Elmer Ogawa home movies, approximately 1936-1937
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Ogawa, Elmer, 1906-1970
- Title
- Elmer Ogawa home movies
- Dates
- approximately
1936-1937 (inclusive)19361937
- Quantity
- 4 reels (3,000 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
- Collection Number
- PH1205
- Summary
- Home movies made by Japanese American photographer, Elmer Ogawa
- Repository
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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
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Access to the original films is restricted. Viewing copies are available for patron use.
- Additional Reference Guides
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
Photographer and civic leader Elmer Ogawa (1906-1970) was born in Seattle, Washington to Japanese and German-Irish parents. Ogawa attended Queen Anne High School and the University of Washington before enlisting in the United States Army in 1942. After his military service, Ogawa worked as a freelance photographer and journalist. He primarily worked as a photographer in Seattle's International District but also worked as the Northwest columnist-photographer for the Pacific Citizen, a nationally circulating publication of the Japanese American Citizens League.
In addition to his professional life, Elmer Ogawa was an active community member. He was a member of the Seattle chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League from 1945 to 1970 and the Nisei Veterans Committee from 1949 to 1969. Ogawa served as a board member and photographer for the Jackson Street Community Council from 1952 to 1966. The Jackson Street Community Council was Seattle's first neighborhood advocacy group, founded in 1946 by a coalition of African American and Asian American community members.
Sources:
“Jackson Street Community Council (1946-1967) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed.” Accessed October 16, 2017. http://www.blackpast.org/aaw/jackson-street-community-council-1946-1967.
Content Description
The films in this collection document the life of the Ogawa family in the later half of the 1930s, and the subject matter includes holidays, vacations, outdoor expeditions, family pets, and picnics.
Other Descriptive Information
Film titles for the collection have been derived from canister and box labels present at the time of donation.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact the Special Collections division of the University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
The original 24 individual reels were spliced together in 2002 to make 4 larger compilation reels. The finding aid arrangement reflects the random splicing order on the compilation reels, rather than organization by content or chronology.
Acquisition Information
Donor: Herbert Ogawa, 1970
Processing Note
Original 24 reels spliced together onto 4 larger reels by Libby Burke, 2002. Films transferred to videocassette in August, 2004. Further processing by Noella Natalino and Marion Brown, 2009; Alden Lee, 2012; Andrew Weaver, 2014; Kelly Burton, 2016.
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Ogawa Home Movies
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Reel 1
This is a compilation of seven small reels of film by Ogawa depicting family activities, sports, and recreation.
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Description: Family activities, includes watching rowing and children playing
Group watching rowing crew races from open train cars, traveling alongside a body of water. Several children in a residential area, playing with a wagon and a harmonica. Two dogs playing with a large stick in a residential yard. Written on film can Poughkeepsie Pat.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 1 -
Description: Ogawa Family at Christmas
Ogawa family opening and enjoying gifts in front of a decorated Christmas tree. Young boys playing with a football and pulling a wagon in the dirt road of an undeveloped residential area. Written on film can: Ogawa Family Christmas.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm
Dates: 1936Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 2 -
Description: Family activities, includes footbal and playing with animals
Football game watched from the bleachers of a mid-sized stadium. Boy on pony is walked around a training track for horses. Dog plays with a young goat. Boy is put to bed with a large stuffed dog. Close images of couples dancing and interacting with the camera operator in a friendly manner. Written on film can: Stanford; Henry Jackson.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: circa 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 3 -
Description: Views of a city and its transportation
Group of men interacting with the camera, and using a city light pole as a comic prop. A bus ride, as seen from over the shoulder of the driver. Several people talking, drinking, and interacting with the camera on moving transportation. Train arriving at a station, as seen from the platform. Men walking from a plane across a runway, and being greeted at an airport. Children playing a game of pick-up sticks outside. Written on film can: City Scenes.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 4 -
Description: St. Patrick's Day Parade and fishing trip
Views across a dam. Airplane taxiing down a runway. St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City, as seen from several viewpoints. Fishing trip with guests, possibly to Walker Valley in Washington State. Written on film can: Walker Valley; St. Patrick's Parade
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm.
Dates: 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 5 -
Description: Family plays at the beach
Ogawa family playing in the shallows at a beach. Varied camera angles of a young boy playing with a beach ball. Ogawa performing handstands on the beach. Written on film can: The Beach, 1937.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 6 -
Description: Family at a park, focused on children
Couple with toddler in city park, accopanyed by the Ogawa family and a small dog. Young child attempting to rollerskate. Written on film can: Baby Jules.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: circa 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 7
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Reel 2
This is a compilation of seven small reels of film by Ogawa depicting family activities, travel, and scenic views.
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Description: People attend a party
Lively party in a residence, with alcohol and dancing. People behave in a more spirited manner as images of the party progress. Written on film can: A Party.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: circa 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 8 -
Description: A boy plays and a gathering of people drink
Bundled boy playing with a wagon outside. Serving tea inside a residence, with several people and a dog sittting on couches. Ogawa toasts the camera with a large goblet of beer, passing the drink to two women. A larger group of men and women then toast toward the camera, raising small glasses of alcohol. Written on film can: Wagon.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: circa 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 9 -
Description: Family activities in the snow
Snowy residential and commercial areas, with children and dogs playing and sledding in the snow. Written on film can: 1st Reel-Castle; Hill Scene; B&H Coasting; Dogs.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: circa 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 10 -
Description: Family activities, includes graduation and baseball
Biplane taxiing on a runway and taking off. Man in the cap and gown of a graduate, addressing the camera. Children playing baseball on a residential street. Crew racing, filmed from an elevated point on the shore. Various children playing catch with a baseball. Written on film can: Poughkeepsie, 1936.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: 1936Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 11 -
Description: Family activities, includes ride through snow and children playing
Snowy ride through the countryside. A house in country, with dogs playing in the yard. Boy playing on ice in the yard, sliding across small patches on his belly. Written on film can: Winter Scenes.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: circa 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 12 -
Description: Adult activities, includes drinking and attending a carnival
Couple getting into car, near a streetcar. Carnival with large sideshow banners, and risque dancing on a stage in front of a circus tent. Male friends by water in bathing suits, playing horseshoes. Adults sitting around a table, drinking alcohol. Written on film can: Carnival.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: circa 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 13 -
Description: Family plays outside and men picket a hotel
Children in sunsuits, petting and riding a pony. Various outdoor activities, such as petting a goat, archery, and fishing. Men picketing hotel in town, with signs reading: "Employees of Wm. Penn and Fort Pitt, PA." Groomers wrapping a horse's legs. Highway scenes, with emphasis on new overpasses. Fishing pole placed outside of a cottage, and swimming for the family. Written on film can: Summer, 1937; Last Vacation, 1937.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 14
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Reel 3
This is a compilation of seven small reels of film by Ogawa depicting family activities, gatherings, and flood damage.
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Description: Family celebrates July 4th with fireworks
Men and boys socializing around a porch in the daytime, with both groups lighting fireworks. Driving to a recreational area with piers, where a large flock of geese is seen. Roman candles shot across the water, and a dog fetching a discarded roman candle from the water. Evening fireworks display, with pinwheels, rockets, and various other small displays. Written on film can: July 4th, 1937.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: July 4, 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 15 -
Description: Family celebrates chrismas with Santa
Trimming the tree. A person dressed as Santa passing out gifts to a gathered group. People in the party enjoying presents and performing toasts. Written on film can: Christmas Pictures.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: circa 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 16 -
Description: Family activities, includes football and reading books
Children playing football in the yard, intercut with footage of a football game in a stadium. Playing with child's scooter. Elmer reading books with his wife and child. Written on film can: Ray and Mac Playing Football.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: circa 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 17 -
Description: Family decorates a christmas tree and eats dinner
Trimming the Christmas tree. A group of people gathered at a residence for the holiday, eating Christmas dinner while posing for the camera. Written on film can: Xmas.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: circa 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 18 -
Description: Damage to buildings done by a flood
Damage to business and residential areas, possibly in Clark County, Washington, caused by flooding. Written on film can: Flood, 1937.
Material on this reel is directly related to flood footage on reel 22.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 19 -
Description: Family activities, includes football, picning, and visiting NYC
High school football game from sidelines. Japanese man serving drinks from a barrel at a picnic, with various outdoor games being played. Women assembling a lantern at the picnic, and children with an American flag. Times Square marquee signs at night. Written on film can: Nippon Picnic; Football; Election Night.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: circa 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 20 -
Description: Family attends sports events
Small child holding "Washington" sports penant. A tailgate party, with Ogawa serving drinks to various people from the trunk of a car. Crew races, viewed from the shore. Driving scenes, followed by a picnic with swimming. Written on film can: Princeton.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: circa 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 21
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Reel 4
This is a compilation of three reels of film by Ogawa depicting domestic and vacation scenes, as well as flood damage.
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Description: People attend to flood damage
Flood damage, probably Clark County, WA. Several residential and business structures damaged, with residents beginning the cleanup. Written on film can: Flood Damage, 1937.
Material on this reel is directly related to flood footage on reel 19.
Original1 reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: 1937Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 22 -
Description: Scenes in New York City during winter
People walking out of a house in the snow toward the camera. New York City skyline, with Columbus Circle and Harold Square seen from above. Two men acting out a scenario for the camera on a New York City street with an automobile. New York City miscellany, including Manhattan Bridge with pieces of ice flowing underneath. Looking from the rear of a train, moving through the snowy countryside. Ogawas feeding pigeons and a black squirrel in a city park. Truck stuck in deep snow, causing a long traffic jam on a rural road. Main streets of a flooded city, with trucks driving in deep water and buildings partially submerged. Child learning to rollerskate. Written on film can: Winter, 1936.
Original1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: 1936Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 23 -
Description: Ogawa family visits attractions in Florida, Cleveland, and Canada
Driving on tree-lined boulevard. On the beach in Florida, applying sunscreen and swimming. White and black swans on the grounds of an estate. Other animals, such as ostriches and an alligator. Woman and child picking fruit from a citrus tree. Fishing boats in a harbor, with a yacht club sign. The Ogawa family fishing and relaxing on the deck of a boat. Several of the exhibits from the Great Lakes Exposition in Cleveland, Ohio, with many sideshow-type acts and rides. Sign that reads "Liquor Board of Ontario," followed by Elmer removing a bottle from a sack and smiling. A large picnic, with swimming and cooking. Written on film can: Vacation, 1936; Cleveland Expo; Florida; Canada.
Original1 reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm
Dates: 1936Container: Viewcopy VC37, Item 24
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Moving Image Collections (University of Washington)
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Other Creators
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Personal Names
- Ogawa, Elmer, 1906-1970--Family (photographer)
- Ogawa, Elmer, 1906-1970--Friends and associates (photographer)
