Renunciation of citizenship

During World War II, 5,589 American citizens of Japanese descent renounced their U.S. citizenship. The renunciations took place between December 1944 and July 1945, mostly in Tule Lake concentration camp, California. The vast majority of renunciations had little to do with "disloyalty" to the U.S., but instead were the result of a series of complex conditions and events that were beyond the control of those involved. After a legal battle, most renunciants had their U.S. citizenship restored in the 1960s.

World War II (231)
Resistance and dissidence (84)
Renunciation of citizenship (144)

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144 items
Crossroads, Vol. 1, No. 43 (March 25, 1949) (ddr-densho-358-17)
doc Crossroads, Vol. 1, No. 43 (March 25, 1949) (ddr-densho-358-17)
Selected article titles: "Million-Dollar Flower Show Opens" (p.1), "Tule Renunciants Restored U.S. Citizenship" (p.1), "'Nisei Week' Will Make 1949 Comeback with all the Trimmings in Early August" (p.1).
JACL report on Japanese Americans renouncing citizenship (ddr-densho-122-416)
doc JACL report on Japanese Americans renouncing citizenship (ddr-densho-122-416)
Prepared by Joe Grant Masaoko, with note "Not for Release or Publication"
Letter from Raymond R. Best, Project Director, Tule Lake Project, to Lt. Frank S. Okusako, October 19, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-232)
doc Letter from Raymond R. