Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Betty Fukuyama papers, 1940-1992
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Fukuyama, Betty
- Title
- Betty Fukuyama papers
- Dates
- 1940-1992 (inclusive)19401992
- Quantity
- 7.09 cubic feet (10 boxes and 1 package)
- Collection Number
- 4411
- Summary
- Papers of a Washington poet who also participated in a church mission project at the Camp Minidoka internment camp in Idaho.
- 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
-
The papers are open to all users.
- Additional Reference Guides
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Betty Fukuyama (1922-1992) was a Tacoma, Washington, poet. She was born Betty Marie Adkins in Heppner, Oregon, and came from an Oregon pioneer family of Scottish descent. Betty met her future husband, the Reverend Tom (Tsutomu Tom) Fukuyama at Camp Minidoka in Hunt, Idaho, while she was a college student on a church mission project. They were married as soon as Tom left the camp, in August 1945. They had five children.
Betty Fukuyama attended Willamette University and Boston University, graduating in 1947 with a degree in English language and literature. She received a Master of Arts degree in creative writing from the University of Washington in 1972, and an M.A. in psychology from Antioch University, Seattle, in 1986. Fukuyama co-founded the Washington Poets Association in 1971, serving as secretary from 1971 until 1975 and president from 1975 until 1978. The association published an anthology entitled Pierce County Poetry, for which Fukuyama was editor. She also published a chapbook of her own poems that year, entitled 25 Poems. Fukuyama's poetry has been published in numerous periodicals and newspapers, including the Alaska Review, the Christian Century, Crosscurrents, the West Coast Poetry Review, the Seattle Times, the The Oregonian and the Tacoma News Tribune.
Tom Fukuyama, the son of pioneer Japanese immigrants, was born on Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1915. He was educated at Seattle Pacific University and at Berkeley Baptist Divinity School. Fukuyama began his ministry while incarcerated in Idaho at Camp Minidoka during World War II. He served as one of several pastors of the Federated Christian Church of Hunt, Idaho. After the war he directed Brotherhood House in Denver and later held pastorates in Iowa, Idaho, and Washington State (primarily United Church of Christ congregations). He died of cancer in 1988.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Betty Fukuyama papers document her life as a writer and her husband’s career in the ministry. The papers include writings, diaries, sermons, sound cassettes, clippings, and related records. Portions of the papers provide intimate insight into one young couple affected by the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The bulk of the correspondence is between Betty and Tom Fukuyama while he was serving as a clergyman at Camp Minidoka, Idaho, 1944-1945. Their letters describe their daily thoughts and activities -- Tom’s as a Baptist minister living at Minidoka, Betty’s as a young woman making plans for college and marriage. They speak also of the challenges they expect to face as an interracial couple.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Betty and Tom Fukuyama's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged in 2 accessions:
- Accession No. 4411-001, Betty Fukuyama Papers, 1940-1989
- Accession No. 4411-002, Betty Fukuyama Papers, 1957-1992
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 4411-001: Betty Fukuyama Papers, 1940-1989Return to Top
- Personal Papers, 1940-1989
- Tacoma Pierce County Civic Arts Commission, Pierce County Artists in Motion Program Subject Files, 1975-1976
- Washington Poets Association Records, 1975-1978
- Tom Fukuyama Papers, 1942-1989
- Adkins Family, 1942-1982
Scope and Content: This accession documents Betty Fukuyama's life as a writer and her husband’s career in the ministry.
Betty Fukuyama's personal papers include a variety of diaries and notebooks. Many contain her poetry, others contain personal journal entries, and some contain class notes. Betty Fukuyama was diabetic from age four. During the early 1980s she took classes with the hope of becoming a counselor for diabetics and their families. She also had an interest in dreams and kept several dream journals during that period of her life.
A large portion of the correspondence in this accession consists of the letters written between Betty and her future husband, Tom Fukuyama, while he was incarcerated at Minidoka (dated January 1944 to July 1945). These provide rare, intimate insights into the experience of a young couple directly affected by the incarceration of Japanese Americans. Their letters to each other describe their daily thoughts and activities -- Tom’s as a young Baptist minister living at Minidoka, Betty’s as a young woman attending college and making plans for marriage. They also write of the challenges they expect to face as an interracial couple. Tom’s letters to Betty are found in Box 1 (approximately 200 letters). Betty’s letters to Tom are found in box 6 (approximately 300 letters).
