| scope and content | The collection consists of one series, containing nine files of original records, copies of records, and objects related to the life of Dr. Shuichi Kusaka. The first file consists of letters from Shuichi Kusaka, Haruko Iwata (nee Kusaka), Toyoko Kusaka, Dr. Smyth, Wheeler, Brigade General Quaitain, First Lt. O’Rourke, Betty, and White. It also has various documents relating to Shuichi’s jobs and the army. There are also copies of letters found on Shuichi’s desk after his death. The second file contains copies of documents relating to Shuichi’s academic records, Reverend K. Shimizu’s diary notes from Princeton trip, information regarding the “Shuichi Kusaka Memorial Fund”, and correspondence between Mrs. Iwata and Oppenheimer, and Mrs. Iwata and Dr. Gladys Anslow. There are also documents relating to Shuichi’s time spent in the US military. The third file contains information about Shuichi collected by Dr. Akemi Ota, a distant relative of the Kusaka family living in Japan. The file consists of a biography of Shuichi, articles written in Japanese, other articles about Shuichi especially after his death. The fourth file contains information regarding the “Kusaka Shuichi Symposium” that took place on October 29th, 2005, in association with the Osaka Science Museum that celebrated Shuichi’s life and scientific achievements. The fifth file contains Shuichi Kusaka research materials from the Osaka Science Museum and various researchers in Japan. The sixth file consists of Shuichi Kusaka’s published scientific papers. The seventh file contains letters sent to Toyoko Kusaka, sister of Shuichi Kusaka. The letters include Shuichi Kusaka, Haruko Iwata (nee Kusaka) (sister of Shuichi), Dr. Gladys Anslow, Lieutenant O’Hara, Colonel McCreary, Dr. Robert Bush, M. Corben, Mr. Booth, Mr. Dinsmore, Rose, Henry Stratton, and Major Rehe. There are also various documents such as an obituary, drawing, short stories, Certificate of Naturalization, and Shuichi’s final exam for his Degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of California Graduate Division. The eighth file consists of various photos of Shuichi with his family, friends, and portraits of himself. There are also photos relating to his funeral and gravesite. The ninth file contains various items that belonged to Dr. Shuichi Kusaka.
This collection has been created and collected by Shuichi’s nephew Victor Kusaka, the Kusaka family, Stanley Fukawa, Yusuke Tanaka, Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Hiroto Takami, Reverend Shimizu, researcher Clarence Hansen, and other contributors found in the “Contributors” page in the donor file.
|
| biography | Shuichi “Shu” Kusaka was born in Osaka, Japan on October 17, 1915 to Kiyokata and Tsuya (née Matsui) Kusaka. His death on August 31, 1947 marked the end of a promising career in theoretical physics and cosmic ray research. Kusaka came from a family of medical doctors. His grandfather, Yusaku Kusaka, being an opthamologist and medical doctor and his father being a medical doctor and involved with the Japanese Fishermen’s Benevolent Hospital in Steveston, BC. Shuichi arrived in Vancouver in 1920 with his father and mother.
At the University of British Columbia, Kusaka took courses in mathematics and physics, eventually graduating in 1937 with first honours. At a time when many Japanese Canadian graduates were unable to use their advanced education, Kusaka became the first Japanese Canadian to receive the Governor General’s medal. He also received the Chancellor Medal as the top graduating student. Following his graduation from UBC, he completed a Master of Science degree in 1938 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the supervision of J.R. Oppenheimer. And in 1942 he completed a Ph.D. degree in theoretical physics from the University of California at Berkeley. From 1942-1943, as a member of the Institute for Advanced Study, Kusaka went to Princeton University to study, a year later being recommended by Professor Oppenheimer to Smith College as a physics instructor. His request to join the army in January 1945 was answered later that year. Kusaka served in the Army of the United States from August 21, 1945 to June 30, 1946, as a Technician Fourth Grade, attached to Headquarters Company War Department (Ballistics Laboratory Group, Technical Detachment, Miscellaneous War Department Activities Group) . His honourable discharge was granted only after 3 months of correspondence and intervention by such renowned physicists as Albert Einstein, Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson, and President of Princeton University Dr. Harold. D. Dodds. Kusaka was then able to accept the position of Instructor at the Department of Physics of Princeton University, teaching undergraduate courses in physics which at the time were given to returning WWII veterans as well as regular civilians. His expertise was requested by North American Aviation Inc. Kusaka received two prestigious post-doctoral fellowships, the Guggenheim and the Jewett Fellowships. In 1947, he was promoted to Assistant Professor at Princeton, though an Associate Professor position was offered to him from New York University. He looked forward to beginning the Fellowships, and completing the last courses at Princeton in July and August of 1947. After a party celebrating the end of term at his New Jersey apartment, Shuichi and his friends went swimming at Beach Haven, New Jersey. Though known as a capable swimmer, Shuichi drowned that day. Artificial respiration attempts being unsuccessful. Shuichi Kusaka’s promising career was cut short, though the establishment of a Memorial Fund in his namewake at the Princeton Department of Physics continues to support future generations of promising young physicists. |