Re/Collecting Project Archive

The certified copy of a portion of the minutes for the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church Board of Directors and members meeting on October 14, 1961 states: "Mitsugi Fukuhara moved that we sell to the State of California our church property of 7 acres including all the buildings on said property for the sum of $100,000.00, and that the President and Secretary be authorized to sign the necessary documents to close the transaction. Motion was seconded by Masaji Eto and unanimously carried."

As stated in Ken Kitasako's report: "At a Board meeting of the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church held on Tuesday, February 7, 1961, the following motion was made and unanimously carried. Board member, Kingo Kawaoka, moved that Treasurer, Masaji Eto, be authorized to look for a suitable property to re-establish our church, to report to the Board members of any or several prospective locations, that he be authorized to negotiate with a landowner or a real estate operator any particular property that has had the approval of the Board, that Noriharu Kawaoka, Masaji Eto, and Ken Kitasako who are presently the president, treasurer, and secretary, respectively, of the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church, be authorized to sign, acting together, documents pertaining to purchase of a property for the church. In case of extreme necessity, with the approval of the Board, any two out of three of the aforementioned officers may sign documents. Said motion was seconded by Mitsugi Fukuhara and unanimously carried. Respectfully submitted, Ken Kitasako, Secretary."

Letter from Ken Kitasako, Secretary, on behalf of the San Luis Obispo Church to express condolences for the passing of Ernest Vollmer. Mr. Vollmer took care of the church while the Japanese American community was interned during the Second World War. As Secretary Ken Kitasako writes to Mrs. Ernest Vollmer, "Mr. Vollmer was truly a great friend of the Japanese of this community. It was during the period of the evacuation of all persons of Japanese ancestry from the coast that Mr. Vollmer undertook to care for our church property during our forced absence. He did a splendid job of maintaining the property, paying taxes when they became due, collecting rent from the rentals on the church property, and maintained strict accounting of all expenses pertaining to the property. And when the war was over and we were able to return to the coast, we were very happy and grateful to find the church so well kept,-thanks to the efforts of Mr. Vollmer. We lost a very dear friend in Mr. Vollmer, and as the years go on we shall always look back and remember that in those trying days of the last war we had a real friend who was kind and willing to take on the heavy responsibility of taking care of our church property during our absence." Attached to this letter is the handwritten reply letter and envelope from Marguerite Vollmer.

Letter from San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church thanking Mr. Peter R. Andre of Andre & Wood for their legal services. Letter states, "In behalf of the Board of Directors and members of our church, we wish to express our appreciation of your services which you rendered in connection with the sale of our property to the State of California. Furthermore, Masaji Eto, our Board member, informs us that you have donated said services to our church for which we are doubly appreciative. With kindness regards and again, our heartfelt thanks for your kindness, we are Very sincerely yours, SAN LUIS OBISPO BUDDHIST CHURCH." The receipt for the services is attached to a copy of the letter sent.

This is the original manuscript draft of the history of the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Temple written by Masaji Eto. Covers the history until about 1970.