'It's his gift to everybody': Family of late photographer Frank Muramoto tours Pueblo exhibit
For David Muramoto, an exhibit of his grandfather's work at El Pueblo History Museum is a window into the past.
Frank "Duke" Denichi Muramoto, David's grandfather, was a Japanese immigrant to Pueblo who operated the De Luxe photo studio in Pueblo from 1915 until he died in 1958.
Muramoto's favorite photo on display is an early photo of his grandfather's studio, including an early 1900s-era camera on a tripod.
"There's something there, like a song or a smell, something there just kind of triggers something for me. To remember back, when you're only 1 or 2 years old, there are only a few things that really trigger something for me like that, and it does — it kind of reminds me of being a little toddler, being held by the hand and going in there, like, what is this?" he said.
Another photo that stuck out to David was of "Chief Hailstone," a Native American actor depicted in the traditional tribal garb of a chief. "Actor or not, my grandfather took photos of everyone, and these photos show it even more," he said, pointing to donated photos in a box that were not on display, which included a range of photos, from a World War II-era soldier and his bride to the main street of Durango in the 1950s.
"It's hard for me, as a third-generation Japanese-American, to know as much as I'd like to about my grandfather's (life). 'How did you find the guts to pick up and move to another country?' It's like you and I going to the moon. I don't know how he ever came up with a plan to go and start a career with new technology and show it all off."
Among the photos on display at the museum are some that showed a slice of life in downtown Pueblo, including railroad workers on a train, a parade down Pueblo's main street, and a baseball game with the Pueblo Braves, taken from behind the plate.
Others depicted Japanese and Japanese-American people in a mix of traditional Japanese and modern Western garb. During the Muramotos' visit to the museum Wednesday, one photo, showing a previously unidentified woman in a kimono, was identified by David's sister Kim as a photo of their great-aunt, although neither Muramoto was able to name her.
More: 5 things to know about the new Frank Muramuto exhibit at El Pueblo History Museum
"There's nothing like world wars and atomic bombs to break family ties," David said. "There are probably people in Japan I'm directly related to, they don't know who I am; I don't know who they are, either. I have to say, one thing that's amazing here is when you think about what's going on in Japan at the time, the rise of militarism, and probably during the time when my dad was being raised, I don't know what my grandfather's thoughts were but he was probably like, "Well, we're Americans now, we have to leave all that behind."
David views the exhibit as his grandfather's gift to everyone.
"This month is Asian-American month, OK, great. But my grandfather took photos of everybody, so it's his gift to everybody: Hispanic, Black, white, Native American, everyone is kind of represented in his work. It's his projecting his talent and vision into the future, and I'm so glad it's being shown off here."
To see Muramoto's work on display, as well as a selection of Muramoto's films and an oral history of David Muramoto, visit El Pueblo History Museum from now until late July.
The Muramoto exhibit is in the free community gallery. Admission to the rest of the museum’s exhibits is free for youth age 18 and younger, $7 for adults, and $5 for veterans and seniors older than 60.
El Pueblo History Museum is located at 301 N. Union Ave. and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Family of late photographer Frank Muramoto tours Pueblo exhibit
