Japanese-American Relocation Center Newsletters, 1942-1943 Overview of the Collection Creator United States. War Relocation Authority Title Japanese-American Relocation Center Newsletters Dates 1942-1943 (inclusive) 1942 1943 Quantity 1 linear foot, (2 boxes) : 14 newsletters Collection Number MSS 16 Summary This collection includes 14 different titles (newsletters) from Japanese American relocation centers located in the United States from 1942-1943. Repository Western Oregon University Archives Hamersly Library 345 N. Monmouth Ave. Monmouth, OR 97361 Telephone: 503-838-8419 Fax: 503-838-8399 libarchives@wou.edu Access Restrictions Collection is available for research Languages Sponsor English, Japanese Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Historical Note After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, domestic policies and orders issued by the United States were formulated around avoiding future threats. This was especially prevalent along the Pacific Coast, where both citizens and government feared potential attacks. After receiving calls for the removal of Japanese citizens from Secretary of War Henry Stimson and local leaders on the West Coast, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942. This order led to the assembly and evacuation and relocation of nearly 122,000 men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry on the west coast of the United States. Most people evacuated under Executive Order 9066 were United States citizens that had never previously displayed any actions that were considered disloyal. To enforce the Executive Order, the War Relocation Authority (WRA) was created in March 1942 to provide for the removal from designated areas of persons whose removal is necessary in the interests of national security. Designated people included ancestry considered to be a threat to the United States during World War II Japanese, German, and Italian Americans. The WRA evacuated citizens from their homes in California, Oregon, and Washington and removed them to assembly centers, relocation centers, and internment camps among desolated areas throughout the United States. Relocation centers were mostly located in the western states (California, Idaho, Wyoming, http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 1
Colorado, Utah, and Arizona) but also in Arkansas. Once in place, the WRA supervised all activities, living conditions, and employment of internees. During internment, families worked, studied, and lived their lives in small quarters of the relocation centers. These camps, some of which housed up to 8,000 people, functioned as small communities. The United States government provided medical care, schooling, food, and shelter to internees. Adults often held employment at their camp in food service, agriculture, medical clinics, teachers, and other jobs required for daily life. Living conditions inside of the centers and camps were partially documented through local newsletters and newspapers created within each location. The writers and editors for these local papers were primarily Japanese-American internees. These newspapers occasionally included an article from the camp s director. While these newsletters were written and edited by Japanese-American internees, these publications existed with funding and oversight of the WRA. These newsletters were intended to provide an account of daily happenings to the residents of these camps. The newspapers purposely did not recount particular hardships internees faced in the camps. Newspapers were printed in both English and Japanese. Japanese-Americans lived at these relocation centers until 1944, when President Roosevelt rescinded Executive Order 9066 and began a six month process of shutting down the camps. Internees were returned to normal living conditions over the next two years. Almost one year after the completion of World War II, the government shut down the last relocation center, Tule Lake, located in northern California, in March 1946. Content Description This collection includes newsletters from Japanese American relocation centers located in the United States from 1942-1943. The collection includes 14 titles from throughout the United States, including 8 of the 10 relocation centers in California, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Arkansas, and New York. One title in particular, Topez Times from Utah, makes up half of this collection. Newsletters are written both in English and in Japanese. Topics range from children and families, education, sports and recreation, and daily life in relocation camps. Some of the newsletters are published by the War Relocation Authority and feature articles written by people outside of the centers, while others circulated within relocation centers, written by internees. Use of the Collection Restrictions on Use For further information, see the Western Oregon University Archives Research Rules. Copyright Information: Researchers are hereby cautioned that materials within archival and manuscript collections may be protected by copyright laws (Title 17, U.S. code). Researchers who plan to eventually publish their work are responsible to inquire about publication restrictions before beginning their research. Researchers wishing to quote from materials in any collections held by University Archives should consult the University Archivist. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original. Preferred Citation http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 2
Japanese-American Relocation Center Newsletters, MSS 16, Western Oregon University Archives Administrative Information Arrangement The collection is arranged by the title of the newsletter, then chronologically. Processing Note Reprocessed by Erin Passehl in 2011. Detailed Description of the Collection Container(s) Description Dates Box Folder Volume 3, Issue 14 Volume 3, Issue 17 Volume 3, Issue 19 Volume 3, Issue 28 Volume 3, Issue 29 Volume 3, Issue 30 Volume 3, Issue 31 Volume 3, Issue 32 Volume 3, Issue 33 1942 August 1 1942 August 5 1942 August 7 1942 August 18 1942 August 19 1942 August 20 1942 August 21 1942 August 22 1942 August 24 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 3
Volume 3, Issue 35 Volume 3, Issue 40 Volume 3, Issue 41 Volume 3, Issue 42 Volume 3, Issue 43 Volume 3, Issue 50 Volume 3, Issue 89 Volume 4, Issue 1 Volume 4, Issue 16 Volume 4, Issue 37 Volume 5, Issue 50 Volume 5, Issue 54 Volume 5, Issue 55 Volume 5, Issue 57 Volume 5, Issue 58 1942 August 26 1942 September 1 1942 September 2 1942 September 3 1942 September 4 1942 September 12 1942 October 29 1942 November 12 1942 December 1 1943 January 1 1943 May 18 1943 May 22 1943 May 24 1943 May 26 1943 May 27 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 4
Volume 5, Issue 58 Volume 5, Issue 59 Volume 5, Issue 61 Volume 5, Issue 62 Volume 5, Issue 63 Volume 5, Issue 64 Volume 5, Issue 65 Volume 5, Issue 67 Volume 5, Issue 68 1943 May 27 1943 May 28 1943 May 31 1943 June 1 1943 June 2 1943 June 3 1943 June 4 1943 June 7 1943 June 8 1 2 Denson Jiho 1943 May 14 1 2 Denson Jiho 1943 June 15 1 2 Denson Tribune Volume 2, Issue 11 1 2 Denson Tribune Volume 2, Issue 12 1 3 Desert Sentinel Volume 1, Issue 5 1 3 Desert Sentinel Volume 1, Issue 15 1944 February 8 1944 February 11 1942 December 24 1943 June 21 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 5
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 1 1 4 Gila News-Courier Volume 2, Issue 53 1943 May 4 1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 6 1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 11 1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 13 1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 15 1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 22 1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 25 1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 27 1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 29 1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 June 1 1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 June 10 1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 June 12 1 4 Gila News-Courier Volume 2, Issue 71 1 4 Gila News-Courier Volume 1, Issue 4 1943 June 15 1943 June 15 1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 September 2 1 4 Gila News-Courier Volume 1, Issue 0 1 5 Granada Pioneer Volume 1, Issue 4 1943 December 2 1942 November 7 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 6
