Re/Collecting Project Archive

A list of donors and their contributions to a benefit show.

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."

In 1961, the State of California Division of Highways acquired property belonging to the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church for Highway 101. The Grant Deed provided to the State of California "All right title and interest in and to that portion of Lot C of the resubdivision of Lots 58, 61, 62, 63, 64, and 65 of the Subdivision of of the Ranchos Canada de los Osos and La Laguna, as said resubdivision is delineated on the map of the survey by R. R. Harris in January 1875; filed for record January 30, 1875, in Book A of Maps at page 161, records of San Luis Obispo County, conveyed to the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church corporation by deed recorded June 28, 1939 in Volume 259 of Official Records at page 374, records of said County, lying westerly of the west line of the State Highway as said November 19, 1947 in Volume 461 of Official Records, at page 92 records of said County; said portion of Lot C being in the City of San Luis Obispo, County of San Luis Obispo." The State purchased the land for $100,000.

Program for the 50th anniversary and memorial service for the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church.

Itemization of income and expenses for October, November, and December 1967. Second page included donors and their donated amounts and the expenses for the 40th Year Anniversary Commemorative Service.

Deed to the State of California of the land once belonging to the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church, granted in 1961. The form is incomplete and unsigned, but has the description of the land that is to be granted to the State.

Program for the commemoration and memorial service for the 40th anniversary of the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church.

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.

This document is a certified copy of the San Luis Obispo Church's Articles of Incorporation. As stated in Article II, one purpose of the corporation's formation is "to cultivate and promote the social, educational and religious welfare of the members." The document also empowers the corporation to handle property, "social, religious and philanthropic enterprises," and a cemetary. Original directors named in the document are: T. Fukunaga (Cambria, CA), M. Eto (San Luis Obispo, CA), H. Taku (Pismo Beach, CA), Tom Nakaji (San Luis Obispo, CA), I. Hori (Pismo Beach, CA), S. Kawaoka (Arroyo Grande, CA), and K. Kawaoka (Arroyo Grande, CA). Church president K. Taku and secretary K. Saiki deposed that the church members "authorized and directed" them "to execute and sign the said Articles of Incorporation." The document was signed on January 4, 1939 and filed on January 6, 1939.