Description
Kay Sugahara, a millionaire by the age of 29, was sometimes referred to as the "Nisei Onassis" by other second generation
Japanese Americans. He was imprisoned in two West Coast camps after the attack on Pearl Harbor, yet managed to free himself
through his recruitment into the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the forerunner to the Central Intelligence Agency. After
working for the OSS during the war, Sugahara fought to improve relations between the U.S. and Japan, build Asian American
communities on a local and national scale, and as Fairfield-Maxwell Ltd. Chairman, he became a millionaire once again by making
tankers in Japan for U.S. oil companies. The collection contains Sugahara's business, trip, and personal files.
Background
Kay Sugahara, born in Seattle, Washington on March 18, 1909, was sometimes referred to as the "Nisei Onassis" by other second
generation Japanese Americans. His father Kei Sugahara, the 10th son of a Sendai Samurai was born in Japan and immigrated
to the U.S. between 1900 and 1905. His mother Taki Sugahara was born Shimane Ken. His family moved to Los Angeles between
1912 and 1913, where Kay attended public schools. Both parents died by the time he was 13.
Extent
86.8 Linear Feet
(172 boxes, 23 flat boxes, 8 oversize flat boxes, and 5 shoe boxes)
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Availability
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.