JAPANESE STUDENTS FILES,, 1869-1970

Summary: Even before the restoration of the Meiji Emperor to power in 1868, a few Japanese had ventured abroad to study. The most famous among them have their own sub-series to follow. Kusakabe Taro, a young samurai from the province of Echizen, became the first Japanese to graduate from Rutgers College Phi Beta Kappa. Sadly, his degree was awarded posthumously as Kusakabe died of tuberculosis only weeks before commencement. Sub-series materials include clippings, correspondence and manuscripts relating to Kusakabe's experiences at Rutgers, and his Alumni Biographical files from the Class of 1870.

Tadanari Matsudaira, lord of the Ueda clan in Shinshu, Central Japan, and his brother Tadaatsu, came to America in January 1872. Their wealthy family paid for them to come to the United States on to be educated, arranging for them to travel with the Iwakura Mission. While the group went on to Europe, both brothers stayed in the U.S. and Tadanari went to Rutgers College. He graduated with the Class of 1879. He then returned to Japan where he became governor of a province and an officer in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Tadaatsu married an American woman and became an engineer. This sub-series includes a Rutgers Alumni Biographical File, relating to the brothers.

Kojiro Matsukata was born at Kagoshima, Japan in December 1865, son of the prominent Count N. Matsukata, Prime Minister of Japan from 1896 to 1897. He later became the founder of Kawasaki Heavy Industries and an art collector. Kojiro attended Rutgers Grammar School and Rutgers College, where he played for the football team. The series includes clippings, as well as two manuscripts, relating to history of the class of 1889, and a speech given by Matsukata in 1908. Also included is Matsukata's Rutgers Alumni Biographical File. There is also one oversize box of material comprising ephemera, newspaper clippings and photographic reproductions used for past exhibition.

The sub-series Japanese Students includes correspondence, manuscripts, pamphlets and Rutgers Alumni Biographical Files for other individual Japanese students.