Frank Hawley

• Born: 1906
• Died: 1961

Frank Hawley was a British book collector and journalist known for his exceptional collection of Ryûkyû-related materials, and expertise in related subjects.

Hawley taught in Japan from 1931 onwards; following World War II, he served as a correspondent for the Japan Times.

Over the years, Hawley built an impressive collection of books and other materials related to Ryûkyû, including Edo period] woodblock-printed books and handscroll paintings, as well as more modern materials. He made a point of collecting multiple versions, sometimes, of the same materials, something which today is of great use for scholars.

Following Hawley's death in 1961, Professor Shunzô Sakamaki of the University of Hawaii acquired his collection of Ryûkyû materials for the university's library. The Sakamaki-Hawley Collection, combining Hawley's collection and that of Prof. Sakamaki, is today the largest collection of Ryûkyû-related materials in the United States.

References

• Yokoyama Manabu, presentation at "Interpreting Parades and Processions of Edo Japan" symposium, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 11 Feb 2013.