Nitta-Sumita Family papers MS.395
Rebecca Hernandez
University of California, Santa Cruz
2024
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz 95064
speccoll@library.ucsc.edu
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Santa Cruz
Title: Nitta-Sumida Family papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS.395
Physical Description:
1.4 Linear Feet
1 document box, 1 carton
Date (inclusive): circa 1910s-1990s
Abstract: Personal papers documenting the
Nitta-Sumida, a Japanese American family who resided in Watsonville, California in the early
20th century. Materials include scrapbooks, photographs, correspondence, and personal vital
records such as death and marriage certificates. Included are records related to the
Watsonville Buddhist Temple and the Watsonville/Santa Cruz Japanese American Citizens
League.
Language of Material:
English , Japanese .
Collection is open for research.
Copyright for the items in this collection is owned by the creators and their heirs.
Reproduction or distribution of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair
use requires permission from the copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the user to
determine whether a use is fair use, and to obtain any necessary permissions. For more
information see UCSC Special Collections and Archives policy on Reproduction and Use.
Nitta-Sumida Family papers. MS 395. Special Collections and Archives, University Library,
University of California, Santa Cruz.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Dan Nitta in 2022.
The Nitta-Sumida, were a Japanese American family who resided in Watsonville, California in
the early 20th century.
Personal papers documenting the Nitta-Sumida, a Japanese American family who resided in
Watsonville, California in the early 20th century. Materials include scrapbooks,
photographs, correspondence, and personal vital records such as death and marriage
certificates. The collection primarily documents Fred Nitta (1903-1978), who immigrated from
Japan to the U.S. as a child and worked for the Office of Strategic Services during the
second World War. Included are records related to the Watsonville Buddhist Temple and the
Watsonville/Santa Cruz Japanese American Citizens League, both of which Nitta was an active
member. Also included are teaching awards from his wife Miyuki Helen Nita (see Sumida),
grade school records from his son Daniel Nitta, and materials related to the death and
commemoration of Miyuki's father Frank Sumida.
Processed by Rebecca Hernandez 2024. Japanese to English translation by Hiroko Acker.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1939-1945 -- Japanese
Americans
Watsonville (Calif.)
Box 1, Folder 1
Box 1, Folder 2
Box 1, Folder 4
Box 1, Folder 5
Funeral book 1978
Fukuichi "Frank" Sumida, list of funeral attendees, flowers received, choden and koden.
Two photographs: one identified as John Sumida's grandparents-Sumita-Dan Nitta's
Grandparent. The second photo is unidentified, in an envelope labeled Helen Nito, return
address, Hiroshi Wata, Gardena, California
Box 1, Folder 6
Fred H. Nitta Washington Union High School Diploma and commencement program June 1923
Box 1, Folder 7
Box 1, Folder 8
Box 1, Folder 9
Box 2, Folder 1
Box 2, Folder 2
Box 2, Folder 3
Box 2, Folder 5
Nitta Family circa 1902-1990
Several documents written in Japanese, postcards from the Consulate General of Japan in
San Francisco, handwritten note with birthdates, Certificate of Confirmation for Fred
Nitta, Redress document with signature of Helen Mito dated March 19, 1990 and cloth
envelope with a paperwork inside.
Box 2, Folder 6
Box 2, Folder 7
Box 2, Folder 8
Box 2, Folder 9
Box 2, Folder 10
Box 2, Folder 11
Box 2, Folder 12
Box 2, Folder 15