Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
George Ishihara photograph collection, 1907-1918
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- Ishihara, George
- Title
- George Ishihara photograph collection
- Dates
- 1907-1918 (inclusive)19071918
- Quantity
- 8 photographic prints (1 folder)
- Collection Number
- PH0129
- Summary
- Collection includes Seattle Asahi baseball team, students at the Japanese School in Seattle and Japanese residents celebrating Independence Day in Seattle between 1907-1918
- 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.
- Languages
- English
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
The Seattle Japanese Language School, also known as Kokugo Gakko, was the first Japanese language school in the United States. Opened in 1902, its mission was to teach the Japanese language, etiquette, history and culture to American-born children of Japanese descent (Nisei). After a full day of public school instruction, students generally attended class every weekday afternoon and six days a week in the summer. A highlight of the year was the annual spring picnic held in a local park. The usual strictness and discipline was relaxed, and children participated in races and games.
After years in a temporary facility, in 1913, the school opened a new building at 1414 South Weller Street. The first class in the new building included 98 students. By 1917, attendance had grown to the point where a second building was added. A third building was completed in the 1920s. During the 1930s, a period that saw the peak in the population of school-aged Nisei, approximately 1800 children attended the Japanese Language School on a daily basis. The school closed after 1941 in the wake of World War II and the internment of people of Japanese descent. The school reopened in 1956.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection includes photographs of the students and teachers at the Seattle Japanese Language School during various outings between 1911-1915. In addition, there are photographs of the Seattle Asahi baseball team and of the Independence Day festivities in Seattle in 1907.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
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
Donor: George Ishihara via Dolores Gato, Japanese-American History Project, 1972
Processing Note
Processed by Linda Corets, 2005.
Bibliography
Dubrow, Gail Lee. Sento at Sixth and Main (Seattle: Seattle Arts Commission, 2002).
Related Materials
For Japanese-American baseball information, see also the Frank Fukuda Photograph and Ephemera Collection (PH Coll 128).
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folder | item | ||
| 1 | 1 | Seattle Asahi baseball team | 1918? |
| 1 | 2 | Asahi baseball team at clubhouse, 12th Avenue and Yesler Way | 1918 |
| 1 | 3 | Japanese baseball team with Foreign Minister Goto and Governor Inouye-Tokio | 1918? |
| 1 | 4 | Children playing a type of basketball at the Japanese Language School picnic at Woodland Park | 1911 |
| 1 | 5 | Japanese Language School picnic at Alki Point, West Seattle | June 3, 1912 |
| 1 | 6 | Japanese Language School children and teachers at Japanese Consulate, 306 Central Building, Seattle | 1911 |
| 1 | 7 | Japanese Language School Class of 1915 | 1915 |
| 1 | 8 |
Independence Day
celebration for Japanese residents
Sign notes that celebration was "given by officers of the SS
Shinano Maru and Japanese Residents Seattle
USA."
|
July 4, 1907 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Japanese American children--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- Japanese Americans--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- School children--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- Teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Corporate Names
- Japanese Language School (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
- Seattle Asahi (Baseball team)--Photographs
Geographical Names
- Seattle (Wash.)--Social life and customs--20th century
