Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Search Results

Collections Search Center
131 documents - page 1 of 7

Tom Crouch at "A More Perfect Union" Exhibit

Author:
Strauss, Richard  Search this
Subject:
Crouch, Tom D  Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Dept of Social and Cultural History  Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) (NMAH)  Search this
Physical description:
Color: Black and White; Size: 10w x 8h; Type of Image: Person, candid; Medium: Photographic print
Type:
Photographic print
Person, candid
Exhibit
Date:
1989
Topic:
Employees  Search this
Japanese Americans  Search this
Museums--Employees  Search this
Museum curators  Search this
Exhibitions  Search this
World War, 1939-1945--Evacuation of civilians  Search this
World War, 1939-1945  Search this
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Standard number:
89-13614-14/15 or 89-13614.14
Restrictions & Rights:
No restrictions
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_10122

Exhibition pamphlet for the exhibit Executive order 9066

Subject:
World War, 1939-1945  Search this
Type:
Printed Materials
Date:
1975
Citation:
Exhibition pamphlet for the exhibit Executive order 9066, 1975. Roy Leeper and Gaylord Hall collection of Miné Okubo papers, circa 1940-2001. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Asian American artists  Search this
Japanese American artists  Search this
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)17490
See more items in:
Roy Leeper and Gaylord Hall collection of Miné Okubo papers, circa 1940-2001
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_17490
Online Media:

Trek Vol. 1, no. 1

Creator:
Central Utah Relocation Project. Project Reports Division  Search this
Subject:
Okubo, Miné  Search this
Central Utah Relocation Project  Search this
World War, 1939-1945  Search this
Type:
Printed Materials
Date:
1942 December
Citation:
Central Utah Relocation Project. Project Reports Division. Trek Vol. 1, no. 1, 1942 December. Esther McCoy papers, circa 1876-1990. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)17495
See more items in:
Esther McCoy papers, circa 1876-1990, bulk 1938-1989
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_17495

Trek Vol. 1, no. 2

Creator:
Central Utah Relocation Project. Project Reports Division  Search this
Subject:
Okubo, Miné  Search this
Central Utah Relocation Project  Search this
World War, 1939-1945  Search this
Type:
Printed Materials
Date:
1943 February
Citation:
Central Utah Relocation Project. Project Reports Division. Trek Vol. 1, no. 2, 1943 February. Esther McCoy papers, circa 1876-1990. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)17496
See more items in:
Esther McCoy papers, circa 1876-1990, bulk 1938-1989
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_17496

Photograph of Chiura Obata teaching a children's art class at Tanforan Art School

Subject:
Obata, Chiura  Search this
Tanforan Assembly Center (San Bruno, Calif.)  Search this
Type:
Photographs
Date:
1942
Citation:
Photograph of Chiura Obata teaching a children's art class at Tanforan Art School, 1942. Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art teachers  Search this
Asian American artists  Search this
Japanese American artists  Search this
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)21259
See more items in:
Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000, bulk 1942-1945
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_21259
Online Media:

Sketch from Topaz, California

Creator:
Obata, Chiura, 1885-1975  Search this
Subject:
Central Utah Relocation Center  Search this
Type:
Artworks
Place:
Topaz, Utah
Date:
1942 December
Citation:
Chiura Obata. Sketch from Topaz, California, 1942 December. Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Asian American artists  Search this
Japanese American artists  Search this
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)21261
See more items in:
Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000, bulk 1942-1945
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_21261

Artist's statement

Creator:
Obata, Chiura, 1885-1975  Search this
Subject:
Central Utah Relocation Center  Search this
Tanforan Assembly Center (San Bruno, Calif.)  Search this
Type:
Writings
Date:
194-?
Citation:
Chiura Obata. Artist's statement, 194-?. Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art schools  Search this
Asian American artists  Search this
Japanese American artists  Search this
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)21292
See more items in:
Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000, bulk 1942-1945
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_21292

Tanforan Art School record book

Creator:
Obata, Chiura, 1885-1975  Search this
Subject:
Obata, Chiura  Search this
Tanforan Assembly Center (San Bruno, Calif.)  Search this
Type:
Writings
Date:
1942
Citation:
Chiura Obata. Tanforan Art School record book, 1942. Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art schools  Search this
Asian American artists  Search this
Japanese American artists  Search this
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)22009
See more items in:
Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000, bulk 1942-1945
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_22009

