Arthur Ito Papers: Finding Aid mssIto
Finding aid prepared by Gina C Giang.
The Huntington Library
May 2018
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Note
Finding aid last updated on July 21, 2022, by Maggie Hughes.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Arthur Ito papers
Creator:
Ito, Arthur T., 1918-2006
Identifier/Call Number: mssIto
Physical Description:
33.3 Linear Feet
(51 boxes, 7 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): 1915-2016
Abstract: The Arthur Ito papers consist of
material related to his early life in Mexico, service in the World War II, and career in the
floral industry.
Language of Material: The materials are in English and
Japanese.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
Arthur Ito papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of James A. Ito and Paul N. Coman, November 2016.
Biographical / Historical
Ito family: Yoshimasa Ito (1881-1965) was born with the surname
"Oye," but adopted his wife, Fumiyo Ito's (1885-1933) surname to continue the family name.
Both were from the Tottori Prefecture, Japan. In 1902, Yoshimasa arrived in America to avoid
being drafted in the Japanese army. He worked for Standard Oil Company and, later, Vernon
Basket Company. In 1916, he married Fumiyo Ito, who recently arrived in the United States.
The couple had three children: Arthur Tadashi (1918-2006), Thomas Kiyoshi (1919-2016), and
Paul Susumu (1922-1989).
In 1925, Yoshimasa decided to move his family to Mexico where they settled on a 300-acre
Hacienda called "El Rancho de Los Naranjas," in Colima, Mexico. After the death of Fumiyo in
1933, the Ito family dispersed. Yoshimasa and Paul moved back to Japan, Thomas remained in
Mexico, and eventually, returned to Los Angeles, California, where he met his brother,
Arthur, who arrived earlier.
Arthur T. Ito met Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito in 1939. A couple of years later, he was drafted
into the United States Army during World War II. As a graduate of the Military Intelligence
Language School (MILS), Ito monitored Japanese communication, translated enemy intelligence
documents, and interrogated Japanese prisoners. Ito proposed to Kuromi in 1942, and they
married in Camp Grant, Illinois on February 14, 1943.
After the war, Ito was honorably discharged in October 1945. He returned to Los Angeles,
California where he opened his first flower stand in March 1946. In 1962, Flower View
Gardens broke ground in Hollywood, California. Flower View Gardens served many television
shows and movies in Hollywood. Ito was the first chairman of the California State Florist
Association and a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), Florists'
Transworld Delivery Association (FTD), Society of American Florists (SAF), and the American
Academy of Floriculture. In 1992, Ito was inducted into the Society of American Florists
Hall of Fame.
Arthur and Aiko had two children: Arthur T. Ito, Jr. (1944-1987) and James A. Ito.
Kuromi family: A.H. (Andrew Harue) and Kiyo Kuromi were from the
Shimane Prefecture, Japan and moved to America in the early 1900s. The Kuromis eventually
settled in Hollywood, California where they joined another family member growing flowers on
Los Feliz Boulevard. The couple had three children: Aiko (1919-2011), Isamu (1922-1996), and
Hitoshi (1925-1970).
In 1939, the Kuromi family returned to Japan to visit an ailing family member. This was
the same year Aiko met Arthur Tadashi Ito. A few years later, after the family returned to
the U.S., Executive Order 9066 was signed and issued by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, which led
to mass evacuation and incarceration of the Japanese on the West coast. The Kuromi family
was incarcerated at the Santa Anita Racetrack Assembly Center, while the Gila River
Relocation Center in Gila, Arizona was completed.
When the war ended, Aiko returned with Arthur to re-establish Flower View Gardens. At the
store, Aiko was considered the "face" of the shop and the "glue," which held everything
together (Box 22 , Folder 4). She supported and accompanied Arthur as his political career
in the floral industry progressed.
After 55 years in the floral industry, Arthur and Aiko were looking to retire. Flower View
Gardens was sold to Gerald Stevens Company in April 2000. Unfortunately, the stock value of
Gerald Stevens began to decline and the store operation was closed in August 2001.
Scope and Contents
The Arthur T. Ito papers is organized roughly into 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.
Arrangement
The Arthur Ito papers is organized roughly into four chronological series:
Series 1: 1915-1941;
Series 2: 1941-1945;
Series 3: 1945-2016; and
Series 4:
A/V and oversize.
Processing Information
Processed by Gina C Giang in May 2018. In 2022, rolled items in box 52 were flattened
and/or treated. In 2022, Maggie Hughes updated the container numbers to reflect that the
materials previously in box 52 are now in oversize folders 4-7.
• There may be some overlapping content related to the A.H. (Andrew Harue) Kuromi's
investment in Nichi-Bei Investment Company across Series 1, 2, and 3. The reason being his
involvement began before World War II, he lost his investments during the war, and after the
war, the family continued to deal with the aftermath of their lost.
• Many of the photograph albums and scrapbooks have loose contents and missing
photographs.
• The scrapbooks in Boxes 38 and 39 were originally in binders, but the contents have been
removed and rehoused in archival sleeves.
Existence and Location of Copies
Selected audiovisual items from this collection have been digitized. Digital reproductions
are available in the
Internet
Archive
.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cut flower industry
Cut flowers
Floriculture
Florists
Japanese American families
Japanese American soldiers
Japanese American veterans
Japanese Americans
Japanese Americans -- Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
Japanese Americans -- Reparations
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, Japanese American
California, Southern
Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Los Angeles (Calif.)
Clippings (information artifacts)
Diaries
Greeting cards
Letters (correspondence)
Photographs
Ito, Aiko Alice (Kuromi)
Ito, Arthur T., 1918-2006
Ito, Yoshimasa (Oye)
Ito family
Kuromi family
American Institute of Floral Designers
Florists' Transworld Delivery Association
Gila River Relocation Center
Military Intelligence Service Language School (U.S.)
Santa Anita Assembly Center (Calif.)
Society of American Florists
United States. War Relocation Authority
United States. War Department. Military Intelligence
Service
Box 1, Folder 1
Address books -- Arthur T. Ito, (1935)
Scope and Contents
Es Propidad de Antonio Tadashi Ito
Included: Brief journal entries for March-April 1935 and notes
Box 1, Folder 2
Bookkeeping registers -- Miscellaneous, (1934-1936)
Scope and Contents
Register for various businesses
Incomplete?
Box 1, Item 3
Books -- Commemorative Issue. 2600th Anniversary. Yearbook and Directory,
(1941)
Scope and Contents
Published by Rafu Shimpo. L.A. Japanese Daily News
Fragile
No folder
Box 1, Folder 4
Books -- "Guide to Mexican Immigration," (1923)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 1, Item 5
Bylaws (administrative records) -- Nichi-Bei Investment Company,
(1932-1942)
Scope and Contents
Included: First meeting minutes, resolution, assignment of lease, and written
consent of shareholders
No folder
Box 2, Folder 1
Cards (information artifacts) -- A.H. (Andrew Harue) Kuromi,
(1916)
Scope and Contents
Medical Inspection Card, Port of Departure, Yokohama, Japan
Box 2, Folder 2
Census records -- United States. Bureau of the Census, (1920)
Scope and Contents
Photocopies
Box 2, Folder 3
Correspondence -- H.E. King letter to A.H. (Andrew Harue) Kuromi, (1929,
Mar. 30)
Scope and Contents
Related to William Mead estate
Box 2, Folder 4
Diaries -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1940)
Box 2, Folder 5
Diaries -- [Arthur T. Ito], (1929)
Scope and Contents
Photocopies
Box 2, Folder 6
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1935)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 2, Folder 7
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1936)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 2, Folder 8
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1937-1938)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 2, Folder 9
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1938)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 3
Diaries - Legal documents
Box 3, Folder 1
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1939)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 3, Folder 2
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1940)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 3, Folder 3
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1941)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 3, Folder 4
Financial records -- Kuromi family, (1921-1941)
Scope and Contents
Primarily New York Life Insurance receipts
Box 3, Folder 5
Legal documents -- Re: Nichi-Bei Investment Company,
(1933-1944)
Scope and Contents
Included: Stock certificates
Box 4
Negatives - Photograph albums
Box 4, Folder 1
Negatives (photographs) -- Hash--? Ito, (1927)
Box 4, Folder 2
Notebooks, [1930s]
Scope and Contents
Japanese language lessons
Box 4, Folder 3
Notebooks -- Arthur T. Ito, (1931-1932)
Scope and Contents
In English, Japanese, and Spanish
Box 4, Folder 4
Notebooks -- Arthur T. Ito, (1934)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese (3 notebooks)
Box 4, Folder 5
Notebooks -- Arthur T. Ito, (1935)
Scope and Contents
Libro de Curiosidades Propiedad Antonio T. Ito
Box 4, Folder 6
Photograph albums -- Ito family, (1935-1939)
Scope and Contents
Fragile
Box 4, Folder 7
Photograph albums -- Kuromi family, (1918-1926)
Scope and Contents
Included: Photographs of Kuromi family in flower field
Box 5
Photograph albums - Photographs
Box 5, Folder 1
Photograph albums -- Kuromi family, (1939)
Scope and Contents
Trip to Japan
Box 5, Folder 2
Photograph albums -- Kuromi family, (1939)
Scope and Contents
Primarily Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito and friends in Japan
Box 5, Folder 3
Photographs -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1936-1939)
Scope and Contents
Junior and high school photographs
Box 5, Folder 4
Photographs -- Arthur T. Ito, (1918-1937)
Box 6
Photographs - Reminiscences
Box 6, Folder 1
Photographs -- Celebrities, (1938-1941)
Box 6, Folder 2
Photographs -- Flower View Gardens, (1936)
Box 6, Folder 3
Photographs -- Fumiyo Ito's grave, (1935)
Box 6, Folder 4
Photographs -- Ikeda and Mochizuke families, [1940s?]
Box 6, Folder 5
Photographs -- Ito family, (1918-1935)
Scope and Contents
Included: Arthur T. and [Paul S.] Ito on a horse with negative
Box 6, Folder 6
Photographs -- [Kuromi family?], (1915)
Scope and Contents
Portraits
Box 6, Folder 7
Photographs -- Kuromi family, (1926-1941)
Box 6, Folder 8
Photographs -- Miscellaneous, (1934-1940)
Scope and Contents
Related to Mexico
Box 6, Folder 9
Photographs -- New Vernon Basket Company, (1916)
Scope and Contents
Included: Yoshimasa (Oye) Ito
Box 6, Folder 10
Photographs -- Yoshimasa (Oye) Ito, (1916-1936)
Box 6, Folder 11
Postage stamps, (1940)
Scope and Contents
Eli Whitney, 1 cent (1 sheet) and Samuel F.B. Morse, 2 cents (1 sheet)
Box 6, Folder 12
Postcards -- Tak Shiba to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1940)
Box 6, Folder 13
Postcards -- To Arthur T. Ito, (1933-1940)
Box 6, Folder 14
Promissory notes, (1931-1939)
Scope and Contents
Kuromi family
Box 6, Folder 15
Records (documents) -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1919)
Scope and Contents
Los Angeles County (Calif.) Department of Health Services standard certificate of
birth
Box 6, Folder 16
Records (documents) -- Arthur T. Ito, (1925)
Scope and Contents
Los Angeles County (Calif.) Department of Health Services certified copy of local
record and social security card
Box 6, Folder 17
Reminiscences -- Growing Up in Mexico, 1926-1935, (1935)
Scope and Contents
Included: Handwritten and typewritten copies
Box 7
School yearbooks - Souvenirs
Box 7, Folder 1
School yearbooks -- Hollywood High School, (1936)
Scope and Contents
Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito
Box 7, Folder 2
School yearbooks -- Hollywood High School, (1937)
Scope and Contents
Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito
Box 7, Folder 3
Souvenirs, (1938-1939)
Scope and Contents
Primarily related to Golden Gate International Exposition (1939-1940 : San
Francisco, Calif.)
Box 7, Folder 4
Souvenirs, [before 1930]
Scope and Contents
Travel stamps book
Box 7, Folder 5
Souvenirs, [before 1930]
Scope and Contents
Travel stamps book
Box 7, Folder 6
Souvenirs, [1930s]
Scope and Contents
Travel stamps book
Box 8, Folder 1
Souvenirs, [before 1942]
Scope and Contents
Possibly acquired by Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito during her travels in Japan from
1939-1941
Box 8, Folder 2
Souvenirs, [before 1942]
Scope and Contents
Possibly acquired by Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito during her travels in Japan from
1939-1941
Box 8, Folder 3
Souvenirs, [before 1942]
Scope and Contents
Possibly acquired by Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito during her travels in Japan from
1939-1941
Box 8, Folder 4
Souvenirs, [before 1942]
Scope and Contents
Possibly acquired by Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito during her travels in Japan from
1939-1941
Box 9, Folder 1
Souvenirs, [before 1942]
Scope and Contents
Possibly acquired by Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito during her travels in Japan from
1939-1941
Box 9, Folder 2
Souvenirs, [before 1942]
Scope and Contents
Possibly acquired by Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito during her travels in Japan from
1939-1941
Box 9, Folder 3
Translations -- Robinson Crusoe, (1934)
Scope and Contents
Handwritten Spanish translation by Arthur T. Ito
Box 10, Folder 1
Address books -- Arthur T. Ito, (1941-1944)
Scope and Contents
(3 address books)
Box 10, Folder 2
Autograph albums, (1945)
Scope and Contents
Possibly belonged to Kuromi family member
In Japanese
Box 10, Folder 3
Books -- The 442nd Combat Team presents The Album, (1943)
Box 10, Folder 4
Books -- Army Song Book, (1941)
Scope and Contents
Compiled by The Adjutant General's Office in collaboration with The Library of
Congress and published by order of the Secretary of War
Box 10, Folder 5
Books -- Japan and the Japanese: A Military Power We Must Defeat A Pacific
Problem We Must Solve by the Editors of Fortune, (1944)
Scope and Contents
The Infantry Journal
Box 10, Folder 6
Books -- [Names of all Japanese residents at Gila River War Relocation
Center], [1943]
Scope and Contents
Published by Gila News-Courier
Box 10, Folder 7
Books -- A Prayer Book for Soldiers and Sailors, (1941)
Scope and Contents
Included: Daily Meditation; confirmation; baptism certificate
Box 10, Folder 8
Certificates -- A.H. (Andrew Harue) Kuromi, (1942)
Scope and Contents
United States. Department of Justice. Certificate of Identification
Box 11, Folder 1
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) letter to A.H. (Andrew Harue) and
Kiyo Kuromi, (1943, Jan. 28)
Scope and Contents
Related to wedding plans
Box 11, Folder 2
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito letters to Arthur T. Ito,
[1940s]
Box 11, Folder 3
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito letters to Arthur T. Ito,
(1941)
Box 11, Folder 4
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito letters to Arthur T. Ito,
(1942)
Box 11, Folder 5
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito letters to Arthur T. Ito,
(1943)
Box 11, Folder 6
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito letters to Arthur T. Ito, (1944,
Jan.-June)
Box 11, Folder 7
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito letters to Arthur T. Ito, (1944,
July-Sep.)
Box 11, Folder 8
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito letters to Arthur T. Ito, (1944,
Oct.-Dec.)
Box 11, Folder 9
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito letters to Arthur T. Ito, (1945,
Jan.-May)
Box 12, Folder 1
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito letters to Arthur T. Ito, (1945,
July-Dec.)
Box 12, Folder 2
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito and Mary Kuromi letters to and
from Arthur J. Mullen, Attorney at Law, (1940-1945)
Box 12, Folder 3
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito letters to and from F.C. Bascom,
Public Accountant and Consulting Cost Accountant, (1942-1945)
Box 12, Folder 4
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito letters to and from J. Marion
Wright, Attorney at Law, (1942-1946)
Scope and Contents
Related to property and storage
Included: Agreement between A.H. (Andrew Harume) Kuromi and Kiyo Kuromi, first
parties, and Franklin J. Ruedel, second party
Box 12, Folder 5
Correspondence -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito letters to and from Santa Anita
Assembly Center, (1942)
Scope and Contents
Request for Transfer
Box 12, Folder 6
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito,
(1941-1942)
Box 12, Folder 7
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1943,
Jan.-July)
Box 12, Folder 8
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1944,
Feb.-Apr.)
Box 13, Folder 1
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1944,
May-June)
Box 13, Folder 2
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1944,
July-Aug.)
Box 13, Folder 3
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1944,
Sep.-Nov.)
Box 13, Folder 4
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1944,
Dec.)
Box 13, Folder 5
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1945,
Jan.-Feb.)
Box 13, Folder 6
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1945,
Mar.-May)
Box 14, Folder 1
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1945,
June-Aug.)
Box 14, Folder 2
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1945,
Sep.-Oct.)
Box 14, Folder 3
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1945,
Nov.-Dec.)
Box 14, Folder 4
Correspondence -- Arthur T. Ito letters to Japan, (1940s)
Box 14, Folder 5
Correspondence -- Letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1945)
Scope and Contents
Included: George I. Tanaka and T. Mochizuki
Box 14, Folder 6
Correspondence -- Letters to Arthur T. Ito, (1942-1945)
Scope and Contents
Included: Jaime Llamas; Kaz Minami; Paulita [M.C.]; M. Hata; Minoru W. Okubo
Box 14, Folder 7
Correspondence -- Re: Property storage and relocation,
(1942-1945)
Scope and Contents
Included: Ernest K. Iwasaki; H.T. Ohara; William Mead Real Estate Company; New York
Life Insurance Company; Colyear Van & Storage Company; Franklin J. Rueduel;
United States. War Relocation Authority; O.B. Wilt, Transportation Property
Officer
Box 14, Folder 8
Correspondence -- Thomas K. Ito letters to Arthur T. Ito,
(1944-1945)
Box 15, Folder 1
Diaries -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1943)
Box 15, Folder 2
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1942-1944)
Scope and Contents
Camp Grant, (Ill.)
Box 15, Folder 3
Empty envelopes, [1940s]
Scope and Contents
Primarily letters from Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito to Arthur T. Ito were contained in
these envelopes
Box 15, Folder 4
Essays, [1940s]
Scope and Contents
Related to World War, 1939-1945
Box 15, Folder 5
Excerpts -- Miscellaneous, (1942)
Scope and Contents
Included: "The Japanese civilian is tough and patient. He has always worked hard
and eaten little. Now he works harder and eats less," Fortune Magazine; "Waste" by
Hollywood Citizen News; Top page that reads, "How Long Can Japan Last?"
Box 15, Folder 6
Financial records -- Bank of America, (1941-1942)
Scope and Contents
Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito's deposit book
Box 15, Folder 7
Financial records -- Miscellaneous, (1941-1942)
Scope and Contents
Included: Lyon Van & Storage Co. charges; invoice; and a check
Box 15, Folder 8
Greeting cards, [1940s]
Scope and Contents
Included: Arthur and Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito Christmas greeting cards
Box 17
Greeting cards - Military records
Box 17, Folder 3
Housebooks -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1943-1945)
Scope and Contents
Various household expenses such as groceries, stamps, and soap
Box 17, Folder 5
Legal documents -- Arthur T. Ito, (1944)
Scope and Contents
Power of Attorney; Last Will and Testament
Box 17, Folder 6
Manuscripts -- Arthur T. Ito, (1942-1943)
Scope and Contents
Two entries: Camp Grant, Ill, Dec. 30, 1942 and Minneapolis, Minn., Jan. 4,
1943
Box 17, Folder 7
Maps, [1940s]
Scope and Contents
Plot Plan of Santa Anita Center; Butte Community; A Cartograph of the University of
Minnesota
Box 17, Folder 8
Military records -- Arthur T. Ito, (1942-1945)
Scope and Contents
ASN 39165039 stencil; California. Veterans' Welfare Board Certificate of
Eligibility; Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge;
Identification Card - Enlisted Reserve Corps; discharge papers; memorandum;
clearances; special orders; questionnaires; applications; certificates
Box 18, Folder 1
Negatives (photographs) -- Arthur T. Ito, [1940s]
Box 18, Folder 2
Notebooks, [1940s]
Scope and Contents
Japanese language lessons (7 notebooks)
Box 18, Folder 3
Notebooks, [1940s]
Scope and Contents
Poems (3 notebooks)
Included: Loose pages
In Japanese
Box 18, Folder 4
Notebooks, (1944)
Scope and Contents
Possibly belonged to Kuromi family member
In Japanese
Box 18, Folder 5
Notebooks -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1944)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 18, Folder 6
Notes -- [Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito], (1942)
Scope and Contents
Related to sewing
Box 18, Folder 7
Notes -- [Arthur T. Ito], (1942-1944)
Scope and Contents
Re: Army Cooks School; The Army of the United States; Communicate Diseases; Special
Tabulation on Age Distribution of Evacuees at Relocation Centers on November 10,
1942
Included: Printed matter and smaller notebooks
Box 19, Folder 1
Notices -- United States. War Relocation Authority, (1942)
Scope and Contents
Administrative notices; Proposed Agenda for Conference on Relocation and Post-War
Plans
Box 19, Folder 2
Orders (military records) -- Civilian Exclusion Order No. 11,
(1942)
Scope and Contents
Headquarters Western Defense Command and Fourth Army, Presidio of San Francisco,
California
Box 19, Folder 3
Photographs -- Arthur T. Ito, [1940s]
Scope and Contents
Included: Family pictures
Box 19, Folder 4
Photographs -- Arthur T. Ito and Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito,
(1943)
Scope and Contents
Wedding photographs
Included: My Bride's Book; Wedding Announcements; clippings; invitation; program;
marriage certificate
Box 19, Folder 5
Photographs -- Gila River Relocation Center, (1945)
Box 19, Folder 6
Photographs -- Miscellaneous, (1908-1940s)
Scope and Contents
Included: Green Valley, 1908
Box 20, Folder 3
Postcards, [1940s]
Scope and Contents
Note: There are two postcards from 1936 and 1994, but they are attached to
photocopies of postcards from the 1940s
Box 20, Folder 4
Printed ephemera -- Medical Replacement Training Center (Camp Grant, Ill.),
(1943)
Scope and Contents
Included: Thanksgiving Dinner menu, 1943; Medical Service with the Armored
Division, Conference: S.O.P. (Instructional), Prepared by the Armored Force
Surgeon
Box 20, Folder 5
Printed ephemera -- United States. War Department. Military Intelligence
Service, (1944)
Scope and Contents
Included: Graduation program, 1944; Baccalaureate Services, 1944
Box 20, Folder 6
Recordisc -- Arthur T. Ito to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1944, Oct.
5)
Scope and Contents
Poor condition
Box 20, Folder 7
Records (documents) -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1941-1942)
Scope and Contents
Los Angeles County (Calif.) Department of Health Services certified copy of local
record, 1941; social security card
Box 20, Folder 8
Souvenirs, [1940s]
Scope and Contents
Possibly acquired by Arthur T. Ito during his training with the United States
Army
Box 21, Folder 1
Souvenirs, [1940s]
Scope and Contents
Possibly acquired by Arthur T. Ito during his training with the United States
Army
Box 21, Folder 2
Souvenirs, [1940s]
Scope and Contents
Possibly acquired by Arthur T. Ito during his training with the United States
Army
Box 21, Folder 3
Telegrams -- To and from Arthur T. Ito and Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito,
(1943-1945)
Box 21, Folder 4
Textbooks, [1940s]
Scope and Contents
Japanese poetry
Box 22, Folder 1
Account books -- Market Purchases, (1946)
Scope and Contents
Various flower expenses
Box 22, Folder 2
Account books -- MKT Purchase, (1947)
Scope and Contents
Various flower expenses
Box 22, Folder 3
Appraisals (financial records) -- 124 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles,
California
Scope and Contents
Submitted by William W. Abelmann, M.A.I.
Box 22, Folder 4
Biographies (documents) -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (2003)
Box 22, Folder 5
Biographies (documents) -- Arthur T. Ito, (2006)
Box 22, Folder 6
Biographies (documents) -- Kiyo Kuromi, (1967)
Scope and Contents
"This Is Your Life" beginning, "Born in Miho no seki - Shimane-ken, Japan May 8,
1899..."
Box 22, Folder 7
Biographies (documents) -- Yoshimasa (Oye) Ito, [undated]
Scope and Contents
Biography written by Paul S. Ito for an anthropology of Southern California Tottori
Kenjin
Box 22, Folder 8
Booklets -- The Pacific War and Peace: Americans of Japanese Ancestry in
Military Intelligence Service, (1991)
Box 22, Folder 9
Books -- Americans, The Story of the 442d Combat Team by Orville C.
Shirley, (1946)
Box 22, Folder 10
Books -- An Eighteenth-Century Garland: The Flower and Fruit Arrangements
of Colonial Williamsburg by Louise B. Fisher, (1951)
Box 23, Folder 1
Books -- By the Hands of a Working Man: A Japanese Background A Mexican
Childhood An American Life by Thomas K. Ito, with Tom Ito and Amy Bergstrom,
(2002)
Box 23, Item 2
Books -- Encyclopedia of Flowers by Makoto Zuma and Shunsuke Shiinoki,
(2015)
Scope and Contents
No folder
Box 23, Folder 3
Books -- Flower Confidential by Amy Stewart, (2007)
Box 23, Folder 4
Books -- Gido to juntei by Kazutora Adachi, (1992)
Box 24, Folder 1
Books -- Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say, (1993)
Box 24, Folder 2
Books -- Hiroshima Under Atomic Bomb Attack by Shogo Nagaoka,
(1965)
Box 24, Folder 3
Books -- The Japanese of Los Angeles, 1869-1920 by William M. Mason and
John A. McKinstry, (1969)
Scope and Contents
Contribution in History No. 1 Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History/A
California Bicentennial Publication
Box 24, Item 4
Books -- Kindai hyakunen Tottori-Ken hyakketsu den, (1970)
Scope and Contents
No folder
Box 24, Folder 5
Books -- L.A. Japanese Language School Cooperative System, Inc.
(1951)
Box 24, Folder 6
Books -- The MISLS Album, (1946)
Scope and Contents
Military Intelligence Service Language School (U.S.)
Box 25, Item 1
Books -- Mizokuchi choshi, (1973)
Scope and Contents
No folder
Box 25, Folder 2
Books -- A Scent of Flowers: the history of the Southern California flower
market, (2004)
Scope and Contents
Laid in: Post-its
Included: Order forms; notes related to Ito and Kuromi family mentioned in
book
Box 25, Folder 3
Books -- Shimane jurinden by Tameji Taniguchi, (1977)
Box 26, Folder 1
Books -- Southern California Gardens: An Illustrated History by Victoria
Padilla, (1961)
Box 26, Folder 2
Books -- The Story Behind the Flying Eight-Ball, [1946?]
Scope and Contents
Included: Eighth Radio Squadron Mobile by Yori Wada [photocopies]
Box 26, Folder 3
Books -- World War II Memories by Leonard Zerlin, (1996)
Box 26, Folder 4
Business cards -- Miscellaneous, [undated]
Box 26, Folder 5
Calligraphy (visual works), [undated]
Box 26, Folder 6
Certificates -- Certificate of Identification - Motion Pictures,
(1955)
Scope and Contents
Included: Arthur K. Ito and James K. Ito
Box 26, Folder 7
Certificates -- Arthur T. Ito, (1948-2002)
Scope and Contents
Certificate of Achievement; Certificate of Appreciation, California State Florists
Association; Japanese American Citizens League certificate of membership
Box 26, Folder 8
Clippings (information artifacts) -- Arthur T. Ito, (1960-1990)
Scope and Contents
Included: Asahi Shimbun article about Ito brothers, "The Story of Arthur T. Ito and
His Life in Mexico..." and photocopies
Box 27, Folder 1
Clippings (information artifacts) -- Arthur T. Ito, (1962-1995)
Scope and Contents
Related to various floral societies and events
Included: Photocopies
Box 27, Folder 2
Clippings (information artifacts) -- Arthur T. Ito, (1974-2003)
Scope and Contents
Related to Florist Transworld Delivery Association (FTD)
Included: Photocopies
Box 27, Folder 3
Clippings (information artifacts) -- Arthur T. Ito, (1989)
Scope and Contents
Included: Photocopies
In Japanese
Box 27, Folder 4
Clippings (information artifacts) -- Arthur K. Ito, Jr., (1988)
Scope and Contents
"Tribute honors Arthur T. Ito Jr."
Photocopy
Box 27, Folder 5
Clippings (information artifacts) -- Douglas Ito, (1992)
Scope and Contents
Photocopies
Box 27, Folder 6
Clippings (information artifacts) -- Flower View Gardens,
(1959-2004)
Scope and Contents
Included: Articles about Naomi Hirahara, A Scent of Flowers and photocopies
Box 27, Folder 7
Clippings (information artifacts) -- Isamu Kuromi, (1996)
Scope and Contents
Obituary
Box 27, Folder 8
Clippings (information artifacts) -- Korean War, 1950-1953,
(1997)
Scope and Contents
"The Korean War: Bloody, Bitter, But Forgotten"
Box 27, Folder 9
Clippings (information artifacts) -- Kuromi family, (1967-1980)
Scope and Contents
"This grandmother grows her own Mother's Day bouquets" and "Double Ceremony For
Mrs. Kuromi"
Included: Photocopies
Box 27, Folder 10
Clippings (information artifacts) -- Miscellaneous, (1966-2005)
Scope and Contents
Included: Photocopies
Box 28
Color slides - Correspondence
Box 28, Folder 1
Color slides -- Arthur T. Ito, [1980s]
Scope and Contents
Related to floral events
Box 28, Folder 2
Correspondence -- [H. Ikada] letters to Kiyo Kuromi,
(1956-1957)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 28, Folder 3
Correspondence -- Letters from Arthur and/or Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito,
(1986-2000)
Scope and Contents
Included: End of the year updates from Ito family
Box 28, Folder 4
Correspondence -- Letters from Committee on Japanese American Evacuation
Claims, (1955-1956)
Scope and Contents
Related to A.H. (Andrew Harue) and Kiyo Kuromi
Box 28, Folder 5
Correspondence -- Letters from F.W. Kadletz & Co., (1946)
Scope and Contents
Related to Isamu Kuromi and Hitoshi Kuromi, minors
Included: Policy and rental statement
Box 28, Folder 6
Correspondence -- Letters from Japan, [after 1945?]
