Inventory of the Toshio Oku Photo Album SPC.2020.012
Lindsay Anderson
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2020-03-19
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
archives@csudh.edu
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
.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
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
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 (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.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
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
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
box 1, item 1
Toshio Oku Photo Album