Trek volume 1, number 3

Creator:
Central Utah Relocation Center  Search this
Type:
Printed Materials
Date:
1943 June
Citation:
Central Utah Relocation Center. Trek volume 1, number 3, 1943 June. Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Asian American artists  Search this
Japanese American artists  Search this
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)22010
See more items in:
Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000, bulk 1942-1945
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_22010

Still life class

Photographer:
Lange, Dorothea, 1895-1965  Search this
Subject:
Obata, Chiura  Search this
Tanforan Assembly Center (San Bruno, Calif.)  Search this
Type:
Photographs
Date:
1942 June 16
Citation:
Dorothea Lange. Still life class, 1942 June 16. Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art schools  Search this
Asian American artists  Search this
Japanese American artists  Search this
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)22030
See more items in:
Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000, bulk 1942-1945
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_22030
Online Media:

Morning class learning free hand brush strokes

Photographer:
Lange, Dorothea, 1895-1965  Search this
Subject:
Obata, Chiura  Search this
Tanforan Assembly Center (San Bruno, Calif.)  Search this
Type:
Photographs
Date:
1942 June 16
Citation:
Dorothea Lange. Morning class learning free hand brush strokes, 1942 June 16. Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art schools  Search this
Asian American artists  Search this
Japanese American artists  Search this
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)22031
See more items in:
Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000, bulk 1942-1945
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_22031
Online Media:

Survey of Obata art project

Creator:
Obata, Chiura, 1885-1975  Search this
Subject:
Tanforan Assembly Center (San Bruno, Calif.)  Search this
Type:
Writings
Date:
Not before 1942
Citation:
Chiura Obata. Survey of Obata art project, Not before 1942. Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art schools  Search this
Asian American artists  Search this
Japanese American artists  Search this
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)22057
See more items in:
Chiura Obata papers, 1891-2000, bulk 1942-1945
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_22057

Chiura Obata papers

Creator:
Obata, Chiura  Search this
Names:
Central Utah Relocation Center  Search this
Tanforan Assembly Center (San Bruno, Calif.)  Search this
Obata, Gyo, 1923-  Search this
Okubo, Miné, 1912-2001  Search this
Extent:
3.6 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Drawings
Sketchbooks
Diaries
Date:
1891-2000
bulk 1942-1945
Summary:
The papers of Japanese-American artist and educator Chiura Obata measure 3.6 linear feet and date from circa 1891 to 2000 with the bulk of the material dating from 1942 to 1945. The collection contains biographical material primarily related to Obata's family's forced relocation from Berkeley to Tanforan detention center and incarceration at the Topaz Relocation center; correspondence with family, friends, and colleagues; writings by Chiura Obata and others; material related to the art schools Obata established at Tanforan and Topaz; teaching files and professional activities; exhibition files; printed material, including TREK, and Topaz Moon: Chiura Obata's Art of Internment; photographic material; and sketches and sketchbooks. There is a 1.0 linear foot unprocessed addition to this collection donated in 2020 that includes correspondence, writings, subject files and printed material.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of Japanese-American artist and educator Chiura Obata measure 3.6 linear feet and date from circa 1891 to 2000 with the bulk of the material dating from 1942 to 1945. The collection contains biographical material primarily related to Obata's family's forced relocation from Berkeley to Tanforan detention center and incarceration at the Topaz Relocation center; correspondence with family, friends, and colleagues; writings by Chiura Obata and others; material related to the art schools Obata established at Tanforan and Topaz; teaching files and professional activities; exhibition files; printed material, including TREK, and Topaz Moon: Chiura Obata's Art of Internment; photographic material; and sketches and sketchbooks.

Biographical material includes Chiura Obata's school diplomas and resumes, as well as material related to his family's forced relocation and incarceration at Tanforan and Topaz, and eventual resettlement. There is a small amount of biographical material on others, such as records of memorial meetings held for Perham Nahl and material related to the forced relocation of Hiro Niwa.

The correspondence series consists of letters between Chiura Obata and family, friends, and colleagues, primarily while he was incarcerated at Tanforan and Topaz. Notable correspondents include John Boylin, Monroe Deutsch, Dorothy Parker, Miné Okubo, and Ruth Kingman. There are also letters of appreciation from students who attended the art schools established by Chiura Obata at Tanforan and Topaz.

