Tsukahara Family Collection on St. Francis Square Cooperative, 1950-2014,, 1950-2014

Summary

Creators:

Tsukahara, Taro (Tom) (1912-1980)., Tsukahara, Yayoi Cecilia (1920-2013)., and Tsukahara, Michael K.

Abstract:

Records collected and/or created by original St. Francis Square Cooperative shareholders, Tom and Yayoi Tsukahara, and Michael Tsukahara, their son.

Extent:

2 cartons, 2 manuscripts boxes, 1 oversized flat box, 1 map drawer (3 cubic feet)

Language:

Collection materials are in English and Japanese.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Tsukahara Family Collection on St. Francis Square Cooperative (SFH 706), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection includes personal communications with the board and other residents, financial statements of the organization, committee documents, photographs, and files on SFS projects and issues. Papers were nearly all collected by Yayoi Tsukahara. Includes her notes on SFS matters.

Biographical / historical:

Taro "Tom" and Yayoi Tsukahara were original shareholders of the St. Francis Square Cooperative housing development, which was opened in 1963. SFS was envisioned by the Lou Goldblatt as a moderate-income community with a culturally diverse membership. It was sponsored by the International Longshoreman and Warehouse Union/Pacific Maritime Association Pension Fund.

Tom was an ILWU steward and founding SFS board member and leader, serving on the board and many committees over the decades. Significantly, Tom contributed to the beautification of the grounds by planting flowers and creating a rock garden. A long-time Western Addition resident, he served in the all-Nisei combat regiment during World War II, receiving the Bronze Star and a direct commission. The Tsukaharas raised their three sons at SFS. Tom died in 1980. A plaque was placed in the Tom Tsukahara Garden in his memory.

Yayoi was born in Japan and studied in the United States through the Fulbright program. After earning an advanced degree, she worked in the field of clinical cytopathology. She was a very active shareholder, serving on the board and various committees. She maintained an extensive collection of SFS documents and kept copious notes. Yayoi died in 2013.

Son Michael also served on the board as well as the finance committee.

Acquisition information:

Received from John Tsukahara, son of Tom and Yayoi Tsukahara, on Feb. 26, 2016.

Processing information:

Processed by Tami J. Suzuki.

Physical / technical requirements:

Includes a CD and 8mm videocassette.

Physical location:

Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related resources

Related material:

See also SFH 62, St. Francis Square Cooperative, Inc. Collection. Newsletters and board minutes from the Tsukahara collection were used to implement the SFS Cooperative collection.

There are approximately 1.5 cubic feet of records held at the ILWU Archives at the Anne Rand Memorial Library (in San Francisco) that document the initial proposal; the process before the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, which approved and awarded the proposal of the ILWU-PMA Pension Fund; and ongoing documents and correspondence from the construction, sales period and early years of St. Francis Square Cooperative.

Separated material:

The Master Plan (for San Francisco and the Bay Area): Why and How It was Started, Who's Behind It and What It's Done in Destroying Our Communities While Benefitting the Rich, by Carole Hayashino, et. al., 1975.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Housing, Cooperative.
Housing Development -- California -- San Francisco.
International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union -- History.
Redevelopment, Urban -- San Francisco.
St. Francis Square Cooperative -- History.
Urban renewal -- California -- San Francisco.

Places:

Western Addition (San Francisco, Calif.) -- History.

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research and available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Photographs are available during Photo Desk hours. This collection must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Tsukahara Family Collection on St. Francis Square Cooperative (SFH 706), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:

San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center

San Francisco Public Library

100 Larkin Street

San Francisco, CA 94102, US

Contact:

(415) 557-4567

sfhistory@sfpl.org

Website