Japanese-American Collection, ca. 1900-1940s, (bulk ca. 1900-1940s)

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Summary

Title:
Japanese-American Collection, ca. 1900-1940s
Dates:
(bulk ca. 1900-1940s)
Creators:
Mason, William M.
Abstract:
Extent:
3 linear feet
Language:
Preferred citation:

Japanese-American Collection, ca. 1900-1940s. Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Background

Scope and content:

Japanese-American families of Los Angeles and Southern California, their social life and customs, in the first half of the twentieth century. Several documents are pictured, including a Japanese map dated circa 1796. Photographs, negatives. ca. 1796-1960, no date (bulk is ca. 1900-1940s). Most of the photographs originate from six families: Akita, Fujioka, Inose, Miyatake, Tani, and Tomio. Many of the images are of Japanese Americans and the Los Angeles area in the early 1900’s including their businesses and farms. There are also many photographs of the Japanese evacuation and relocation camps of World War II, in particular those at Manzanar (Calif.), Santa Anita (Calif.), Gila Rivers (Ariz.), and Rohwer (Ark.). Includes a 1943 high school yearbook from Amache, Colorado. As the collection comprises of copy prints, they appear to have derived from a number of sources. Many of them were re-printed and used by former curator, William Mason, for publication in his The Japanese of Los Angeles (1969). The book provides useful background information for the part of the collection dealing with that subject and also identifies many of the photographs in greater detail.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County staff.
Date Prepared:
(bulk ca. 1900-1940s)
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:55 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Research is by appointment only

Terms of access:

Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder

Preferred citation:

Japanese-American Collection, ca. 1900-1940s. Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Location of this collection:
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007-4057, US
Contact:
(213) 763-3359
seavercenter@nhm.org
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