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Finding aid for the Katsuma Mukaeda Papers
2003.175
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Title: Katsuma Mukaeda papers
Dates: 1941-1996
Bulk Dates: 1941-1960
Collection number: 2003.175
Creator:
Mukaeda, Katsuma, 1890-1995
Collection Size:
5 folders, 5 medals, 15 panorama photographs
Repository:
Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Los Angeles, California 90012
Abstract: Katsuma Mukaeda was an Issei lawyer, community activist, and long-time president of the Japanese American Cultural and Community
Center in Los Angeles, California. The collection consists of personal correspondence, photographs, community service medals,
and biographical information spanning from 1941 to 1995.
Physical location: Japanese American National Museum, 100 N Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
By appointment only. Please contact the Collections Management and Access Unit by email (collections@janm.org) or phone (213-830-5615).
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections
Management and Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum (collections@janm.org).
[Identification of item], Katsuma Mukaeda papers. 2003.175, Japanese American National Museum. Los Angeles, CA.
Gift of Mr. Richard K. Mukaeda, 2003.
Biography / Administrative History
Katsuma Mukaeda was born on November 19, 1890 in the Kumamoto prefecture of Japan. He immigrated to the United States in 1908
and began working on his uncle’s strawberry farm in Arcadia, California. Following the death of his uncle, Mukaeda, went on
to attend the YMCA High School in Los Angeles and later attended college at the University of Southern California and the
Southwestern University School of Law. His educational background and bilingual abilities allowed him to become a respected
businessman and community leader in pre-War Los Angeles. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, he imported American films
into Japan, held leadership positions in the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Central Japanese Association, and served as
a court interpreter.
Following the outbreak of World War II, Mukaeda was sent to the Justice Department’s Santa Fe detention facility in 1942.
Mukaeda’s bilingual skills allowed him to become a spokesman for fellow inmates and helped him build strong relationships
with the Camp’s administration. Following the end of the War, Katsuma Mukaeda was threatened with forced repatriation to Japan.
His case was eventually dropped and he was allowed to return to Los Angeles in 1946. Upon returning to Los Angeles, Mukaeda
continued to be an active member of the city’s Japanese American community and served as the President of the Japanese American
Cultural and Community Center for 20 years. He remained involved in Los Angeles’ Japanese American community until his death
in 1995.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Katsuma Mukaeda Papers contain biographical information, personal correspondence, photographs, and 3D objects.
The Katsuma Mukaeda Papers is broken down into the following series and subseries:
Series 1: Personal Papers, 1941-1996
Subseries 1: Biographical Information, 1975-1996
Subseries 2: Correspondence, 1941-1981
Subseries 3: Letters of Reference, 1942-1953
This series contains the personal papers of Katsuma Mukaeda. Subseries 1 includes biographical information created by and
for him. Subseries 2 includes his personal correspondence with friends, professional colleagues, and notable figures such
as California Governor Edmund (Gerry) Brown and former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. Subseries 3 includes letters of reference
written for Katsuma Mukaeda by his professional colleagues when Mukaeda was threatened with forced repatriation.
Series 2: Photographs, 1947-1962
This series contains 15 panorama photographs commemorating various banquets. Banquet sponsors include the Japanese American
Citizenz League, the Japanese Consulate in LA, the Japanese-American Society of Los Angeles, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce
of Southern California, and the Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. Most are from community organization sponsored banquets,
but there is also one in support of Governor Goodwin Knight.
Series 3: 3D Objects, 1975-1986
This series contains five medals awarded to Katsuma Mukaeda. All are enclosed in decorative boxes.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Mukaeda, Katsuma, 1890-
Arcadia (Calif.)
Los Angeles (Calif.)
University of Southern California
Southwestern University (Los Angeles, Calif.). School of Law
Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles
Central Japanese Association
Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)