Iwao Matsushita papers, 1875-1979

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Matsushita, Iwao, 1892-1979
Title
Iwao Matsushita papers
Dates
1875-1979 (inclusive)
1931-1978 (bulk)
Quantity
approximately 13 cubic feet (17 boxes and 1 package)
Collection Number
2718 (Accession No. 2718-001)
Summary
Papers of a Japanese American college professor and librarian at University of Washington, and teacher at Japanese Language School, Seattle, Washington
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

Open to all users.

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English, Japanese

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Iwao Matsushita was a Japanese-American college professor and librarian at University of Washington, and a teacher at Japanese Language School, Seattle, Washington.

Matsushita immigrated to the United States from Japan in 1919. From the time of his arrival until World War II he was employed in Seattle as an office manager at Mitsui & Company, an export firm. In 1927, he introduced the first Japanese language course at the University of Washington. During WWII he was interned first at Fort Missoula, Montana, and then later at Camp Minidoka in Hunt, Idaho. He resumed teaching Japanese language at the University following the war until 1951 and also taught at the Japanese Language School and at Edison Vocational School. He was also the East Asia librarian at the University of Washington.

Matsushita married twice. His first wife, Hanaye, was interned separately during the first part of the war. Matsushita was able to transfer to Minidoka to be with her. Initially Matsushita was sent to Fort Missoula because he was identified as a community leader. is second wife's name is Ginko Matsushita.

Kyo Koike, a Seattle physician and noted photographer, was a good friend of Matsushita. He was interned at Tule Lake, and the two men corresponded extensively while Matsushita was at Fort Missoula.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Contains correspondence, diaries, haiku and other writings, publications, scrapbooks, financial records, and course materials.

When Matshushita was at Fort Missoula, he wrote letters to his wife at Camp Minidoka). These letters may be found in the Hanaye Matsushita series (Box 14, Folders 16-22). Hanaye’s letters to Iwao are in the Fort Missoula series. Among the correspondence in the Hanaye Matsushita series are letters Hanaye wrote to gather affidavits regarding her husband's good character and loyalty so that he could join her at Minidoka (Box 14, Folders 25 and 26). Matsushita’s letters to Koike are in the Kyo Koike series (Box 15, Folders 6 and 7). Koike’s letters to Matsushita are in the Fort Missoula series (inventory follows below). There are also two letters to Hanaye Matsushita (in Japanese, Box 14, Folder 14).

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from this collection in digital format.

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged in 8 series:

  • Personal papers, 1882-1979 (bulk circa 1930-1979)
  • Fort Missoula, Montana, 1941-1944, 1970
  • Camp Minidoka, Idaho, 1942-1952 (bulk 1944-1945)
  • Rainier Ginsha, 1915-1979 (bulk circa 1960-1978)
  • Seattle Japanese Language School, 1947-1975
  • Hanaya Matsushita, 1920-1971
  • Ginko Matsushita, 1895-1979 (bulk circa 1940-1979)
  • Kyo Koike, 1925-1977

Acquisition Information

Source: Iwao Matsushita 1969, 1970, 1979; Estate of Iwao Matsushita, 1981; Don Kazama, 1983; Mrs. Ginko Matsushita, 1984.

Processing Note

Merger of Accession Nos. 2718-001, 2718-002, 2718-003, 2718-004, and 2718-005.

