Dave M. Tatsuno photograph collection
Collection
Identifier: P1163
Scope and Contents
The Dave M. Tatsuno photograph collection contains 18 black-and-white and colored of the Tatsuno family in the Topaz Relocation Camp, ski-related photographs, and Olympic Torch Run. The collection also contains s 2 digital images of Masateru “Tut” Tatsuno, brother of Dave Tatsuno, while serving in the military. The collection spans 1902 to 2004.
Dates
- 1906-2004
Creator
- Tatsuno, Dave M., 1913-2006 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Dave M. Tatsuno photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.
Permission to publish material from the Dave M. Tatsuno photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.
Biographical Note
Dave Masaharu Tatsuno (1913-2006) was born on March 31, 1913, in San Francisco, California. He graduated from the University of California School of Business at Berkeley in 1936 with a degree in business and a minor in public speaking. Afterwards, he managed Nichi Bei Bussan, the dry goods store that his father had founded in San Francisco in 1902. In 1938, Dave married Alice Okada; together, the couple had six children. Tatsuno was active in the Japanese American community: in the 1930s and 1940s, he helped to organize conferences for the Japanese Christian Church and served as a youth leader at the San Francisco Japantown Y.
In 1942, Dave and Alice Tatsuno were imprisoned in the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah as a result of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 and Executive Order 9102. At the time of their detainment, Tatsuno and Alice had a son who was still a toddler, and Alice gave birth to their daughter while they were imprisoned. Even as Dave and Alice were imprisoned, Dave's younger brother, Masateru "Tut" Tatsuno, was serving in the United States Army.
Due to his experience running his family store, Tatsuno managed the co-operative store in Topaz; after learning of his interest in film, his manager helped him to acquire a secret video camera. Tatsuno recorded his experience over the course of the three years that he was imprisoned in Topaz. All footage was shot in secret since neither moving image nor still cameras were allowed in any of the Japanese-American detention camps. After his release, Tatsuno compiled the footage into a 48-minute silent film which he titled “Topaz;” later, he recorded a narration over the footage. In 1996, "Topaz" was placed on the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, the second home movie to be given this status.
After the Tatsunos were released from Topaz, they returned to California. In 1948, Tatsuno opened a second “NB” store in Japantown in San Jose, California. Tatsuno, a passionate diver and swimmer, continued his involvement with the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in San Jose. With Stan Sheley, he founded a scuba certification course at the San Jose Central Y, where he also served on the board. He was president of the Southwest Regional YMCA Council and served as delegate to the International Y conferences in Switzerland and Japan. Dave Tatsuno continued to scuba dive himself until the age of 89, and he combined this passion with his interest in amateur filmography, filming many underwater scenes. Dave Masaharu Tatsuno died on January 26, 2006.
In 1942, Dave and Alice Tatsuno were imprisoned in the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah as a result of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 and Executive Order 9102. At the time of their detainment, Tatsuno and Alice had a son who was still a toddler, and Alice gave birth to their daughter while they were imprisoned. Even as Dave and Alice were imprisoned, Dave's younger brother, Masateru "Tut" Tatsuno, was serving in the United States Army.
Due to his experience running his family store, Tatsuno managed the co-operative store in Topaz; after learning of his interest in film, his manager helped him to acquire a secret video camera. Tatsuno recorded his experience over the course of the three years that he was imprisoned in Topaz. All footage was shot in secret since neither moving image nor still cameras were allowed in any of the Japanese-American detention camps. After his release, Tatsuno compiled the footage into a 48-minute silent film which he titled “Topaz;” later, he recorded a narration over the footage. In 1996, "Topaz" was placed on the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, the second home movie to be given this status.
After the Tatsunos were released from Topaz, they returned to California. In 1948, Tatsuno opened a second “NB” store in Japantown in San Jose, California. Tatsuno, a passionate diver and swimmer, continued his involvement with the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in San Jose. With Stan Sheley, he founded a scuba certification course at the San Jose Central Y, where he also served on the board. He was president of the Southwest Regional YMCA Council and served as delegate to the International Y conferences in Switzerland and Japan. Dave Tatsuno continued to scuba dive himself until the age of 89, and he combined this passion with his interest in amateur filmography, filming many underwater scenes. Dave Masaharu Tatsuno died on January 26, 2006.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet (1 archives box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Dave Masaharu Tatsuno (1913-2006) was a Japanese American businessman and amateur filmmaker who secretly filmed his family's experience of detention in the Topaz Relocation Camp. This collection contains Tatsuno family photographs spanning 1902 to 2004, including images of them skiing, during their imprisonment in Topaz, and of the Olympic Torch Run.
Arrangement
Arranged by subject
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Rod Tatsuno in 2004 and Marice Shiozaki in 2007.
Separated Materials
See also the Dave M. Tatsuno Japanese-American internment camp video (A0668)> in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections staff.
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Creator
- Tatsuno, Dave M., 1913-2006 (Person)
- Title
- Dave M. Tatsuno photograph collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Special Collections Staff.
- Date
- 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu