Conditions Governing Use

The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Associate University Librarian of Special Collections.

The accompanying documentation notes that the tiles are safe for individuals to engage with as their radiation levels are not different from the radiation levels found in nature. However, out of extreme caution we ask that individuals handling the materials where gloves.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open and available for research.

Custodial History

This collection was previously described as Artifact 49 within the Washington and Lee University Artifact Collection.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], [Date of Item]. [Folder Title, Folder Number, Box Number]. Hiroshima University Memorial collection (WLU-RG-0053). Washington and Lee Univeristy Special Collections and Archives, Washington and Lee University Library, Lexington, VA.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These materials were donated to Washington and Lee University by Hiroshima University. This donation occurred as a result of then Acting President of Washington and Lee, James G. Leyburn's response to a call for donations from Tatsuo Morito, then President of Hiroshima University in 1951. This call for donations asked for books to help rebuild the research university and trees as a sign of peace and international friendship. Acting President Leyburn responded to this call with the donation of books selected by the librarian as well as $5 for the purchase of a tree for campus.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mattie Clear in March 2024.

Scope and Contents

This collection is composed of 7 roof tiles and stones from ground zero at Hiroshima as well as supporting materials related to the these items and pamphlets from Hiroshima University. From the supporting materials we know that these tiles were collected from the rivers in Hiroshima and that it is believed that these stones contain the souls of individuals whose lives were taken from them as a result of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. These items were shared with us in the hopes that they would serve as a reminder of the devastation and continued impact of the bombing on the Japanese people.

Separated Material

In addition to the materials within this collection, Washington and Lee also received publications from Hiroshima University. These publications include a ten volumes set of Barefoot Gen and Akanegumo,あかね雲 / 自助グループあかね編.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Atomic bomb victims -- Japan -- Hiroshima-shi
• Hiroshima University (Hiroshima, Japan)