Collection Guide
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Buddhist Church of San Francisco records
2019C55
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Table of contents
Title: Buddhist Church of San Francisco records
Date (inclusive): 1910-1980
Collection Number: 2019C55
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
Japanese
Physical Description:
11 manuscript boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 6 oversize folders
(8.5 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Founded in 1898, the Buddhist Church of San Francisco was the first Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land) Buddhist temple established in
the continental United States and is the flagship temple of the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA). The Buddhist Church of
San Francisco records (1910-1980) contains membership and financial records, correspondence, memoranda, issuances, and photographs,
relating to Japanese Buddhist activities in the United States.
Creator:
Buddhist Church of San Francisco
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2018.
[Identification of item], Buddhist Church of San Francisco records, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library
& Archives
Founded in 1898, the Buddhist Church of San Francisco was the first Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land) Buddhist temple established in
the continental United States and is the flagship temple of the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA). BCA has grown to have
over 60 independent temples and many Fellowships and Sanghas with approximately 16,000 members throughout the United States.
The temple began with a group of Issei Buddhists establishing the first Buddhist organization in North America on July 30,
1898. On September 1, 1899, the first overseas ministers Rev. Dr. Rev. Shuye Sonoda and Rev. Kakuryo Nishima arrived in the
United States to teach Jodo Shinshu primarily to Japanese citizens living in the United States and Japanese Americans.
Scope and Content of the Collection
The Buddhist Church of San Francisco records (1910-1980) contains membership and financial records, correspondence, memoranda,
issuances, and photographs, relating to Japanese Buddhist activities in the United States. Photographs within the collection
include those of the Coast District Conferences, Sunday School Teachers League Conferences, and Western Young Buddhist League
Conferences.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Japanese -- United States
Buddhist temples -- United States
Buddhism -- United States