Scope and Contents
There may be letters earlier than 1945
Included: Letters from "Haruko -----", "Miyako -----", "Yuriko", and "Junko"
Box 28, Folder 7
Correspondence -- Letters from Japanese American Citizens League,
(1953-1954)
Box 28, Folder 8
Correspondence -- Letters from John Y. Maeno, Attorney at Law,
(1946-1959)
Scope and Contents
Related to Kiyo Kuromi, Isamu Kuromi, Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, and Yokohama Specie
Bank, Ltd.
Box 28, Folder 9
Correspondence -- Letters from John Y. Meano, Attorney at Law,
(1948-1959)
Scope and Contents
Related to Nichi-Bei Investment Company
Included: Letters from California. Franchise Tax Board
Box 28, Folder 10
Correspondence -- Letters from Los Angeles County (Calif.). Department of
Tax Collector, (1951-1959)
Box 28, Folder 11
Correspondence -- Letters from New York Life Insurance and Trust Company
and Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, (1946)
Scope and Contents
Related to A.H. (Andrew Harue) Kuromi's life insurance
Box 28, Folder 12
Correspondence -- Letters from Paul S. Ito, (1961-1980)
Box 28, Folder 13
Correspondence -- Letters from United States. Department of Justice,
(1950-1951)
Scope and Contents
Related to claims filed by Kiyo Kuromi, Isamu Kuromi, and Aiko Alice (Kuromi)
Ito
Included: Blank forms
Box 29, Folder 1
Correspondence -- Letters from Yoshimasa (Oye) Ito and/or Haruka Endo,
(1948-1964)
Scope and Contents
Primarily in Japanese
Box 29, Folder 2
Correspondence -- Letters to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito,
(1949-1998)
Box 29, Folder 3
Correspondence -- Letters to Arthur T. Ito, (1946-2002)
Box 29, Folder 4
Correspondence -- Letters to Arthur and Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito,
(1947-2006)
Box 29, Folder 5
Correspondence -- Letters to Arthur and Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito,
(1967-2002?)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 29, Folder 6
Correspondence -- Letters to Security First National Bank,
(1965-1972)
Scope and Contents
Related to Promissory Note in favor of Carl H. Peine
Box 29, Folder 7
Correspondence -- Miscellaneous, (1949-2002)
Scope and Contents
Included: The Japan Times, 2000; Joe Suski to Gordy -----, 2002; [Yoshimasa (Oye)
Ito?] to "My dear Kayoko", 1949; Naoko Ohkochi to Jay Sudo, [undated];
Box 29, Folder 8
Correspondence -- Miyo Owami letter to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito,
(1962)
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 29, Folder 9
Correspondence -- Paul S. Ito letter to "a person (who was going to publish
a book of 'History of famous people from Hino, Tottori Pref,'" (1980)
Scope and Contents
Related to Yoshimasa (Oye) Ito
Included: Letter from Mayumi Hashii to Arthur T. Ito, Aug. 21, 2005
Photocopies
Box 29, Folder 10
Correspondence -- Re: Claims against Yokohama Specie Bank, Ltd.,
(1945-1956)
Scope and Contents
Included: California. State Banking Department; Federal Reserve Bank of
Minneapolis; Kiyo Kuromi; United States. Department of Justice; Yokohama Specie
Bank, Ltd.
Box 29, Folder 11
Correspondence -- Yoichi Ito letter to Arthur and Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito,
(1980, Aug. 18)
Scope and Contents
Related to Ito family crest
Included: Photocopies of family crest
Box 29, Folder 12
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1966)
Scope and Contents
"Mexico Trip, Wash. D.C. Seattle, Wash."
Box 29, Folder 13
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1972)
Scope and Contents
"Grant Europe Spain Tour GAF 826 Brenden Tour"
Box 29, Folder 14
Diaries -- [Arthur T. Ito?], (1977)
Scope and Contents
Note: The handwriting appears different from Ito's other diaries
Box 29, Folder 15
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1986, Jan.-Mar.)
Scope and Contents
Included: Entries from Michigan; Japan; Illinois; Los Angeles (Calif.)
Box 29, Folder 16
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1986, Mar.-May)
Scope and Contents
Included: Entries from Michigan; Los Angeles (Calif.); Delaware
Box 29, Folder 17
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1986, May-June)
Scope and Contents
Los Angeles (Calif.); New York (N.Y.)
Box 29, Folder 18
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1986, June-Aug.)
Scope and Contents
Included: Entries from Michigan; Texas; Los Angeles (Calif.); Vancouver (B.C.)
Box 30
Diaries - Financial records
Box 30, Folder 1
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1986, Aug.-Sep.)
Scope and Contents
Included: Entries from Los Angeles (Calif.); Denmark; Norway
Box 30, Folder 2
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1986, Sep.-Dec.)
Scope and Contents
Included: Entries from Stockholm (Sweden); Los Angeles (Calif.); Michigan (2
notebooks)
Box 30, Folder 3
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1988)
Scope and Contents
"People to People Trip to Eastern Black Countries Sept. 1988"
Box 30, Folder 4
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1989)
Scope and Contents
"Top 100 Meeting Quebec City"
Box 30, Folder 5
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1991-1992)
Scope and Contents
"Japan Dec. - 1991, Seoul Korea Trip to Panama Canal Jan. 1992"
Box 30, Folder 6
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1992)
Scope and Contents
"Trip to Spain"
Box 30, Folder 7
Diaries -- Arthur T. Ito, (1997-2003)
Scope and Contents
"Cancun Mexico Tour of Meridad Yucatan...Paris France...Cairo Egypt...Interflora
World Cup"
Included: Entries from Japan, 2003 and pages from China trip in 1998 (1 notebook
and loose papers)
Box 30, Folder 8
Financial records -- Arthur and Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito,
(1946-1959)
Scope and Contents
Primarily related to investment securities
Included: Checkbook stubs for hospital and surgery payments; California-Western
State Life Insurance Company Money Measurer and receipts
Box 30, Folder 9
Financial records -- Isamu Kuromi, (1953)
Scope and Contents
Primarily related to lighting maintenance
Box 30, Folder 10
Financial records -- Kiyo Kuromi, (1974-1980?)
