IOWA LAW
First International Students
From Sendai, Japan
Kizo Ishikawa
Attending Iowa Law School between 1888 - 1890, Kizo Ishikawa was a popular student. He was a member of the Aldine Society, a literary society and social club on campus. Law school was just 2 years at that time.
Iowa Law composite photo, 1890.
Sendai, Japan to Iowa City = 6,002 miles (9,659 km)
By 1890, there were many competitors in steamship ocean travel between Asia and the U.S. For instance, Japan Mail Steamship (founded 1885) was one of Japan’s largest steamship companies, sailing to various ports in Asia, Hawaii, and San Francisco.
Eastern Name Order
Japanese custom places the family name first, as do many other Asian countries. In English, Japanese names are often “flipped,” with the given name placed first. Recently, there has been a push to keep the surname first for Japanese names in English. In our exhibit, we use given name first—Kizo Ishikawa—as that is how he spelled his name in Law School documents.
Kizo Ishikawa's Timeline
Click on image to view the full interactive timeline.
Law Class of 1890
In September 1888, the Vidette Reporter said that “our Japanese friend,” Kizo, had been in the U.S. for just two months. “A good English education was obtained in the Japanese schools.” “He says he can understand the law lectures very well, but the ”fool” questions the boys keep asking are hard to comprehend.”
On Class Day, the Aldine Society presented an argument: “...F.C. Davidson yielded to Ishikawa Kizo. This latter gentleman furnished a humorous, pointed response, which brought him great applause. Everyone regretted that he did not talk longer.” The Vidette Reporter, June 18, 1890.
Law classroom, Central Hall (now Old Capitol), circa 1890.
The Aldine Society
Kizo was a member of the Aldine Society, a literary and social club housed in North Hall. He was diagnosed with consumption (tuberculosis) in early October 1890.
It appears he was also having financial difficulties, so several literary societies put together an event with refreshments, raising $50 for “Ishi’s benefit.”
Julius Lischer
Julius Lischer was a good friend and fellow law student. In the winter of 1889, Julius set up a “lecture course” for Kizo in the Quad Cities.
The short-lived Law Literary Society staged a production in February 1889 which featured Kizo lecturing on the history of Japanese songs and singing in both English and Japanese. Julius was Drum Major in the SUI Battalion Band, which provided music for the program.
Julius’ father was a “veteran newspaper man” and owned the Davenport Der Demokrat-- Iowa’s first German-language newspaper.
After graduating from Iowa Law with honors in 1890, Julius practiced law in Davenport. He married Hedwig Schlegel on May 26, 1892; they had one son named Henry.
Judge James M. Love
Judge Love was the Dean of Iowa Law School from 1887 to 1890. Kizo Ishikawa “was a protege of Judge Love, of the United States court, and was greatly assisted by that jurist.”
"Born in Virginia March 4th, 1820. Admitted to the bar in Ohio in 1842. Served as captain in the Mexican war. Removed to Iowa in 1850. Served in State Senate during sessions of 1852 and 1854. Appointed Judge of the District Court of the United States for Iowa in 1855, which he held until his death. Appointed to a professorship in Law Department, S. U. I., 1875. Chancellor of Law Department from 1887 to 1890. Professor of the Law of Patents and of Federal Jurisprudence and Admiralty and Lecturer on Evidence at time of his death. Died at his home in Keokuk, Iowa, July 2, 1891."
