Finding Aid to the Ayako Nakauchi Kataoka Family Photograph Collection
Bancroft Library Staff
The Bancroft Library
October 2021
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: Ayako Nakauchi Kataoka family photograph collection
Creator:
Kataoka, Ayako
Identifier/Call Number: BANC PIC 2022.010
Physical Description:
1800 photographs
in 11 albums, 1 box and 2 oversize folders
: chiefly gelatin silver prints and color prints
; various sizes
Date (inclusive): approximately 1900-1995
Abstract: Collection documents multiple generations of the family of Ayako Kataoka (née Nakauchi) (1917-1995), a Japanese American
woman born in Los Angeles who was interned in the Heart Mountain Relocation Center during World War II.
Physical Location: Many Bancroft Library collections are stored off-site and advance notice may be required for use.
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language of Material:
Multiple languages
.
Conditions Governing Access
Negatives (NEG(5x7) box 1): UNPROCESSED. UNAVAILABLE FOR USE.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Ayako Nakauchi Kataoka Family Photograph Collection was purchased by The Bancroft Library from James Arsenault and Company
in 2021.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Ayako Nakauchi Kataoka family photograph collection, BANC PIC 2022.010, The Bancroft Library, University
of California, Berkeley.
Scope and Content
Collection documents multiple generations of the family of Ayako Kataoka (née Nakauchi) (1917-1995), a Japanese American
woman born in Los Angeles who was interned in the Heart Mountain Relocation Center during World War II. Collection includes
snapshots, portraits, photograph albums, postcards and other materials. Individuals depicted include Ayako, her husband Takeo
Kataoka (1917-1984), her father Tamotsu Nakauchi (1888-1968) and mother Kaneju Miyaji Nakauchi (1890-1958), her twin daughters
Kimiye and Kikuye Kataoka (b. 1957), and numerous other family members, friends and associates. Most photograph albums contain
snapshots of everyday activities, family life and socialy outings, and studio portraits of family and friends. One album (vol.
2) documents Ayako's life during her internment at Heart Mountain Relocation Center (Wyoming). Another album (vol. 11) is
dedicated to glamour portraits of movie stars, mostly from Japan in the 1940s through 1960s. Collection also includes material
pertaining to Ayako's daughter Kimiye, the last family member to own the collection. Collection includes many photographs
taken by the studio of Tōyō Miyatake, including a panoramic group photograph taken at the 1958 funeral of Ayako's mother
in Los Angeles (shelved in --G folder).
Conditions Governing Use
Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Heart Mountain Relocation Center (Wyo.) -- Photographs
Japanese Americans -- California -- Los Angeles -- Photographs
Japanese American families -- California -- Los Angeles -- Photographs
World War, 1939-1945 -- Japanese Americans -- Photographs
Japanese Americans Forced removal and internment, 1942-1945 -- Photographs
Motion picture actors and actresses -- Portraits
Japanese Americans -- Portraits
Volume 1 (fALB)
Volume 1 BANC PIC 2022.010--fALB v.1
approximately 1930-1940
Physical Description:
185 photographs
Scope and Content
Chiefly studio portraits of friends of Ayako, many of them inscribed to her. Also includes studio portraits of Ayako, and
a few snapshots depicting friends and leisure outings.
Note
Identified photographers: Tōyō Miyatake; Izuo.
Volume 2 (ALB)
Volume 2 BANC PIC 2022.010--ALB v.2
1943-1945
Physical Description:
115 photographs
Scope and Content
Chiefly snapshots pertaining to Ayako's internment at Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Wyoming, during World War II. Well-captioned
throughout, the album documents Ayako's friends, family and other internees, most of whom are identified by name. Views includes
individuals, groups and camp buildings. Also includes a few views taken during outings from the camp to Basin and perhaps
other nearby locations. Also includes a few postcards. Many leaves are lacking previously mounted photographs and postcards.
Volume 3 (ALB)
Volume 3 BANC PIC 2022.010--ALB v.3
approximately 1900-1968
Physical Description:
180 photographs
Scope and Content
Studio portraits and snapshots chiefly pertaining to the youth and early years of the marriage of Ayako's parents, Tamotsu
Nakauchi and Kaneju Nakauchi. Some portraits predate the couple's departure from Japan. Later snapshots include homes and
domestic scenes (pets, plants, gardening, etc.)
