Guide to the Mary Jane Mikuriya papers, 1952-2017


John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2017

Collection Overview

Title: Mary Jane Mikuriya papers
Date range: 1952-2017
Creator: Mikuriya, Mary Jane
Abstract: This collection consists of the personal papers of Mary Jane Mikuriya, Asian-American Pembroke College alumna from the class of 1956. Papers document Mikuriya’s time at Pembroke and include clippings, room assignment correspondence and cards, commencement and Father Daughter Weekend programs, facebooks, scrapbook pages, her diploma, and contemporary reminiscences. The collection spans from 1952 – 2017 and is particularly compelling for users researching the experience of post World War II, Asian-American college students.
Language of materials: English
Repository: John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number: Ms.2017.021

Scope & content

This collection consists of the personal papers of Mary Jane Mikuriya, Asian-American Pembroke College alumna from the class of 1956. Papers document Mikuriya’s time at Pembroke from 1952-1956 and include clippings, room assignment correspondence and cards, commencement and Father Daughter Weekend programs, facebooks, scrapbook pages, and her diploma. The collection also includes contemporary reminiscences by Mikuriya about her time at Pembroke and about her experience as a multi-racial, Asian-American college student in post World War II United States. The collection spans from 1952 – 2017 and is arranged into 1 series by topic.


Access Points

Subject Organizations Subject Topics Subject Topics

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically by topic.

Biographical/Historical note

Mary Jane Mikuriya was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 8, 1934, to parents of Japanese and Austro-Hungarian origin. She graduated from George School in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1952 and moved on to pursue engineering and mathematics at Pembroke College. After graduating from Pembroke in 1956, Mikuriya received her master's in Educational Administration from San Francisco State University in 1971, a Life Teaching Credential for grades 8-14 from the state of California, as well as a California Administrative Credential. Mikuriya went on to a long and successful career in educational development, research, and planning for school districts and the federal government. She retired from the San Francisco Unified School District in 1989 and continued to volunteer her time as an educational consultant, assisting in educational grant applications through 2011. She is a proud volunteer host and traveler with Servas, a non-profit organization dedicated to international peace and understanding.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials: Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: Mary Jane Mikuriya papers, Ms.2017.021, Christine Dunlap Farnham Archive, Brown University Library.
Contact information: John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: Gift of Mary Jane Mikuriya in 2017
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Amanda Knox and Mary Murphy on behalf of the Pembroke Center for the Teaching and Research on Women and the Brown University Library.
Encoding: This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2017-11-07
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor: Curatorial work and processing provided by the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women on behalf of the Christine Dunlap Farnham Archive, Brown University Library.

Additional Information

Related material: The Brown University Library also holds the Pembroke Center Oral History Collection (OH.1S.2013.002) that captures the experiences of women faculty and students at Pembroke College and Brown University from 1911 to the present. View finding aid here: https://www.riamco.org/render?eadid=US-RPB-oh.1s.2013.002 Mikuriya contributed an interview to this collection in 2017 that you can view here: https://www.brown.edu/initiatives/pembroke-oral-histories/interview/mary-jane-mikuriya-class-1956

Inventory

Box 1, Folder 1 Abdulrazak Huswan: reflection and clipping re: Mikuriya's study partner Huswan (Brown University Student from Iraq)
 n.d.
Box 1, Folder 2 Bates House: room assignment letter, assignment cards, and reflection
 1952-1955, 2017
Box 1, Folder 3 Brown University diploma
 1956
Box 1, Folder 4 Commencement program and related material
 1956
Box 1, Folder 5 Edith Viet: reminiscences and clipping from 1954 Brun Mael re: schoolmate Edith Viet, Bates House, and sports
 1954-2017
Box 1, Folder 6 Father Daughter Weekend: reflection, program, and clipping
 1955, 2017
Box 1, Folder 7 High school portraits from George School; includes reflection
 1952, 2017
Box 1, Folder 8 Pembroke College facebooks; contains comments by Mikuriya's brother re: physical appearance of women in the class of 1956
 1956-1957
Box 1, Folder 9 "Recollections"
 2017
Box 1, Folder 10 Sandy Hollander: photo, clipping, and reflection on interracial dating
 1954
Box 1, Folder 11 Scrapbook; contains photos and descriptions
 1954-1955
Box 1, Folder 12 SERVAS: business cards and reflection
 1977-2017