Miyatake, Toyo; Kamiyama, Frank (photographers).

[Collection of Panoramas Depicting Japanese American Organizations.]

California: 1930s and 1960s. Eight panoramic photographs of various sizes more particularly described below. Very good minus to near fine.

This is a wonderful collection of panoramic photographs depicting large groups of Japanese Americans, three of which were taken by important Japanese American photographers. To wit:

Japanese American Citizens' League. First Biennial Northern California District Convention. Aug 31-Sept 1-2. Fresno, California 1935. 10” x 36”. Very good plus with a couple of border stains and one small border chip. This photo shows a couple dozen chapters of the JACL along with someone holding a sign which reads, “American Loyalty League.”

[Translated from Japanese] Commemorating the Conference of Middle California Men and Women Buddhist Youth Alliance at Fowler. November 10, 1935. 10” x 35”. Very good with occasional moderate creasing. Depicts a few hundred people with a couple dozen holding local chapter signs.

Xth Anniversary N.A. Federation of Y.W.B.A Leagues' Conference. Los Angeles, California. July 21st-26th 1936. 32” x 8”. Very good plus with creasing at edges. This exceptionally well composed photo depicts Young Women Buddhist Associations. Importantly, the photographer was Toyo Miyatake. Miyatake was born in Japan and emigrated to Los Angeles as a teenager in 1909. He studied photography in the 1910s and opened his own studio in 1923. Miytake's work was exhibited prior to World War II, including an award at the 1926 London International Photography Exhibition. Miyatake was best known for his efforts documenting the Manzanar internment camp, where he initially smuggled a camera and film and worked in secret. He eventually received permission to be the camp photographer and collaborated with Ansel Adams on a book about Manzanar.

C.Y.B.L. Convention—Sacramento, Calif. March 26-27-28 1937. 8” x 42”. Very good with moderate dust soiling throughout, light creasing and a few border chips. Depicts hundreds of members of the California Young Buddhists League.

Second Annual Conference of the California Young Buddhist League. Fresno California April 15-16-17 1938. 10” x 41”. Very good with light creasing and a few spots of staining. Hundreds of attendees can be seen, with several holding banners for various regional chapters. Importantly, this photo was taken by Frank Kamiyama. According to the Densho Encyclopedia, Kamiyama was born in Japan in 1886 and emigrated to Hawaii in 1905. He initially ran a photography business in Sacramento before settling in Fresno and opening his studio there in 1915. In addition to running a formal portrait studio and documenting gatherings like the one shown in this photo, Kamiyama's work was exhibited all over the world prior to World War II. At the start of the war, he was arrested on suspicion of espionage and was imprisoned until he was released to the internment camp at Rohwer where he was reunited with his family. After the war he continued to chronicle the lives of Central Valley families.

11th Annual National Nisei V.F.W. Reunion February 17, 18, 19 1961. Disneyland Hotel. 10” x 24”. Very good minus with moderate creasing, some staining along borders, a couple pin holes and small tears. Notably, this was also taken by Toyo Miyatake.

12th Annual Nisei V.F.W. Reunion. Sacramento, California. Feb. 22-25, 1962. 8” x 43”. Very good minus with moderate creasing and some small stains. Depicts Nisei veterans holding flags and some with signs for local chapters.

JACL 19th Biennial National Convention July 26th through 30th, 1966, San Diego, California. 8” x 50½”. Near fine with a few pinholes. This stunning and enormous photograph shows a couple hundred attendees for the Japanese American Citizen's League's 1966 national convention. Many are holding handwritten signs designating their chapter, with many from California, and many more from all over the United States. Very good -. Item #4998

Price: $3,500.00