanese characters.

Box 2, Folder 42

Mochi-Tsuki, Making rice cakes, n.d.

Physical Description: (19.5 × 25.5 cm. Watercolor, pencil, and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Mochi-Tsuki. Making rice cakes. New Year custom.“

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 43

Clothing allowance, 1942 October 12.

Physical Description: (19 × 28.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Clothing allowance.”

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Box 2, Folder 44

Bainbridge people, 1942 February 24.

Physical Description: (21.5 × 30 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Bainbridge people bidding farewell as they leave for Minnedoka relocation camp.”

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 45

Residents installed plaster boards, 1942 November 1.

Physical Description: (19.5 × 29 cm. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Residents installed plaster boards inside barracks. This was the room of Mr. and Mrs. Kurahashi.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 46

At leisure on New Year's afternoon, 1943 January 1.

Physical Description: (22 × 34.5 cm. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 47

She is knitting. He is carving, 1943 February 18.

Physical Description: (19 × 27 cm. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“She is knitting. He is carving wood. They enjoy their hobbies.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 48

Snow in January 1944, 1944 January 6.

Physical Description: (21.5 × 30.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Snow in January 1944, block 35 at Manzanar.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 49

Oil for the barracks, 1944 February 22.

Physical Description: (22 × 33 cm. Watercolor on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 50

The residents transformed dusty semi-arid land, 1942 October 26.

Physical Description: (20 × 29 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“The residents transformed dusty semi-arid land into green truck forms, growing vegetable crops of all kinds. I sketched this scene of workers harvesting large, ripe, sweet watermelons.”

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 51

Manzanar farm, 1942 October 26.

Physical Description: (17 × 28.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Manzanar Farm.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 52

Farm workers, 1942 October 26.

Physical Description: (22 × 28.5 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Farm workers harvest a crop of Manzanar grown okra.”

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 53

Guayule shrub and leaf types, n.d.

Physical Description: (20 × 25 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“Guayule shrub and leaf types. Some of the leaf types can be used to distinguish one strain from another.”

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 54

A biologist hybridizes, n.d.

Physical Description: (24 × 35 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“A biologist hybridizes Guayule trying to produce plants superior in quality than those existing now.”

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 55

After the rain an abandoned baby cart, 1945 October 30.

Physical Description: (22.5 × 35 cm. Watercolor on paper)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Signed.

Box 2, Folder 56

The Manzanar auditorium, 1944 May 24.

Physical Description: (16 × 29.5 cm. Watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper)

Scope and Content Note

“The Manzanar auditorium and community hall nears completion.”

Unsigned.

Box 2, Folder 57

Original mounts and titles, n.d.

Physical Description: (Paper)

Box 3, Folder 2

Untitled winter landscape, n.d.

Physical Description: (38.5 × 51 cm. Watercolor and ink on paper, matted)

Scope and Content Note

No caption.

Unsigned with Japanese characters.

Container List