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Kojima family papers
M2117  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
The materials include loose photographs, a photograph album, letters, ephemera such as Toshiko's school records, a "Memorial Chimes" boxed funeral album regarding Kenji Kojima, and other materials relating to the Kojima family and their struggle to re-establish their lives after World War II. Including over 120 letters, circa 1948-1960, most with their original mailing envelopes sent to Toshiko Kojima in New York City from her brother Minoru in Pasadena and other locations in California as well as when he was in the military, and letters from her mother Ichi Kojima in Pasadena.
Background
Kenji Kojima (1886-1947) and Ichi Kojima (born 1894) initially arrived in the United States in 1912 and settled in San Diego. Toshiko Kojima, their daughter, was born in San Diego in 1919, and her brother Minoru was born a few years later in 1923. Toshiko graduated from San Diego State College and went on to be an artist known for wood engraving. Minoru took up dentistry, establishing a practice in National City, CA, and eventually became part of the U.S. armed forces as a dentist. During World War II, the Kojima family was sent to an internment camp in Poston, Arizona, to which they occasionally allude in their letters.
Extent
4 Linear Feet (2 boxes, 2 flat boxes)
Restrictions
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.