Jun Fujita
Encyclopedia
Jun Fujita was an Issei
photojournalist, photographer, silent film actor, and published poet
. He was the first Japanese-American photojournalist. As an American, Fujita lived in Chicago, Illinois and worked for the now defunct newspapers; the Chicago Evening Post, which was published from 1886 to 1932, and Chicago Daily News
, which was published 1876 to 1978. Fujita was the only photographer to photograph Chicago
St. Valentine's Day massacre
. Following his death in 1963, most of his work was donated to the Chicago Historical Society, which later became the Chicago History Museum.
, Japan
to Japanese parents. When he was older, Fujita immigrated from Japan to Canada
, where he worked odd jobs to save enough money to move to the United States of America, which he considered to be a "land of oppertunity." He moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he attended and graduated from Wendell Phillips Academy High School
, a four year predominantly African-American public school whose notable alumni included Nat "King" Cole, Gwendolyn Brooks
, and Archibald Carey, Jr
. Following his high school graduation, he studied mathematics
at the Armour Institute of Technology, which later became the Illinois Institute of Technology
, with plans to become an engineer
. To help pay his way through college, Fujita took a job as the first and only photojournalist at the Chicago Evening Post, which later became the Chicago Daily News
.
and the sinking of the S.S. Eastland. Fujita also photographed and documented racism
against African-Americans in the Chicago area during his career. Notable examples included photographing three Illinois Army National Guard
questioning a black man during the Chicago Race Riot of 1919
and photographing several White-American men stoning
a black man to death. He also defied a court order
and photographed Dr. William D. Shepard, D.O. at Shepard's murder trial. Fujita photographed some of the most famous people of his time, including Albert Einstein
, Frank Lloyd Wright
and Al Capone
.
Towards the end of his newspaper career, he operated a photo booth
at Century of Progress
. He also opened his own photography studio called Photo Craft, where he served clients such as Sears, Roebuck and Company
. In his semi-retirement, Fujita photographed and painted prairies and wildflowers in Illinois
and participated in showing some of his work.
and author
. Fujita was the first Japanese-American to write tanka, a form of waka
. He compiled a collection of his poems in TANKA: Poems in Exile. TANKA was published by Covici-McGhee in 1923. He also contributed writings to Poetry
, the magazine published by the Modern Poetry Society (which later became the Poetry Foundation
), and the Literary Digest.
in Chicago, a movie studio which was best known for producing several Charlie Chaplin
comedies. Fujita had several minor roles before starring in a lead role in the two-reel film called "Otherwise Bill Harrison" in 1915. His film career waned as the movie industry shifted from Chicago to Hollywood, California.
journalist
from Illinois. Due to anti-miscegenation laws
, the two were not able to marry until some years later. Florence was born Flossie Carr in Illinois on 16 October 1893 and died on Chestnut Street in Chicago in October 1974. The two lived together at 1930 West Chicago Avenue in Chicago, Illinois and they had no children. Fujita also owned a cabin in Minnesota
, which was called "Jap Island" by locals. Fujita's cabin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
due to their race. After the attack on Pearl Harbor
, Fujita volunteered to serve in active duty for the United States but was turned down due to his age (he was 53 years old at the time).
, most likely in the Japanese section.
Issei
Issei is a Japanese language term used in countries in North America, South America and Australia to specify the Japanese people first to immigrate. Their children born in the new country are referred to as Nisei , and their grandchildren are Sansei...
photojournalist, photographer, silent film actor, and published poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. He was the first Japanese-American photojournalist. As an American, Fujita lived in Chicago, Illinois and worked for the now defunct newspapers; the Chicago Evening Post, which was published from 1886 to 1932, and Chicago Daily News
Chicago Daily News
The Chicago Daily News was an afternoon daily newspaper published between 1876 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty in 1875 and began publishing early the next year...
, which was published 1876 to 1978. Fujita was the only photographer to photograph Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
St. Valentine's Day massacre
St. Valentine's Day massacre
The Saint Valentine's Day massacre is the name given to the 1929 murder of 7 mob associates as part of a prohibition era conflict between two powerful criminal gangs in Chicago: the South Side Italian gang led by Al Capone and the North Side Irish gang led by Bugs Moran. Former members of the...
