Preparation

On March 2, 1942, Public Proclamation No. 1 began to appear on telephone poles and buildings. This was the first official notice Japanese Americans had of their immediate removal from the West Coast. The notices stated that they had six or seven days to prepare, and were to take only what they could carry. They were not told where they would be taken. People rushed to sell or store, in one week, property and belongings acquired over a lifetime. Some families tucked their valuables away in their attic or basement and locked the door, hoping to return soon.

World War II (231)
Mass removal ("evacuation") (668)
Preparation (366)

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366 items

doc Telegram sent to Kinuta Uno at Fort Missoula (ddr-densho-324-100)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-100/

doc Letter to Kinuta Uno at Fort Missoula (ddr-densho-324-9)

Correspondence from Kinuta Uno's daughter discussing their evacuation instructions, being sent to Fresno Assembly Center, and being able to return to their land after the war.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-9/

doc License for the sale and transfer of goods (ddr-densho-324-12)

Allows the Seattle-First National Bank to sell farm equipment, vehicles, and household furnishings for the Uno Family.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-12/

doc Letter to Kinuta Uno at Fort Missoula (ddr-densho-324-14)

Correspondence from Kinuta Uno's daughter discussing life on the farm and going to Puyallup "Camp Harmony" Assembly Center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-14/

img Japanese Americans registering for mass removal (ddr-densho-36-49)

These Japanese are being processed in preparation for exclusion from Seattle, Washington. The processing took place at a civil control station located at 2100 2nd Avenue. Original Seattle Post Intelligencer caption: "Waiting their turn--Members of Seattle's Japanese community in the course of being processed at the civil control station at 2100 2nd Ave. in preparation for …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-49/

img Nihonmachi during mass removal (ddr-densho-36-12)

This is a window front in Seattle's Nihonmachi during the mass removal. Once the incarceration became inevitable, "evacuation" sales were commonplace. Japanese Americans, unsure of the future and knowing they could take into the camps only what they could carry, were forced to sell their real and personal property in one week. Many buyers, knowing the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-12/

img Mass removal processing center (ddr-densho-36-13)

Original caption from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Novel audience--Scene in the old theater at 1319 Rainier Ave. which has been converted into a civil control station for evacuation of Japanese from Seattle this week. The Japanese passed from table to table and when the "show" was over they were ready for their trip to the assembly center …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-13/

img JACL mass removal registration (ddr-densho-36-30)

The Seattle chapter of the JACL conducted emergency "evacuation" registration on or about March 14, 1942.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-30/

img JACL mass removal registration (ddr-densho-36-29)

The Seattle chapter of the JACL conducted emergency "evacuation" registration on or about March 14, 1942.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-29/

img Packing items for the mass removal (ddr-densho-36-50)

This mother and daughter pack their belongings in preparation for mass removal.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-50/

img Scrapbook (ddr-densho-361-1)

Written on tape on cover: "This scrapbook is original--1942 Nobuko Omoto (Sakai) Bainbridge Island, WA. Please handle with care."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-361-1/

doc American Concentration Camps VOLUME 2 January 1, 1942- February 19, 1942 (ddr-densho-372-2)

Volume 2 divides into two sections. Description about this volume reads directly from the book as follows: The first section features archival documents that show chiefly how the decision to relocate the West Coast Japanese evolved from conflicting views both outside and inside the executive branch. The second section features reports of the Anti-Axis Committee, Los …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-372-2/

doc American Concentration Camps VOLUME 3 February 20, 1942- March 31, 1942 (ddr-densho-372-3)

Volume 3 divides into 4 sections. Description about this volume reads directly from the book as follows: Section 1 contains archival documents from February 20, 1942 to March 19, 1942 regarding the basic decision of how to remove more than 100,000 human beings which was delegated to General De Witt and his staff. Section 2 contains …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-372-3/

img Closed Japanese American store (ddr-densho-37-444)

Original WRA caption: Los Angeles, California. Mr. and Mrs. K. Tseri closed their drugstore in preparation for the forthcoming evacuation from their "Little Tokyo" in Los Angeles.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-444/

img Dye works closing sale (ddr-densho-37-655)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-655/

doc Journal (ddr-densho-383-626)

Journal in English and Japanese from 1942.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-626/

doc Tamako Inouye's 1942 Diary (ddr-densho-383-627)

Tamako (Inouye) Tokuda's daily diary from 1942. She discusses forced removal from Seattle, time at Puyallup Assembly Center and time at Minidoka.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-627/

doc The Relocation Program: A Guidebook for the Residents of Relocation Centers (ddr-densho-356-945)

Policy guidebook for residents of War Relocation Authority camps

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-945/

doc Civilian Exclusion Order No. 51 (ddr-densho-356-737)

Pamphlet of Civilian Exclusion Order No. 51, includes a map of the prohibited area in California that was being evacuated on May 13, 1942.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-737/

doc Two letters to Yuri from Min Yonekura (ddr-densho-356-285)

Two letters to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Minoru "Min" Yonekura. Both letters stored in one envelope, unclear if they were mailed together or separately. Letter 5/11: describes forced removal, details items needed in assembly center to make barracks feel homey, food quality in the assembly center and general life there. Letter 2: discusses plans to move …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-285/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Sonoko Riusaki (ddr-densho-356-281)

Letter to Yuri Domoto Tsukada from her sister Sonoko Domoto Riusaki in which she provides advice for preparing for forced removal and what to prepare for live in the Assembly Centers. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-277 and ddr-densho-356-320.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-281/