Sakahara and Tanaka Families Collection

ddr-densho-316

A family photograph album documenting the Sakahara and Tanaka families' pre-World War II life on Vashon Island and other areas of Washington State. The Tanakas were farmers on Vashon Island between 1916 and 1940. Hatsuguma Tanaka was buried on Vashon Island in 1940. Hatsuguma's wife Momoye later married Sam Torakichi Migita and moved to Wapato, Washington. Hatsuguma and Momoye's daughter, Pauline Tanaka married Dan Sakahara. The Sakaharas grew loganberries, strawberries, currants, and cherries on 69 acres of Vashon Island farmland which is now part of the Island Center Forest. The Migitas and the Sakaharas were incarcerated at the Tule Lake concentration camp and later at the Heart Mountain concentration camp. The exception was Dan Sakahara who was only incarcerated at Tule Lake. Dan Sakahara was a councilman, block leader, chairman of the Red Cross, treasurer of the PTA, and temporary chairman of the PTA at Tule Lake. He was also president of the Fife Young People's Club, president of the Vashon Japanese American Club, and president of the Puyallup Valley JACL for the years of 1937 and 1938.

1928-1945

1930s-1940s

1 photograph album

Densho

Courtesy of Laura Sueoka and David Perley

77 Objects

Photograph album (ddr-densho-316-1)
doc Photograph album (ddr-densho-316-1)
A family photograph album documenting the Sakahara and Tanaka families' pre-World War II life on Vashon Island and other areas of Washington State. Dan Sakahara was a councilman, block leader, chairman of the red cross, treasurer of the PTA, and temporary chairman of the PTA at the Tule Lake Concentration Camp.  He was also president of …
View of a ferry dock (ddr-densho-316-3)
img View of a ferry dock (ddr-densho-316-3)
Caption on front: "Tacoma Ferry Landing at Vashon Island, Washington."
Christmas card (ddr-densho-316-8)
doc Christmas card (ddr-densho-316-8)
Caption on front: "Best Christmas / Wishes and / Happiness throughout / the Year. / Ralph and Eleanor Smith."
Two girls on a farm (ddr-densho-316-9)
img Two girls on a farm (ddr-densho-316-9)
Lois and Arlene Sakahara on Vashon Island, Washington.

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