Wada, Yoritada

Person

Staff Only

Biographical Note

Despite growing up in an era when Japanese-Americans faced the challenges of intense discrimination, Wada grew to become a regional and national leader for humanitarian causes.

He was an editor of the University of California at Berkeley newspaper in 1940, but was unable to secure employment as a journalist after college. He was drafted into the Army’s Military Intelligence Service in 1941. After he left the Army, he took his first job with the YMCA at the University of California’s Student YMCA in 1946. He went on to program director positions in the San Francisco YMCA, and became the executive director of the Buchanan Street Y after a short tenure with the California Youth Authority.

While working in San Francisco, Wada established a bridge between Japanese-American and African-American youth. In retirement, Wada was appointed to the Board of Regents for the University of California, the first Asian regent in the board’s 109-year history.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

YMCA Hall of Fame – 1999 – Inductee (historical) – Wada, Yoritada – Nomination and Biographical Information, ca. 1997-1999

Folder — Box 12: Series 02, Folder: 20

Identifier: 02

Series 02 Scope and Contents From the Series: This series is arranged chronologically by year, and within each year, the materials are arranged by type, including: videos and photographs of the induction ceremonies, programs and/or invitations to the ceremonies, memos, planning committee minutes, budget notes, and other organizational materials, newspaper clippings, biographical information and nominations for the inductees, photographs of the inductees, and information about other nominees from that year. Undated and/or unidentified...

Dates: ca. 1997-1999

Found in: Springfield College Archives and Special Collections / YMCA Hall of Fame Records / Series 02: Annual Induction Ceremonies and Nominations

YMCA Hall of Fame – 1999 – Inductee (historical) – Wada, Yoritada – Photographs, ca. 1997

Folder — Box 12: Series 02, Folder: 21

Identifier: 02

Dates: ca. 1997

Found in: Springfield College Archives and Special Collections / YMCA Hall of Fame Records / Series 02: Annual Induction Ceremonies and Nominations

YMCA Hall of Fame Records

Record Group — Box All Boxes

Identifier: RG-103

Abstract This collection documents the history and governance of the YMCA Hall of Fame at Springfield College and also provides information about individual inductees and induction ceremonies from the Hall of Fame’s founding in 1985 to the present. The purpose of the YMCA Hall of Fame is to provide “a forum to recognize professionals who personify what is best about the YMCA. It honors individuals who have devoted their lives to the building of community, encouraging each person to develop to their...

Dates: 1894 - present; Majority of material found within 1985 - present

Found in: Springfield College Archives and Special Collections

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