title

 

Toshiyuki and Mary Seki collection

 

general material designation

 

[graphic and textual material and sound recording]
extent

 

13 photographs,1 booklet and 3 cassette tapes

 

date

 

1933-1991

 

scope and content

 

The collections consists of thirteen photographs, one booklet and a tape recording. The photographs include Marpole Japanese Community Hall and the Seki family home located at 8746 Selkirk Street, Vancouver, BC. The booklet is titled, "Blazing the Way". A three part taped interview of Mary Seki discussing her life.

 


 

See also the Otsuji Family collection for Mary's family.

 

biography

 

Mary Asako Seki (nee Otsuji) was born January 8, 1930 in Vancouver, BC at 701 Hawks Avenue where her family ran the Royal Grocery. The family later operated the Strathcona Hotel at 53 W Hastings Street until 1941 when the family relocated to Alberta.

 


 

The family repatriated to Kyoto, Japan where Mary began work for the US Occupational Forces Kyoto Post Command. In 1951, Mary returned to Canada in search of her brother Akihide and to reestablish a life.

 


 

She married Toshiyuki in 1953.

 

organisation

 

Nikkei National Museum
access

 

Open