Writings include diaries, lecture drafts, notes, and essays. Most of the writings are about art, but some are about Obata's experiences at Tanforan and Topaz. Also included in this series are translations of Obata's paintings and poems and writings by others on various subjects.

The professional activities series contains materials related to Obata's work as an artist and educator from his time teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, to the Tanforan and Topaz Art Schools he founded. Most of the series consists of teaching files, but there are other files on projects, commissions, inventory lists, and art donations.

Exhibition files include a range of materials related to group and solo exhibitions of Chiura Obata's paintings. There are exhibition lists, price lists, catalogs, photographs, correspondence, loan forms, clippings, printed material, and one guest register.

Printed material includes exhibition announcements, catalogs, magazines, newspapers, clippings and calendars. Noteworthy items include copies of TREK, which were published by the Japanese Americans incarcerated at Topaz; printed material related to Miné Okubo; and copies of Topaz Moon: Chiura Obata's Art of Internment.

Photographic material includes an album from the Pan Pacific International Exposition and photographs of the Obata family's forced relocation from Berkeley, the Tanforan Art School, and their home in Webster Groves, Missouri, after they left the incarceration camps. There are also photographs used in the book Topaz Moon and photographs by the War Relocation Authority.

Artwork consists of a few watercolors, sketchbooks, and sketches, some of which were created during Obata's incarceration at Topaz. Other sketches were done for commercial work in St. Louis. There is an autograph book containing sketches and paintings by others.

Researchers should note that the term "evacuation" has been replaced in original folder titles with "forced relocation" for more accurate historical representation.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged in 9 series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1894-1898, 1935-circa 1975 (Box 1, OV 4; 0.2 linear feet)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1925-1992 (Box 1; 0.4 linear feet)

Series 3: Writings, 1924-circa 1964, circa 1986 (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet)

Series 4: Professional Activities, 1913, 1924-1967 (Boxes 1-2, OV 4; 0.3 linear feet)

Series 5: Exhibition Files, 1925-1951 (Box 2, OV4; 0.3 linear feet)

Series 6: Printed Material, 1901-circa 1906, 1925-2000 (Box 2, OV 5; 0.8 linear feet)

Series 7: Photographic Material, circa 1891-1969 (Box 3; 0.2 linear feet)

Series 8: Artwork, 1917-circa 1945 (Box 3, OV 5; 0.2 linear feet)

Series 9: Unprocessed Addition (Box 6; 1.0 linear feet)
Biographical / Historical:
Chiura Obata (1885-1975) was a Japanese-American artist and educator. Born Zoroku Sato in Okayama prefecture in Japan, Obata showed artistic talent early in life. He joined the artist group Nihon Bijutsuin (the Japan Art Institute) and apprenticed with Tanryo Murata. Obata also trained in Western and modern Japanese art.

In 1903 Obata immigrated to the United States. He worked as a commercial designer and as an illustrator for newspapers including the New World and the Japanese American, San Francisco's two Japanese newspapers. In 1921 he co-founded the East West Art Society in San Francisco. He had his first exhibition for American audiences in 1928 and began teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1932.

In April of 1942, as a result of Executive Order 9066, Chiura Obata and his family were forcibly relocated from Berkley to Tanforan detention center. By May he and fellow artists had established an art school with over 900 students. The school was successful and they were able to hold an exhibition outside of the camp in July. In September of 1942, the Obatas were moved to the Topaz War Relocation center, where Obata founded the Topaz Art School.

In the spring of 1943 in the wake of the controversy over loyalty oaths, Obata was attacked by another prisoner who considered him to be a spy. After recovering in Topaz's hospital, he was released for his own safety. He and his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where his son Gyo was attending architecture school.

In 1945 Obata was reinstated as an instructor at the University of California, Berkeley. He continued to exhibit his artwork and went on sketching and painting trips with the Sierra Club. In 1954 he became a naturalized citizen.

