Inventory of the Kobata Family Photographs SPC.2021.004
Jennifer Hill
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2021-04-22
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: Kobata Family Photographs
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2021.004
Physical Description:
1 box
Physical Description:
96.5 Megabytes
61 jpeg files
Physical Description:
.75 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1902-1967
Date (bulk): 1910-1925
Abstract: This collection includes digitized photographs and a commemorative photo album related to the Kobata family. Images in the
collection include the Kobata Nursery in Los Angeles, plants at the nursery, tour photographs of Japan, and portraits of the
Kobata family. All of the items in this collection have been digitized and are available online.
Material Specific Details: English description for the Japanese illustrated album was provided by Yoko Okunishi.
Language of Material:
English
, Japanese
.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Harold Kobata donated the digitalized photographs and commemorative photo album during a Scanning Day event in 2018. The original
material was returned to the donor.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Gerth
Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Gerth Archives and 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.
Existence and Location of Originals
This collection contains digitized photographs created from loaned material. The donor retained the original items.
This collection is part of the California State University Japanese American Digitization Project. For more information:
CSU Japanese American Digitization Project.
Processing Information for Digitized Materials
The Gerth Archives and Special Collections created digital reproductions from the original material for long-term preservation
and access. These preservation files (3.43 Gb, 61 files) were scanned to and stored on the Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Deparment Drive. For more information on the best practices and standards for the digitization process, please see:
CSUJAD Techincal Reference Guide
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
All of the digitized photographs are available online at
Kobata Family Photographs They are also available on the Public Use Drive as JPG files at the Gerth Archives and Special Collections. Please request
copies at the reference desk.
Existence and Location of Copies
All of the collection has been digitized and is available at the CSU Japanese American Digitization Project site:
Kobata Family Photographs
Kobata Family Photographs (1902-1967; bulk 1910-1925) contains 29 digitized photographs (96.5 Mb) and a commemorative album
from a tour of Japan in 1925. The digitized photographs and commemorative were donated at a Scanning Day event in 2018. The
digitized images in the collection are mainly matted photographs of the Kobata Nursery and portraits of the Kobata family.
Most of the digitized photographs have handwritten notes from Harold Kobata, a family member and donor of the collection.
The commemorative album includes tour images of Japan, and it features Nobujiro Kobata, Harold Kobata's uncle. Community leaders
organized the tour for the Nisei students who studied at Japanese language schools.
Harold Takashi Kobata was born in Gardena on April 5, 1926 to Giichiro and Umeno Kobata. Giichiro and Umeno Kobata immigrated
from Japan in the early 1900s and opened the Kobata Nursery in Los Angeles on Jefferson. Harold attended Gardena High School
before relocating to Salt Lake City during World War II. After World War II, he moved back to Gardena and went to college.
Harold married his wife Reiko Hagio on October 1, 1954, and they had two children together. He died in October 2020.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Nursery growers -- California
Japanese American families
Japan -- Description and travel
Hawaii -- Description and travel
Kobata family
item Public Use Drive , folder Kobata Family Photographs
Kobata Nursery, family photographs, and portraits 1902-1967
box 1, item 1
Commemorative photo album of a Japan tour by Japanese students delegates in Southern California in 1925 1932
Language of Material: Japanese.
Material is an illustrated photo album printed in Japan. The original title is: Nanka Nihonjin gakuseidan sokoku kengaku kinen
shashincho 南加日本人學生團祖國見學記念寫眞帖 1925. It was published to commemorate their Japan tour in 1925 but not intended for sale. The
immersion tour was organized by the community leaders for the Nisei student delegates who studied at Japanese language schools
in Southern California. The album includes an introduction and report written by Kohei Shimano who was the President of Rafu
Daiichi Gakuen, which was a Japanese language school in Los Angeles, and Chair of Nihonjinkai. The group consisted of 17 participants
(8 leaders and 9 Nisei students), and Nobujiro Kobata, who is one of the Kobata family members, was one of the Nisei student
participants. They sailed from San Francisco by a steamship, Tenyo Maru, and stopped over Honolulu. During the tour, several
meetings with and lectures from the prominent figures were held. Included were a visit to the Imperial Japanese Army and a
meeting with Eiichi Shibusawa.