View XML QR Code

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.

Request at UW

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English, Japanese
Return to Top

Biographical Note

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.

Return to Top

Content Description

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).

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

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.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

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.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

 

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


2013 (Last modified: 4/2/2020)

CC0

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...