Picture of a Japanese American toddler smiling and looking towards the top left of the photo and holding a stuffed lamb, The Compass Rose logo at top left corner.

The Hayataka Family Photo Album

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by Priscilla Escobedo

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The purpose of The Compass Rose is to raise awareness of Special Collections' resources and to foster the use of these resources. The blog series also reports significant new programs, initiatives, and acquisitions of Special Collections.

The Hayataka Family Photo Album offers us a glimpse into the experiences and adventures of the Hayataka family. The family consisted of Hiroshi 'Hiro' Hayataka, who worked as the Vice President and Associate Actuary of Reserve Life Insurance, his wife Ida Aiko Mitori, and their three children: Holly Aiko, Todd Hiroshi, and Glenn Hideo. Most of the photos in this album were taken between 1965 and 1969, and show the family's everyday experiences at their home in Dallas, Texas, as well as their adventures visiting other states. 

Handwritten notes about the identities of those in the photos and locations where the photos were taken helped us get more insight into the connections the Hayatakas had with their friends and family. These notes seem to have been written by Holly, who was likely the creator of this album. The album is packed with photos of the family posing with pets, climbing trees, and exploring different historical sites. 

Holly Hayataka, a Japanese American teen with a short flipped hairstyle, cat eye glasses, wearing pants, blouse, and cardigan, holding a long haired cat. She is sitting on a bench in front of her home and holds a long haired cat. She has a small smile.

Holly Hayataka holding Sweetpea.

Using the notes Holly and her family made in the photo album and genealogical records, we were able to learn more about the Hayataka family and post-war experiences of Japanese Americans. Hiro Hayataka was born in California in 1922, and after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, he and his family were forced from their home and relocated to Chinook, Montana. Anti-Japanese American policies at different colleges made pursuing a degree challenging for him, but he was able to enroll at the University of Minnesota and later the University of Michigan. He met and married his wife Ida Aiko Mitori while working in Illinois, and they had their first two children, Holly and Todd, while living in the region. They moved to Dallas in 1957 when Hiro received a job offer at Reserve Life Insurance as Vice President and Associate Actuary. They had their third child, Glenn, in Dallas. The family moved to Florida in 1971. 

 

Three Japanese American children wearing 1960s pajamas, two boys and one girl, and a Japanese American man in a suit and glasses. They are in a yard in front of a fence. Text on the photo reads 'Glenn Todd Dad Me!'

Glenn, Todd, Hiro, and Holly Hayataka

Japanese American woman standing in a yard, her hand touching a tree branch. She is wearing cat eye glasses, a white collared blouse, and cardigan.

Ida Hayataka

Pictures in this album were taken during the family's time in Dallas, and they include pictures of the family during trips to Washington, DC, Florida, Austin, and Arlington's beloved Six Flags Over Texas. 

Come visit the UTA Special Collections and look through this engaging firsthand collection of family photos, and learn about how we can help preserve your own family photos and records!

Todd and Glenn Hayataka posing in front of the Texas State Capitol, between them is a cannon with the text 'Presented to the Republic of Texas by Maj. Gen. T. J. Chambers 1836'.

Todd and Glenn Hayataka at the Texas State Capitol

A group of smiling children sitting at an outdoor table, wearing 1960s pajamas. The text reads 'Lynn, Holly, Todd, Colleen, Glenn'.

Holly, Todd, and Glenn Hayataka with their friends Lynn and Colleen.

Hiro Hayataka sitting on the dirt ground, his son, Todd, leaning on his shoulders. Text reads ''Todd and Dad, hunting for diamonds'.

Todd and Hiro Hayataka

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