Welcome

The First Tanaka in America is one of the cornerstone collections of the Tanaka Heritage Project.

Every Tanaka family’s journey in America began with someone. For some families, that first Tanaka arrived more than 100 years ago. For others, that journey began much more recently.

This collection preserves the stories of the first Tanaka in each family who settled in the United States and began building a new life.

Why this collection matters

Many of our families began with little more than hope, determination, and the willingness to work hard.

Some became farm laborers, farmers, railroad workers, fishermen, merchants, domestic workers, students, or business owners. Others followed different paths. Whatever their work may have been, their efforts helped create opportunities for the generations that followed.

By documenting who first came to America, where they settled, and how they began their new life, we hope to preserve an important part of each family’s story.

Share your family’s beginning

If you know who the first Tanaka in your family was to settle in the United States, we invite you to share that information.

If some details are uncertain or based on family memories, that is perfectly okay. Approximate dates, family stories, and partial information are still valuable.

What you’ll need

Before beginning your submission, you may wish to gather:

• The name of the first Tanaka in your family to settle in America.
• Approximately when they arrived.
• Where they first lived or worked.
• Their first occupation or livelihood in America.
• Any family memories or stories about their early years.

The submission form will guide you through the rest.