In 2023, Jeanne Ryan (nee Harada) donated her family’s records to the City of Richmond Archives. The Harada family’s story is one that is shared by many Japanese Canadians who lived in Richmond, both before and after the forced internment of the Second World War. They have deep roots in Richmond, dating back to 1908 when Eikichi Harada emigrated from Japan.

The family’s records consist of 2000 photographs which have been scanned from 13 photograph albums and date from around 1900 to 1977. They depict several generations of the Harada and Kamitakahara families and their relatives and friends as they moved between Japan and the British Columbia coast, internment in the B.C. interior, displacement to southern Alberta and their return to Richmond once restrictions were lifted in 1949. The albums feature themes of growing up, gatherings, weddings, celebrations and new family members.

In 2024, Anouska Kirby was hired as an Archives intern. Anouska’s work involved genealogical research and consulting with Harada family members and friends to identify people, places and events and meticulously describing each of the 2000 images according to archival descriptive standards.

The City of Richmond Archives is pleased to present an exhibit curated by Anouska and Jeanne Ryan featuring images from the Harada family photograph albums. The exhibit presents 14 carefully selected photographs grouped into four general categories: (1) Early 1900s Japanese Canadian Fishing Community; (2) Forced Displacement; (3) Rebuilding Community; and (4) New Beginnings. The exhibit can be viewed in person at the City of Richmond Archives entrance or online here.

Glen Harada, 1968 at the Harada family home on Monteith Road, Steveston. City of Richmond Archives photograph 2023 13 10 178.

The Harada family photographs are incredibly significant. Documenting multiple generations of the Harada extended family, as well as friends and workmates, these photographic records pay tribute to the strength and resilience of the Japanese Canadian community. The digitized records can be searched on the City of Richmond Archives “Search Photographs” page here.

Credits

Physical and online exhibition curated by Anouska Kirby and Jeanne Harada.

Photograph digitization by Bev Boyd.

The work of processing and describing the Harada family photographs was made possible with gratitude to the late Geraldine (Dody) Wray and family. Dody was a long-time member and director on the board of the Friends of the Richmond Archives (FOTRA). Her generous bequest to FOTRA, along with a Young Canada Works Building Careers in Heritage grant made the project a reality.