Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda

Nisei male. Born August 15, 1924, in Portland, Oregon. Incarcerated at the North Portland Assembly Center and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Kept a diary beginning December, 1941, and through incarceration. Beginning as a teenager, was exceptionally active as a volunteer leader, first within a Japanese American church in Portland, later in camp with Federated Christian Church, school and service clubs, and throughout life.
Graduated from Hunt High School and left Minidoka on indefinite work leave. Drafted in 1944; graduated from United States Military Intelligence Service Language School. After discharge, returned to Portland, Oregon, and graduated from college in 1949. One of the earliest Nisei to obtain Master of Social Work degree from University of Washington, 1951. Married, 1951, and had four children.
Incarceration led him to resolve to work for social justice. In 1953, was one of the first Nisei hired as executive director of a nonprofit organization in the United States (outside the Japanese American community), and served at the Atlantic Street Center in Seattle for 33 years, leading its transformation from settlement house to social service agency. Worked to reduce racial discrimination. Promoted multi-racial, cross-cultural cooperation, equal opportunity and affirmative action in community, church, nonprofit, government and other arenas. Mentors and advises community members, including sharing a set of principles he developed based on values from his cultural heritage. Mr. Ikeda is the recipient of numerous awards, recognitions of service and honors for his professional and volunteer contributions to society.

Interviews

Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview I — ddr-densho-1000-123
September 27, 2000. Seattle, Washington.
03:04:23 — 32 segments.
Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview III — ddr-densho-1000-125
October 20, 2000. Seattle, Washington.
00:50:34 — 11 segments.
Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview II — ddr-densho-1000-124
October 6, 2000. Seattle, Washington.
01:13:49 — 16 segments.
Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda
API