The collection has been divided into eight series, see listing below, easily identified by the way Nikki filed her papers. In addition to her writings, her correspondence files and subject files are rich with details of her interests. For instance, her correspondence files show her great influence on Asian-American authors and artists. She helped edit their work, arranged for them to speak in San Francisco, and supported them with warm letters. The files show her work to pass the Civil Liberties Act of 1985, her service as a spokesperson for the redress movement, and the schedule of her lectures to school children from elementary to graduate classes usually speaking about the internment. She also addressed the topics of marrying a powerful white man and the perception of white superiority. She spoke and wrote with fact, feeling, and humor.

NSB was active in the San Francisco Center for Japanese American Studies and served as program chair and edited their newsletter during the 1980s. This period is well documented in the collection.

Her daughter has kept most of the family photographs and has requested that the following items be returned to her. In most cases, photocopies have been made for this collection at the Labor Archives (note that some photocopying was done two-sided, so check backs) and the originals are with Kathy Bridges Wiggins: Material relating to internment of the Sawada family Material referring to the marriage ceremony of NSB and HRB Passports and other official documents from NSB and HRB NSB and HRB correspondence with each other Correspondence with relatives in Japan (NSB) and Australia (HRB) Drafts of NSB/NSBF’s writings Correspondence with HRB biographers Correspondence with Nora Lupton, a close friend of Nikki’s

Photographs that were not returned are in the LARC photo collection. Those returned have been scanned when possible and are in the LARC computer. Some snapshots relating to correspondence or subject files are in the collection and are noted in this guide.

See also an audio recording of Nikki’s guest appearance at an SFSU history class in 1997 when she spoke of her life as a child of Japanese immigrant parents and described the three years her family spent interned in Arizona. Oral histories relating to NSB’s life are available: Betty de Losada and David F. Selvin.

The Collection has been divided into the following eight series. File folder titles, the order of the folders, and order within folders have been retained as she collected and filed the material.

Series 1 BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS - including resumes and interviews Box 1 Folders 1 - 14

Series 2 CORRESPONDENCE, 1947-2002 - chronological with some individual folders Box 1 Folders 15 - 42 Box 2 Folders 1 - 22 Box 3 Folders 1 -11

Series 3 SAN FRANCISCO CENTER FOR JAPANESE AMERICAN STUDIES, 1969-1986 NSB served as editor of the newsletter and program chairman, 1979-1986 Box 3 Folders 12 - 32 Series 4 SUBJECT FILES, A - Z Box 3 Folders 33 - 47 Box 4 Folders 1 - 55 Box 5 Folders 1 - 25 Series 5 WRITINGS BY OTHER AUTHORS, MAINLY ASIAN-AMERICAN Box 5 Folders 26 - 46 Series 6 WRITINGS BY NS/NSB/NSBF Box 6 Folders 1 - 48 Series 7 INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS, 1975 NSB served as Director for the Center for Employment Studies Box 6 Folders 49 - 68 Box 7 Folders 1 - 22 (archival box) Series 8 WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUES Box 8 Folders 1 - 5 (archival box)