Scope and Contents
Estate of Kiyo Kuromi
Included: Receipt from John Y. Maeno for $100 related to Kuromi estate
Box 31, Folder 1
Genealogies -- Ito and Kuromi families, (2016)
Scope and Contents
Included: Correspondence and record on Kuromi family's ancestors
Box 31, Folder 2
Genealogies -- Ito and Oye families, (2002)
Scope and Contents
Included: Pan Ocean Trading Co., Ltd with Ito arrival to U.S.A. date, occupation,
and name of town
Box 31, Folder 3
Greeting cards, (1953-2002)
Box 31, Folder 4
Interviews -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1993)
Scope and Contents
Los Angeles Public Library Shades of L.A. Interview Project Transcribed
Excerpts
Interview may be found
here
Box 31, Folder 5
Invitations, (2002-2003)
Scope and Contents
Included: Woodinville High School, 2002; "Las Floristas a la Mode", 2003
Box 31, Folder 6
Legal documents -- Re: Kuromi guardianship, (1946)
Scope and Contents
Related to Isamu Kuromi and Hitoshi Kuromi, minors
Box 31, Folder 7
Licenses -- Flower View Gardens, Los Angeles (Calif.), (1946)
Scope and Contents
Included: California. State Board of Equalization permit
Box 31, Folder 8
Magazines (periodicals) -- Art in Flowers, (1959)
Scope and Contents
Featuring designs by Arthur T. Ito
Box 31, Folder 9
Magazines (periodicals) -- California State Florists' Association,
(1961-1989)
Box 32
Magazines - Photograph albums
Box 32, Folder 1
Magazines (periodicals) -- Florists' Review, (1969-1979)
Box 32, Folder 2
Magazines (periodicals) -- Los Angeles Times Magazine, (1996)
Box 32, Folder 3
Magazines (periodicals) -- Magazine of Flowers, (1966-1967)
Box 32, Folder 4
Magazines (periodicals) -- Southern Florist and Nurseryman,
(1977)
Box 32, Folder 5
Manuscripts, [undated]
Scope and Contents
Untitled typewritten copy of a manuscript beginning "Just as Thomas Fossum will
tell us, the very nature of our business, especially the retail segment, history
tells us that we did not experience the severe shock during the big depression as
other business did, and contrary to what you and I may think, flowers were a
necessity, just as bread was for survival."
Box 32, Folder 6
Negatives (photographs), [after 1945]
Box 32, Folder 7
Newsletters -- The Bloomin' News, (1967-1985)
Box 32, Folder 8
Notes -- Miscellaneous, (1948-1996)
Scope and Contents
(2 notebooks and loose pages)
Box 32, Folder 9
Notes, (2016)
Scope and Contents
Loose notes supplied by James A. Ito about the collection
Box 32, Folder 10
Passports -- Arthur T. Ito and Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, [1995]
Scope and Contents
Photocopies
Box 32, Folder 12
Photograph albums -- Flower View Gardens, (1966)
Scope and Contents
Covers missing
Box 33
Photograph albums - Photographs
Box 33, Folder 1
Photograph albums -- Greetings From Your California Shinsekis,
(1967-1968)
Scope and Contents
Ito and Kuromi families
Box 33, Item 2
Photograph albums -- Japan Florists' Telegraph Delivery Association,
(1987-1989)
Scope and Contents
No folder
Box 33, Folder 3
Photographs -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1956-2007)
Scope and Contents
Included: Friends, family, and headshots
Box 33, Folder 4
Photographs -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito and Nancy Reagan, 1921-2016,
(1986)
Scope and Contents
Congressional luncheon
Box 33, Folder 5
Photographs -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito's watercolors,
(2001-2004)
Scope and Contents
Included: Negatives and printed matter
Box 34, Folder 1
Photographs -- Arthur T. Ito, (1969-1973)
Scope and Contents
Headshots
Box 34, Folder 2
Photographs -- Arthur T. Ito's 88th birthday, (2006)
Scope and Contents
Included: Notes pertaining to the celebration
Box 34, Folder 3
Photographs -- Arthur T., Paul S., and Thomas K. Ito,
(1954-1971)
Box 34, Folder 4
Photographs -- Celebrities, (1963-1998?)
Box 34, Folder 5
Photographs -- Cuautitlan (Mexico, Mexico), (1965-1968)
Scope and Contents
Included: Photographs of Fumiyo Ito's grave
Box 34, Folder 6
Photographs -- Florists' Transworld Delivery Association (FTD),
(1961-1992)
Box 34, Folder 7
Photographs -- Flower View Gardens, (1946-1992)
Box 34, Folder 8
Photographs -- Flower View Gardens, (1954-1988)
Box 35, Folder 1
Photographs -- Flower View Gardens, (1956-1963)
Box 35, Folder 2
Photographs -- Glendale (Calif.), (1959)
Scope and Contents
Methodist chapel wedding
Box 35, Folder 3
Photographs -- Ito family, (1960)
Box 35, Folder 4
Photographs -- Ito Gido's tomb, [1990]
Scope and Contents
Tottori Prefecture, Japan
Box 35, Folder 5
Photographs -- Kuromi family, (1933-1969)
Box 35, Folder 6
Photographs -- L.A. Auto Show, (1961-1962)
Box 35, Folder 7
Photographs -- Las Floristas Headdress Ball, (1962-1965)
Box 35, Folder 8
Photographs -- Michi Ohara's wedding, [1972]
Box 35, Folder 9
Photographs -- Miscellaneous, (1961-1986)
Scope and Contents
Included: American Institute of Floral Designers; California State Polytechnic
University, Pomona; California State Florist Association; Floral Design Society;
Southern California Floral Association; Southern Florists; Society of American
Florists; Teleflora; miscellaneous floral demonstrations, arrangements, and
events
Box 36
Photographs - Printed ephemera
Box 36, Folder 1
Photographs -- Miscellaneous, (1963-1990)
Scope and Contents
Included: NBC demonstration; URF; miscellaneous floral demonstrations,
arrangements, and events
Box 36, Folder 2
Photographs -- Miscellaneous, (1969-19886)
Scope and Contents
Nixon family; Decorating the White House, Christmas, 1986; Their Majesties, The
Emperor and Empress of Japan, 1975
Box 36, Folder 3
Photographs -- Oye family scrolls, [1990s?]
Box 36, Folder 4
Photographs -- Paul S. Ito, (1934-1970)
Scope and Contents
Included: Photographs of Paul S. Ito in Mexico, 1954
Box 36, Folder 5
Photographs -- Santa Monica Boulevard building, [undated]
Box 36, Folder 6
Photographs -- Yoshimasa (Oye) Ito, (1955-1962)
Box 36, Folder 7
Photographs -- Yoshimasa (Oye) Ito's funeral, (1965)
Box 36, Folder 8
Photographs -- Yoshimasa (Oye) Ito' house, (1955-1970)
Scope and Contents
Included: Photographs from the Tottori Prefecture, Tane Yoshimasa's youngest
sister, and Uncle Oye, 99 years old
Box 36, Folder 9
Press releases -- Miscellaneous, (1977-1978)
Scope and Contents
Society of American Florist and Floracons, Ltd.
