A digital archive highlighting the distinguished career of U.S. Sen. Spark M. Matsunaga, a pivotal figure in Â鶹´«Ã½‘s political landscape, was released by the in February. A collaboration between the and the , the collection includes 10.5 hours of footage highlighting Matsunaga¡¯s significant contributions to civil rights, Japanese American reparations, space exploration, renewable energy and peace efforts.
Matsunaga was a member of the famed 100th Infantry Battalion and represented Â鶹´«Ã½ in the U.S. Congress from 1963 until his death in 1990.
The collection offers , with complete recordings available upon request. Notable clips include Matsunaga’s 1959 campaign ad for lieutenant governor and recordings discussing elections and industrial development in Â鶹´«Ã½. Also featured is the 1988 Senate debate on redress for Japanese Americans interned during World War II.
Post-statehood congressional archives
The footage is the inaugural release by the Â鶹´«Ã½ Congressional Media collection, an online archive featuring digitized moving images from Â鶹´«Ã½‘s post-statehood congressional members. , this collaboration between at UH West Oʻahu and the at the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Library ensures the preservation and sharing of Â鶹´«Ã½‘s political history.
“The images and voices from this collection that have been newly revealed through digitization provide an invaluable glimpse into our state¡¯s rich political past,” said Janel Quirante, UH West HOʻahu ʻUluʻulu head archivist “I¡¯m so grateful for the partnership with UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Library and thrilled that researchers and students can now view this amazing historical footage online.”
“Working with ʻUluʻulu leverages the strengths and expertise of both of our organizations to share these important moments in history with the public” said Dawn Sueoka, UH Manoa Congressional Papers archivist.
Upcoming digitization plans
Later this year, ʻUluʻulu aims to digitize an additional 250 reels from various Â鶹´«Ã½ congressional members, including Sen. Hiram Fong, Sen. Daniel Akaka, Rep. Tom Gill, Rep. Pat Saiki, Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Rep. Ed Case. ʻUluʻuluu also preserves the moving image archives of .