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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Acquisition Information
  • Availability of Digital Reproductions
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Toshio Oku Biography
  • Preferred Citation
  • Digital Reproductions
  • CSU Japanese American Digitization Project
  • Scope and Contents

  • Contributing Institution: California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
    Title: Toshio Oku Photo Album
    Creator: Oku, Toshio, 1925-2010
    Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2020.012
    Physical Description: 1 box (1 photo album)
    Physical Description: 1.17 Linear Feet
    Date (inclusive): 1942-1946
    Abstract: The Toshio Oku photo album comprises of a collection of photographs that primarily documents the life of Toshio Oku while he, his father, Naojiro Henry, mother, Misao, and sister, Hideko Louise, were incarcerated at Tule Lake Incarceration Camp in Newell, California during World War II. Most of the items in this collection have been digitized and are available online.
    Language of Material: English .

    Conditions Governing Access

    There are no access restrictions on this collection.

    Acquisition Information

    Library acquisition.

    Availability of Digital Reproductions

    Most of the items in this collection have been digitized and digital reproduction access derivatives (access files) are available at the CSU Japanese American Digitization Project site: Toshio Oku Photo Album Digital Collection 

    Conditions Governing Use

    All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

    Toshio Oku Biography

    Toshio Oku (1925 August 25-2010 November 22)
    Toshio Oku was a Nisei born on August 25, 1925 in Fresno, California to Issei parents, Naojiro Henry Oku and Misao Oku (nee Matsuba). His parents, younger sister, Hideko Louise, and himself were all imprisoned at Gila River Incarceration Camp in Rivers, Arizona in August 1942 before being transferred to Tule Lake Incarceration Camp in Newell, California in October 1943. He was the only one in his family to renunciate his American citizenship and even considered leaving for Japan. He changed his mind, though, and settled in Fowler, California with his family after being released in March 1946. Toshio Oku passed away on November 22, 2010.

    Preferred Citation

    For information about citing archival material, see the Citations for Archival Material  guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.

    Digital Reproductions

    The Gerth Archives and Special Collections derived born-analog objects (digital reproductions) from original items for long-term preservation and access, adhering to best practice and standards to ensure the authenticity, integrity, and security of material. For more information on the digitization process, please see CSU Japanese American Digitization Project technical reference guide. 
    The set of digital reproduction preservation files is stored on the Gerth Archives and Special Collections' department drive for both preservation purposes and duplication requests.
    The set of access derivatives (access files) was created for the digital management system and is stored on the Gerth Archives and Special Collections' department external drive for staff use.

    CSU Japanese American Digitization Project

    This collection is part of the California State University Japanese American Digitization Project. Other collections about the history of Japanese Americans are found in the digital repository: CSU Japanese American Digitization Project 

    Scope and Contents

    The materials comprising the Toshio Oku photo album (1942-1946) are photographs that primarily document the life of Toshio Oku (1925-2010) during the time he, his parents, Naojiro Henry (1894-1979) and Misao Oku, and sister, Hideko Louise (1927-2010), were incarcerated at Tule Lake during World War II. The one photo album includes Toshio Oku's graduation portraits, a group photograph of the camp's electrical department, aerial and panoramic photographs of Tule Lake, holiday cards, photographs of a fire that took place at the camp, and photographs of Toshio working at the Newell Star newspaper print shop.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Japanese Americans -- California
    Tule Lake Relocation Center (Calif.)--1940-1950
    World War, 1939-1945 -- Concentration Camps -- United States
    Photograph albums
    Panoramas
    Portraits