Box 36, Folder 10
Printed ephemera -- Florists' Transworld Delivery Association (FTD),
(1976-1994)
Scope and Contents
Included: Canadian French Pocket Dictionary, 1984; press releases; 1976 FTD Design
Competition; newsletters; Florist issue, Sep. 1978; Ito campaign material
Box 36, Folder 11
Printed ephemera -- Flower View Gardens, (1963-1966)
Scope and Contents
Included: Brochures, maps, invitation, and promotional material
Box 37, Folder 1
Printed ephemera -- Gila River Relocation Center, (1993-1995)
Scope and Contents
Included: Newsletter and photocopies of an article
Box 37, Folder 2
Printed ephemera -- A History of Japanese Americans in California: Historic
Sites, (2005)
Scope and Contents
Printouts
Box 37, Folder 3
Printed ephemera -- Los Feliz Improvement Association,
(1991-1996)
Scope and Contents
Included: Anniversary Los Feliz Improvement Association booklet; Los Feliz
Observer, Spring 1996; multiple copies of "Flower View Gardens: '50 Years' Is Not
Enough"
Box 37, Folder 4
Printed ephemera -- Military Intelligence Service Club of Southern
California, (1993-2000)
Box 37, Folder 5
Printed ephemera -- Miscellaneous, (1980-1997)
Scope and Contents
Miniature Poinsettias, Reprinted from Flowers & Magazine, Aug. 1980; Wholesale
Florists and Florist Suppliers of America, Inc. flier; East & West Travel
Corporation presents the Tenth International Floral Tour of the Orient - 1981
brochure; www.TheGreenie.com by Fred Taomae printout; Olivers 78th Anniversary
booklet, 1990; Haband Co. Rayon Neckwear; Hollywood at Home, Laughlin Park, 1997;
Flowers: Geometric Form order form; The Richfield Wild Flower Book
Box 37, Folder 6
Printed ephemera -- Miscellaneous, (1981-1995)
Scope and Contents
Hito Hata: Raise the Banner, A Visual Communications Production; Japanese American
National Museum: National Salute to Japanese American Veterans Salute Tribute
Journal; UPA Academic Editions: Wartime Translations of Seized Japanese Documents;
Artist's Statement, Eddy Kurushima; photocopies of Executive Order 9066: The
Internment of 110,000 Japanese Americans by Maisie & Richard Conrat
Box 37, Folder 7
Printed ephemera -- Miscellaneous, [undated]
Scope and Contents
In Japanese
Box 37, Folder 8
Printed ephemera -- Nisei, (1968-2004)
Box 37, Folder 9
Printed ephemera -- Re: Japanese Americans -- Reparations,
(1986)
Scope and Contents
"...Congress Apologizes on Behalf of the Nation" by Japanese American Citizens
League with participation from U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Redress
Administration; Redress! The American People; Against All Odds: The Japanese
Americans' Campaign for Dress, Case Program John F. Kennedy School of Government
Harvard University; letter from George W. Bush
Box 37, Folder 10
Printed ephemera -- SAFE Endowment, (1979)
Scope and Contents
Information packet for Society of American Florists' Endowment
Box 37, Folder 11
Printed ephemera -- St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Los Angeles, Calif.),
(1982-1984)
Scope and Contents
Included: In Appreciation: Arthur T. Ito, photocopies; fragment of schedule; For 75
years the Spirit of St. Marys booklet
Box 38
Printed ephemera - Scrapbooks
Box 38, Folder 1
Programs -- Miscellaneous, (1945-2002)
Scope and Contents
Primarily funeral programs for Ito and Kuromi families
Box 38, Folder 2
Receipts (financial records), (1954-1955)
Scope and Contents
Donation receipts for in Izumo-taisha shrine in Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Box 38, Folder 3
Reminiscences -- Arthur T. Ito, (1990)
Scope and Contents
Handwritten and typewritten recollections before World War, 1939-1945
Included: Letter from Toshi Tabata regarding Ito's childhood, February 5, 1990
Box 38, Folder 4
Resumes (personnel records) -- Arthur T. Ito, (1967)
Box 38, Folder 5
Scrapbooks -- Arthur T. Ito, (1984-1986)
Scope and Contents
Candidate for Vice-President FTD - Montreal
Folder 1 out of 2
Box 38, Folder 6
Scrapbooks -- Arthur T. Ito, (1984-1986)
Scope and Contents
Candidate for Vice-President FTD - Montreal
Folder 2 out of 2
Box 38, Folder 7
Scrapbooks -- Arthur T. Ito, (1985-1986)
Scope and Contents
President FTD
Box 39
Scrapbooks - Subject files
Box 39, Folder 1
Scrapbooks -- Florists' Transworld Delivery Association,
(1984-1985)
Scope and Contents
Incomplete?
Box 39, Folder 2
Sketches -- [unidentified man], [undated]
Box 39, Folder 3
Speeches -- Arthur T. Ito, (1963-1970)
Scope and Contents
Related to various florist events
Box 39, Folder 4
Statements -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito and Kiyo Kuromi, [after
1948]
Scope and Contents
Itemized Statement of Personal Property...Pursuant to Public Law 886 (Act of July
2, 1948)
Box 39, Folder 5
Stock certificates -- Flower View Gardens, (1947-1976)
Box 39, Folder 6
Subject files -- Arthur T. Ito's funeral, (2006-2007)
Scope and Contents
Included: Deed and Certificate of Endowment Care, Forest Lawn Memorial Park;
programs; photographs; obituaries; information related to final illness
Box 39, Folder 7
Subject files -- Asian Florist Association, (2004)
Scope and Contents
JFTD Hana Cupid Annual Convention, Kobe, Japan
Included: E-mails, speech, notes, schedule, and printed matter
Box 39, Folder 8
Subject files -- Demise of Flower View Gardens Inc., (2000)
Scope and Contents
Included: Background; stock information; financial records
Box 39, Folder 9
Subject files -- Florists' Transworld Delivery Association,
(1974)
Scope and Contents
Member Day
Included: Correspondence, forms, program, and printed matter
Box 39, Folder 10
Subject files -- Go For Broke, (2003-2005)
Scope and Contents
Included: E-mails; clippings (information artifacts); printed matter; press
releases; material related to Hanashi Interview and Eric Shinseki
Box 39, Folder 11
Subject files -- Japan Florists' Telegraph Delivery Association,
(1999-2004)
Scope and Contents
Primarily e-mails related to Japan Florists' Telegraph Delivery Association,
AFS/Teleflora meetings
Box 40, Folder 1
Subject files -- Japan Florists' Telegraph Delivery Association,
(2001-2007)
Scope and Contents
Included: Notes and schedule related to Japan Florists' Telegraph Delivery
Association, AFS/Teleflora meetings; History of JFTD In Commemoration of the 50th
Anniversary; The 55th JFTD Annual Convention in Hiroshima, 2007; Welcome to
Fleurop-Interflora, 2001; business cards; agreements
Box 40, Folder 2
Subject files -- Joseph Shinoda Memorial Scholarship Foundation,
(1964)
Scope and Contents
Included: Letter from Mas Yonemura to Arthur T. Ito; clippings; photograph
Box 40, Folder 3
Subject files -- Las Floristas Headdress Ball, (1960-1972)
Scope and Contents
Primarily newspaper clippings and printed ephemera
Box 40, Folder 4
Subject files -- Las Floristas Headdress Ball, (1955-1967)
Scope and Contents
Included: Program, 1963, 1964; schedule, 1967; criteria; notes; greeting cards;
correspondence
Box 40, Folder 5
Subject files -- Linda Hope's wedding, (1969)
Scope and Contents
Primarily financial records
Included: Clippings, correspondence, and photographs
Box 40, Folder 6
Subject files -- Rotary Club of Hollywood, (1989)
Scope and Contents
Included: Newsletter, vol. LIII, no. 5 and photographs
Box 40, Folder 7
Subject files -- Society of American Florists Hall of Fame,
(1992)
Scope and Contents
Included: Photocopies, greeting cards, and correspondence
Box 41, Folder 1
Subject files -- United States. War Department. Military Intelligence
Service, (1946-1995)
Scope and Contents
Souvenir reunion booklets, 1966, 1968, 1995; Japanese Americans Play Vital Role in
United States Intelligence Service in World War Two by John Weckerling; photocopies;
newsletter; notes; correspondence
Box 41, Folder 2
Telegrams -- To Arthur and Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito, (1946)
Scope and Contents
Related to Flower View Gardens re-opening
Series 4: Audio/visual and oversize
Existence and Location of Copies
Selected audiovisual items from this collection have been digitized. Digital
reproductions are available in the
Internet
Archive
.
Box 42, Folder 1
Books -- Historical and Pictorial Review, Medical Replacement Training
Center, Camp Grant, Illinois, (1942)
Scope and Contents
Laid in: Thanksgiving program, 1942
Box 42, Folder 2
Menus, (1935-1944)
Scope and Contents
Collected by [Aiko Alice Kuromi) Ito?]
