Donald Estes Research Collection

Title: Donald Estes Research Collection

Dates: 1889-2004

Collection Number: AC 1

Creator/Collector: Donald Estes

Extent: 11.5 linear feet (26 boxes)

Repository: Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego

Abstract: Donald H. Estes (1936-2005) was a San Diego based historian and educator who wrote and taught about the Japanese American experience in both Southern California and the nation. This collection contains many of the books and articles he wrote, as well as his extensive research files. It also includes materials he collected from the Japanese American community in order to document their internment during World War II.

Language of Material: English

Collection open for research.

Restrictions may apply. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact JAHSSD.

Donald Estes Research Collection. Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego

Created and collected by Donald Estes and donated by his wife, Toshiye Carol Estes.

Donald Hamilton Estes was born in Nebraska in 1936. He and his family moved to the San Diego’s North Park neighborhood in 1939. He entered San Diego City College in 1954, and completed BA and Master’s degrees from San Diego State University by 1966. In 1960, Estes began teaching Advanced History and Government at La Jolla High School, leaving the school in 1967 to become Professor of History and Political Science at San Diego City College. From 1969 to 1973, he also served as Adjunct Professor of Education at the University of California at San Diego, and held a similar position at San Diego State University during 1974-1975. Also during the 1970s, Estes performed curriculum development work for the California Department Education and served as a Fellowships Program Evaluator for the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1986, San Diego City College awarded Estes the Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Teaching. He retired from San Diego City College in 2003. Estes sat on the Board of the San Diego Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League from 1967 on, and served twice as president. He was a founding member of the Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego (JAHSSD) and served that organization as historian and curator. Estes was among the first historians to serve on the Scholarly Advisory Board of the Japanese American National Museum beginning in 1989. Estes' oral history interviews and research produced six books, published between 1971 and 1996. He also authored numerous scholarly articles, many published in the Journal of San Diego History. Estes also curated exhibitions and served as adviser or director of several films and video productions. At the time of his death, Estes was working on an extensive history of the Japanese in America. According to Ben Segawa, founding president and executive director of the Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego, “Estes was the acknowledged expert on the history of our community, the heart and soul of our organization. He was known as an inspiring teacher and in his scholarly pursuits, addressed what he called a natural void that was waiting to be filled.” Estes both collected and generated significant materials that would otherwise not be available for research today. He died on May 7, 2005 at the age of 68.

Donald H. Estes (1936-2005) was a San Diego based historian and educator who wrote and taught about the Japanese American experience in Southern California and the nation. The bulk of this collection contains his research files for his many books and articles, his writings, as well as the sources he collected from the Japanese American community in order to document their internment during World War II. The research materials contain original documents as well as copies. Included are state and federal government reports and publications, photographs, and ephemera related to Japanese Americans and their activities. Resources also detail Japanese American businesses and organizations within the communities. Contents are in both English and Japanese. The writings of Donald Estes are also included as well as project materials related to California's Alien Land Laws, and a range of unique primary source materials pertinent to the study of Japanese and Japanese Americans in San Diego and California. This collection reflects his work as an educator and scholar, and represent an important resource for understanding Estes and his passion for and contributions to the study of Japanese Americans as well as being a comprehensive resource for students and scholars of the internment, resettlement and redress experiences of San Diego Japanese Americans. For further clarity, each series has an additional detailed Scope and Content