Toshio Oku Photo Album

Collection

Identifier: SPC-2020-012

Staff Only

Selected digital reproductions of items from the Toshio Oku Photo Album

Scope and Contents

The materials comprising the Toshio Oku photo album (1942-1946) are photographs that primarily document the life of Toshio Oku (1925-2010) during the time he, his parents, Naojiro Henry (1894-1979) and Misao Oku, and sister, Hideko Louise (1927-2010), were incarcerated at Tule Lake during World War II. The one photo album includes Toshio Oku's graduation portraits, a group photograph of the camp’s electrical department, aerial and panoramic photographs of Tule Lake, holiday cards, photographs of a fire that took place at the camp, and photographs of Toshio working at the Newell Star newspaper print shop.

Dates

1942-1946

Creator

Oku, Toshio, 1925-2010 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Toshio Oku Biography

Toshio Oku (1925 August 25-2010 November 22)

Toshio Oku was a Nisei born on August 25, 1925 in Fresno, California to Issei parents, Naojiro Henry Oku and Misao Oku (nee Matsuba). His parents, younger sister, Hideko Louise, and himself were all imprisoned at Gila River Incarceration Camp in Rivers, Arizona in August 1942 before being transferred to Tule Lake Incarceration Camp in Newell, California in October 1943. He was the only one in his family to renunciate his American citizenship and even considered leaving for Japan. He changed his mind, though, and settled in Fowler, California with his family after being released in March 1946. Toshio Oku passed away on November 22, 2010.

Extent

1 box (1 photo album)

1.17 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Toshio Oku photo album comprises of a collection of photographs that primarily documents the life of Toshio Oku while he, his father, Naojiro Henry, mother, Misao, and sister, Hideko Louise, were incarcerated at Tule Lake Incarceration Camp in Newell, California during World War II. Most of the items in this collection have been digitized and are available online.

Acquisition Information

Library acquisition.

Availability of Digital Reproductions

Most of the items in this collection have been digitized and digital reproduction access derivatives (access files) are available at the CSU Japanese American Digitization Project site: Toshio Oku Photo Album Digital Collection

CSU Japanese American Digitization Project

This collection is part of the California State University Japanese American Digitization Project. Other collections about the history of Japanese Americans are found in the digital repository: CSU Japanese American Digitization Project

Digital Reproductions

The Gerth Archives and Special Collections derived born-analog objects (digital reproductions) from original items for long-term preservation and access, adhering to best practice and standards to ensure the authenticity, integrity, and security of material. For more information on the digitization process, please see CSU Japanese American Digitization Project technical reference guide.

The set of digital reproduction preservation files is stored on the Gerth Archives and Special Collections’ department drive for both preservation purposes and duplication requests.

The set of access derivatives (access files) was created for the digital management system and is stored on the Gerth Archives and Special Collections' department external drive for staff use.