Finding Aid for the Charles Kikuchi Papers LSC.1259
Finding aid prepared by UCLA Library Special Collections staff, additions by Dydia
DeLyser, January 1989 and Dan Luckenbill, January 1998; machine-readable finding aid
created by Caroline Cubé.
Funding: Finding aid and digital representations of archival material funded in
part by a grant from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 2023 April 21.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Charles Kikuchi papers
Creator:
Kikuchi, Charles
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.1259
Physical Description:
29.0 Linear Feet
(58 boxes and 4 oversize boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1941-1988
Abstract: Charles Kikuchi (1917-
) worked for the California State Employment Service, surveying Nisei occupations. He was
recruited by Berkeley sociologist Dorothy Swaine Thomas for the Japanese Evacuation and
Relocation Study (JERS). He began to keep a diary and completed field surveys at the
Tanforan Assembly Center in Northern California and at the Gila River Relocation Center in
Arizona and in 1943 chronicled camp resident settlement in Chicago. He was drafted into the
United States Army just before the bombing of Hiroshima. The collection consists of Charles
Kikuchi's diaries, correspondence, and related printed material about Japanese Americans and
their relocation during World War II. Many diaries include clippings and programs related to
the career of Kikuchi's wife, Yuriko Amemiya, a professional dancer and a member of Martha
Graham's dance group.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access
special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on
this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in
advance using the request button located on this page.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
PORTIONS OF THIS COLLECTION HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED. See the Existence and Location of Copies
note for the link to the digitized materials.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All
other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not
hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Charles Kikuchi papers (Collection 1259). UCLA Library Special
Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
- Gift of Charles Kikuchi, 1981-83.
- Gift of Yuriko Kikuchi, 1991.
- Gift of Warren Tsuneishi, 1981.
- Gift of Arthur Hansen, 1989.
Processing Information
Processed by UCLA Library Special Collections staff. Additions processed by Dydia DeLyser,
January 1989 and Dan Luckenbill, January 1998.
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Funding
Finding aid and digital representations of archival material funded in part by a grant from
the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography/History
Kikuchi was born in 1917 in the San Francisco Bay Area; his father was an Issei barbershop
owner; he was placed in an orphanage when he was 8 years old; in 1934 he headed for San
Francisco; BA, San Francisco State College, 1939; anonymously published an autobiographical
essay, A Young American with a Japanese Face, in Louis Adamic's anthology titled,
From Many Lands (1939); worked for the California State Employment
Service, surveying Nisei occupations; attended School of Social Welfare, University of
California, Berkeley, and received certificate in social work in 1942; recruited by Berkeley
sociologist Dorothy Swaine Thomas for the Japanese Evacuation and Relocation Study (JERS);
Kikuchi began to keep a diary and completed field surveys at the Tanforan Assembly Center in
Northern California and at the Gila River Relocation Center in Arizona; began chronicling
camp resident settlement in Chicago, 1943; he was drafted into the United States Army just
before the bombing of Hiroshima; received master's degree in social work, New York
University (NYU), 1947; worked as a social worker with the Veterans Administration, New
York; married Yuriko Amemiya, a professional dancer, in 1946; died September 25, 1988.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of Charles Kikuchi's diaries, correspondence, and related printed
material about Japanese Americans and their relocation during World War II. Includes 63
volumes of Kikuchi's original diaries, May 1942-June 1948. Copy diaries span the years
1941-79. Also includes materials related to Kikuchi's work and surveys for the Japanese
Evacuation and Relocation Study (JERS) and his study of Japanese American relocation to
Chicago, Illinois. Contains various War Relocation Authority (WRA) publications, National
Defense Migration reports, various issues of the Gila News Courier, and related
publications. Many diaries include clippings and programs related to the career of Kikuchi's
wife, Yuriko, a professional dancer and a member of Martha Graham's dance group.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Original diaries (Boxes 1-10).
- Copy diaries (Boxes 11-44).
- Loose items from diaries (Box 56).
- Correspondence and writings (Boxes 45, 57-60, 62).
- Japanese Evacuation and Relocation Study (JERS) (Boxes 46-49, 54).
- Pacific Coast Committee on American Principles and Fair Play (Box 54).
- Photographs and biographical data (Box 54).
- Printed material (Boxes 50-53, 62).
- Relocation center news publications (Box 55).
- Reports (Box 61).
- Proclamation documents (Box 61).
Online Items Available
Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online:
Related Material
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Diaries.
Japanese Americans -- Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
Gila River Relocation Center
Kikuchi, Charles--Archives.
Tanforan Assembly Center (San Bruno, Calif.)
Yuriko, 1920- .
Original Diaries
General note
Volume [#] = number assigned by the Department of Special Collections
box 1
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 07
September 1-30, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 07
General Physical Description note: (pages 91-346)
volume 8
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 08
October 1-26, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 08
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-225)
volume 9
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 9
October 27-November 3, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 9
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-121)
volume 10
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 10
November 4-9, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 10
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-121)
volume 11
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 11
November 10-17, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 11
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-93)
volume 12
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 12
November 17-25, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 12
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-121)
volume 13
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 13
November 25-December 2, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 13
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-120)
volume 14
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 14
December 3-9, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 14
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-121)
box 3, volume 15-23
December 1942-February 1943.
volume 15
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 15
December 10-18, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 15
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-118)
volume 16
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 16
December 20-29, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 16
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-119)
volume 17
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 17
December 30-January 5, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 17
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-121)
volume 18
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 18
January 6-15, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 18
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-121)
volume 19
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 19
January 16-20, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 19
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-121)
volume 20
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 20
January 21-26, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 20
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-118)
volume 21
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 21
January 27-February 2, 1943.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 21
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-123)
volume 22
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 22
February 2-9, 1943.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 22
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-120)
volume 23
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 23
February 10-15, 1943.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 23
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-121)
volume 24
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 24
February 16-23, 1942.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 24
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-121)
volume 25
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 25
February 24-27, 1943.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 25
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-120)
volume 26
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 26
February 28-March 7, 1943.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 26
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-121)
volume 27
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 27
March 9-16, 1943.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 27
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-121)
volume 28
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 28
March 16-21, 1943.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 28
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-120)
volume 29
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 29
March 22-29, 1943.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 29
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-120)
volume 30
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 30
March 29-April 6, 1943.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 30
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-118)
volume 31
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 31
April 7-18, 1943.
Charles Kikuchi original diary: Volume 31
General Physical Description note: (pages 1-120)
box 6, volume 40-46
September 1943-January 1944.
box 9, volume [59]-[63]
September 19, 1946-June 19, 1948.
box 10
Indexes to diaries.
1941-1947.
box 11, volume 1-3
December 1941-November 1942.
box 12, volume 4-6
November 1942-March 1943.
box 13, volume 7-9
April 1943-December 1943.
box 41, volume 90-92
December 1976-September 1977.
box 42, volume 93-95
October 1977-September 1978.
Loose Items from Diaries [Additions, 1989, 1998]
Loose items from diaries have been foldered. Original box, volume
and page numbers of these items are listed below.
box 56, folder 1
Box 8, vol.[55]: p. 0(6), 1, 58(2), 207, 232, 262, 270-27/(3).
box 56, folder 2
Box 8, vol.[55]: p. 276-277, 291, 293, 309, 314, 320, 327, 341, 361, 372-373,
373, 393(2), 395, 399, 437(6), 453(2), 457.
box 56, folder 3
Box 11, vol.1: attached to Charles Kikuchi's letter of
December 20, 1941.
box 56, folder 4
Box 11, vol.1: attached to end of vol.[1].
box 56, folder 5
Box 11, vol.2: p. 376, 547, 551, 567(2), 586.
box 56, folder 7
Box 12, vol.6: p. 2244, 2303.
box 56, folder 9
Box 13, vol.9: p. 3512, 3554(7).
box 56, folder 10
Box 14, vol.10: p. 3624(2).
box 56, folder 12
Box 17, vol.19: p. 8032-8033, 8058-8059, 8074.
box 56, folder 13
Box 17, vol.20: Attached to the end of vol.[20].
box 56, folder 14
Box 17, vol.21: p. 79(2), 321.
box 56, folder 15
Box 18, vol.22: p. 1272(2), 1307(7).
box 56, folder 16
Box 18, vol.22: attached to the end of vol.[22].
box 56, folder 17
Box 18, vol.23: p. 1691(5), 1727, 1764.
box 56, folder 18
Box 18, vol.23: sample of Yuriko's credits:
1944-1946.
box 56, folder 20
Box 18, vol.24: Attached to Charles Kikuchi's diary inside of the cover
page.
(1947)
box 56, folder 21
Box 18, vol.24: attachment to program, Martha Graham Dance
Company.
box 56, folder 22
Box 19, vol.27: attachment to program, Martha Graham Dance
Company.
box 56, folder 24
Box 20, vol.29: attached to diary. ; attached to diary. ; red card
inserted
January 6, 1949 January 28, 1949 June 19, 1949.
box 56, folder 25
Box 20, vol.30: attached to letter from Yuriko. ; Martha Graham Dance Company
route sheet attached to letter from Charlie. ; attached to diary. ; letters from
Bobby.
February 7, 1950 March 20, 1950 May 12, 1950
Correspondence & Writings
box 45
Correspondence & miscellaneous writings.
box 57, box 58, box 59, box 60
Correspondence, etc.