Sound cassettes include a poetry reading by Betty Fukuyama, and a sermon and a church service conducted by Tom Fukuyama in the 1980s.
The Tacoma Pierce County Civic Arts Commission, Pierce County Artists in Motion Program series includes transcripts of interviews with pioneers. Betty Fukuyama worked with illustrator Carol Sheldahl to produce an anecdotal history of Pierce County based on oral history interviews. Funding ran out before the project was completed. Although Betty Fukuyama was able to acquire the rights to publish the book on her own, it does not appear to have been completed. Tapes of the oral history interviews are not included. These were kept by the Tacoma Pierce County Civic Arts Commission (no longer in existence).
The Tom Fukuyama series contains letters from Betty Fukuyama and various records documenting his career as a protestant minister. Included are sermons and other writings, and a variety of subject series reflecting his particular interests.
The Adkins Family series includes Betty Fukuyama's letters to her mother and extensive genealogical information on Fukuyama's family. Her mother, Miriam Luella Brown Adkins (born 1895), came from an Oregon pioneer family from the Gresham area. Her father, Jesse Albert Adkins (born 1889) was of Scottish immigrant descent.
Restrictions on Access: The papers are open to all users.
Acquisition Info: Source: Mary A. Fukuyama in 1993.
Processing Info: Processed in 1993.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Personal Papers |
|||
Incoming Letters |
|||
Box | Accession | ||
1 | 4411-001 | Fukuyama, Tom |
1944-1968 |
1 | 4411-001 | Miscellaneous |
1944-1982 |
Box | Accession | ||
1 | 4411-001 | Biographical Materials |
1976 |
1 | 4411-001 | Outgoing Letters |
1980-1982 |
1 | 4411-001 | Personal Documents |
1940-1981 |
1 | 4411-001 | Clippings |
undated |
1 | 4411-001 | Ephemera |
1944-1987 |
1 | 4411-001 | Newsletters |
1944-1945 |
2 | 4411-001 | Writings |
1962-1989 |
2-3 | 4411-001 | Diaries and Notebooks |
1940-1989 |
Speeches and Writings of Others |
|||
Box | Accession | ||
3 | 4411-001 | Lohmann, Jean Ruth Ackley |
1978 |
3 | 4411-001 | Stevens, Pameler |
undated |
Box | Accession | ||
3 | 4411-001 | Sound Cassettes |
undated |
3 | 4411-001 | Photographs |
undated |
3 | 4411-001 | Literary Publications |
1976-1987 |
3 | 4411-001 | Historical Publications |
1970-1987 |
3 | 4411-001 | Psychotherapy Publications and Articles |
|
3 | 4411-001 | Miscellany |
undated |
Subject Files |
|||
Box | Accession | ||
3 | 4411-001 | Issei Story Material |
|
3 | 4411-001 | Tacoma-Pierce County Artists Cooperative |
1976 |
3 | 4411-001 | Tom Fukuyama's Death |
1988 |
Box | Accession | ||
8 | 4411-001 | Yearbook |
1942 |
8 | 4411-001 | Envelopes |
1944-1982 |
Tacoma Pierce County Civic Arts Commission, Pierce
County Artists in Motion Program Subject Files |
|||
Box | Accession | ||
3-4 | 4411-001 | "Pierce County: In Those Days" |
1975 |
5 | 4411-001 | School Visits |
1975-1976 |
Box | Accession | ||
5 | 4411-001 | Washington Poets Association Records |
1975-1978 |
Tom Fukuyama Papers |
|||
Incoming Letters |
|||
Box | Accession | ||
6 | 4411-001 | Fukuyama, Betty |
1944-1959 |
Box | Accession | ||
6 | 4411-001 | General Correspondence |
1944-1979 |
5, 7 | 4411-001 | Sermons |
undated |
7 | 4411-001 | Speeches and Writings |
1942-1989 |
7 | 4411-001 | Sound Cassettes |
1987 |
Subject Files |
|||
Box | Accession | ||
7 | 4411-001 | Anger |
undated |
7 | 4411-001 | Book Reading |
undated |
7 | 4411-001 | Brotherhood House |
1948-1951 |
7 | 4411-001 | Conflict |
undated |
7 | 4411-001 | Death |
undated |
7 | 4411-001 | Encouragement |