Note
Identified photographers: Motoyoshi (San Francisco), Harry Shirao (Hollywood).
Volume 4 (fALB)
Volume 4 BANC PIC 2022.010--fALB v.4
approximately 1934-1968
Physical Description:
100 photographs
Scope and Content
Album chiefly pertains to the funerals of Ayako's mother Kaneju Nakauchi (d. 1958) and father Tamotsu Nakauchi (1968). Also
includes at least two scenes from the funeral of Masayuki Nakauchi, Ayako's brother who died in infancy in 1934. Also includes
snapshots of family homes, pets, plants, friends, etc.
Volume 5 (fALB)
Volume 5 BANC PIC 2022.010--fALB v.5
approximately 1935-1968
Physical Description:
335 photographs
Scope and Content
Album of snapshots and portraits pertaining to various periods of Ayako's life, including social and religious group portraits
taken in Los Angeles in the 1930s and 1940s; domestic scenes of her parents' home; and many views of her parents' garden taken
in 1958 and 1968 (the death years of her mother and father, respectively).
Note
Identified photographers: Tōyō Miyatake, Imada (Los Angeles), Izuo, Shirao (Hollywood), Tanaka Studio (Los Angeles).
Volume 6 (ALB)
Volume 6 BANC PIC 2022.010--ALB v.6
approximately 1960-1970
Physical Description:
125 photographs
Scope and Content
Snapshots taken at Disneyland, Grand Canyon, Hearst Castle and other Kataoka family tourist destinations in California and
the Western U.S.
Volume 7 (ALB)
Volume 7 BANC PIC 2022.010--ALB v.7
approximately 1968-1972
Physical Description:
100 photographs
Scope and Content
Snapshots taken at Yosemite National Park and perhaps other Kataoka family outing locations in the Sierra Nevada.
Volume 8 (fALB)
Volume 8 BANC PIC 2022.010--fALB v.8
approximately 1970-1975
Physical Description:
100 photographs
Scope and Content
Snapshots taken during family outings in the mountains during winter and at Disneyland. Also includes snapshots of pupils
and teachers at middle and/or high school – perhaps friends and associates of Kimiye Kataoka and/or her sister Kikuye.
Volume 9 (ALB)
Volume 9 BANC PIC 2022.010--ALB v.9
approximately 1960-1970
Physical Description:
90 photographs
Scope and Content
Snapshots of Kataoka family pets.
Volume 10 (fALB)
Volume 10 BANC PIC 2022.010--fALB v.10
approximately 1951-1995
Physical Description:
40 photographs
Scope and Content
Album pertaining to Ayako and her husband Takeo Kataoka, likely compiled after Ayako's death. Includes portraits and snapshots
of the couple, copies of each of their death certificates, a copy of their marriage certificate, and ephemera pertaining to
Takeo's funeral and memorial services.
Volume 11 (ALB)
Volume 11 BANC PIC 2022.010--ALB v.11
approximately 1930-1965
Physical Description:
100 items
Scope and Content
Chiefly commercial portraits of Japanese movie stars (including Kinuyo Tanaka) and other celebrities, and a few American celebrities.
Also includes commercial postcards of views in Japan.
Portraits, snapshots and other pictorial materials BANC PIC 2022.010--PIC
PIC_box 1, folder 1
Ayako Nakauchi Kataoka: studio portraits
approximately 1925-1940
Physical Description:
7 photographs
Scope and Content
Studio portraits of Ayako, a few including her parents and siblings.
Note
Identified photographer: Tōyō Miyatake
PIC_box 1, folder 2
Ayako Nakauchi Kataoka and family: snapshots
Physical Description:
80 photographs
Scope and Content
Snapshots depicting Ayako with various family members.
PIC_box 1, folder 3
Leaves from unidentified album
Physical Description:
50 photographs
Scope and Content
2 leaves from an unidentified photograph album, likely compiled by Ayako, containing very small photographic prints, probably
from the 1930s. Leaves include hand-written captions. Some photographs are missing.
PIC_box 1, folder 4
Miscellaneous studio portraits (mounted)
Physical Description:
4 photographs
Scope and Content
Studio portraits: Masayuki Nakauchi, Ayako's brother who died in infancy in 1934; Ayako's daughter Kikuye Kataoka shortly
after her birth; Ayako's niece Karen; and Helen Yamamoto.
