Masaru “Mas” and Kiyoko “Kay” Murakami Hamada photograph collection
Collection
Identifier: P1528
Scope and Contents
The Masaru “Mas” and Kiyoko “Kay” Murakami Hamada photograph collection consists of 3 boxes of black-and-white photographs and digital-only items depicting the lives of Mas Hamada and Kay Murakami Hamadi. The collection primarily documents the 1930s and 1940s. Box 1 contains black-and-white formal portraits of Kay and Mas Hamada's friends and family; some of these photographs are identified and contain inscriptions and dates, while others are unidentified or undated. The box also contains photographs taken and collected by Mas Hamada during his military service in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. 47 photographs of Mas Hamada's military service and portraits of Kay and Mas Hamada are digital only, with original copies retained by the donors. Finally, Box 1 contains photographs taken by Kay or Mas Hamada during a trip to California circa 1948, including photographs of floats at the 59th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. Box 1 also contains a photograph album compiled by the Ogden YBA and containing 46 black-and-white photographs of members, including the Hamadas.
Box 2 consists of photographs dating primarily from Mas and Kay's youth in Ogden, Utah in the 1930s and 1940s, particularly their involvement in outdoor activities with friends and family, likely through the Utah Nippon Wildlife Federation. Subjects include camping, hiking, climbing, and skiing. This box also contains snapshots of friends, family, and acquaintances of the Hamadas in Ogden and California; some are dated and identified, while others are unidentified. Box 3 consists of 2 panoramas: a panorama of United States Army soldiers "Co-A-33 BN" at Fort McClellan, Alabama in 1943 and a panorama of an unidentified organization of Japanese Americans, perhaps the Young Buddhist Association (YBA).
Box 2 consists of photographs dating primarily from Mas and Kay's youth in Ogden, Utah in the 1930s and 1940s, particularly their involvement in outdoor activities with friends and family, likely through the Utah Nippon Wildlife Federation. Subjects include camping, hiking, climbing, and skiing. This box also contains snapshots of friends, family, and acquaintances of the Hamadas in Ogden and California; some are dated and identified, while others are unidentified. Box 3 consists of 2 panoramas: a panorama of United States Army soldiers "Co-A-33 BN" at Fort McClellan, Alabama in 1943 and a panorama of an unidentified organization of Japanese Americans, perhaps the Young Buddhist Association (YBA).
Dates
- 1918-1955
Creator
- Hamada, Kiyoko Murakami, 1918-2005 (Person)
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
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 Masaru “Mas” and Kiyoko “Kay” Murakami Hamada photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.
Permission to publish material from the Masaru “Mas” and Kiyoko “Kay” Murakami Hamada photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.
Biographical Note
Masaru “Mas” Hamada (1917-2003) was born on December 21, 1917 in Ogden, Utah, to Kanekichi and Kasumi Hamada. Kiyoko “Kay” or “Kiyo” Murakami Hamada (1918-2005) was born on May 18, 1918 in Ogden, Utah to Maki and Monkichi Murakami. Both the Hamada and Murakami family were members of a Japanese American farming commdunity northwest of Ogden. Kay and Mas both attended Ogden High School. Kay Murakami's brother, Yoli Murakami, was a leader in the Japanese Farmers Association, Utah Nippon Wildlife Federation, and the Ogden Buddhist Temple. After graduating high school, Kay Murakami moved to San Francisco, California, to study fashion; she attended the Ohata Sewing and Drafting School and the Haymor School of Fashion. After his graduation, Mas Hamada worked for his family's farm. In 1943, he was drafted into the United States Army, serving in the 100th Battalion, later the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, during World War II; he was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service.
Kay Murakami and Mas Hamada married on July 19, 1944 in Ogden; together, they had two children. Around this time, Mas Hamada began studying civil engineering at Weber College and the University of Utah. After obtaining his BS from the University of Utah in 1951, Hamada did additional post-graduate studies at the same institution. After graduation, he worked for two years for the United States Department of the Interior as a highway engineer for the Public Roads Department before being hired by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company (later called CBI Industries, Inc.). Mas Hamada worked as a design engineer for ten years before the company assigned him to Japan. After a return to the United States to work in sales and purchasing in Oak Brook, Illinois, the Hamadas returned to Japan for an additional fourteen years after he was made company representative for Japan. In Japan, Kay Hamada learned Japanese and studied numerous traditional arts and crats, including ikebana (flower arranging), doll-making, and sumi-e (ink painting). During their residence in Japan, the couple traveled extensively throughout the world, but especially in southeast Asia. Mas Hamada retired from CBI Industries in 1983 and the Hamadas returned to Utah. There, Mas Hamada pursued his hobbies of woodworking and golf. Kay Hamada was a member of the Ogden Buddhist Temple, where she was active in the church and in the associated women’s organization.
Masaru Hamada died on November 20, 2003. Kiyoko Murakami Hamada died on August 22, 2005.
Kay Murakami and Mas Hamada married on July 19, 1944 in Ogden; together, they had two children. Around this time, Mas Hamada began studying civil engineering at Weber College and the University of Utah. After obtaining his BS from the University of Utah in 1951, Hamada did additional post-graduate studies at the same institution. After graduation, he worked for two years for the United States Department of the Interior as a highway engineer for the Public Roads Department before being hired by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company (later called CBI Industries, Inc.). Mas Hamada worked as a design engineer for ten years before the company assigned him to Japan. After a return to the United States to work in sales and purchasing in Oak Brook, Illinois, the Hamadas returned to Japan for an additional fourteen years after he was made company representative for Japan. In Japan, Kay Hamada learned Japanese and studied numerous traditional arts and crats, including ikebana (flower arranging), doll-making, and sumi-e (ink painting). During their residence in Japan, the couple traveled extensively throughout the world, but especially in southeast Asia. Mas Hamada retired from CBI Industries in 1983 and the Hamadas returned to Utah. There, Mas Hamada pursued his hobbies of woodworking and golf. Kay Hamada was a member of the Ogden Buddhist Temple, where she was active in the church and in the associated women’s organization.
Masaru Hamada died on November 20, 2003. Kiyoko Murakami Hamada died on August 22, 2005.
Extent
3 Boxes
Abstract
Masaru "Mas" Hamada (1917-2003) and Kiyoko "Kay" Murakami Hamada (1918-2005) were second generation, or Nissei, Japanese Americans born and raised in Ogden, Utah who married in 1944. Mas Hamada was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II; afterwards, he worked as a civil engineer for the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, where he worked as company representative in Japan. This collection contains digital only photographs and black and white prints depicting the Hamada's youths in Ogden, Mas Hamada's military service, their friends and family, and travel to California in 1948.
Arrangement
Arranged by subject
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Claudia Nakano in 2008.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections staff.
- Black-and-white photographs
- Hamada, Kiyoko Murakami, 1918-2005
- Hamada, Masaru, 1917-2003
- Japanese American soldiers -- Photographs
- Japanese Americans -- Utah -- Photographs
- Ogden (Utah)
- Photograph albums
- Photographs
- Tournament of Roses
- United States. Army. Regimental Combat Team, 442nd
- Utah Nippon Wildlife Federation
Creator
- Hamada, Kiyoko Murakami, 1918-2005 (Person)
- Hamada, Masaru, 1917-2003 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Masaru “Mas” and Kiyoko “Kay” Murakami Hamada photograph collection, 1918-1955
- Author
- Finding aid created by Claire A. Kempa
- 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