Photographs were relocated to the Matsushita Family Photograph Collection, PH Coll. 162 in Special Collections in 1986.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Personal PapersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Biographical Information
Box/Folder
1/1
Autobiographical materials
1946-1961, undated
1/2
Family Histories
undated
1/3
Personal Documents
1919-1934, 1945, 1961, 1966-1971
1/4
University of Washington Transcripts and Diploma
1948-1951
1/5
Memorial Service Program
1979
1/6
Miscellaneous
1932, 1940, 1944, undated
Incoming Letters
Box/Folder
1/7
A
1955-1976, undated
1/8
Bank of Tokyo
1947-1975
1/9
Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church
1963-1976
1/10
B
1948-1971
1/11
C
1950-1969, undated
1/12
D
1969-1978, undated
1/13
E
1954-1969
1/14
Fukuda, Seizo
1948-1973, undated
1/15
Fukumi, Yasuko
1969-1973
1/16
F
1946-1970, undated
1/17
G
1959-1974, undated
1/18
Ha
1954-1977, undated
1/19
Hi
1947-1974
1/20
Ho
1946-1977
1/21
Ichii, Yasuzo and Yoshi
1952-1976
1/22
Ichino, Sen
1949-1975
1/23
Ideda, Koume
1940-1960, undated
1/24-28
Inoue (or Inouye), Teruko
1945-1978, undated
1/29
Inoue, Tetsuo
1972-1973, undated
1/30
Ichi - In
1950-1974, undated
1/31
Ishibashi
1946-1969, undated
1/32
Ishii, Lillian and Jack
1959-1979, undated
1/33-35
Isono, Tonomi
1950-1978, undated
1/36
Itaguchi, Fumiko
1959-1975
1/37
Ito, Kazuo
1961-1975
1/38-42
Izui, Mikisaburo
1947-1963, undated
1/43
Ishi - Izu
1936-1974
1/44-51
Japan Publications Trading Company
1949-1977
1/52
J
1952-1978
1/53
Ka
1955-1973, undated
1/54-56
Kimura, Aiko (or Ai)
1961-1979, undated
1/57-58
Kimura, Akira
1947-1976, undated
1/59
Kimura, H.S.
1960-1963, undated
1/60
Kimura
1959-1976, undated
1/61
Kitagawa, Joseph M.
1946-1978
1/62
Ki
1950-1973
1/63
Koike, Kyo
1946
1/64
Kono, Juhei C.
1959-1977, undated
1/65
Ko - Kr
1949-1975
1/66
Kubota, George Takuichi
1961-1977, undated
1/67
Ku - Kw
1950-1969, undated
1/68
L
1969
2/1
Machida, Thomas J. (Tamotsu)
1954-1974, undated
2/2-4
Matsushita. Aiko (or Ai)
1950-1977, undated
2/5
Matsushita, Hana and Seki
1947-1956, undated
2/6-7
Matsushita, Sekio
1946-1970, undated
2/8
Ma
1950-1976, undated
2/9
Me - Mi
1941-1978, undated
2/10
Mo - My
1949-1970, undated
2/11
Na
1949-1977, undated
2/12
Nobechi, Tenma
1954-1959
2/13
Ni - No
1951-1974
2/14
O
1950-1975, undated
2/15
P - R
1946-1969, undated
2/16
Sato
1937-1975, undated
2/17
Sai - Saw
1959-1975, undated
2/18
Se - Si
1947-1979, undated
2/19
Sm - Su
1949-1975
2/20
Taj - Tak
1949-1977, undated
2/21
Tamaki, S.J
1949-1977
2/22
Tamura
1938-1975, undated
2/23
Tam - Tat
1961-1976
2/24
Thorpe, E.
1947-1953
2/25
Te - Tu
1947-1977, undated
2/26
U - V
1948-1976, undated
2/27
University of Washington
1946-1972, undated
2/28
Watanabe, Eiji
1967-1974, undated
2/29
W
1953-1977
2/30
Yamamoto, Tomoko
1973-1979, undated
2/31
Yamamoto
1970-1977
2/32
Ya
1950-1975, undated
2/33
Yo - Z
1947-1978
2/34-35
Unidentified
Box/Folder
2/36-37
Outgoing Letters - To Japan Publications Trading Company
1969-1977
2/38-40
Outgoing Letters
1961-1976, undated
2/41
Letters - Collected by Iwao Matsushita
1882-1975, undated
2/42-48
Financial Records
1925-1979, undated
Diaries of Iwao Matsushita
Box/Folder
2/49
Regarding Hanaye Matsushita in Hospital
1963-1965
2/50-3/14
General
1965-1978
3/15-16
Gardening
1970, 1975
Box/Folder
3/17
Journals by Iwao Matsushita
undated
3/18-21
Travel Journals by Iwao Matsushita
1931-1971
4/1-2
Travel Journals by Teruko Inoue
1965-1973
Writings by Iwao Matsushita
Box/Folder
4/3-4
"Neko no Negoto"
undated
4/5
"A Seven-Day Journey"
1963
4/6
"Bristol Bay Salmon Fishery
undated
4/7
Student Papers
1950-1951, undated
4/8
Miscellaneous
1956
4/9
"Insects in Japanese Literature"
undated
4/10
"Around the Southern Pacific Ocean"
undated
4/11-13
Miscellaneous
1974, undated
Writings by Others
Box/Folder
4/14
Washburn, Bradford: "Operation White Tower"
1947
4/15
Matsushita, Sekio: Miscellaneous
undated
4/16
Divine, Doris: "A Girl's Adventure"
undated
4/17
Shimada, Shigeo: "Waga Hoshi-kai ni"
undated
4/18-23
Miscellaneous
1938-1977, undated
Box/Folder
4/24
Translations by Iwao Matsushita
1948, undated
4/25-32
Speeches by Iwao Matsushita
1955-1978, undated
4/33-5/3
Engagement Calendars
1948-1974
5/4-9
Notes
Including notes regarding the death of Hanaye Matsushita.
1928-1978, undated
Publications by Iwao Matsushita
Box/Folder
5/10
"Our Daily Bread"
1958
5/11
"Neko no Negoto" (co-author: Matsushita, Hanaye
1966
5/12-14
"A Seven-Day Journey"
1954-1979
Box/Folder
5/15
Publications - Translated by Iwao Matsushita, Written by U.G. Murphy
"Christian Moral Code"
undated
"Kiristo-kyo no Shinko"
1950
5/16-22
Publications by Others
Newsletters
Box/Folder
5/23-24
Nisei Veterans Newsletter
1965-1977
5/25
Peoples Christian Evangel
Including articles by Iwao Matsushita.
1974-1975
5/26-31
Miscellaneous
1946-1978
Church Bulletins
Box/Folder
5/32
Seattle Japanese Methodist Church
1954
5/33
Blaine Memorial Methodist Church, Seattle
1960-1968
5/34-6/1
Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church, Seattle
1968-1977
6/2-12
Miscellaneous
1950-1978
Box/Folder
6/13-19
Lists
1947-1974, undated
6/20-22
Programs
1954-1977, undated
6/23
Itineraries
1966, undated
6/24-27
Address Books
undated
6/28-29
Questionnaires
1964-1973, undated
6/30-31
Legal Documents
1968-1979, undated
6/32
Minutes - Japanese-American Service Committee and Blaine United Methodist Church
1946-1974
6/33
Reports
1952-1973
6/34
Catalogs
1974-1975, undated
6/35
Song Lyrics
1960, undated
6/36-38
Picture Postcards
1922, undated
6/39
Diploma
1914
6/40
Certifications
1914-1962, undated
Box
7
Calligraphy
undated
7
Testimonial
undated
17
Stamps
Box/Folder
7/1
Botany Scrapbook
1931-1932
8/1
Scrapbook
1953-1957, undated
8/2-7
Clippingsand Essays of Iwao Matsushita
1934-1978, undated
8/8-19
Ephemera
1928-1976, undated
Subject Files
Box/Folder
8/20-22
Teaching Naturalization at Edison Vocational School
1952-1954, undated
8/23-26
KBLE (Seattle) Radio Monitor
1970-1973, undated

Fort Missoula, MontanaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Incoming Letters
Box/Folder
9/1
A - G
1942-1943
9/2
Hayasaka, H.M.
1943
9/3
H - J
1942-1944, undated
9/4-6 1942-1944
9/7
K
1942-1944, undated
9/8-10 1942-1943, undated
9/11
M - O
1942-1944
9/12 1942-1943, undated
9/13 1942-1943, undated
9/14
U
1942-1943
9/15
W - Y
1942-1943, undated
9/16 1942-1943, undated
Box/Folder
9/17 1943
9/18
General Correspondence
undated
9/19
Letter Collected by Iwao Matsushita
1943
9/20
Financial Records
1942
Writings by Iwao Matsushita
Box/Folder
9/21 1970
9/22
Miscellaneous
undated
Box/Folder
9/23
Writings by Others
1943
9/24
Diaries
1941-1942
9/25-26
Notes
1942, undated
9/27-28
Lists
1941-1944, undated
9/29
Legal Documents
1941-1942
10/1-2
Publications
1942-1943
10/3
Notices
undated
10/4
Programs
1943
10/5
Questionnaire
undated
10/6
Song Lyric
1941
10/7
Photograph
1943
10/8
Ephemera
undated
Subject Files
Box/Folder
10/9
English Teaching
undated
10/10
Missoula Haiku-kai
undated

