[Japanese Americana]. [Hawaii]

[Pair of Annotated Vernacular Photograph Albums Kept by a Young Japanese-American Woman in Hawaii Prior to the Second World War]

[Various locations in Hawaii]: 1934-1939. Two albums, both oblong. Forty-seven leaves with 300 photographs plus twenty-one loose images; twenty leaves with 130 photos and eight loose images. First album original black cloth, string tied. Moderate wear to extremities, leaves very chipped, several loose. Second album unbound, gray card leaves. Light chipping and wear. Images captioned throughout most of both albums; several photos missing from mounts. Good. Item #4848

Two wonderfully detailed vernacular albums documenting the life of a young Japanese-American woman in Hawaii during her high school years. The first album opens with a full-length portrait of the compiler, Satsue Ueda, dated June 1934. (An image from the second album identifies her as "12th grade" in 1937). She goes on to document her friends, family members, teacher, school and related activities, and trips around the islands. Images include a group in front of Maui High, a visit to Rainbow Gulch, Haleakala, Kula Manu, the Kipapa School, Waikiki, Oahu Country Club, scenes in Honolulu including the Immigration Station, and more. There are several images of the school May Day Program from 1934, as well as photos of President Roosevelt's visit to Honolulu. There are also several images of Japanese-American baseball players. Throughout she has identified friends with their first names, occasionally with commentary. Several images in the second album show Japanese-American men in military uniform. Others show the "New Kula Sanatorium building." A large group portrait depicts her Dramatic Class for 1937, with each member identified in the margins. There are also some images of a trip to Japan. A wonderful and dense record of one young woman's social circle and high school career.

Price: $1,750.00