. Following his death in 1963, most of his work was donated to the Chicago Historical Society, which later became the Chicago History Museum.
Early life
Jun Fujita was born Junnosuke Fujita (Japanese: フジタ・ジュンノスケ, Fujita Junnosuke) on 13 December 1888 in a Japanese village near HiroshimaHiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to Japanese parents. When he was older, Fujita immigrated from Japan to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he worked odd jobs to save enough money to move to the United States of America, which he considered to be a "land of oppertunity." He moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he attended and graduated from Wendell Phillips Academy High School
Wendell Phillips Academy High School
Wendell Phillips Academy High School is a public 4-year high school located in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of the Chicago Public Schools and is named for the noted American abolitionist Wendell Phillips...
, a four year predominantly African-American public school whose notable alumni included Nat "King" Cole, Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks was an American poet. She was appointed Poet Laureate of Illinois in 1968 and Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1985.-Biography:...
, and Archibald Carey, Jr
Archibald Carey, Jr
Archibald J. Carey, Jr was an American lawyer, judge, politician, diplomat and clergyman from the south side of Chicago. He was an alderman for many years under the patronage of powerful African-American politician William L. Dawson. For many years Judge Carey was a major figure in Chicago's...
. Following his high school graduation, he studied mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at the Armour Institute of Technology, which later became the Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
, with plans to become an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. To help pay his way through college, Fujita took a job as the first and only photojournalist at the Chicago Evening Post, which later became the Chicago Daily News
Chicago Daily News
The Chicago Daily News was an afternoon daily newspaper published between 1876 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty in 1875 and began publishing early the next year...
.
Photojournalism
Fujita's career as a photojournalist caused numerous media sensations. He became known not only in Chicago but nationally as well. As photojournalism was still a relatively new concept at the time, Fujita was one of the first photojournalists ever and he was the first Japanese-American photojournalist. Fujita was the only photographer to capture two of the century's biggest events: the St. Valentine's Day massacreSt. Valentine's Day massacre
The Saint Valentine's Day massacre is the name given to the 1929 murder of 7 mob associates as part of a prohibition era conflict between two powerful criminal gangs in Chicago: the South Side Italian gang led by Al Capone and the North Side Irish gang led by Bugs Moran. Former members of the...
and the sinking of the S.S. Eastland. Fujita also photographed and documented racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
against African-Americans in the Chicago area during his career. Notable examples included photographing three Illinois Army National Guard
Illinois Army National Guard
The Illinois Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
questioning a black man during the Chicago Race Riot of 1919
Chicago Race Riot of 1919
The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 was a major racial conflict that began in Chicago, Illinois on July 27, 1919 and ended on August 3. During the riot, dozens died and hundreds were injured. It is considered the worst of the approximately 25 riots during the Red Summer of 1919, so named because of the...
and photographing several White-American men stoning
Stoning
Stoning, or lapidation, is a form of capital punishment whereby a group throws stones at a person until the person dies. No individual among the group can be identified as the one who kills the subject, yet everyone involved plainly bears some degree of moral culpability. This is in contrast to the...
a black man to death. He also defied a court order
Court order
A court order is an official proclamation by a judge that defines the legal relationships between the parties to a hearing, a trial, an appeal or other court proceedings. Such ruling requires or authorizes the carrying out of certain steps by one or more parties to a case...
and photographed Dr. William D. Shepard, D.O. at Shepard's murder trial. Fujita photographed some of the most famous people of his time, including Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
, Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
and Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
.
Towards the end of his newspaper career, he operated a photo booth
Photo booth
A photo booth is a vending machine or modern kiosk that contains an automated, usually coin-operated, camera and film processor. Today the vast majority of photo booths are digital. Traditionally photo booths contain a seat or bench designed to seat the one or two patrons being photographed...
at Century of Progress
Century of Progress
A Century of Progress International Exposition was the name of a World's Fair held in Chicago from 1933 to 1934 to celebrate the city's centennial. The theme of the fair was technological innovation...
