Claiming the Oriental Gateway: Prewar Seattle and Japanese America (Asian American History & Culture) (Asian American History and Culture)

Ina"Claiming the Oriental Gateway," Shelley Sang-Hee Lee explores the various intersections of urbanization, ethnic identity, and internationalism in the experience of Japanese Americans in early twentieth-century Seattle. She examines the development and self-image of the city by documenting how U.S. expansion, Asian trans-Pacific migration, and internationalism were manifested locallyOCoand how these forces affected residentsOCO relationships with one another and their surroundings. Lee details the significant role Japanese AmericansOCoboth immigrants and U.S. born citizensOCoplayed in the social and civic life of the city as a means of becoming American. Seattle embraced the idea of cosmopolitanism and boosted its role as a cultural and commercial Gateway to the Orient at the same time as it limited the ways in which Asian Americans could participate in the public schools, local art production, civic celebrations, and sports. She also looks at how Japan encouraged the notion of the gateway in its participation in the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition and International Potlach. "Claiming the Oriental Gatewaya"thus offers an illuminating study of the Pacific Era and trans-Pacific relations in the first four decades of the twentieth century. In Claimining The Oriental Gateway, Shelley Sang-hee Lee Explores The Various Intersections Of Urbanization, Ethnic Identity, And Internationalism In The Experience Of Japanese Americans In Early-twentieth-century Seattle. She Examines The Development And Self-image Of The City By Documenting How U.s. Expansion, Asian Trans-pacific Migration, And Internationalism Were Manifested Locally--and How These Forces Affected Residents' Relationships With One Another And With Their Surroundings. Lee Details The Significant Role That Japanese Americans--both Immigrants And U.s.-born Citizens--played In The Social And Civic Life Of The City As A Means Of Becoming American. Seattle Embraced The Idea Of Cosmopolitanism And Boosted Its Role As A Cultural And Commercial Gateway To The Orient As It Also Limited The Ways In Which Asian Americans Could Participate In The Public Schools, Local Art Production, Civic Celebrations, And Sports. Lee Also Looks At How Japan Encouraged The Notion Of The Gateway In Its Participation In The Alaska-yukon-pacific Exposition And The International Potlatch. Claiming The Oriental Gateway Is An Illuminating Study Of The Pacific Era And Trans-pacific Relations In The First Decades Of The Twentieth Century. --book Jacket. Multiethnic Seattle -- Making Seattle Cosmopolitan -- Making Local Images For International Eyes : Race, Nationality, And The Seattle Camera Club, 1924-1929 -- Problems Of The Pacific In The Great Crucible Of America : Public Schools In The 1920s And The 1930s -- That Splendid Medium Of Free Play : Japanese American Sports During The Interwar Years -- The Eve Of War. Shelley Sang-hee Lee. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Annotation In Claiming the Oriental Gateway , Shelley Sang-Hee Lee explores the various intersections of urbanization, ethnic identity, and internationalism in the experience of Japanese Americans in early twentieth-century Seattle. She examines the development and self-image of the city by documenting how U.S. expansion, Asian trans-Pacific migration, and internationalism were manifested locallyand how these forces affected residents' relationships with one another and their surroundings. Lee details the significant role Japanese Americansboth immigrants and U.S. born citizensplayed in the social and civic life of the city as a means of becoming American. Seattle embraced the idea of cosmopolitanism and boosted its role as a cultural and commercial "Gateway To The Orient" at the same time as it limited the ways in which Asian Americans could participate in the public schools, local art production, civic celebrations, and sports. She also looks at how Japan encouraged the notion of the "gateway" in its participation in the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition and International Potlach. Claiming the Oriental Gateway thus offers an illuminating study of the "Pacific Era" and trans-Pacific relations in the first four decades of the twentieth century Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 16 1. Multiethnic Seattle......Page 34 2. Making Seattle "Cosmopolitan"......Page 61 3. Making Local Images for International Eyes: Race, Nationality, and the Seattle Camera Club, 1924-1929......Page 91 4. "Problems of the Pacific" in "the Great Crucible of America" : Public Schools in the 1920s and the 1930s......Page 120 5. "That Splendid Medium of Free Play" : Japanese American Sports during the Interwar Years......Page 157 6. The Eve of War......Page 193 Epilogue......Page 218 Notes......Page 230 Selected Bibliography......Page 258 Index......Page 268 How the interests of Seattle and Japanese immigrants were linked in the processes of urban boosterism before World War II How the interests of Seattle and Japanese Americans were linked in the processes of urban boosterism before World War II