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.
Photograph of debris and destroyed buildings in the water of the Vanport Flood, 1948. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of debris and destroyed buildings in the water of the Vanport Flood, 1948. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. In the foreground, the long roof of a building is visible above the water. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Nightime photograph of an area affected by the Vanport Flood. Billboards and buildings are reflected in the flood water. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of debris and a destroyed building in the water of the Vanport Flood, 1948. The building floats in the floodwater after having been lifted from its foundation. There are 2 people on the roof. Buses line the side of a road in the background. Photograph is slightly blurry. Two handwritten notes on back read, "Jerry," and "Doyle," indicating this was possibly taken by either Jerry Jiro Yasutome or another student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of 4 people in a row boat navigating around debris in the Vanport Flood, 1948. Behind them, an apartment building floats in the floodwater after having been lifted from its foundation. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of the Staff Jennings building in the flood water of the Vanport Flood, 1948. A sign on the building states that the company sells boats, motors, and marine equipment. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of flood water surrounding a long building during the Vanport Flood, 1948. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of debris and destroyed buildings in the water of the Vanport Flood, 1948. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Three water towers are visible in the background. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of a destroyed apartment building floating in a sea of debris in the water of the Vanport Flood, 1948. The building was lifted from its foundation by the flood. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of several people in a boat next to a flooded apartment building during the Vanport Flood, 1948. One person has their hands on the roof of the building while the others look inside an open window. Several surrounding apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Nightime photograph of an area affected by the Vanport Flood. A sign in the foreground reads, "Dirt Wanted. Dump Here." In the background is a large building surrounded by water and a sign pointing the way to Portland Meadows. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of a large pile of debris in front of a destroyed apartment building in the water of the Vanport Flood, 1948. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Photograph is slightly blurry. Two handwritten notes on back read, "Jerry," and "Doyle," indicating this was possibly taken by either Jerry Jiro Yasutome or another student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of people standing on scattered rooftops of flooded buildings during the Vanport Flood, 1948. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Two handwritten notes on back read, "Jerry," and "Doyle," indicating this was possibly taken by either Jerry Jiro Yasutome or another student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Aerial photograph of widespread flooding during the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948 by someone named "Dixon." Likely a student at the Northwest School of Photography. This print is from the same negative or take as OrgLot762_B1F8_029.
Aerial photograph looking down on flooded buildings and debris in Vanport during the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. The cloverleaf roads in the bottom left corner are south of the Interstate Bridge. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948 by someone named "Vail." Likely a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Aerial photograph of widespread flooding during the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948 by a someone named "Vail." Likely a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Aerial photograph of widespread flooding during the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948 by a someone named "Vail." Likely a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Aerial photograph of widespread flooding during the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948 by a someone named "Vail." Likely a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Aerial photograph of widespread flooding in Vanport during the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. In the foreground, Denver Avenue and Vanport ramp are visible. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948 by a someone named "Vail." Likely a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Aerial photograph of widespread flooding during the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948 by a someone named "Vail." Likely a student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of debris in a shaded area of the Vanport Flood. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of people in a boat surveying the damage of the Vanport Flood. Behind them, an apartment building floats in the floodwater after having been lifted from its foundation. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of debris and destroyed buildings in the water of the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of debris and destroyed buildings in the water of the Vanport Flood. In the foreground, the roof of a building emerges from water. In the background, several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of 3 men standing on a walkway overlooking widespread flooding during the Vanport Flood. A group of people stand near a boat on the right and an empty boat sits on the grass in the foreground. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.
Photograph of debris and a flooded apartment building in the water of the Vanport Flood. On the left, the apartment building floats in the water after having been lifted from its foundation. On the right, debris and other flooded buildings are visible in the background. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.
