Visual Materials
Panoramic photograph of the War Relocation Center in Manzanar, California
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Panoramic photograph of Koyasan Beikoku Betsuin (Koyasan Buddhist Temple) opening in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles
Visual Materials
A panoramic photograph documenting the opening and dedication of the newly-built Koyasan Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, on October 26, 1940. The photograph shows a large number of temple officials, patrons, supporters, and worshippers posing in front of the temple, including dozens of children wearing traditional clothing, and several Japanese American Boy Scouts. The photograph is captioned in Japanese and has a dual photography credit written in English for Toyo Miyatake and Izuo Studio.
photPAN 153
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The War Relocation Work Corps : a circular of information for enlistees and their families
Rare Books
Pamphlet describing the War Relocation Work Corps including planned camp facilities, types of work available, eligibility, benefits, and private employment. "Approved Relocation Areas" section includes descriptions of Manzanar, Parker, Gila, Tule Lake, and Minidoka camps.
642391
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Manzanar High School yearbook
Manuscripts
This is the yearbook for Manzanar High School in 1945. This yearbook was published after the relocation center was closed as the messages from the Project Director, Superintendent of Education, Principal, and Vice Principal all discuss the students' futures and their going "back to the everyday life of the homes and schools of America to work with others in building a better America." It belonged to Miss Arlin Hooper, the Science and Girls' P.E. teacher. It is signed by several students, often with notes to "Miss Hooper."
mssHM 81278
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Heath, Tommie E. War Relocation Authority notice to Kazue Mary Katano
Manuscripts
The majority of the collection consists of correspondence sent to the Katano family while they were interred at the Manzanar War Relocation Center from 1942 to 1945. Many of the letters were sent to Tomeko Dorothy Katano, who was at Manzanar from ages 19-22. Some of Tameko's acquaintances describe their unchanged daily activities, while others write of their own wartime experiences. Some of the letters only allude to the Katanos' situation in the relocation center, although others are more explicit, such as a letter from a friend who urges Tameko and her family to study the U.S. Constitution and remember their rights as American citizens, while acknowledging that "there is an element in California that are against you, but that's one of the consequences of war...it will pass away in time" (1944). While none of the Katanos own correspondence is included in the collection, an unnamed friend wrote to Takaichi Katano that "I was very sad when you wrote about you being unhappy and lonely but I hope for you[r] sake that you shall be happy...in the future." A letter from a recently released friend described the difficult situation he faced after leaving "dear old Manzanar," from where he had moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he had difficulty finding a place to live did not "like the Japanese out here." He planned to return to the West Coast, where despite his experiences he still felt "more at home" (1945). The collection also contains various ephemera related to Tomeko and Manzanar. Two of the letters are in Japanese.
HM 79401.
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Heath, Tommie E. War Relocation Authority notice to Takaichi Frank Katano
Manuscripts
The majority of the collection consists of correspondence sent to the Katano family while they were interred at the Manzanar War Relocation Center from 1942 to 1945. Many of the letters were sent to Tomeko Dorothy Katano, who was at Manzanar from ages 19-22. Some of Tameko's acquaintances describe their unchanged daily activities, while others write of their own wartime experiences. Some of the letters only allude to the Katanos' situation in the relocation center, although others are more explicit, such as a letter from a friend who urges Tameko and her family to study the U.S. Constitution and remember their rights as American citizens, while acknowledging that "there is an element in California that are against you, but that's one of the consequences of war...it will pass away in time" (1944). While none of the Katanos own correspondence is included in the collection, an unnamed friend wrote to Takaichi Katano that "I was very sad when you wrote about you being unhappy and lonely but I hope for you[r] sake that you shall be happy...in the future." A letter from a recently released friend described the difficult situation he faced after leaving "dear old Manzanar," from where he had moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he had difficulty finding a place to live did not "like the Japanese out here." He planned to return to the West Coast, where despite his experiences he still felt "more at home" (1945). The collection also contains various ephemera related to Tomeko and Manzanar. Two of the letters are in Japanese.
HM 79402.
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War Relocation Authority: Proposed Curriculum procedures for Japanese Relocation Centers
Manuscripts
The collection contains correspondence, 12 photographs, bulletins, memoranda, and other printed materials assembled by Edythe N. Backus related to the Colorado River Relocation Center at Poston, AZ. Also included are copies of The Poston chronicle and Poston High and Junior High School annuals, newspapers, and bulletins. The 141 pieces of correspondence are primarily by Japanese-Americans as they reintegrated to American society outside the center. The collection also includes watercolor drawings of camp scenes by Kastsumi Natagawa and H. Yoshizumi.
mssCoRivRe