| title | Uyeda Family of Nakusp collection |
| general material designation | Graphic material, textual records, moving images, objects |
| extent | 2791 photographs, 1032 negatives, 55.9 cm of textual records, 33 film reels, 15 postcards, 2 objects, 2 artworks, and 1 audio cassette |
| date | 1920-2020 |
| scope and content | This collection consists of 8 series. The collection includes photographs, textual records, and family objects belonging to Yonezo and Yukiye Uyeda and their family, dating from circa 1924 through 2020.
The first series consists of books and photographs related to the publication I, Atsu (2019) by Atsushi Uyeda and Teruko Uyeda. The second series consists of photographs and other records received in correspondence by the Uyeda family. The third series consists of photograph albums curated by the Uyeda family, particularly by Teruko Uyeda, depicting the family in New Westminster, Kaslo, New Denver, and Nakusp, BC as well as their relatives in Japan. The fourth series consists of photographs and negatives belonging to the Uyeda family, depicting the family in New Westminster, Kaslo, New Denver, and Nakusp, and on their local and international travels. The fifth series consists of journals, diaries, news clippings, financial books, a Uyeda family crest, and publications belonging to Yonezo and Yukiye Uyeda. The sixth series consists of photographs and postcards belonging to Michiyo Uyeda depicting her visits with family in Japan. The seventh series consists of personal records of the Uyeda family including textual records, photographs, artwork, objects, and a sound recording. The eighth series consists of home movies created by the Uyeda family.
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| biography | Yonezo Uyeda (1898-1988) came to Canada from Kyushu, Japan in 1919 to help his uncle Masataro Uyeda, a First World War Canadian veteran who had a farm in Surrey. He later found more promising work in the logging industry, first as a boom-man at the Mohawk Lumber Mill in New Westminster and later becoming the foreman.
In 1927, Yonezo married Yukiye Fujita (1907-1998) in Japan and the two returned to Canada. Yukiye trained as a clothing designer at the Kamikii Agriculture & Supplementary School in the village of Kamikii 上城井, Chikujo 築上 District, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Yonezo had studied horticulture in Japan and he became involved in the Japanese and Canadian Chrysanthemum Society (also known as Kokonoe Kai), winning many first and second place prizes for his entries. Yonezo became a member of the United Church but Yukiye remained in the Buddhist faith and their children went to the Buddhist temple.
Yonezo and Yukiye had four children, all born in Canada: Masayuki (1928-2015; also known as Masa), Teruko (1929-2017; also known as Terrie), Atsushi (1931-2019; also known as Atsu), and Michiyo (1937-2019; also known as Mickie). The family lived in a rented house at 106 Mercer Street in the Queensborough neighborhood of New Westminster, BC.
Masayuki was born with an intellectual disability, impaired vision, and cerebral palsy. Atsushi was also born with cerebral palsy and most of his body was paralyzed except for his right arm and hand. Yukiye studied medical books from her relatives in Japan in order to care for her sons. Yonezo studied Shiatsu from Japanese doctors in Canada and he and Yukiye gave Masa and Atsu regular massages. The family navigated medical and social service systems in acquiring care, equipment, and accessible accommodations for Masa and Atsu, which were severely complicated by the family’s forced internment.
With the onset of the Second World War, the family was forcibly uprooted to Kaslo in 1942 and later to New Denver around 1945. The family finally settled in Nakusp in 1947 as they were prevented from returning to New Westminster due to wartime restrictions extended after the Second World War ended.
In Nakusp, Yonezo found work again in the logging industry. Yukiye continued to care for her children at home, looking after the house and making clothing and linens. Yonezo also built furniture for their new house.
Teruko worked as a housekeeper at the Leland Hotel and Pine Lodge, as a bookkeeper at B.J. Carney & Co. Ltd, and later in the public health field. She was asked to be a leader with the 2nd Nakusp Cub Pack (Boy Scouts), which she worked with for over 25 years. In 1977, Teruko was voted Citizen of the Year for Nakusp, largely because of her work with the Cubs. Teruko’s partner, Roger Pratt, regularly visited with the family.
Michiyo went to college in Trail, BC and worked for different companies after graduation. She found work with the British Columbia Ministry of Forests in Nelson, BC where she worked until her retirement.
Yonezo passed away in October 1988 at the age of 91. Yukiye passed away in 1998 at the age of 91.
Masayuki moved to the Minto House in Nakusp around 2010, where he passed away in 2015 at the age of 87. Teruko passed away on July 26, 2017 at the age of 88. Both Michiyo and Atsushi passed away in 2019, at the ages of 82 and 88 respectively.
Biographical sketch is based on information from the collection and the donor, and I, Atsu (2019) by Atsushi Uyeda and Teruko Uyeda. |
| number | 2025.1 |
| organisation | Nikkei National Museum |
| access | Restricted
Open |