Accession 2023.11 - Tashichi George Uyeno accession

4 boxes, measuring 1.17 linear meters

Material was previously housed at Lynn Deutscher Kobayashi home. Lynn received the boxes from Michael Murakami. Though it is unclear why he transferred them to her, it is probably because he was in the process of downsizing at the time and was unable to give them to the Library then as we were not accepting any donations due to covid. George Uyeno’s son, Godfrey Ueno, was aware of these transfers of custodianship.

Gift of Godfrey Uyeno, 2023.

The material is mix of textual materials encompassing many details of the Uyeno family’s life from mostly 1939 to 1947. Many early records where created from the daily business of Tashichi George Uyeno’s business, Richmond Trading Company. The records are intermixed with letters from Mary Uyeno, who aided the business from Japan. Her letters include business information but also more personal discussions about family matters. They offer a glimpse into the life of many Japanese Canadians who grew up in both countries, identifying as both Canadian and Japanese.

Records also include correspondence with the Office of the Custodian, as the Uyeno’s assets were seized and sold. There is also official notices from the Office of the Custodian notifying the family to move further east and eventually to Ontario. Letters from the later part of the 40s are in regards to the Bird Commission and the sale of larger assets, such as the family’s property in North Vancouver.

No future accruals are expected.

Many of the business records were housed on old two-hole clipboards. File titles were taken from the title of the clipboard or notebook if available. File titles in square brackets have been created by the Archivist to best describe the records. There was no discernible order in which box the clipboards were in or the loose papers.

No restrictions on access, except when handling material where there are preservation concerns.

• English
• Japanese

The creation of this finding aid was made possible with generous funding from the Frank H. Hori Charitable Foundation, as well as other grants and donations.

Created September 6, 2023 by E. Carroll.