Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Elmer Ogawa home movies, approximately 1936-1937
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
-
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
-
Access to the original films is restricted. Viewing copies are available for patron use.
- Additional Reference Guides
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
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 DescriptionReturn to Top
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 InformationReturn to Top
Film titles for the collection have been derived from canister and box labels present at the time of donation.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
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 InformationReturn to Top
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 CollectionReturn to Top
Ogawa Home MoviesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
Reel 1 This is a compilation of seven small reels of film by Ogawa
depicting family activities, sports, and recreation.
|
|||
| viewcopy | item | ||
| VC37 | 1 | 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
|
1937 |
| VC37 | 2 | 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
|
1936 |
| VC37 | 3 | 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
|
circa 1937 |
| VC37 | 4 | 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
|
1937 |
| VC37 | 5 | 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.
|
1937 |
| VC37 | 6 | 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
|
1937 |
| VC37 | 7 | 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
|
circa 1937 |
Reel 2 This is a compilation of seven small reels of film by Ogawa
depicting family activities, travel, and scenic views.
|
|||
| viewcopy | item | ||
| VC37 | 8 | 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
|
circa 1937 |
| VC37 | 9 | 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
|
circa 1937 |
| VC37 | 10 | 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
|
circa 1937 |
| VC37 | 11 | 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
|
1936 |
| VC37 | 12 | 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
|
circa 1937 |
| VC37 | 13 | 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
|
circa 1937 |
| VC37 | 14 | 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
|
1937 |
Reel 3 This is a compilation of seven small reels of film by Ogawa
depicting family activities, gatherings, and flood damage.
|
|||
| viewcopy | item | ||
| VC37 | 15 | 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
|
July 4, 1937 |
| VC37 | 16 | 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
|
circa 1937 |
| VC37 | 17 | 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
|
circa 1937 |
| VC37 | 18 | 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
|
circa 1937 |
| VC37 | 19 | 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
|
1937 |
| VC37 | 20 | 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
|
circa 1937 |
| VC37 | 21 | 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
|
circa 1937 |
Reel 4 This is a compilation of three reels of film by Ogawa depicting
domestic and vacation scenes, as well as flood damage.
|
|||
| viewcopy | item | ||
| VC37 | 22 | 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
|
1937 |
| VC37 | 23 | 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
|
1936 |
| VC37 | 24 | 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
|
1936 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Moving Image Collections (University of Washington)
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Ogawa, Elmer, 1906-1970--Family (photographer)
- Ogawa, Elmer, 1906-1970--Friends and associates (photographer)
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