Japanese American Citizens League photograph collection

Japanese American Citizens League photograph collection, 1935-1990

Overview of the Collection

Title: Japanese American Citizens League photograph collection
Dates: 1935-1990 (inclusive)
19351990
Quantity: 59 photographic prints ; sizes vary
131 negatives ; 35mm
186 color slides ; 35mm
Collection Number: PH0732
Summary: Group photographs of Japanese American Citizens League members at conventions, photographs of Japanese American Citizens League members and Japanese community members at official events and social events
Repository: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions: Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Additional Reference Guides
Languages: English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The Seattle Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) served as the voice of the Nisei (second generation Japanese community) in the Seattle area. The members (primarily professionals) tended to be proud of their American citizenship, and aimed to promote good citizenship and active participation in civic life. Organized in 1921 as Seattle Progressive Citizens' League, it became the Seattle Chapter of JACL in 1930.

Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Seattle Chapter met to organize an Emergency Defense Council composed of the presidents of many Nisei organizations. When incarceration in internment camps became inevitable, the Seattle Chapter began to cooperate with the War Relocation Authority in organizing the movement of Japanese citizens to the Puyallup Assembly Center (Camp Harmony). James Sakamoto, Chairman of the Emergency Defense Council, became Chief Supervisor of the Japanese staff at the Puyllup Assembly Center.

The Seattle Chapter was inactive during the period immediately following the war, but was formally reactivated in 1948. During the 1950s and 1960s, the JACL became involved in civil and human rights issues. Seattle Chapter members participated in the statewide effort to eliminate the 1899 Alien Land Law from the Washington state constitution. The Alien Land Law prohibited Asians from owning land. In 1966, SJR 20 passed as an amendment to the constitution.

In 1962, the seventeenth national JACL Biennial Convention was held in Seattle.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs of Japanese American Citizens League members at conventions and other events, Japanese American community events and celebrations, and other Japanese American organizations such as the Young People's Christian Conference.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Ryan Chin, 2011-06-20.

Processing Note

Processed by Clare Tally-Foos, 2013; processing completed by Elizabeth Russell and Elizabeth Wessells, 2016.

Separated Materials

Separated from Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter records, MSS Collection #0217 .

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

National JACL ConventionsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		1934 Convention
mapcase	item
M273	1	Panoramic group portrait at the Third Biennial National JACL Convention, San Francisco, California Includes Boy Scout drum and Bugle corps and groups holding signs from states including Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Texas.	August 31, 1934
M273	2	Panoramic group portrait from Third Biennial JACL National Convention at Paradise Cove, San Francisco, California Group was at Paradise Cove for a boat ride and picnic.	September 2, 1934
		1936 Convention
mapcase	item
M273	3	Panoramic group portrait at the Fourth Biennial JACL National Convention, Seattle, Washington Ochi Studios, Seattle (photographer) Accompanying chart and list identify 61 of the attendees.	September 5, 1936
Box/Folder
1/1	4	Presentation in Seattle Chamber of Commerce during 1936 JACL National Convention R.S. Ochi Studio (photographer) With copy negative.	1936
mapcase	item
M271	5	Panorama of group at the sixth biennial National JACL Convention, Portland, Oregon Photo-Art Studios-Mentzer, Portland (photographer) Accompanying material identifies 33 individuals in larger group.	August 28-September 2, 1940
		1954 Convention
mapcase	item
M271	6	Panorama of group at JACL 13th Biennial National Convention in Los Angeles, California	September 2-6, 1954
box:oversize
XH6	7	Panorama of National Recognitions Banquet, 13th Biennial National JACL Convention at Statler Hotel, Los Angeles, California (Weaver 549-6A) Weaver, Los Angeles (photographer)	September 6, 1954
mapcase	item
M271	8	Panorama of group at 22nd Biennial JACL National Convention, Washington, D.C. Accompanying photocopy identifies five individuals, including George Takei, in larger group.	June 29, 1972
		1988 Convention
Box/Folder	item
1/6	9	Photograph of ticket to the opening banquet of the 1988 JACL National Convention in Seattle, WA 1 : color slide At the 1988 Convention, the Seattle Chapter of the JACL attempted to pass Resolution 7, which called for the JACL to apologize to those in the community harmed during World War II by those "working independently and in the name of the JACL." This laid the ground work for the Lim Report.	August 7, 1988
1/6	10-16	1988 JACL National Convention opening banquet 7 : color slides	1988
1/6	17-18	Performance of Miss Minidoka 1943 at the 1988 JACL National Convention 2 : color slides	1988

