Fonds consists of the following series of textual records: Notebooks and notes, n.d., 1928-1973; Writings, n.d., 1964-1975; Correspondence, 1936-1978; Church of the Ascension records, n.d., 1930-1952; Church of the Ascension bulletins, reports and announcements, 1927-1978; Serials, n.d., 1934-1977; Books and pamphlets, n.d., 1946-1975; and Other material, n.d., 1941-1946.
Fonds also contains photographs depicting the life and activities of Gordon G. Nakayama. Included are photos of pre-war Vancouver, 1921-1939, photos associated with Nakayama's pastoral duties, and photos of Japanese Canadians, 1909-1971.
In addition, fonds includes sound recordings of church work, sermons, talks, interviews and family events of Gordon G. Nakayama and his son, Rev. Timothy Nakayama in Alberta and Japan, 1949-1970.
Also included in fonds are films, by Gordon G. Nakayama, of missionary trips taken to Eastern Canada and Alberta, the United States, Japan and South America; and films depicting Japanese internment camps of World War II in Canada, and post-war Japanese Canadian communities.
Nakayama, Gordon G., 1901-1995 : The Rev. Gordon Nakayama was born in Okawamura, Ehmiken, Japan. He immigrated to Vancouver in 1919 and, in 1929, was licensed as a missionary at the Anglican Church of the Ascension, which came into being in 1909. In 1932 he was ordained deacon and, in 1934, ordained priest, serving at the new Church of the Ascension built in 1935. In 1942, when Japanese-Canadians were evacuated inland from the coast the Rev. Nakayama and his family were relocated at Slocan, B.C. He continued his priestly duties in Slocan, ministering to the Japanese of Slocan and the surrounding area.
In 1945, at war's end, he moved to Coaldale, Alta., which served as home base for his missionary work amongst inhabitants of 16 villages and towns in the Coaldale area. In 1947, the first Church of the Ascension in Coaldale was completed and, in 1955, the parish of Coaldale, including both Orientals and Occidentals, was established. In 1964, under the Rev. Nakayama's guidance, the new Church of the Ascension was built in Coaldale. In 1966, he was elevated to the honour of Deacon of St. Paul's Cathedral Church.
Throughout his lifetime he has been an active missionary, as attested by his many missionary trips across Canada and the U.S. and to Japan, Okinawa, Brazil and Paraguay. Mr. Nakayama passed away in 1995.
