Finding Aid to the Lisa Kanemoto Photographs (1977-1988) SFP 144

Finding aid composed by Christina Moretta

San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

2022

100 Larkin Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

sfhistory@sfpl.org

URL: http://www.sfpl.org/sfhistory

Title: Lisa Kanemoto Photographs

Date (inclusive): 1977-1988

Identifier/Call Number: SFP 144

Creator: Kanemoto, Lisa

Physical Description: 2 flat boxes with 253 photographic prints (1 Linear Feet)

Contributing Institution: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

100 Larkin Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 557-4567

info@sfpl.org

Abstract: Collection of 253 black and white photographic prints of documentary photograph projects by Lisa Kanemoto in San Francisco, California between 1977 and 1988. Projects include Chinatown and Japantown communities in San Francisco; students of Louise M. Lombard Special Education School, San Francisco; East Indians in the Bay Area, and gay and lesbian portraits for the book We Are.

Physical Location: The collection is stored on site.

Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English .

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.

Publication Rights

All requests for permission to publish from photographs must be submitted in writing to the Photo Curator. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Lisa Kanemoto Photographs (SFP 144), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Provenance

Gift of the photographer. 1998-50.

Related materials

Complete Lisa Kanemoto Photograph Archive at the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Biography

Elsbeth "Lisa" Kanemoto was born in Idar Oberstein, Germany in 1931. In 1958, Lisa married an American officer of Japanese descent, George Kanemoto and they had three children. Kanemoto began studying photography in 1972 and took classes at City College of San Francisco under Morrie Camhi. In the 1970s Kanemoto worked as a freelance photographer with regular contributions of photographic essays to San Francisco Examiner California Living. In the late 1970s to the 1990s, Kanemoto had several solo gallery shows around the San Francisco Bay Area. During that time two books were published: "We Are" and "Dark Mirror." Lisa Kanemoto died on April 28, 2021 in San Diego, California.

Scope and Contents

Collection of 253 black and white photographic prints of documentary photograph projects by Lisa Kanemoto in San Francisco, California between 1977 and 1988. Projects include Chinatown and Japantown communities in San Francisco; students of Louise M. Lombard Special Education School, San Francisco; East Indians in the Bay Area, and gay and lesbian portraits for the book We Are. Folder titles supplied by photographer.

Arrangement

Arranged by project and chronogically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Chinese Americans -- California -- San Francisco -- Pictorial works

Japanese Americans -- California -- San Francisco.

Gays -- Portraits

Lesbians -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area -- Portraits.

Children -- Portraits.

Children with disabilities -- California -- San Francisco -- Portraits

East Indians -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area -- Portraits

San Francisco (Calif.) -- Pictorial works.

Chinatown (San Francisco, Calif.) -- Pictorial works

Japantown (San Francisco, Calif.)

Photographic prints

Portraits

Group portraits

Photojournalism

box 1, folder 1

Issei in Japantown 1979

Physical Description: 51 Photographic Prints

Scope and Contents

Includes documentation of Issei Senior Center in Japantown, classes, interior of a barber shop and interior of a grocery store. Some photographs printed in San Francisco Examiner California Living.

box 1, folder 2

San Francisco Chinatown from The Falling Leaves of Chinatown 1977-1985

Physical Description: 38 Photographic Prints

Scope and Contents

Includes photos published in the 1980 article "The Falling Leaves of Chinatown" in San Francisco Examiner California Living.

box 1, folder 3

Self-Help for the Elderly, San Francisco Chinatown 1979-1981

Physical Description: 70 Photographic Prints

Scope and Contents

Includes photos of housekeeping classes and graduation; Hong Fook Services; attendees of Sunday afternoon dance at Manilatown Senior Center and portraits. Some photographs printed in the San Francisco Examiner California Living.

box 1, folder 4

Milad and Family, Immigrant Family from Persia 1979-1980

box 1, folder 5-6

Louise M. Lombard School Students 1977-1981

box 2, folder 1

East Indians in the San Francisco Bay Area 1982

Physical Description: 34 Photographic Prints

Scope and Contents

Includes documentation of Navratri Festival at the India Club in the Tenderloin, San Francisco; exterior and interior of Bombay Bazar in Berkeley; and the exterior and interior Gurdwara Sahib of Fremont, a center of Sikh worship. Portraits identified include Preeti Kapur, Dr. M. Sharma, Suresh Shah, Dr. Ajit Arora, Ravinder Singh Kahlon, Mahendra Parmar, and Mohinder Singh Sing. Some of the photos published in the San Francisco Examiner California Living article "A World of Sikhs and Saris."

box 2, folder 2

We Are: A Documentary on San Francisco's Gay Community 1982-1983

Scope and Contents

Photographic prints published in Lisa Kanemoto's book We Are. Portraits include Slyvester, Monika Kehoe and Deborah Matthews.

box 2, folder 3-4

In the Streets of San Francisco 1977-1988