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Henry K. Hashitani Papers, circa 1904-2019

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Hashitani, Henry K. (Henry Katsuji) ca. 1885-1952
Title
Henry K. Hashitani Papers
Dates
circa 1904-2019 (inclusive)
(bulk 1904-1949)
Quantity
2.0 linear feet and 7 electronic files
2.25 megabytes of digital material
Collection Number
Mss 837
Summary
Diaries, photographs, and letters of Henry K. Hashitani, who immigrated to the United States from Japan in 1903, and other family members, including his wife Takako. He worked on the railroad near Missoula, Montana, around 1905 before moving to Emmett, Idaho, where he farmed and supplied vegetables to miners. In 1934, he moved to Nyssa, Oregon, where he continued farming and served as a community leader. The diaries and letters are in Japanese. A translation into English of the earliest diary is included with the collection. A few selected letters are also partially translated into English.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.

Languages
Japanese, English
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Biographical Note

Katsuji Hashitani was born in Japan on August 2, 1885 and lived in Tottoriken. According to the translated portions of his diaries and a biography written by his daughter, Alice, he emigrated from Japan to Seattle, Washington, in 1903, arriving in the United States on the boat Kanagawa Maru on June 3. He adopted the English name of Henry. Along with a friend, Henry Fujii, he found work thinning beets in Billings, Montana. Later they joined a section gang working on the railroad near Missoula, Montana. In the evenings, he took English lessons. After two years, Henry Hashitani moved to Emmett, Idaho, where Fujii joined him. They rented 80 acres, bought a team of horses, wagon and buggy, and supplied vegetables for Emmett and mining cities in the area. At some point Fujii and Hashitani went to Japan for brides. Henry married Takako Yawata (b. July 10, 1889), from the city of Yanago, and returned with her to Seattle. Later, along with their four children, George, Roy, Raymond and Alice, they moved to Scism, Idaho. In 1934, the family moved once again, this time to Oregon, where Hashitani farmed around the area of Nyssa. He was a devout Christian, president of the Japanese men's club, and chairman of the finances for the building of the Ontario (Oregon) Community Methodist Church. Henry Katsuji Hashitani died on August 14, 1952. Takako Hashitani died two months later on October 23, 1952.

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Content Description

Series I of the Henry K. Hashitani Papers consists of four original diaries by Henry Katsuji Hashitani, written in old Japanese and dating from approximately 1904 to 1949. It is expected that these diaries document his thoughts and activities during the years covered. Photocopies of a translation into English of the first portion of the first diary and photocopies of brief biographical sketches written by Hashitani's daughter are also included. In 2019, a full translation of the first diary was given to the Archives and placed in the collection. An article written by Henry Fujii's daughter, Mary Fujii Henshall, chronicles the lives of Hashitani and Fujii in the United States.

Series II contains correspondence between Henry Hashitani and Takako before their marriage, as well as other correspondence between the Hashitanis in the United States and family and friends in Japan. These letters are primarily written in old Japanese, and a select few have been partially translated into both English and modern Japanese.

Series III consists of seven digital photographs of Henry Hashitani and his family. Printed versions of the digital photographs are in Box 1.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Non-exclusive copyright transferred to The University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

Henry K. Hashitani Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in three series:

Series I: Diaries, 1904-1949, 0.4 linear feet

Series II: Letters, 1912-1950, 1.6 linear feet

Series III: Photographs, 7 electronic files

Custodial History

These diaries were held by Hashitani's daughter, Alice, until their donation to the University of Washington in the late 1980s. In 1989, they were returned to the family by UW. Letters were held by the family until their donation in 2019.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Donna Hashitani Thomas to Archives and Special Collections at the University of Montana in 2013 and 2019. Dave and Lissa Forrey donated a newspaper article in 2013 and seven digital images of Henry Hashitani and his family in 2014.

Processing Note

Because the dates within the diaries are in Japanese, at this time, the description of the diaries does not include a date - this will be updated when a translation of dates is available. A few loose papers from the 4th diary were removed from the diary but retained within the collection. A newspaper article and prints of digital photographs and were added to the collection in 2015. In 2019, the family donated the correspondence and documents that make up Series II, and they were processed in 2021. Because the letters are also written in Japanese, dates for most are not available in English.

Bibliography

Biographical information about Henry Hashitani is featured in the publication Showers of Blessing: Community United Methodist Church, Ontario, Oregon, 1945-1995, Fifty Years of Faith.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949

    0.4 linear feet

    The diaries in this series are arranged chronologically

    • Description: Diary 1
      Dates: 1905-1907
      Container: Box/Folder 1/1
      Location: Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949
    • Description: Diary 1 - English Translations

      A partial translation of Diary 1 was created in 1987 by Kaxuko Kuramoto. The remainer of the English translation of Diary 1 was created in 2019 by Machiko Yamamoto, Kumi Sakamoto and Yoshi Nanjo.

      Dates: 1987 and 2019
      Container: Box/Folder 7/8
      Location: Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949
    • Description: Diary 1 - Modern Japanese Translation

      Translation from old Japanese to Modern Japanese by Koji Ueshima, Kuniko Enomoto and Yoshiko Taniguchi.

