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Hisako Hibi and Matsusaburo "George" Hibi papers, circa 1906-2022

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Series 1:Biographical Material, 1906-circa 2020
0.2 Linear feet
Box 1

This series includes Hisako and Matsusaburo "George" Hibi's marriage license, Matsusaburo Hibi's Japanese passport, short biographical profiles on both artists, transcripts of interviews with Hisako Hibi, assorted writings in English and Japanese, and condition reports on a few of Hisako Hibi's paintings. Also noteworthy are a few subject files related to the forced relocation and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Most of the material is related to the art schools established by Matsusaburo "George" Hibi and fellow Japanese American artist Chiura Obata while they were inside Tanforan and Topaz incarceration camps. The files include writings, documents, exhibition catalogs, correspondence, and a sketch by Matsusaburo Hibi.
DescriptionContainerSelect
Biographical Information and Profiles on Hisako Hibi, circa 1976-1991
1
1
Biographical Information and Profiles on Matsusaburo "George" Hibi, circa 1945, circa 2020
1
2
Condition Reports on Hisako Hibi's Paintings, 1998
1
3
Drawing and Other Material on Ibuki Hibi Lee, circa 1935-1947
1
4
Hisako Hibi's Autobiography Preface and Postscript, circa 1965
1
5
Interview Transcript - Hisako Hibi Interviewed by Eric Saul for NJAHS, 1986
1
6
Interview Transcript - Hisako Hibi Interviewed for KQED "Over Easy" Program, circa 1979
1
7
Kimi Kodani Hill's Writing and Research on Hisako Hibi, 1986
1
8
Marriage License, 1930
1
9
Matsusaburo "George" Hibi's Drawings and Woodblock Print, circa 1930-circa 1940
1
10
Matsusaburo "George" Hibi's Japanese Passport, 1906
1
11
Notes and Writings by Matsusaburo "George" Hibi, circa 1930-circa 1946
Writings are in Japanese.
1
12
Subject Files - Tanforan and Topaz Art School, circa 1942-circa 1945, 2016
1
13-15
Subject Files - Tanforan and Topaz Camps, Forced Relocation and Incarceration of Japanese Americans, circa 1943-1980
1
16
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Series 2:Correspondence, 1922-2022
1.2 Linear feet
Boxes 1, 5-6

This series includes personal and professional correspondence between the Hibis and friends, colleagues, museums, galleries, and other institutions. Especially noteworthy are the letters between Matsusaburo "George" Hibi and the artist Michael Chepourkoff during the Hibi family's time at the Topaz incarceration camp during World War II. There are quite a few handmade cards by various correspondents that are scattered throughout the series.
DescriptionContainerSelect
Amoruso, Elaine, circa 1977-1991
5
1
A-B, Alphabetical Correspondence, 1974-1991
5
2
Blanc, Pauline, circa 1976-circa 1991
5
3
Brown, Anne (Frank and Ed), 1980-1991
5
4
Chepourkoff, Michael, 1945-1949, 2006
1
17
Chepourkova, Anna, 2021-2022
1
18
C-D, Alphabetical Correspondence, 1959-1991
5
5
Darwin, Beatrice, 1980-1988
5
6
East West Art Society, 1922
1
19
F, Alphabetical Correspondence, circa 1982-circa 1985
5
7
Grace, Ethel, circa 1978-1983
5
8
Hicks, Frances, 1975-1985
5
9
Hill, Kimi Kodani, circa 1990-1999
Correspondence regarding the Obata family.
1
20
Holub, Florence and Leo, circa 1979-1988
5
10
Humphrey, Ann (St. John), circa 1979-circa 1989
5
11
H-K, Alphabetical Correspondence, 1978-1990
5
12
Japanese American National Museum, circa 1991-2007
1
21-23
Labaudt, Marcelle, circa 1977-circa 1981
5
13
Lau, Alan, 1977-1991
5
14-15
Lau, Alan (Undated), circa 1978-circa 1991
5
16
Leavey, Michaela "Miki" Hsu, circa 1982-2004
6
1
L-N, Alphabetical Correspondence, circa 1976-circa 1985
6
2
May, Elsie E., 1942-1945
1
24
National Japanese American Historical Society, 1986-1998
1
25
Nishiyama, Joan and Katsumi, circa 1980-1984
6
3
O'Hanlon, Ann and Dick, 1972-1983
6
4
O-P, Alphabetical Correspondence, 1971-1988
6
5
Piazzoni Wood, Mirielle, 1979-1989
6
6
R-S, Alphabetical Correspondence, 1975-1991
6
7
Salz, Helen, circa 1972-1977
6
8
Severinghaus, Elinor and Wendy, circa 1982-1990
6
9
Silberstein, Muriel, 1974-1983
6
10
Steinberg, Stefanie, circa 1977-circa 1991
6
11
Taira, Frank, 1974-1990
6
12
Takeshita, Bette, 1986-1990
6
13
T-Y, Alphabetical Correspondence, 1976-1988
6
14
First Names Only, A-H, 1978-1991
6
15
First Names Only, I-V, 1977-1991
6
16
Chronological Correspondence, circa 1950-2001
Folder 26 includes one letter from Yasuo Kuniyoshi.
1
26-31
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Series 3:Exhibition Files, 1936-2005
0.5 Linear feet
Boxes 1

Though there are a few files on Matsusaburo "George" Hibi's exhibitions, the bulk of this series consists of materials related to Hisako Hibi's group and solo exhibitions. The exhibition files contain a range of materials such as correspondence, printed material, price lists, catalogs, and guest books or pages from guest books.
DescriptionContainerSelect
Matsusaburo "George" Hibi Exhibition, Hayward High School (1936), 1936
1
32
Matsusaburo "George" Hibi Memorial Exhibition, Lucien Labaudt Art Gallery (1962), 1962
1
33
A View from the Inside, Oakland Museum (1976), 1976
1
34
Hisako Hibi Retrospective, Sight + Insight Gallery (1977), 1977
1
35
Guest Book for Various Exhibitions, 1980-1986
1
36
Four Japanese Americans of San Francisco Women Artists Exhibition (1987), 1986-1988
1
37
Strength and Diversity: Japanese American Women, 1885-1990, Oakland Museum (1990), 1990
1
38
The View from Within: Japanese American Art from the Internment Camps, 1942-1945, Traveling Exhibition (1992-1995), 1992-1995
1
39
With New Eyes: Toward an Asian American Art History in the West, San Francisco State University (1995), 1995-1996
1
40
A Half-Century of Hope and Suffering: Japanese and Japanese American Painters in the U.S., 1895-1945, Traveling Exhibition (1995-1996), 1995-1996
1
41
A Process of Reflection: Paintings by Hisako Hibi, Japanese American National Museum (1999-2000), 1999-2000
1
42
Peaceful Painter: Hisako Hibi, de Saisset Museum (2004-2005), 2004-2005
1
43
Peaceful Painter: Hisako Hibi, de Saisset Museum (2004-2005) - Guestbook, 2004-2005
1
44
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Series 4:Scrapbooks, circa 1934-1985
0.5 Linear feet
Box 2

The bulk of this series consists of scrapbooks compiled by Hisako Hibi about her artwork and exhibitions. The scrapbooks include correspondence, exhibitions announcements and catalogs, clippings, and photographs of Hisako Hibi, her artwork, and exhibition openings and events. There is also one scrapbook commemorating a trip that Hisako Hibi took around the world in 1963 and one scrapbook about Matsusaburo "George" Hibi's artwork and exhibitions.
DescriptionContainerSelect
"Hisako Hibi, Prior to WWII 1942 Evacuation" Scrapbook, circa 1934-1943
2
1
"Hisako Hibi, 1961-1970" Scrapbook, circa 1964-1970
2
2
Hisako Hibi "May 1971-September 1972" Scrapbook, 1971-1972
2
3
"Hisako Hibi, 1974-1975" Scrapbook, 1974-1975
2
4
"Hisako Hibi, 1976-1978" Scrapbook, 1976-1978
2
5
"Hisako Hibi, 1979" Scrapbook, 1979
2
6
"Hisako Hibi, 1980-1981" Scrapbook, 1980-1981
2
7
"Hisako Hibi, 1982" Scrapbook, 1982-1983
2
8
"Hisako Hibi, 1983-1985" Scrapbook, 1983-1985
2
9
Hisako Hibi "Record of Post-WWII Paintings" Scrapbook, circa 1970-circa 1983
2
10
Hisako Hibi's 1963 World Trip Scrapbook, 1963
2
11
"Matsusaburo Hibi's Records" Scrapbook, circa 1936-1950
2
12
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Series 5:Printed Material, 1918-2019
1.5 Linear feet
Boxes 2-3, OV 4

This series includes a wide range of printed materials such as exhibition announcements and catalogs, magazines, periodicals, clippings, newsletters, program guides, and calendars. Most of the material is related to Hisako and Matsusaburo "George" Hibi's artwork and exhibitions. Some material is regarding other artists the Hibis knew well or were interested in, such as Chiura Obata. There are a few folders containing printed material, usually clippings, on specific subjects, notably the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
DescriptionContainerSelect
Auction Catalogs, 1980-1981
2
13
Clippings about Hisako Hibi, circa 1963-2003
2
14-17
Clippings about Matsusaburo "George" Hibi, 1918-circa 1970
2
18-19
Exhibition Catalogs, 1922-1969
2
20-24
Exhibition Catalogs and Announcements, 1970-circa 1989
2
25-27
Exhibition Catalogs and Announcements, 1990-2009
3
1-4
Illustrated Calendars, 1991-1996
3
5
Illustrated Calendar (Oversize), 1972
4
Magazines, Journals, and Other Periodicals, 1903, 1985-2000
3
6-8
Newsletters and Bulletins, 1980-1994
3
9
San Francisco Annual Arts Festival Programs and Printed Material, 1971-1985
3
10
San Francisco Galleries Guidebook, 1975
3
11
San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center Collection, 1978
3
12
What is Modern Painting?, 1956
3
13
Other Artists - Clippings on Other Artists and Art, circa 1976-1999
3
14
Other Artists - Exhibition Catalogs and Announcements, circa 1930-circa 2000
3
15-20
Other Artists - Printed Material on Chiura Obata, circa 1977-2019
3
21-23
Other Artists - Printed Material on Helen Salz, 1967-1975
3
24
Other Subjects - Printed Material on WWII Forced Removal and Incarceration of Japanese Americans, 1942-2012
Includes material on Tanforan and Topaz.
3
25
Other Subjects - Clippings on Various Subjects Collected by Hisako Hibi, circa 1920-circa 1991
3
26-27
Miscellaneous Printed Material, circa 1970-1987
3
28
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Series 6:Unprocessed Addition, circa 1929-2000

DescriptionContainerSelect
Unprocessed Papers
7
Unprocessed Papers
8

Make a Request

  • To request an appointment to view materials, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reading Room" button. Please note, you will receive the full box.
  • To request reproductions, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reproduction" button.