OREGON & WASHINGTON STATE 1930S JAPANESE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM

在米日本人のアルバム1930s. [Zaibei Nihonjin no arubamu 1930s].<BR> Photograph Album of Japanese Residents in the United States.

1932- 1934. Stock ID #219209

Over 120 black and white photographs, most privately taken, three postcards, laid down on the black light card leaves, leaves are dated and there are some captions in Japanese in white ink. The photographs vary in size but most are either 6 x 8.5cm to 14 x 8.5cm. Photographs are in fair to good condition, some faded, some are insect damaged, some chipped at margins and a number showing signs of fading. The cloth covered album measures 24 x 19cm and is a little worn. A few photographs are missing, front free endpaper neatly repaired at lower corner of front free endpaper. A fascinating picture of a Pacific Northwest Japanese family's life in the period 1932 - 34.

A fascinating photograph album which belonged to a family of prewar Japanese migrants to the northwest coast of the United States. The photos are dated between 1932 and 1934, and a number were taken in Astoria and in the Pacific City area of Oregon, while others feature penants with the words "Washington" and "Cathlamet" (in Washington State). Although they are labelled in Japanese, and many of the people in the images appear to be Japanese, the family seems to have had lively interactions with their non-Japanese neighbours, both adults and children, who appear in photos of outings and games in the snow, and in a photo from the 1933 Portland Rose Festival. One page of photographs is labelled "a gathering without boundaries" [hedatenaki no tsudoi]. Two of the photos show an older woman family member with two small children proudly waving stars-and-stripes flags. Most of the pictures seem to have been taken in rural settings, but a few are indoor scenes of young men, and one young woman, absorbed in studying or reading.

Unlike many albums of this period, this collection of photos has a rather charming informality and playfulness about it. Several of the photos are of adults in fancy dress, and one shows a friend or neighbour with her arms full of four wriggling puppies. One page showing flag-waving children and a man holding a banner reading "Washington" has an inscription which translates roughly as "we tried to get this right, but…", while another page is labelled "pretentious poses". A touching insight into Japanese immigrant life before the disasters of the late 1930s and 1940s.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 219209.

Price: $850.00 AU

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