This collection consists of photographs of the Yasutome family, a Japanese-American family from Portland, Oregon, taken from 1945 to 1948. Most of the photographs were taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome; a smaller number were created by other members of the Yasutome family and by unidentified students at the Northwest School of Photography in Portland, where Jerry Yasutome studied from approximately 1946 to 1948. Photographs taken by Jerry Yasutome and other family members document their experiences during incarceration at the Tule Lake Relocation Center in California from 1945 to 1946. These images include portraits of the Yasutome family, including Jerry Yasutome’s son, James Mamoru Yasutome, and his parents, Sadao Kurata Yasutome and Ju Jiro Yasutome; group portraits of electrical workers and a Buddhist Sunday School; and photos of a fire at the Tule Lake high school. The remainder of the photographs in the collection represent the work of students at the Northwest School of Photography. They include photographs of the processing lab and students in classes, as well as portraits taken by the students. Also included are photographs taken by Yasutome and other students depicting the aftermath of the Vanport Flood in May 1948.
Photographs of the damage caused by the Vanport Flood in May 1948 taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome and other unidentified students at the Northwest School of Photography in Portland, Oregon.
People evacuated from the Vanport City flood, gathered outside the American Red Cross headquarters at S.W. 15th Avenue and S.W. Alder Street in Portland. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, May 31, 1948 (negative 2 of 9).
People evacuated from the Vanport City flood, gathered outside the American Red Cross headquarters at S.W. 15th Avenue and S.W. Alder Street in Portland. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, May 31, 1948 (negative 4 of 9).
Harold Miller at the Portland Armory, after being evacuated at a flood at the Portland Armory. He’s holding a sandwich and glass of milk. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, May 31, 1948 (negative 5 of 9).
People using ham radios at the American Red Cross headquarters, at S.W. 15th Avenue and S.W. Alder Street in Portland, during a flooding event in Vanport. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, May 31, 1948 (negative 6 of 9).
People in a room of emergency cots at Ainsworth School in Portland, after being evacuated from a flood at Vanport City. Several people can be seen laying in beds. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, May 31, 1948 (negative 8 of 9).
Families evacuated from a flood in Vanport City, at the Portland Armory. Emergency cots can be seen in front of the stone wall of the room. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, May 31, 1948 (negative 9 of 9).
An aerial view of dike work being done at Marine Drive and Gertz Road in Portland, near Vanport City. A group of houseboats can be seen at the right side of the frame, likely on the Columbia River at Marine Drive (negative 1 of 2).
Flood evacuees from Vanport at First Baptist Church in Portland. A woman in an American Red Cross uniform, Mrs. Ray Hausler, leans on a table while chatting with a family, while several children play with toys. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Saturday, June 5, 1948 (negative 1 of 1).
Flood evacuees from Vanport at the American Red Cross headquarters in Portland. People gathered around a table at the front of the frame, while a larger group can be seen standing further back (negative 1 of 6).
Flood evacuees from Vanport at the American Red Cross headquarters in Portland. Several taxidermied deer and elk can be seen in the room, including a standing deer at the front of the frame (negative 2 of 6).
Flood evacuees from Vanport at the American Red Cross headquarters in Portland. Several people are seated around a table holding a phone, with other groups visible in the background (negative 3 of 6).
Flood evacuees from Vanport at the American Red Cross headquarters in Portland. People stand in front of a table under a sign reading “Clothing” (negative 4 of 6).
Flood evacuees from Vanport City at the American Red Cross headquarters in Portland. People can be seen gathered around tables throughout the room. A water barrel with “Emergency Water Supply for Incendiary Bomb Control” can be seen at the bottom of the frame, in front of several taxidermied elk (negative 5 of 6).
A woman and child at Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland, after being evacuated from a flood in the Vanport City. The child is holding on to the woman and looking at the camera, while the woman, wearing a floral dress, looks downward (negative 1 of 2).
Flood evacuees from Vanport City at the American Red Cross headquarters in Portland. The group is in front of a wood-clad wall, with some people sitting and others standing (negative 2 of 2).
Nurse Virginia Davidson, smiles downward at a baby being held by another woman, at an American Legion Post in Portland, being used to house Vanport flood evacuees. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Saturday, June 5, 1948 (negative 1 of 6).
Nurse Virginia Davidson, left, sits with a group of flood evacuees from Vanport, being housed at an American Legion Post in Portland. Several children are sitting with Davidson and other unidentified helpers. Jeanette Harris sits on Davidson’s lap. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Saturday, June 5, 1948 (negative 2 of 6).
Children evacuated from Vanport during a flood, being housed at an American Legion Post in Portland. They’re sitting on the ground next to a woman, with emergency cots set up in the background. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Saturday, June 5, 1948 (negative 4 of 6).
Joe Boyington holds two children evacuated from Vanport during a flood, being housed at an American Legion Post in Portland. He’s smiling down at one of them, while both appear to be eating fruit. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Saturday, June 5, 1948 (negative 5 of 6).
A man stirs a pot in a kitchen at an American Legion Post in Portland, being used as temporary housing for Vanport flood evacuees. Three other men stand behind him and smile. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Saturday, June 5, 1948 (negative 6 of 6).
People repairing Denver Avenue at the point of a break, during a flooding event in 1948. Workers walk along the road next to a truck, being used to dump materials on top of the road. Flooded buildings and a water tower, likely at Vanport City, can be seen in the distance (negative 2 of 2).
A postcard depicting flooded trains in the railroad yards during the Vanport flood. The Image caption reads, "Flood Waters Railroad Yards, Portland, Ore. Christian V-14."
A postcard of rising flood water around Union Station during the Vanport flood. Several unidentified people working to fill sandbags are visible at the front of the building. A crowd of onlookers observe the flood waters from the railing of the Steel Bridge. The image caption reads, "Flood Waters Union Station " Portland, Ore. Christian V-12."
A postcard depicting the flood water around Union Station during the Vanport flood. The photograph is taken from a high vantage point and shows the water surrounding union station, the railroad yards, and nearby buildings. The Steel Bridge is also visible in the distance. The image caption reads, "Flood waters " Portland, Ore. Christian V 15."
A photograph of a line of sandbags holding back flood waters in downtown Portland, Oregon. Union Station and the railroad yards are visible submerged in floodwater in the background. Several unidentified men are working to help reinforce the sandbag wall at various point. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 23."
A photograph of a line of sandbags holding back flood waters in downtown Portland, Oregon. Union Station and the railroad yards are visible submerged in floodwater in the background. Several unidentified men are working to help reinforce the sandbag wall at various point. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 25."