After his retirement from the University of California, Berkeley in 1953, Obata and his wife, Haruko, led tours to Japan to see Japanese gardens and art. He also gave lectures and demonstrations on Japanese brush painting and led tours through California. In 1965 Obata received the Order of the Sacred Treasure Emperor's Award for promoting good will and cultural understanding between the United States and Japan. Chiura Obata died in 1975 at the age of 90.
Provenance:
The Chiura Obata papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 2018 and 2020 by Kimi Kodani Hill and Mia Kodani Brill, Chiura Obata's grandchildren.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Artists -- California  Search this
Painters -- California -- Berkeley  Search this
Educators  Search this
Topic:
Japanese American artists  Search this
Asian American artists  Search this
Japanese Americans -- Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
World War, 1939-1945 -- Japanese Americans  Search this
Genre/Form:
Drawings
Sketchbooks
Diaries
Citation:
Chiura Obata papers, circa 1891-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.obatchiu
See more items in:
Chiura Obata papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-obatchiu
Online Media:

Justice delayed : the record of the Japanese American internment cases / edited and with an introduction by Peter Irons

Author:
Irons, Peter H. 1940-  Search this
Physical description:
xi, 436 p. ; 25 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
United States
Date:
1989
Topic:
Japanese Americans--Legal status, laws, etc  Search this
Japanese Americans--Civil rights  Search this
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Writ of error coram nobis  Search this
Call number:
KF7224.5.J87 1989X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_390615

Democratizing the enemy : the Japanese American internment / Brian Masaru Hayashi

Author:
Hayashi, Brian Masaru 1955-  Search this
Physical description:
xviii, 319 p. ; 24 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
2004
C2004
Topic:
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_739468

Minidoka Internment National Monument : archeology at the gate ; archeological investigations at the entrance of the Minidoka Relocation Center / Jeffrey F. Burton, Laura S. Bergstresser, Anna H. Tamura

Author:
Burton, Jeffery F  Search this
Bergstresser, Laura S  Search this
Tamura, Anna H  Search this
Western Archeological and Conservation Center (U.S.)  Search this
Subject:
Minidoka Relocation Center  Search this
Physical description:
37 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
Idaho
Minidoka Internment National Monument (Idaho)
Date:
2003
[2003]
Topic:
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology)  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_738161

Concentration camps on the home front : Japanese Americans in the house of Jim Crow / John Howard

Author:
Howard, John 1962-  Search this
Physical description:
344 p. : ill., map ; 24 cm
Type:
Biography
Case studies
Place:
Arkansas
Jerome
Rohwer
Southern States
Date:
2008
20th century
Topic:
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps  Search this
Japanese Americans  Search this
Japanese Americans--Social conditions  Search this
Community life--History  Search this
Imprisonment--Social aspects--History  Search this
Race relations  Search this
History  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_920720

A principled stand : the story of Hirabayashi v. United States / Gordon K. Hirabayashi with James A. Hirabayashi and Lane Ryo Hirabayashi

Author:
Hirabayashi, Gordon K  Search this
Hirabayashi, James A  Search this
Hirabayashi, Lane Ryo  Search this
Subject:
Hirabayashi, Gordon K Trials, litigation, etc  Search this
United States Constitution 5th Amendment  Search this
Physical description:
xix, 217 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
2013
©2013
Topic:
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Japanese Americans--Legal status, laws, etc  Search this
Japanese Americans--Civil rights  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1059296

An absent presence : Japanese Americans in postwar American culture, 1945-1960 / Caroline Chung Simpson

Author:
Simpson, Caroline Chung 1963-  Search this
Physical description:
xi, 234 p. : ill. ; 25 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
United States
Date:
2001
20th century
1945-
Topic:
Japanese Americans--Government relations  Search this
Japanese Americans--Social conditions  Search this
Cold War--Social aspects  Search this
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
Social conditions  Search this
Ethnic relations  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_713891

Sharing a desert home : life on the Colorado River Indian Reservation, Poston, Arizona, 1942-1945 / Ruth Y. Okimoto

Author:
Okimoto, Ruth Y  Search this
Subject:
Poston Relocation Center (Ariz.)  Search this
Physical description:
31 p. : ill., 1 map ; 28 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
Arizona
Poston Relocation Center (Poston)
Colorado River Indian Reservation (Ariz. and Calif.)
Poston (Ariz.)
Date:
2001
C2001
Topic:
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945  Search this
World War, 1939-1945--Japanese Americans  Search this
History  Search this
Call number:
D769.8.A6 O37 2001
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_741988

Modify Your Search







or


Narrow By