Thomas and Ruth Shigekuni papers

Correspondence, photographs, documents, and other materials related to Thomas and Ruth Shigekuni, first generation Japanese Americans living in the western United States. The collection documents significant events and themes of the 20th century including the Japanese American incarceration during World War II, military service in the Korean War, the growth of the agricultural industry in Southern California, and the lives and communities of Japanese Americans. Considerable material related to the Granada War Relocation Center, also known as Camp Amache, documents the experiences of the Shigekuni family and other incarcerated residents, and includes newsletters and brochures, historical reports, photographs, reunions, interviews, and publications. There is also correspondence, photographs, and other documents related to Thomas and Ruth Shigekuni and their families, particularly Thomas Shigekuni's parents and siblings, and his education and military service. The collection also includes business records related to Centrose Nursery, the family business located in the Compton area of Los Angeles, and documentation of Thomas and Ruth Shigekuni's involvement with professional, community, and religious organizations such as the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, the Church of Christ, and the Japanese American Citizens League.