Note
Identified photographers: Tōyō Miyatake, Nursery Identi-Foto Co., Inc. and J. Edmund Watson Studios.
PIC_box 1, folder 5
Miscellaneous studio portraits (unmounted)
Physical Description:
6 photographs
Scope and Content
Studio portraits of various friends/associates of Ayako.
PIC_box 1, folder 6
Miscellaneous snasphots
Physical Description:
50 photographs
Scope and Content
Snapshots of friends, associates, travels, pets, etc. Includes one snapshot of actor Errol Flynn.
PIC_box 1, folder 7
Miscellaneous snasphots (small)
Physical Description:
50 photographs
Scope and Content
Smaller format snapshots of friends, associates, travels, pets, etc.
PIC_box 1, folder 8
Kimiye Kataoka
Physical Description:
50 photographs
Scope and Content
Snapshots and portraits pertaining to Ayako's daughter Kimiye Kataoka.
PIC_box 1, folder 9
Kimiye Kataoka: friends
Physical Description:
13 photographs
Scope and Content
Middle school and/or high school portraits of friends of Kimiye Kataoka.
PIC_box 1, folder 10
Kimiye Kataoka: Osmond family, pen pal correspondence and a letter
Physical Description:
5 photographs
Scope and Content
Fan memorabilia pertaining to the Osmond family collected by Kimiye Kataoka, much of it including correspondence from other
fans; snapshots of an Osmond family concert; other pen pal correspondence of Kimiye Kataoka from her youth; and a letter to
her written from a friend in 1999.
PIC_box 1, folder 11
Kimiye and Kikuye Kataoka
Physical Description:
35 photographs
Scope and Content
Snapshots depicting Ayako's daughters, twin sisters Kimiye and Kikuye Kataoka during their childhood.
PIC_box 1, folder 12
Kimiye and Kikuye Kataoka (small)
Physical Description:
40 photographs
Scope and Content
Smaller format snapshots depicting Ayako's daughters, twin sisters Kimiye and Kikuye Kataoka, during their childhood.
PIC_box 1, folder 13
Kikuye Kataoka
Physical Description:
5 photographs
Scope and Content
Childhood portraits of Ayako's daughter Kikuye Kataoka.
PIC_box 1, folder 14
Mary Jane Kataoka
Physical Description:
1 photograph
Scope and Content
Portrait of Mary Jane Kataoka (born 1955) taken when 6 weeks old.
PIC_box 1, folder 15
Materials removed from albums
Physical Description:
5 photographs
Scope and Content
Photographs and papers that were found laid in loosely to various albums in the collection. All are marked with the volume
and location where they were found.
PIC_box 1, folder 16
Postcards, greeting cards, miscellaneous ephemera
Physical Description:
30 items
Scope and Content
Chiefly unused postcards, many from the Mirage resort in Las Vegas, most of which pertain to entertainers Siegfried and Roy
and their tigers; other miscellaneous postcards, souvenirs, etc.
PIC_box 1, folder 17
Realia
Physical Description:
15 items
Scope and Content
Hospital identification name beads for twins Kikuye and Kimiye ("Kataoka A" and "Kataoka B"); a small, flat Japanese doll
wearing a kimono; and 12 O.P.A. (Office of Price Administration) World War II ration tokens.
oversize_folder --AX
Oversize portraits BANC PIC 2022.010--AX
1940-1984
Physical Description:
3 photographs
Scope and Content
Group portrait taken at the funeral of Takeo Kataoka, 1984, in front of the Ivy Chapel, Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles (2
copies); wedding portrait of Fred and Louise Morimoto, 1940.
Note
Photographer: Tōyō Miyatake
oversize_folder --G
[Group portrait, funeral of Kaneju Nakauchi, Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles] BANC PIC 2022.010--G
1958
Physical Description:
1 photograph
Note
Photographer: Tōyō Miyatake
neg_box 1 (5x7)
Negatives BANC PIC 2022.010--NEG(5x7)
approximately 1960-1995
Physical Description:
300 photographs
in 1 box
: color film negatives
; various sizes and formats
Scope and Content
Miscellaneous color snapshot negatives, taken during the final decades of Ayako's life, most of which are duplicated among
the prints.
Conditions Governing Access
Negatives (NEG(5x7) box 1): UNPROCESSED. UNAVAILABLE FOR USE.
