Re/Collecting Project Archive

Thank you letter from the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church to Mrs. T. Eto (Take Eto) and her son Masaji Eto for their donations of the incense burner and stand for the church for "the obutsudan section of Church," in memory of Tameji Eto. The letter also thanks them for their donation to the Organ Fund, in order to obtain an organ for the church.

A thank you letter from Charles Paulsen for the gown presented "by the [San Luis Obispo Buddhist] Church, the Sunday School, and the ladies Fuijinkai Society." Paulsen writes: "May I ever prove worthy to represent our Lord Buddha, His Dharma and His Sanga through this great honor bestowed upon me. Through this ordination; may I be able in some little way to bring a greater understanding between the peoples of the world. May I find a way to bring a true understanding of the HOLY Nem-Butsu to all beings;--and through this understanding, may Truth, Honor and Justice, become a Living reality throughout a sick and broken world. Thank-you for the responsibility and Trust given to, and placed in me. May the Beauty, Wonderment and Grandure of the BUDDHA, the DHARMA, and the SANGA fill every heart to over-flowing. Sincerely and Gratefully,--Your Friend in Dharma. Charles Paulsen."

This letter to Mrs. Iwanaga from Ken Kitasako of the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church thanks her and conveys understanding for why gift was declined. He writes, "Dear Mrs. Iwanaga: / Your kind thoughts as expressed in your letter of July 1st are deeply appreciated by our members. It was our sincere wish that you accept this small expression of our appreciation. however, we do understand how you feel regarding this matter, and therefore, we gratefully acknowledge your kindness. / We hope to have the pleasure of your visit one of these days in the not too distant future. Rev. and Mrs. Iwao, together with our members again wish to express their deep appreciation for all your efforts. / With kind regards, I remain / Very truly yours, / [signature] / Ken Kitasako, Secretary / SAN LUIS OBISPO BUDDHIST CHURCH".

This letter to Mr. Charles Yonezu from Ken Kitasako thanks him for helping the Obutsudan through U.S. Customs. Kitasako writes: "Dear Mr. Yonezu: / In connection with the recent shipment pertaining to our new obutsudan, I wish to extend our deep appreciation for all your efforts in having it cleared through the customs office and having same expedited for shipment to us. I understand that there was considerable red tape involved as well as some expense, but that these were cut to a minimum, due largely to your efforts. / I have apologies to make. This letter of appreciation comes to you very belatedly, no fault of our members but entirely mine. We are in the midst of our heavy celery shipping and consequently, I am tied down to long hours from early mornings to late at nights. So, the days go by without my realizing how much time has elapsed. / Thank you again, and with sincere regards, I am / Very truly yours, / [signed] / Ken Kitasako, Secretary / SAN LUIS OBISPO BUDDHIST CHURCH".

This letter from the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church to the San Luis Obispo City Council acknowledges the imminent expansion of Highway 101 and removal of church property, and requests purchase of 4 acres of city property to relocate.

Letter from J.H. Fitzpatrick, San Luis Obispo City Clerk, to Ken Kitasako, Secretary of San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church, in response to the church's request to purchase city property to relocate the church. The church property was removed by the expansion of highway 101 in the 1960s. The city responds by stating that there is no property for sale.

Letter from State of California, Department of Public Works, Division of Highways, District V to San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church, attention Mr. B.H. Kawaoka, to vacate premises: "In accordance with the close of escrow as of December 11, 1961, and due to impending Highway construction, you are hereby notified and requested to vacate the above mentioned premises on or before Monday, January 15, 1962. It is required that you vacate said premises on or before said date so that the right of way may be cleared in time for scheduled construction. Very truly yours, E.R. FOLEY, District Engineer. By J.F. POWELL, Senior RIght of Way Agent."

As Ken Kitasako, Secretary of San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church, writes to Title Insurance and Trust Company, "At the board meeting of the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church held on June 10, 1962, the subject of the need of additional funds to defray cost of our new church building was discussed. Masaji Eto, treasurer, stated that Security First National Bank, San Luis Obispo, was willing to go on a loan of $38,000 at 6% interest for a 10 year period with monthly payments of $422.00. The matter was discussed at length and it was moved (Ken Kitasako), seconded (Stone Saruwatari) that Masaki Eto be authorized to negotiate with Security First National Bank for said loan of $38,000 at 6% interest for a period of 10 years with monthly payments of $422.00. The motion was carried unanimously."

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.