undated |
7 | 4411-001 | Evacuation - Japanese Americans |
1942-1945 |
7 | 4411-001 | Publicity |
undated |
7 | 4411-001 | Relaxation Exercises |
undated |
7 | 4411-001 | Resources |
undated |
7 | 4411-001 | Shyness |
undated |
7 | 4411-001 | Support Community |
undated |
Box | Accession | ||
7 | 4411-001 | Certificates |
undated |
7 | 4411-001 | Program |
undated |
7 | 4411-001 | Photographs |
undated |
package | |||
9 | 4411-001 | Photographs |
undated |
Adkins Family |
|||
Incoming Letters |
|||
Box | Accession | ||
8 | 4411-001 | Fukuyama, Betty |
1944-1963 |
8 | 4411-001 | Miscellaneous |
1976-1982 |
Box | Accession | ||
8 | 4411-001 | Family Information |
undated |
8 | 4411-001 | Adkins Reunion |
undated |
Accession No. 4411-002: Betty Fukuyama Papers, 1958-1992Return to Top
Scope and Content: This accesion contains materials related to Betty Fukuyama’s writing and some personal correspondence. Here are found typescripts of mostly unpublished poetry, publications containing her poetry, clippings, and other memorabilia such as certificates and awards.
Restrictions on Access: The papers are open to all users.
Acquisition Info: Source: Mary Fukuyama, July 1999.
Processing Info: Processed by Michelle Seim in 2001.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Accession | ||
1 | 4411-002 | Biographical Materials |
1986-1989, undated |
1 | 4411-002 | Incoming Letters |
1968-1990 |
1 | 4411-002 | Outgoing Letters |
1961-1986 |
General Correspondence |
|||
Box | Accession | ||
1 | 4411-002 | Stafford, William |
1982, 1986 |
1 | 4411-002 | Miscellaneous |
1977-1990 |
Box | Accession | ||
1 | 4411-002 | Bibliography |
1960-1962 |
Writings
Scope and Content:
Typescripts.
|
|||
Box | Accession | ||
1 | 4411-002 | Poems with "Directories" |
1944-1992, undated |
1 | 4411-002 | Poems |
1957-1991, undated |
1 | 4411-002 | Chapbook: "Growing Up" |
1983-1987 |
1 | 4411-002 | Thesis: "The Moment In and Out of Time" |
1972 |
1 | 4411-002 | Research Project: "Evaluation of Dreams" |
1984 |
Box | Accession | ||
1 | 4411-002 | Subject File - Fukuyama Poetry Readings |
1963-1992 |
Clippings |
|||
Box | Accession | ||
1 | 4411-002 | Published Poems |
1947-1987 |
1 | 4411-002 | Miscellaneous |
1947-1982 |
Box | Accession | ||
2 | 4411-002 | Publications - with Fukuyama Poems |
1958-1990 |
2 | 4411-002 | Awards and Honors |
1972-1987 |
2 | 4411-002 | Certificates |
1972, 1975 |
2 | 4411-002 | Programs |
1965-1983 |
2 | 4411-002 | Bulletins |
1966, 1986-1988, undated |
2 | 4411-002 | Notes |
undated |
2 | 4411-002 | Photographs from Album Page - Unidentified 2 photographs
|
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- American poetry--Washington (State)--20th century
- Church work with prisoners of war--Idaho--Hunt
- Diabetes--Psychological aspects
- Interracial marriage--United States
- Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
- Women poets, American--20th century--Archives
- World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Idaho--Hunt
- World War, 1939-1945--Japanese Americans
Personal Names
- Fukuyama, Betty--Archives
- Fukuyama, Tom (Tsutomu Tom), 1915-1988
Corporate Names
- Minidoka Relocation Center
- Pierce County Artists in Motion Program
- Tacoma-Pierce County Civic Arts Commission
- United Church of Christ--United States--Clergy
- Washington Poets Association
Family Names
- Adkins family
Form or Genre Terms
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Diaries
- Photographs
- Publications
- Sound recordings
- awards
- correspondence
- notes
- poems
- sermons
- typescripts
- writings
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)