The papers of Japanese American artists Hisako Hibi and Matsusaburo "George" Hibi measure 5.1 linear feet and date from circa 1906-2022. These papers are mainly focused on Hisako Hibi's life and career, with some content related to her husband Matsusaburo "George" Hibi. Included are biographical material consisting of immigration documents and interview transcripts; scrapbooks; printed material including catalogs and newspaper clippings; personal and professional correspondence; scattered records of works sold, loaned and donated; and a few sketches. Also found is Matsusaburo's handwritten account of founding the art school at Topaz incarceration camp along with other material related to the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
There is a 1.2 linear foot unprocessed addition to this collection donated in 2023 that includes sketchbooks by Hisako Hibi, a yearbook, letters to Hisako Hibi, printed material, and membership cards. Materials date from circa 1929-2000.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of Japanese American artists Hisako Hibi and Matsusaburo "George" Hibi measure 5.1 linear feet and date from circa 1906-2022. These papers are mainly focused on Hisako Hibi's life and career, with some content related to her husband Matsusaburo "George" Hibi. Included are biographical material consisting of immigration documents and interview transcripts; scrapbooks; printed material including catalogs and newspaper clippings; personal and professional correspondence; scattered records of works sold, loaned and donated; and a few sketches. Also found is Matsusaburo's handwritten account of founding the art school at Topaz incarceration camp along with other material related to the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. A small addition to this collection consisting of letters (many handmade) to Hisako Hibi from friends and fellow artists was merged in with the rest of the correspondence.
There is a 1.2 linear foot unprocessed addition to this collection donated in 2023 that includes sketchbooks by Hisako Hibi, a yearbook, letters to Hisako Hibi, printed material, and membership cards. Materials date from circa 1929-2000.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 6 series.
Series 1: Biographical Material, 1906-circa 2020 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)
Series 2: Correspondence, 1922-2022 (1.2 linear feet; Boxes 1, 5-6)
Series 3: Exhibition Files, 1936-2005 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1)
Series 4: Scrapbooks, circa 1934-1985 (0.6 linear feet; Box 2)
Series 5: Printed Material, 1918-2019 (1.5 linear feet; Boxes 2-3, OV 4)
Series 6: Unprocessed Addition, circa 1929-2000 (1.2 linear feet; Boxes 7-8)
Biographical / Historical:
Hisako Hibi née Shimizu (1907-1991) was a Japanese American artist in Hayward and San Francisco, California. She was married to artist Matsusaburo "George" Hibi (1886-1947). Both artists were active members of the San Francisco Bay Area arts community. The two met at the California School of Fine Arts (renamed the San Francisco Art Institute, which closed in 2022) and married in 1930. They had two children, Satoshi and Ibuki. Both Hisako and Matsusaburo "George" Hibi exhibited their paintings widely.
In 1942, the entire Hibi family was forcibly removed and incarcerated at the Tanforan Assembly Center in California and subsequently the Topaz Relocation Center in Utah where they remained until the end of World War II. After the war, the family moved to New York City, where Matsusaburo "George" Hibi passed away in 1947. Hisako Hibi worked as a seamstress at a garment factory and later studied painting at the Museum of Modern Art. In the early 1950s, Hisako Hibi and her daughter Ibuki returned to San Francisco. Hisako Hibi continued to exhibit frequently in group and solo shows. She passed away in 1991.
Provenance:
The Hisako Hibi and Matsusaburo "George" Hibi papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 2022 by Ibuki Hibi Lee, Hisako and Matsusaburo "George" Hibi's daughter. Additional material donated in 2023 by Amy Lee-Tai, Ibuki Lee's daughter.
Restrictions:
This collection is CLOSED for digitization.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Painters -- California -- San Francisco Search this
Printmakers -- California -- San Francisco Search this