Early 1980s.
General note
[Additions, 1989, 1991]
box 62, folder 4
Copies of letters.
General Physical Description note: [half legal size document box]
General note
[Additions, 1989, 1991]
Japanese Evacuation and Relocation Study (JERS)
box 46
Chicago case studies of evacuation and relocation, vols.1-14.
box 47
Chicago case studies of evacuation and relocation, vols.16-32.
box 48
Chicago case studies of evacuation and relocation, vols.33-46.
box 49
Chicago case studies of evacuation and relocation, vols.48-50.
General note
[
Volume 47 is UNAVAILABLE.]
box 54
Case histories taken by Mr. Kikuchi of the following Japanese Americans in
the Chicago area.
Papers donated per Warren Tsuneishi.
- 5. Iwagami, Ichiro
- 10. Sawamoto, Chutaro
- 35. Ikenaka, Ike
- 37. Saruwatari, Akira
- 49. Saruwatari, Masako
Pacific Coast Committee on American Principles and Fair Play
box 54
Records including minutes and correspondence, of the Pacific Coast Committee
on American Principles and Fair Play (of Galen M. Fisher. , as sometime secretary of
the Committee).
1941-45
Papers donated by Warren Tsuneishi given to him by
Kikuchi.
Photographs and Biographical Data [Additions, 1989]
box 54
10 prints made from originals retained by Mrs. Charles Kikuchi, of Charles
Kikuchi. , and accompanying biographical information.
ca. 1938-1944
Charles Kikuchi, 3rd Squard, 2nd Platoon, 69th [illegible] Co. [illegible],
Virginia, group portrait, 1945
Charles Kikuchi, 3rd Squard, 2nd Platoon....[handwriting on back of
photograph]
Charles Kikuchi with his daughter Susan in New York City, N.Y., 1950
Charles Kikuchi writing at desk at Gila River, AZ., circa 1943
Papers donated by Professor Arthur Hansen.
box 50, box 51
Government publications relating to the Japanese.
box 53
Various publications by Japanese Americans, mostly copies of
Trek [Utah Relocation Center newspaper].
box 62, folder 3
Newsprint items: newsletters, clippings.
General Physical Description note: [half legal size document box]
box 62, folder 4
Theater program.
1988.
General Physical Description note: [half legal size document box]
Relocation Center News Publications [Additions, 1989, 1998]
box 55, folder 1
Totalizer - Tanforan Assembly Center,
California, vol.I nos.2-9.
May 23-July 11, 1942.
box 55, folder 2
Totalizer - Tanforan Assembly Center,
California, vol.I, nos.11-18.
July 18-September 5, 1942.
box 55, folder 3
Totalizer - Tanforan Assembly Center,
California, vol.I no.19.
September 12, 1942.
General Physical Description note: 6 copies.
box 55, folder 4
Desert Sentinel, vol.II.
October 22, 1943.
General Physical Description note: 1 item.
box 55, folder 5
Relocator News Week, vol.I nos.2-3, 5 and
11.
October 14-December 23, 1943.
box 55, folder 6
Gila Coop News - Rivers, Arizona, vol.I nos.
5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 18 and 19.
July 20-October 26, 1943.
box 55, folder 7
Gila News Courier - Rivers, Arizona, vol.I
nos.1-34.
September 12-December 29, 1942.
box 55, folder 8
Gila News Courier - Rivers, Arizona, vol.II
nos.1-29.
January 1-March 9, 1943.
box 55, folder 9
Gila News Courier - Rivers, Arizona, vol.II
nos.30-53 and 55-59.
March 11-May 18, 1943.
box 55, folder 10
Gila News Courier - Rivers, Arizona, vol.II
nos.60-62, 64-80, 83-84, 86-87, 89-90, 92-98 and 100.
May 20-August 21, 1943.
box 55, folder 11
Gila News Courier - Rivers, Arizona, vol.III
nos.1-5, 8-11, 13-16 and 18-37.
August 24-November 16, 1943.
box 55, folder 12
Gila News Courier - Rivers, Arizona, vol.III
nos.40-50, 52-70, 72-76 and 95.
November 23-March 30, 1944.
box 61, folder 1
Bob Spencer Gila reports, vol.1.
1942-43.
General Physical Description note: Fragile carbons in large binder.
General note
Kikuchi copy.
box 61, folder 2
Gila report - Ivers, Arizona, vol.2.
April 1943.
General Physical Description note: Fragile carbons and mimeograph sheets in
large binder.
box 62, folder 1
Letter, copies of proclamation documents
General Physical Description note: [half legal size document box]
box 62, folder 2
Copies of proclamation documents, etc.
General Physical Description note: [half legal size document box]