Oral history interview with Shigeru Osawa, 1968-1970

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Osawa, Shigeru, 1891-
Title
Oral history interview with Shigeru Osawa
Dates
1968-1970 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 sound cassettes
Collection Number
0960
Summary
Tape recorded interview of a Japanese American in Seattle discussing his father's immigration and the Japanese-owned restaurant business, his early life and college
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

Consult the access restrictions information for each of the accessions listed below.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Consult the scope and content information for each of the accessions listed below.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Consult the restrictions governing reproduction and use for each of the accessions listed below.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 2 accessions.

  • Accession No. 0960-001, Shigeru Osawa oral history interview, 1968
  • Accession No. 0960-002, Shigeru Osawa oral history interview, 1970

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 0960-001: Shigeru Osawa oral history interview, 1968Return to Top

2 sound cassettes

Scope and Content: Tape-recorded interviews conducted by R.C. Berner and Mrs. Sally Kazama; the first was on May 10, 1968 and the second on May 16, 1968.

Tape #217B: This starts off with Osawa discussing his father's immigration and the Japanese-owned restaurant business from about 1880-1895. He then discusses his family including their educations and the schools they attended. Some information about his own early life was included. Side 2 deals mainly with Osawa's father and his business transactions with some things about anti-Japanese labor unions.

Tape #217C: Osawa discusses anti-Japanese sentiments in the early 1900's as well as Japanese farming and business patterns. More is said about the labor unions.

Digital Content/Other Formats: Listen to the audio recording of this interview on the Libraries Digital Collections site.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.

May be used for research, instruction, publication, and similar educational purposes.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by R.C. Berner and Mrs. Sally Kazama, 5/16/1968

Description
Shigeru Osawa oral history interview

Accession No. 0960-002: Shigeru Osawa oral history interview, 1970Return to Top

1 sound cassette

Scope and Content: Tape-recorded interview conducted by Dolores Goto, October, 28, 1970.

Mr. Osawa was born in 1891. His father was an innkeeper in Japan before coming to America. In 1888 his mother had become pregnant and returned to Tokyo. When she arrived in San Fancisco to join her husband in 1889 he had already left for Seattle so she took a boat north. The family settled between 3rd and 4th and Washington and Main Streets in Seattle. In 1895 his father opened up a restaurant at 116 Occidental. Mr. Osawa recalls downtown Seattle at that time. His first sister died at age 2 and his second sister died while a sophomore at the University of Washington. His third sister, Yuki, graduated from the University of Washington, completed graduate work at the University of Michigan and taught English literature at college until anti-Japanese sentiments forced her out. While later teaching in Japan she was incarcerated by the Japanese during World War II. His brother, Yoshimi, is in the import business in Tokyo. Mr. Osawa ended up in the restaurant business in Seattle. He talks at length about Japanese baseball leagues in Seattle. He also discusses prejudice against Japanese in Seattle.

Digital Content/Other Formats: Listen to the audio recording of this interview on the Libraries Digital Collections site.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.

May be used for research, instruction, publication and similar educational purposes.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Shig Osawa, 10/28/1970.

Description
Shigeru Osawa oral history interview

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Osawa, Shigeru, 1891---Interviews