Camp Minidoka, IdahoReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
10/11
Biographical Information
1944-1952
Incoming Letters
Box/Folder
10/12
A - G
1944-1945, undated
10/13
Hirano, Raymond H.
1944
10/14
H - K
1944-1945, undated
10/15
M - N
1944-1945, undated
10/16
O - T
1944-1945, undated
10/17
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
1944-1945
10/18 1944-1945
10/19
U.S. Government, Miscellaneous
1945
10/20
U - W
1944-1945, undated
10/21
Y
1944-1945
10/22
Unidentified
1944-1945, undated
Box/Folder
11/1
Outgoing Letters
1944-1945
11/2
Letters Regarding Iwao Matsushita
1944-1946
11/3
Letters Collected by Iwao Matsushita
1944
11/4
Minutes - "Meeting of the Community Council and the Block Commissioners with Mr. Myer, National Director"
1945
11/5
Writings by Others
1945, undated
11/6
Speech by Dillon S. Myer, WRA National Director at Minidoka, Idaho
1945
11/7
Eulogies
1944-1946
11/8
Notes
undated
11/9
Lists
1946, undated
11/10
Memorandum
1945
11/11-12
Newsletters
1942-1945, undated
11/13
Pamphlet
undated
11/14 undated
11/15
Recipe Book
undated
11/16
Photographs
undated
11/17
Illustrations
undated
11/18
Clippings
1944, undated
11/19
Ephemera
undated
Subject Files
Box/Folder
11/20-21
Minidoka Ginsha
1943, undated

Rainier GinshaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Incoming Letters
Box/Folder
12/1
A - B
1973-1976
12/2
Fujikado Matsuko (Shoko)
1961-1977, undated
12/3
Fukuda, Hatsue (Shiko)
1971-1977, undated
12/4
Fukuoka, Taizo
1967-1974
12/5
Fukuzawa, Yoko
1971-1976, undated
2/6
E - F
1971-1975, undated
12/7
H - I
1960-1974, undated
12/8
Kajita, Fukuyo (Fukujo)
1969-1975, undated
12/9
King, Chie
1971-1977
12/10
Koyama, Miyoko
1971-1979, undated
12/11
J - K
1969-1978, undated
12/12
Matsumoto, Kimi
1971-1976, undated
12/13
M - N
1971-1977, undated
12/14
O - P
1969-1976, undated
12/15
Sauki, Izyo
1970-1977, undated
12/16
Tsuneishi, Shisei
1970-1976
12/17
S - U
1970-1977, undated
12/18
W - Y
1971-1979, undated
Box/Folder
12/19
Outgoing Letters
1974, undated
12/20
Financial Records
1973-1977
12/21-25
Haiku Notes by Iwao Matsushita
1965-1973
12/26
Haiku Notes by Gin Matsushita
undated
Haiku - Monthly Meeting Entries
Box/Folder
12/27
By Iwao Matsushita
1973-1978, undated
12/28-29
By Gin Matsushita
1963-1978, undated
12/30
By other members
1972-1976, undated
Box/Folder
12/31
Haiku - Monthly Meeting Evaluations
Including manuscripts of monthly meeting reports. Retained sample only.
1973
12/32-37
Haiku - Monthly Meeting Reports
1948-1979
12/38-13/2
Haiku - Monthly Meeting Reports of Other Haiku Societies
1946-1978
13/3
Haiku
1963, undated
13/4-5
Tanka by Others
1963-1976
13/6
Writing by Iwao Matsushita
undated
13/7
Eulogies
1971-1972
13/8
Notes
1967-1975, undated
13/9
Lists
1953-1961
13/10
Publication Edited by Iwao Matsushita
1974
13/11
Publications
1915-1974
13/12
Cassette Tape - Narration By Kyoshi, Etc.
undated
13/13
Newspapers
1963-1971
13/14-15
Clippings
1962-1974, undated
13/16
Ephemera
undated

