Pelham in 1934, like the rest of the country, was in the throws of the Great Depression. Yet the pages of the PMHS Pelican yearbook that year contain a series of unifying artwork, signed by “M. Nakayama,” that conveys a sense of optimism for the future. As we come to the end of a month reflecting on the contributions of Americans of Asian Pacific heritage, here is the story of that artist and her family’s life and contributions in Pelham.