住友史料館


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History

Sumitomo group companies are famous for their long history from the beginning of 17th century, near about 400 years.
Sumitomo Historical Archives is established specially to collect and preserve many historical materials related to Sumitomo Family and businesses of Sumitomo group companies.
These old documents housed in the archives are very precious from the academic point of view, and now available for study. Until then, a number of requests to open our archives for the experts have been brought from academic circles and researchers.
We recently have published the guidance of our history ‘Sumitomo-no-Rekisi’ (two-volume, Shibunkaku, Kyoto, 2013-4). Related to this project, we determined to exhibit widely the records used as bases given this book in writing.
From now on, the old documents which our arrangement has been finish, are opened for users annually. Please check in advance the list which can be perused, click here (Japanese version only).
We expect as many researchers as possible utilize the historical materials of Sumitomo Historical Archives widely scientifically, and understand furthermore about Sumitomo Family and business history of Sumitomo group companies.

Sumitomo's Unagidani main residence.
Sumitomo's Unagidani main residence

Sumitomo Buildings in Osaka.
Sumitomo Buildings in Osaka

Sumitomo Family started compiling its own history in 1887, embarked on this project at their Osaka head office.
In the same age, the investigation of national history based on the modern scientific technique had started in our country. Especially, by the former feudal lords in the last era such compilation projects were actively developed.
Also in Sumitomo Family, full-time research workers were placed at Unagidani main residence (Central district, Osaka-city), the old documents of Sumitomo Family and businesses began to be collected and arranged by them. Sumitomo's history compilation project belongs to the earliest case with which the private company dealt.
In 1918, Sumitomo’s history compilation section was set up in Sumitomo Head Office at Kitahama, Osaka-city. Although it was very small-scale, the organization which could continue collection and compilation of historical materials everlastingly was formed.
Because of the tragedy of World War II, many of compilation old documents in the beginning of 20th century had lost unfortunately. After the war Sumitomo Head Office was broken up, Sumitomo’s history compilation project was inherited as a joint enterprise of each Sumitomo group company. Then, the section renamed "Sumitomo Shu-shi sitsu" in 1950.


Sumitomo main residence inSumiyoshi, Kobe-city.
Sumitomo main residence in Sumiyoshi, Kobe-city

In the beginning, the section was installed in Sumitomo Building, the present Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Osaka head office, it moved to new Sumitomo Building (now Sumitomo Building), and then was prepared in the main residence of Sumitomo Family at Shishigatani, Kyoto-city, in 1966. And then in 1977, it transferred to the remains of main residence in Sumiyoshi, Kobe-city.
In commemoration of 400th anniversary of the birth of Sumitomo’s founder Masatomo, the new institution was built at the present location in 1985. Sumitomo Historical Archives reorganized as a history compilation section, in October 1987. We are performing positively for collection, preservation, and practical use of precious historical materials including old documents.
We also cooperate in the history compilation and employee training of Sumitomo group companies. Today, the valuable historical materials are reprinted as part of the “Sumitomo History Library” and studies of researchers are published in the “Sumitomo Archives Journal”. They are released to Sumitomo group companies, college libraries, research institutions, etc.

Outward appearance at the time of completion.
Outward appearance at the time of completion
Publications by Sumitomo Historical Archives.
Publications by Sumitomo Historical Archives

Sumitomo Historical Archives now keeps about 30,000 items of documents before Meiji restoration and over 60,000 items of modern era.
Since these historical materials make the core for editing Sumitomo's history of business, we carry out required repair so that they can be saved and utilized semi-permanently. And we continue to make a list of them. About the documents here which arrangement works completed, public presentation will be planned.


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