Northwest District JACL ConventionsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
box:oversize	item
XH6	19	Panoramic group portrait at the Second Northwest District Japanese-American Citizens League Convention, Portland, Oregon (Acme 11661) ACME Commercial Studio, Portland (photographer) Includes list and overlay that identifies individuals	September 4, 1933
XH6	20	Panoramic group portrait at the Third Biennial Northwest District convention of the Japanese American Citizens League, Kent, Washington (Melin 5905) Melin, Auburn, Washington (photographer) Labels with handwritten names are affixed to duplicate photo. They are difficult to read and are possibly: Tazuko Yamada Yoshimura, Utaka [illeg], Mary Marumoto, Jim Hong, Sumi Kabegoni, Yoshiko Morishita, Takeo Morishita, Matoho Yamanada, Natsuko Wakeshugi, Wahasugi, Shea Aoki, Frank Santo, Jiro Aoki, Clarence Arai.Members hold signs saying Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, Puyallup, Mid-Columbia.Written on verso: Stan Aoki, Jiro Aoki, 3007 33 Ave So. Seattle, Wa. 98144.	September 2, 1935
XH6	21	Panoramic group portrait at the Fifth Biennial Northwest District Council Convention of the Japanese American Citizens League, Tacoma, Washington Associated Photographic Service, Tacoma (photographer) Members hold signs saying Puyallup, Tacoma, White River, Portland, Mid-Columbia. Includes Boy Scout Seattle Area drum and bugle corps.	September 3-4, 1936
XH6	22	Panoramic group portrait of Northwest District Council members of the Japanese American Citizens League in front of Yakima Courthouse entrance, Yakima, Washington Baker, Yakima (photographer) Members hold signs saying Yakima, Puyallup Valley, Portland, Mid-Columbia, Northwest District Council Hdqs., Seattle, Valley Civic League, Hoot, Owl.Note on verso suggests that this Council gathering was circa 1936. This seems unlikely since the Council Convention of 1936 was held in Tacoma.	circa 1930s
XH6	23	Panoramic group portrait at the Sixth Biennial Northwest District council convention of the Japanese American Citizens League R.S. Ochi Studio, Seattle (photographer) Members hold signs saying Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Puyallup, White River, Mid-Columbia, Yakima. Includes Portland Boy Scout drum and bugle corps. Names are handwritten on duplicate photo. They are difficult to read and are possibly: Sum Shape, [illeg]ukio Nagasaki, Jiro Aoki.	August 30-September 1, 1941

JACL banquets and other eventsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		50th Anniversary Banquet
Box/Folder	item
1/1	24	Mayor Norman Mineta of San Jose standing at a podium and speaking at the JACL fiftieth anniversary banquet at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Washington Bruce Terami (photographer)	October 30, 1971
1/1	25	Mayor Norman Mineta of San Jose shaking hands with Min Masuda, standing next to May Mineta at the JACL fiftieth anniversary banquet at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Washington	October 30, 1971
Box/Folder	item
1/1	26-28	1978 JACL Installation Banquet, probably at Bush Garden Restaurant, Seattle Item 26: Man standing at podium is identifed as Hiro Nishimura.	January 1978
1/1	29-33	1978 JACL Installation Banquet, probably at Bush Garden Restaurant, Seattle 20 : Black and white 35 mm negatives 68 : Color 35mm negatives Printed contact sheets made from scanning the negatives are with collection.	January 1978
1/2	34-39	Banquet at the Double Tree Plaza Hotel, Seattle	circa 1980
1/2	40	Banquet at the Double Tree Plaza Hotel, Seattle 26 : Color 35mm negatives May be same event as items 34-39.	circa 1980
1/3	41	Japanese Consul General Toshio Isogai, Ruthann Kurose, Tomio Moriguchi, and Cherry Kinoshita at event in honor of the consul Toshio Isogai was Japanese Consul General in Seattle 1982-1986.	circa 1982-1986
1/3	42	U.S. Senator Slade Gorton at event probably held by JACL	1983
1/3	43-44	JACL Christmas party	1988
1/3	45-48	JACL Installation Banquet at Double Tree Plaza Hotel in Seattle	January 1993
		1995 JACL Installation Banquet
Box/Folder	item
1/3	49	Miyuki Yoshida and Hugh Matsubayashi	1995
1/3	50	Miyuki Yoshida, George Takei, and Hugh Matsubayashi seated at banquet table	1995
Box/Folder	item
1/4	51	JACL Christmas Dinner 14 : Color 35mm negatives With 10 prints.	1997
1/5	52	JACL event to honor Nikkei pioneer businesses	undated

