title

 

Tom I Tagami collection

 

general material designation

 

textual, cartographic materials, objects, moving images and sound recordings
extent

 

9 research booklets, 10 audiocassette tapes, 5 letters, 4 videocassette tapes, 2 wool blankets, 2 books, 2 maps, 1 newsletter and 1 copy of a speech.

 

date

 

1939-2000

 

scope and content

 

The collection consists of nine series pertaining to items belonging to Tom (Itsuro) Tagami. The first series consists of blankets that were given to Tom during his time at Hastings Park. The second series consists of nine research booklets created by Tom Tagami about the internment camps. The third series consists of a commemorative JCCC book and related documents that Tom acquired in 1988-1989. The fourth series consists of a copy of a speech that Tom gave to the PNE Board of Directors. The fifth series consists of textual material related to Paldi, BC which includes a book and two maps. The sixth series consists of textual material related to the case for redress. The seventh series consists of audiovisual material related to redress. The eight series is four cassette tapes regarding Japanese Canadian history. And the ninth series is an audio interview of Tom I Tagami.

 

biography

 

Tom (Itsuro) Tagami was born on February 10, 1920 in Koksilah, BC. He was the son of Jirosaku Tagami from Higashimuro in Wakayama-ken, Japan and Koyoshi Tagami (nee Yamamoto) from Nishimuro, Wakayama-ken.

 

He had seven brothers and sisters, Shizue, Ichiro, Yoshiro, Masao, Suyeo, Akiye and Seiji (adopted).

 


 

Tom grew up in Paldi, BC where he attended school up until the eighth grade. He worked for the Mayo Bros. Timber Co. between the ages of sixteen and twenty-two.

 


 

During the internment, Tom and his family were sent to Hastings Park, where they stayed for three months before relocating to Slocan. In Slocan, he continued his trade and worked at various lumber companies.

 


 

In 1949, when the ban on Japanese Canadians in the west coast was lifted, Tom and his family opted to stay in Slocan and he and his brothers started Tagami Bros. Lumber.

 


 

Tom later married Kay (Kazuko) (nee Takarabe) in Slocan on January 3, 1950. They had a son Tommy (Kiyoshi)Tagami on October 3, 1951.

 


 

Tom became a paraplegic at the age of 39, but remained a very active member of the Japanese Canadian community and received an Award of Merit from the Canadian Paraplegic Association. He passed away December 3, 2003 in BC at the age of eighty-three.

 

 

number

 

2011.70

 

organisation

 

Nikkei National Museum
access

 

Open