1 5 Granada Pioneer Volume 1, Issue 6 1 5 Granada Pioneer Volume 1, Issue 62 1 6 Heart Mountain Sentinel Volume 2, Issue 8 1 7 Hi School News Volume 1, Issue 2 1 8 Information Bulletin Issue 8 1 9 Manzanar Free Press Volume 1, Issue 27 1 9 Manzanar Free Press Volume 4, Issue 1 1 10 Poston Chronicle Volume 2, Issue 50 1 10 Poston Chronicle Volume 2, Issue 89 1 10 Poston Chronicle Volume 16, Issue 25 1 10 Poston Chronicle Volume 2, Issue 96 1 10 Poston Chronicle Volume 2, Issue 98 1 11 Resettlement Bulletin Volume 1, Issue 1 1942 November 14 1943 May 5 1943 February 20 1942 November 2 1942 June 9 1942 June 23 1943 September 10 1943 August 24 1943 November 21 1943 December 2 1943 December 9 1943 December 14 1943 February 1 11 Resettlement Bulletin 1944 April 1 12 Rohwer Outpost Volume 3, Issue 32 1943 December 6 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 7
1 12 Rohwer Outpost Volume 3, Issue 50 1943 December 24 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 September 17 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 September 26 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 September 30 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 3 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 7 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 10 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 14 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 17 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 21 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 24 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 27 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 28 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 29 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 30 2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 31 3 4 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 8
5 6 7 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21 2 14 Topaz Times 1942 November 24 2 14 Topaz Times 1942 November 25 2 14 Topaz Times 1942 November 26 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 9
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 November 27 2 14 Topaz Times 1942 November 28 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 10
16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 24 28 29 30 31 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 1 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 4 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 11
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 5 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 6 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 7 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 8 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 9 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 11 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 12 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 13 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 14 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 15 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 16 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 18 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 19 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 20 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 21 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 22 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 23 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 25 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 26 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 27 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 28 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 12
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 29 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 29 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 February 1 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 February 2 2 14 Topaz Times 1943 February 3 4 5 6 8 9 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 13
18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 1 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 2 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 3 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 4 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 5 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 6 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 8 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 10 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 14
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 11 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 12 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 13 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 16 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 17 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 18 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 19 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 20 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 22 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 23 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 24 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 25 2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 27 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 March 30 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 1 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 3 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 6 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 8 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 10 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 12 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 13 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 15
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 15 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 16 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 17 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 20 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 20 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 22 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 24 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 27 2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 29 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 1 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 4 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 8 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 11 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 13 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 15 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 18 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 20 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 22 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 25 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 27 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 29 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 16
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 1 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 3 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 5 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 8 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 10 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 12 2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 24 Names and Subjects Subject Terms : Committee on Resettlement of Japanese Americans Japanese Americans--California--Newspapers Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945 Japanese Americans--Utah--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945--Newspapers United States.; War Relocation Authority World War, 1939-1945--Japanese Americans -- Newspapers World War, 1939-1945--Japanese Americans--Periodicals Corporate Names : Central Utah Relocation Center Gila River Relocation Center Granada Relocation Center Heart Mountain Relocation Center (Wyo.) Manzanar Assembly Center (Calif.) Manzanar War Relocation Center Tule Lake Relocation Center United States.; War Relocation Authority Geographical Names : Amache (Colo.)--Newspapers Denson (Ark.)--Newspapers Manzanar (Calif.)--Newspapers McGehee (Ark.)--Newspapers Newell (Calif.)--Newspapers Poston (Ariz.)--Newspapers Rivers (Ariz.) -Newspapers Topaz (Utah)--Newspapers Form or Genre Terms : Newsletters Periodicals http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 17
Titles within the Collection : Daily Tulean Dispatch Denson Jiho Denson Tribune Desert Sentinel Gila News-Courier Granada Pioneer Heart Mountain Sentinel Hi School News Information Bulletin Manzanar Free Press Poston Chronicle Resettlement Bulletin Rohwer Outpost Topaz Times Other Creators : Corporate Names : Committee on Resettlement of Japanese Americans (creator) Finding aid prepared by Erin Passehl and Joshua R. Griffin. 2012 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56472 18