Arthur Ito papers

The Arthur T. Ito papers is organized in four chronological series. Series 1: 1915-1941; Series 2: 1941-1945; Series 3: 1945-2016; and Series 4: A/V and oversize.

Series 1: consists of early material related to the Ito and Kuromi family. While living in Mexico, Fumiyo Ito taught the children Japanese with books sent by relatives from Japan. They spoke Spanish and learned English by reading the Bible on Sundays. This was evident in three notebooks written by Ito in English, Japanese, and Spanish. Ito also translated one of his favorite books: "Robinson Crusoe" in 1934. There is a book written in Japanese related to Mexican Immigration in 1923. There are a few photographs of the Ito family in Mexico, including images of Fumiyo Ito's grave in Cuautitlan. Other photographs related to the Ito family include Yoshimasa (Oye) Ito at New Vernon Basket Company in 1916.

Material related to the Kuromi family primarily consists of souvenirs acquired by Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito during her visit to Japan from 1939 through 1941. While in Japan, Kuromi kept one diary where she observes the weather and details daily activities such as going to school, shopping, and cooking. There is material related to A.H. (Andrew Harue) Kuromi's investment in the Nichi-Bei Investment Company, which entered a lease with the Yokohama Specie Bank in 1932. There are also photograph albums and photographs of the Kuromi family in Los Angeles, California and visit to Japan.

Series 2: consists of material between the time Arthur T. Ito was drafted into the United States Army in 1941 and discharge in October 1945. The bulk of the material in this series consists of letters between Ito and Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito. These lengthy letters reveal a blossoming love story between two people miles apart. In an early letter written by Aiko at the store on October 10, 1941, she confesses "I'm really beginning to realize that I didn't appreciate a friend before, who was a swell pal and keen company...I miss the person who used to work so diligently emptying heavy baskets and who so willingly helped clean those heavy vases." After the Kuromi family was relocated in 1942, Aiko's descriptions about conforming to camp life are insightful. However, in one letter, she depicts a disorganized Wartime Civil Control Administration: "The unlogical part of it is that they are still going to sell food at the canteens -- yet, they prohibit food in barracks...Just a while ago, they brought in sacks of rice they confiscated" (May 15, 1942). In another type of camp, Ito details military camp life from: Camp Grant, Illinois; Camp Savage, Minnesota; Camp Blanding, Florida; and Camp Pinedale, California. Ito's Christian faith comes through in his letters to Aiko. In response to Executive Order 9066, Ito is hopeful: "Anyways, I do hope that, and know that, God is always with us, and where-ever the Government sees fit for all of you to go, for the protection of yourselves, things will turn out alright...let's all pray for the best" (March 15, 1942). In another poignant letter written after the birth of Arthur T. Ito, Jr. in 1944, he addresses his son, "Daddy is at the present time taking part in the greatest war the world has ever known. He is doing his part as a citizen of our country, the United States of America. It isn't exactly his choice to be out here, but in order that you may grow up into a world, which we hope will not have to use the force of arms to keep peace when you grow up, he is doing his part out here now," (April 17, 1945).

Other Ito material related to World War II includes two entries for Camp Grant, Illinois on December 30, 1942 and Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 4, 1943. Ito also kept a diary with brief entries in 1941. For example, on December 8, 1941, he writes, "This morning at 11:30, President Rossevelt [sic] asked Congress to declare war on Japan, and the bill was passed with a vote of 470 to 1. Japan and U.S. is at war. We all are in it now." There are military records, such applications and discharge papers, military books, and photographs. Ito also collected souvenirs, postcards, and menus from his travels around the country.

During the interment of the Kuromi family, Aiko frequently corresponded with accountants, attorneys, and other individuals regarding their property and storage. There is also a folder containing Aiko's request to transfer to Camp Grant, Illinois to join Ito; however, it was denied by the Santa Anita Assembly Center. Aiko also kept a record of expenses such as groceries and household supplies in a housebook from 1943 through 1945. She kept one diary with brief entries in 1943. There are a couple of photographs from the Gila River Relocation Center. Material related to claims and reparations is found in the Series 3.

Greeting cards also constitute a large part of this series. Many of them are undated; however, the cataloger assumes they were exchanged during this period. There are also family and wedding photographs of Ito and Aiko.

Series 3: primarily consists of Ito and Aiko's floral career after the war; however, there is some material related to World War, 1939-1945. There is correspondence related to the Kuromi family claims and reparations. There are also letters and legal documents related to A.H. (Andrew Harue) Kuromi's investment in the Nichi-Bei building in Little Tokyo, which, unfortunately, was lost during the war. There is also printed ephemera related to the war and organizations such as Nisei Veterans and Go For Broke.

From 1966 through 2003, Ito kept a diary (mostly on a notepad) of his daily activities at Flower View Gardens and floral events around the world. There are also numerous clippings, photocopies, and photographs related to Flower View Gardens, Ito and Kuromi families, and the floral community. Some of these clippings are found in scrapbooks located elsewhere in the collection. Most of the photographs are related to the Florists' Transworld Delivery Association (FTD) events; however, there may be FTD related photographs in Box 35 (9) and Box 36 (1), but they were not easily discernible. The photographs in those boxes concern various demonstrations, arrangements, and floral organizations such as the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) and Society of American Florists (SAC). There may be some overlap between photographs related to Flower View Gardens, Kuromi family, and Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito.

An item of interest may be Ito's childhood reminiscence Box 38 (3). He writes about his parents and adventures in Mexico. For instance, while clearing rocks with his brother Thomas, "We knew, and had been warned several times of the deadly 'Alacran' (scorpion). Thom put his hand under a rock, and sure enough, here was a large scorpion...bit him in the index finger. My immediate reaction was to carry Tom back to the house for treatment, what I really should have done was to open a wound on his finger and suck the poison out..." (p. 20-21). Note: There is another reminiscence in the Series 1, Box 6 (17) that may have been written in 1935.

There is correspondence from Ito's father, Yoshimasa (Oye) Ito and brother, Paul Susumu Ito, primarily written in Japanese. There are also letters and postcards from friends and family in Mexico and Japan concerning family news and activities. Letters related to floral industry is found in correspondence, scrapbooks, and subject files. For example, e-mails related to Japan Florists' Telegraph Delivery Association convention are included in the subject files.

Series 4: consists of oversize and audio/visual material. The A/V material includes audio cassettes, DVDs, and VHS. They primarily relate to Arthur T. Ito's floral career and Japanese Americans serving during World War II. There are also photograph albums, scrapbooks, rolled-objects, 3-D objects, and sketches for various floral design proposals.