Finding Aid to the Tsukahara Family Collection on St. Francis Square Cooperative, 1950-2014,
SFH 706
Finding Aid prepared by Tami J. Suzuki.
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Aug. 18, 2022
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Title: Tsukahara Family Collection on St. Francis Square Cooperative,
Date (inclusive): 1950-2014,
Collection Identifier: SFH 706
Creator:
Tsukahara, Taro (Tom) (1912-1980).
Creator:
Tsukahara, Yayoi Cecilia (1920-2013).
Creator:
Tsukahara, Michael K.
Physical Description:
2 cartons, 2 manuscripts boxes, 1 oversized flat box, 1 map drawer
(3 cubic feet)
Date (inclusive): 1950-2014
Abstract: Records collected and/or created by original St. Francis Square Cooperative shareholders, Tom and Yayoi Tsukahara, and Michael
Tsukahara, their son.
Physical Location: The collection is stored off site.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in
English and Japanese.
Access
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Collections that are stored offsite should
be requested 48 hours in advance.
Publication Rights
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.
Provenance
Received from John Tsukahara, son of Tom and Yayoi Tsukahara, on Feb. 26, 2016.
Biographical and Historical Statement
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.
Scope and Contents
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.
Technical Requirements
Includes a CD and 8mm videocassette.
Related Materials
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.
Moved to Library Catalog
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.
Processing Information
Processed by Tami J. Suzuki.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
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.
Western Addition (San Francisco, Calif.) -- History.
Box 1
Series 1
Tsukahara Documents,
1963-2011
Scope and Contents
Contains papers by or about Tom and Yayoi Tsukahara. Also includes creative writing related to St. Francis Square, written
by several SFS residents.
Pedestrian Safety Committee,
1979
Tsukahara Apartment,
1963
Committee Against Nihonmachi Evacuation,
1972
Communications,
1973-2005
Physical Description:
2 folders
Communications (Handwritten),
1984-2011
"Life on the Square," Sandy Butler,
[1999?]
"The Square We Live In," Lyrics, by Bobbie Sue
George Blackwell on Schools,
[1965]
Oh! St. Francis--Look What We've Done!
Play by Ray Williams and Norman Young
Various Members,
1996-1997
Series 2
Subjects and Projects,
1950-2012
Scope and Contents
Papers on operational matters and issues of the co-op, including conversion to market-rate structure, lawyers' opinions, board
recalls, and the Western Addition.
Arrangement
Organized alphabetically.
Box 1
Board Members Lists,
1964-1998
Box 1
Board: Joe Thornton's Documents,
2005-2006
Box 1
Board: Michael Tsukahara's Documents,
2007-2008
Box 1
Executive Board Minutes,
1982-2008
Physical Description:
2 folders
Box 1
Bylaws,
1987-2007
Physical Description:
3 folders
Box 1
Carrying Charges and Par Values,
1980
Box 1
Conversion to Market-Rate Co-op,
2007
Box 1
Community Boards Conciliation Handbook
Box 1
Corporate Loan Program,
1973
Box 1
Cost of Construction Index,
1973
Box 1
Cross Cultural Family Center,
1986
Box 1
Deck Reconstruction,
1994-1998
Box 1
Flyer: Alice Walker Program,
1983
Box 1
Flyers,
1992-1995
Physical Description:
2 folders
Box 1
HUD and FHA Matters,
1965-1996
Box 1
Lawsuit: Redus vs. St. Francis Square,
1972
Box 1
Lawyers' Opinions,
1963-1990
Box 1
Maintenance Program,
2005-2006
Box 1
Manager's Reports,
1964-2001
Physical Description:
2 folders
Box 1
Members Disclosures and Notifications,
2008
Box 1
Members Lists,
1976-2010
Physical Description:
3 folders
Box 1
Neighborhood Sharing Project Application,
1977
Box 1
Newspaper Clippings,
1965-1998
Box 1
Organizational Assessment,
[1985?]
Box 1
Owner-Management Agreement,
1966
Map-Case 20, Folder 9
Plumbing Drawings, As-Built, Sewer and Drain,
1964
Box 1
Prospective Shareholders Information,
1963
Box 1
Redevelopment Agency Annual Report,
1964
Box 2
Roof and Solar,
1979-2012
Box 2
Summer Youth Employment,
2003
Box 2
Tax Assessment,
1964-1972
Box 2
Water Infiltration Project,
2005
Box 2
Western Addition,
1968-2005
Box 2
Series 3
Committees,
1969-2012
Scope and Contents
Minutes and papers of various SFS committees, and notes written by the Tsukaharas.
Arrangement
Organized alphabetically.
Building and Grounds,
1987-2010
Davis Sterling Compliance,
1987
Deck Repair Construction,
1996-197
Equity (Transfer Value),
1972-1974
Excess/Low-Fixed Income,
1987
Family Activities,
2006-2008
Limited Equity Co-op,
1997
Manager Selection,
1990-2006
Office Evaluation,
1969-1984
Transition Team (to Market Rate),
2004
Turner Square Landscaping,
2003-2011
2004 Study (Co-op vs. Condo),
1999-2004
Series 4
Finances,
1964-2014
Scope and Contents
Minutes and other finance committee papers, especially since Michael Tsukahara joined the committee. Also includes financial
statements.
Arrangement
Organized chronologically.
Box 2
Committee Documents,
1973-2014
Physical Description:
7 folders
Box 2
Financial Statements,
1964-2003
Physical Description:
9 folders
Box 3
Financial Statements,
2004-2011
Physical Description:
4 folders
Series 5
Visual Materials,
1964-2010
Material Specific Details: Includes a CD and an 8mm (Hi8 MP) videocassette.
Scope and Contents
Photographs, slides, digital images, and a video of SFS events. Includes portrait of the first board.
Arrangement
Organized chronologically.
Box 4, Folder 2
First Elected Board,
1964
Box 5
25th Anniversary Picnic,
1988
Box 5
Garden Flowers and Halloween,
1996-2010
Pumpkin Carving Contest,
2005
Box 5
Picnics and George Liu's Retirement,
1997-1999
Box 5
Board and Parties,
2007-2010
Box 5
Game Nights,
Jan.-Feb. 2006
Box 5
Slides: Shareholders and Flowers,
1975
Box 5
Video of Annual Picnic (8mm cassette),
Sept. 14, 2008
Box 5
CD of Birthday Party Images,
March 21, 2010