      Dates: 1906-1907
      Container: Box/Folder 7/9
      Location: Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949
    • Description: Diary 2
      Dates: October 1, 1911 - June 14, 1912
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2
      Location: Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949
    • Description: Diary 2 - English Translation
      Dates: 2020
      Container: Box/Folder 7/10
      Location: Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949
    • Description: Diary 2 - Modern Japanese Translation
      Dates: 2020
      Container: Box/Folder 7/11
      Location: Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949
    • Description: Diary 3
      Dates: 1911-1914
      Container: Box/Folder 1/3
      Location: Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949
    • Description: Diary 3 - English Translation
      Dates: 2022
      Container: Box/Folder 7/12
      Location: Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949
    • Description: Diary 3 - Modern Japanese Translation
      Dates: 2022
      Container: Box/Folder 7/13
      Location: Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949
    • Description: Diary 4
      Dates: date unknown
      Container: Box/Folder 1/4
      Location: Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949
    • Description: Biographies of H. K. Hashitani by Alice Hashitani Nishitani
      Dates: 1996 and undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/5
      Location: Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949
    • Description: Newspaper article in the Pacific Citizen about H. Hashitani and Henry Fujii by Mary Fujii Henshall
      Dates: December 1971
      Container: Box/Folder 1/6
      Location: Series I: Diaries, 1905-1949

  • Series II: Letters, 1912-1950

    1.6 linear feet

    Correspondence in Series II was grouped together based on the accompaniment of a corresponding envelope with a visible postmark date. Letters that were previously separated from their envelopes were housed together, and empty envelopes were moved to Box 4.

    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; various paper formats; envelope with U.S. postmark

      Dates: October 21, 1912
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; various paper formats; envelope with U.S. postmark

      Dates: December 28, 1912
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; various paper formats; envelope with U.S. postmark

      Dates: April 21, 1913
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; various paper formats; envelope with U.S. postmark

      Dates: April 24, 1913
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; various paper formats; envelope with U.S. postmark

      Dates: April 30, 1913
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; various paper formats; envelope with U.S. postmark

      Dates: June 1, 1913
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; various paper formats; envelope with U.S. postmark

      Dates: June 6, 1913
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; various paper formats; envelope with U.S. postmark

      Dates: July 4, 1913
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; various paper formats; envelope with Japanese postmark or missing/illegible postmark

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9-31
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; various paper formats; no envelope; translator's note: "Mother must be living w/ Mr. H's family in Japan. Farm is busy. He can hardly wait until he can go to get her. She won't have to work outside. She will have to do something like picking strawberries and beans. Fumiko Fujii can do it, so he is sure she can also. He went to church - prays for her and looks at her picture."

      Dates: August - September 1912
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; various paper formats; no envelope

      Dates: October 19, 1950
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 2
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; various paper formats; no envelope

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 3-59
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence

      Written in Japanese; long format rice paper; no envelope

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1-54
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Postcards

      Written in Japanese; U.S. postmark

      Dates: 1907-1928
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 1
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Postcards

      Written in Japanese; Japanese postmark

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 2
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Postcards

      Written in Japanese; postmark missing/illegible

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 3
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence, Immigration Services to Mr. K. Hashitani

      Written in Japanese; Department of Commerce and Labor letterhead; envelope with U.S. postmark

      Dates: March 29, 1912
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 4
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence, New York Life Insurance Company to Mr. K. Hashitani

      Life insurance premium notices and policy information for George K. and Roy R. Hashitani

      Dates: 1929-1930, 1933
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 5
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Correspondence, Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada to Mr. and Mrs. K. Hashitani

      Life insurance premium notices and policy information for H.K. and Takako Hashitani

      Dates: 1930-1934
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 6
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: U.S. Defense savings bond booklet

      Defense stamp album

      Dates: 1942
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 7
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Drawings

      Three crayon drawings signed in Japanese (Katsuto); one pencil drawing

      Dates: 1949, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 8
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Document

      Written in Japanese

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 9
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Newspaper clippings

      Written in Japanese

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 10
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Addresses

      Addresses for Harry Watanabe c/o Seisuke and Kiyashi Wanatabe in Japan

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 11
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Hashitani family photos

      Post card with Takako and Henry K Hashitani photo; four family photos with Takako (July 10, 1889 - October 23, 1952), Raymond Aizo (February 9, 1907 - March 24, 1953), Henry K. (August 2, 1885 - August 14, 1952), Alice, Geo, and Roy Hashitani

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 12
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Envelopes

      Empty envelopes written in English and Japanese

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 13-22
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Translations of Letters

      Partial English translation of select letters from 1912 and 1913 (translation by Yukari Ninomiya)

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 1-3
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Translations of Letters

      Photocopies of select letters (material primarily in Japanese); some additional information in English on the back of some of the copies (translation by Yukari Ninomiya)

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 4-5
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950
    • Description: Translations of Letters

      Photocopies of select post cards with some English translation (translation by Yukari Ninomiya)

      Dates: Undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 6-7
      Location: Series II: Letters, 1912-1950

  • Series III: Photographs, circa 1913-circa 1926 and undated

    7 photographs

Finding aid prepared by Donna McCrea, Kellyn Younggren and Kristin Gates
2013

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