Seattle Japanese Language SchoolReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
13/17
Organizational Features
1973, undated
13/18
Incoming Letters
1954-1973, undated
13/19
Outgoing Letters
1957-1974, undated
13/20-21
Writings
1965-1966, undated
13/22-23
Lecture Notes by Iwao Matsushita
undated
13/24-31
Curriculum Materials
1972-1973, undated
13/32-35
Students' Works
1962-1975, undated
13/36-37
Notes
1971, undated
13/38-39
Lists
1972-1975, undated
14/1
Personal Histories of Applicants for Teachers at Seattle Japanese Language School
1967-1974, undated
14/2-3
Newsletters
1958-1974
14/4-5
Publications
1956-1972
14/6
Programs
1963
14/7
Application and Testimonials
undated
14/8
Questionnaires
1963, undated
14/9
Miscellaneous
14/10
Clippings
1947-1972, undated
14/11
Ephemera
1954, undated

Hanaya MatsushitaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
14/12
Biographical Information
1920-1965
Incoming Letters
During World War II
Box/Folder
14/13
A - I
1942-1944
14/14
Koike, Kyo
1942
14/15
K - L
1942-1944, undated
14/16-22 1941-1944
14/23 1942-1944, undated
Box/Folder
14/24
After World War II
1952-1967
Box/Folder
14/25
Outgoing Letters
1943-1945
14/26
General Correspondence
1943-1958
14/27
Letters Regarding Hanaye Matsushita
1943
14/28
Financial Records
1942-1943
14/29
Writing Regarding Hanaye Matsushita by Iwao Matsushita
undated
14/30
Notes
1971, undated
14/31
List
undated

Ginko MatsushitaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
14/36-37
Biographical Information
1895-1981
Incoming Letters
Box/Folder
14/38
Before World War II
undated
14/39
During World War II
1943-1945
After World War II
Box/Folder
14/40
B - I
1965-1978, undated
14/41
Kunishige (husband's family)
1947-1979, undated
14/42
Matsushita, Iwao
1975
14/43
K - O
1947-1977, undated
14/44
Sekiguchi, Harukichi (Gin's father)
1947-1954, undated
14/45
Sekiguchi
1947-1960, undated
14/46
Yamamoto, Tomoko
1970-1976, undated
14/47
S - Y and unidentified
1966-1979, undated
Box/Folder
14/48-49
Financial Records
1962-1967
14/50
Writings
undated
14/51-52
Notes
undated
14/53
Legal Documents
1947-1968
14/54
Itinerary
undated
14/55
Address Book
undated
14/56-57
Miscellaneous
14/58
Scrapbook
1941-1951
14/59
Clippings
1945-1965, undated
14/60
Ephemera
1958, undated
14/61-62
Subject File: Kokusei-ryu Shigin-kai
1958-1972
Kunishige, Asakichi Frank
Box/Folder
15/1
Biographical Information
1914-1952, undated
15/2
Incoming Letters
1940-1948, undated

Kyo KoikeReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
15/3
Biographical Information
1945-1977
Incoming Letters
Box/Folder
15/4
Before World War II
1938-1941
During World War II
Box/Folder
15/5
A - K
1941-1945
15/6-7
Matsushita, Iwao
1942-1945, undated
15/8
M - Y
1942-1945, undated
15/9
Unidentified
1942-1945
Box/Folder
15/10
After World War II
1945-1947, undated
Box/Folder
15/11
Outgoing Letter
1941
15/12
Christmas Cards
undated
15/13
Financial Record
1942
15/14
Translation
1945
15/15
Publication by Kyo Koike
1933
15/16
Programs
1929
15/17-16/1
Scrapbooks
1925-1935, undated
16/2
Ephemera
1938, undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Haiku--Societies, etc
  • Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
  • Japanese Americans--Idaho
  • Japanese Americans--Montana
  • Japanese Americans--Washington (State)
  • Japanese language--Study and teaching--Washington (State)
  • Military bases--Montana
  • Schools--Washington (State)
  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)
  • World War, 1939-1945--Japanese Americans

Personal Names

  • Matsushita, Iwao, 1892-1979--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Fort Missoula, Montana, Detention Camp
  • Japanese Language School (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Minidoka Relocation Center

Geographical Names

  • Fort Missoula (Mont.)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Koike, Kyo, 1878 or 1879-1947 (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • University of Washington University Archives