Box 42, Folder 3
Minutes (administrative records) -- The Official Minutes of the National
Council Meetings: Twelfth Biennial National Convention of the Japanese American
Citizens League, (1952, June 26-30)
Box 42, Folder 4
Reports -- Final Report. Japanese American Citizens League
Anti-Discrimination Committee, (1954, Aug. 20)
Scope and Contents
Prepared for the National Council Japanese American Citizens League, Submitted by
the Washington Office Japanese American Citizens League
Box 42, Folder 5
Statements -- Statement of the Japanese American Citizens League for the
Jonas Subcommittee on Claims. Committee on the Judiciary. House of Representatives
83d Congress H.R. 7435 (Evacuation Claims Amendment), (1954)
Scope and Contents
Prepared and Submitted by Mike M. Sasoka, Washington Representative Japanese
American Citizens League
Box 43, Item 1
Photograph albums -- Kuromi Album 1, (1926-1953)
Box 43, Item 2
Photograph albums -- Kuromi Album 2, (1916-1939)
Scope and Contents
Included: Two letters to Kiyo Kuromi dated 1916 and 1918
Box 43, Item 3
Photograph albums -- Kuromi Album 3, (1913-1971)
Scope and Contents
Included: Two letters from A.H. (Andrew Harue) Kuromi to Kiyo Kuromi related to
relocation; one letter from Lillie James to Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito; receipts;
watercolors
Box 43, Item 4
Photograph albums -- 50 Years Arthur T. Ito and Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito,
(1943-1993)
Box 44, Item 1
Photograph albums -- Headdress Ball, (1956-1966)
Box 44, Item 2
Photograph albums -- First Trip to Japan, (1965)
Scope and Contents
Miyabara Tottori-Ken
Box 44, Item 3
Photograph albums -- Nagoya, (1965-1967)
Scope and Contents
Seki-Shimane Ken
Box 44, Item 4
Photograph albums -- Happy Silver Anniversary Arthur & Aiko,
(1968)
Scope and Contents
Included: Printed ephemera
Box 44, Item 5
Photograph albums -- Linda Hope's wedding, (1969)
Box 44, Item 6
Photograph albums -- Family, (1969-1971)
Scope and Contents
Included: Ito, Kuromi, Obi, Mochizuki families
Box 44, Item 7
Photograph albums -- Opening Weller Court FTD Convention,
(1981-1982)
Scope and Contents
Included: FTD Las Vegas Rose Parade, 1982; Las Floristas, 1981
Box 44, Item 8
Photograph albums -- InterfloraWorld-Congress Hamburg, (1982)
Box 44, Item 9
Photograph albums -- Montreal FTD Convention Vice-President,
(1984-1985)
Box 45, Item 1
Scrapbooks -- Arthur T. Ito, FTD President, (1985-1986)
Box 45, Item 2
Photograph albums -- Arthur T. Ito, FTD President, (1985-1986)
Box 45, Item 3
Photograph albums -- Re: Primarily flowers, (2000-2007)
Box 46
Photograph albums -- Ito and Kuromi families, (1949-1952)
Box 47
Photograph albums - Scrapbooks
Box 47, Item 1
Photograph albums -- Flower View Gardens, (1927-1962)
Scope and Contents
Brittle
Box 47, Item 2
Scrapbooks -- Las Floristas Headdress Ball, (1959-1960)
Scope and Contents
Brittle
Box 48
Genealogical tables - Sketches, (1966-2005)
Box 48, Folder 1
Genealogical tables -- Ito family, (2005)
Box 48, Folder 2
Logos -- Flower View Gardens, [undated]
Scope and Contents
Designed by Deann Kato
Box 48, Folder 3
Photograph albums -- Floral demonstrations, (1966)
Box 48, Folder 4
Photographs -- Las Floristas Headdress Ball, (1966)
Box 48, Folder 5
Photographs -- Linda Hope's wedding, (1969)
Scope and Contents
Appears to be a portfolio
Box 48, Folder 6
Sketches -- Las Floristas Headdress Ball, (1967-1968)
Box 48, Folder 7
Sketches -- Miscellaneous, (1969-1971)
Scope and Contents
Various design proposals
Box 48, Folder 8
Sketches -- Variety Club International Humanitarian Award,
[1970s]
Scope and Contents
Included: Watercolors
Box 49
Audiocassettes, (1973-1993)
Scope and Contents
Included: SCFG Meeting, Dec. 1990; CSFA..Hawaii speech by Art Ito, 1985 FTD
President; KBIG Flower View Gardens Father's Day, 1973; Anniversary Narration JFTD
[Suzuki mem. Speech?]; SCFG Board/Annual Meeting Feb. 23 1991 - Otani Hotel; Trip to
Europe, 1988; FTD Convention San Diego, 1986 address to the Board; Family Business
1985 FTD Convention; Practice Speeches for FTD Conv., 1985; No. 6; Trip to
Viena/Budapest, 1990; 1985-1986 Pres. Travel Japan Meeting Board; Golden Wedding,
1993; Rome Italy, 1989; blank audiocassette
Box 50
3-D objects, (1939-1985)
Scope and Contents
Included: The Little Bible published by David C. Cook; dog tags (military tags);
color patches (military patches) (3 patches); wallet with MacDill Field class B pass;
California. Department of Fish and Game license; clip (fasteners); button and bar
pins; Southern California Floral Association buttons (2 buttons); stamp; Aiko Alice
(Kuromi) Ito's florist badge; Japanese steamship; belt buckles (2 buckles); Florists'
Transworld Delivery Association patch; The Monetary Authority of Belize $1; [oil
pastel?]
Box 51
DVDs and VHS, (1978-2001)
Scope and Contents
Included: Interflora World Cup 97 1-7 September Amsterdam The Netherlands; Japanese
American National Museum: The Nisei Legacy, Sharing the Promise of America; 1996 Xmas
UTB Xmas Interviews at Flower View Gardens, 1996; FTD Convention, Boston, 1988;
Something Strong Within: A Film by Robert A. Nakamura; A Tradition of Honor; Japanese
American National Museum Toyo Miyatake, Infinite Shares of Gray, 2001; F.T.D.
Convention Arthur T. Ito, 1994; Las Floristas Headdress Ball Apr. 1978; Flower View
Garden, Program No. 1-12; Top Ni Kiku, Mr. Ito; Home Movies Disc 1; Home Movies Disc
2; Go For Broke: National Education Center, Alice Ito 1 of 2; Go For Broke: National
Education Center, Alice Ito, 2 of 2; World & Weavings Songs; Uncommon Courage:
Patriotism and Civil Engineering; Beyond Barbed Wire, 1997; Arthur T. Ito, Oral
History Program
Folder Oversize 1
Photographs -- "At Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Flower Field run by Mr.
Kuromi," (1928)
Folder Oversize 2
Photographs -- Miscellaneous, (1913-1946)
Scope and Contents
Included: A.H. (Andrew Harue) Kuromi's funeral, 1946; Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito (3
photographs); Kuromi and Ikeda families; Arthur T. Ito; [Kuromi ? Tarou funeral, 1913
(2 photographs)]
Folder Oversize 3
Watercolors -- Gila River Relocation Center (Ariz.), (1944)
Scope and Contents
Butte Camp
Folder Oversize 4
Photographs -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito class photographs
1934-1939
Folder Oversize 5
Photographs -- Aiko Alice (Kuromi) Ito class photographs and Kiyo Kuromi
portrait
1934-1939, undated
Folder Oversize 6
Photographs -- Flower market completion picnic at White Point
1924
Folder Oversize 7
Zoning atlas
1961
Scope and Contents
Ordered by Kenji Ito.