. He also opened his own photography studio called Photo Craft, where he served clients such as Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
. In his semi-retirement, Fujita photographed and painted prairies and wildflowers in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and participated in showing some of his work.
Writing
In addition to a historic career as a photojournalist, Fujita was an accomplished and published poetPoet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. Fujita was the first Japanese-American to write tanka, a form of waka
Waka (poetry)
Waka or Yamato uta is a genre of classical Japanese verse and one of the major genres of Japanese literature...
. He compiled a collection of his poems in TANKA: Poems in Exile. TANKA was published by Covici-McGhee in 1923. He also contributed writings to Poetry
Poetry (magazine)
Poetry , published in Chicago, Illinois since 1912, is one of the leading monthly poetry journals in the English-speaking world. Published by the Poetry Foundation and currently edited by Christian Wiman, the magazine has a circulation of 30,000 and prints 300 poems per year out of approximately...
, the magazine published by the Modern Poetry Society (which later became the Poetry Foundation
Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation is a Chicago-based American foundation created to promote poetry in the wider culture. It was formed from Poetry magazine, which it continues to publish, with a 2003 gift of $200 million from philanthropist Ruth Lilly....
), and the Literary Digest.
Acting
Fujita worked as a silent film actor for Essanay StudiosEssanay Studios
The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company was an American motion picture studio. It is best known today for its series of Charlie Chaplin comedies of 1915.-Founding:...
in Chicago, a movie studio which was best known for producing several Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
comedies. Fujita had several minor roles before starring in a lead role in the two-reel film called "Otherwise Bill Harrison" in 1915. His film career waned as the movie industry shifted from Chicago to Hollywood, California.
Marriage and Home
Fujita married Florence Fujita, a caucasianCaucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
from Illinois. Due to anti-miscegenation laws
Anti-miscegenation laws
Anti-miscegenation laws, also known as miscegenation laws, were laws that enforced racial segregation at the level of marriage and intimate relationships by criminalizing interracial marriage and sometimes also sex between members of different races...
, the two were not able to marry until some years later. Florence was born Flossie Carr in Illinois on 16 October 1893 and died on Chestnut Street in Chicago in October 1974. The two lived together at 1930 West Chicago Avenue in Chicago, Illinois and they had no children. Fujita also owned a cabin in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, which was called "Jap Island" by locals. Fujita's cabin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Relationship to the United States
Fujita was granted honorary citizenship in the United States by an act of Congress. The United States Senate Bill was submitted by James Hamilton Lewis, who was the senator from Illinois at the time. Senator Hamilton submitted the Bill for Fujita's American citizenship due to Fujita's contributions to American society in the area of photojournalism. Fujita's citizenship came at a time when Asian-Americans were not allowed American citizenship by naturalizationNaturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
due to their race. After the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, Fujita volunteered to serve in active duty for the United States but was turned down due to his age (he was 53 years old at the time).
Death and Burial
Fujita died on 12 July 1963, at the age of 74. Fujita was cremated and interred in an unknown plot in Chicago's Graceland CemeteryGraceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery is a large Victorian era cemetery located in the north side community area of Uptown, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Established in 1860, its main entrance is at the intersection of Clark Street and Irving Park Road...
, most likely in the Japanese section.
Legacy
Fujita is considered to be a groundbreaking icon among Asian-Americans, Japanese-Americans, and photojournalists. Following his death, Fujita's widow Florence donated most of his work the Chicago History Museum.External links
- Photograph taken by Jun Fujita of an African American questioned by three Illinois Army National Grardsmen
- Photograph of the Interior of Rockefeller Chapel by Jun Fujita
- St. Valentine's Day massacre photograph by Jun Fujita
- Photograph of Church Architecture in Chicago by Jun Fujita
- Photograph of Al Capone talking to his lawyer, Mike Ahern, in 1929 taken by Jun Fujita
- Jun Fujita Cabin at Voyageurs National Park