JAPANESE AMERICAN ARCHIVAL COLLECTION

By Frank Iritani

Celebration of achieving the goal of $100,000 for the Endowment for the California State University, Sacramento Library /Japanese American Archival Collection (CSUS/JAAC) was held November 13, 1998 at the Library in an atmosphere of traditional Japanese arts, music, kimonos, foods and exhibits.

Charles Martell, former Library Dean, briefly reviewed how a large donation from the late Mary Tsukamoto got the project started in 1994. Other interested individuals and the local Nisei VFW Post 8985 joined with the previously existing Florin JACL Oral History project on working committees, and goals were set up. Martell said, "Personally, the building of the notable collection you see before you and the raising of the endowrnent has been one of my highest and most rewarding experiences in my thirty years of professional service."

The many, many donors of funds, artifacts, documents and photographs, the Archival staff and many community volunteers were recognized for making the endowment and collection possible to what it is today.

Two weeks prior to this evening-program celebration, special weekday exhibits were held with docents on duty daily coordinated by Marion Kanemoto of Florin JACL and JAAC committee.