Kawakami Family (1882-2009) Collection, 1940's-1990's; 2024

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Summary

Title:
Kawakami Family (1882-2009) Collection
Dates:
1940's-1990's; 2024
Creators:
Kawakami, Chikaji [Nanpo] Kawakami, Iwao Kawakami, Joe
Abstract:
Extent:
0.5 LF (1 box)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Kawakami Family (1882-2009) Collection. Monterey Museum of Art

Background

Scope and content:

Cassettes and VHS tapes contain oral history interviews with Joe Kawakami; Topaz reunions in the 1980s-1990s; poetry by Iwao Kawakami; and a notebook with a biographical outline and photographs of the life and times of Chikaji and his art works.

Biographical / historical:

The Kawakami Family Collection supports a gift of 87 watercolors painted by Issei artist, Chikaji [Nanpo] Kawakami, during the 3 years that he was interned at Topaz (Central Utah Relocation Center 1942-1945) during WWII. [for artworks, see MMA Accession #2023.012.XXX; exhibition catalog (August 22-December 22, 2024) Under The Guard Tower: the watercolors of Chikaji Kawakami, Monterey Museum of Art, 2024]. Family members included in this collection: Chikaji Kawakami (1882-1949); Nisei son, editor of the Topaz Times, and poet, Iawo Kawakami (1907-1976); and Nisei son and US Navy veteran, Joe Kawakami (1929-2009). Chikaji [Nanpo] Kawakami was largely self-taught but studied under Chiura Obata (1885-1975) while both were temporarily interned at the Tanforan Assembly Center, CA. When relocated to Topaz Camp in UT, Kawakami taught art classes and painted. "The art schools were modeled on the notion that art would provide solace to the internees at a highly emotional time." (Degarrod / Under the Guard Tower: the watercolors of Chikaji Kawakami, Monterey Museum of Art, 2024).

Acquisition information:
May-2023 archival materials gifted by Diane Kawakami Coward. Gift to archives accompanied 87 original watercolors by Chikiji (Nanpo) Kawakami that have been accessioned into the Museum collection.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Monterey Museum of Art staff.
Date Prepared:
1940's-1990's; 2024
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:55 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

ONLINE FILES PUBLIC ACCESS; Museum archives are accessible to professional researchers, thesis and dissertation students and local historians by appointment only. Reproduction and publication of archival material and collection photographs must be approved in writing by the Museum in advance. A fee schedule for rights and reproductions is available upon request.

Terms of access:

Property rights for this work reside with the Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey, CA. This work may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and any copyrights are retained by the creators and their heirs. Monterey Museum of Art was given permission to digitize the audio/visual materials. "The digitization project was supported by California Revealed and administered in California by the State Librarian. The program is made possible by funding from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”

Preferred citation:

Kawakami Family (1882-2009) Collection. Monterey Museum of Art

Location of this collection:
559 Pacific Street
Monterey, CA 93940, US
Contact:
(831) 372-5477
Website