JAY EventsReturn to Top

The JAYs are the youth branch of the JACL.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/6	53-56	JAY Officer Retreat 4 : color slides	September 1987
1/6	57-58	Matsutake Outing 2 : color slides Matsutake is an edible mushroom that is gathered in the fall.	1987
1/6	59-68	Preparing dinner, possibly for Thanksgiving celebration 10 : color slides	1987
1/6	69-74	JAY End of Year Party 6 : color slides	1987
1/6	75-78	JAY Calendar Night 4 : color slides	1987
		JAY annual dance
Box/Folder	item
1/6	79-81	Preparations for the dance 3 : color slides	Spring 1988
1/6	82-84	People playing ping-pong 3 : color slides	Spring 1988
Box/Folder	item
1/6	85-87	JAY event 3 : color slides	Spring 1988
1/6	88-91	Probably Apple Blossom Festival parade, Wenatchee 4 : color slides	Spring 1988
1/6	92-100	JAY Easter Egg Hunt 9 : color slides	April 2, 1988
1/6	101-110	JAY carwash fundraiser 10 : color slides	May or June 1988
		National Youth Convention Leadership Conference In 1988, in conjunction with the JACL National Convention, the Seattle JAY hosted the National Youth Convention, August 5-10, 1988.
Box/Folder	item
1/6	111-133	Conference and social activities 23 : color slides	August 1988
1/6	134-140	Officer election event and Rap Session posters 7 : color slides	August 1988
1/6-1/7	141-170	Picnic at Gas Works Park 30 : color slides	August 7, 1988
1/7	171-174	Woodland Park Zoo excursion 4 : color slides	August 8, 1988
Box/Folder	item
1/7	175-176	JAY bike trip 2 : color slides	1988
1/7	177-180	Evening parade with floats 4 : color slides	1988

Japanese communityReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
mapcase	item
M273	181	Panorama of Tacoma Japanese Baseball League Championship teams assembled for a group photograph and holding a banner that reads "Tacoma Japanese Baseball League Championship 1929 Presented by Tacoma Japanese Times," Tacoma, Washington (Boland E2338) Boland, Tacoma (photographer)	1929
Box/Folder
1/5	182	Group outside R.H. & P. Building S. Ochi Studios Seattle (photographer)	September 7, 1931
mapcase
M273	183	Panorama of large group of children and adults at official event, Tacoma, Washington (Boland E2667) Boland, Tacoma (photographer) This is possibly the visit of officers from the Imperial Japanese flagship and a Japanese naval training ship, the Yakumo and Iwate. The ships came to Tacoma on April 1, 1933 and stayed several days. They were open for tours and drew large crowds. Over 1500 men on the ships were allowed leave in Tacoma. The photographer's number on the photograph indicates that it was made during this time period. This is the same image as PH Coll 1020.3.	1933
		Young People's Christian Conference (YPCC) Group Photos The YPCC, organized in 1920, arranged for social gatherings of young Japanese American Christians. The group ceased to exist due to Japanese internment in WWII, but was the precursor to later social organizations for Japanese American young people of Christian faith.
box:oversize	item
XH6	184	Panoramic group portrait of YPCC members Jackson Studio, Seattle (photographer)	December 2, 1933
XH6	185	Panoramic group portrait of YPCC members Jackson Studio, Seattle	December 1, 1934
XH6	186	Panoramic group portrait at 6th Annual YPCC Takano Studio, Seattl [sic] (photographer)	November 30, 1935
XH6	187	Panoramic group portrait YPCC members standing on stairs of Suzzallo Library, University of Washington Jackson Studio, Seattle	November 26, 1938
Box/Folder	item
1/5	188	Sixteen men and women at social gathering, some holding balloons Individuals identified on paper accompanying photo.	circa 1930s
1/5	189	Family in park, probably related to Cherry Kinoshita Originally in envelope labeled Cherry Kinoshita.	circa 1950s
box:oversize
XH6	190	Group at the eleventh Northwest Youth Buddhist League (N.W.Y.B.L.) convention in Ontario, Oregon Harano, Ontario (photographer) Members hold signs saying Ontario, Portland, Spokane, Seattle, White River, Tacoma, Wapato	February 14-16, 1958
Box/Folder
1/5	191-196	Taiko drummers performance, possibly at Seattle Center	circa 1980s
1/7	197-205	Bowling party, probably organized by JACL or JAYs 9 : color slides Possibly from two different bowling parties in 1988.	August 1988
1/7	206-244	Images of Japanese community and Seattle area probably used for JACL slide show 39 : color slides	circa 1990

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Communities--Washington (State)--Photographs
Dinners and dining--Washington (State)
Japanese Americans--Children--Washington (State)--Photographs
Japanese Americans--Washington (State)--Photographs
Photographs--Specimens
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

Japanese American Citizens' League--Congresses--Photographs
Japanese American Citizens' League--Photographs
Young People's Christian Conference

Geographical Names

Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs

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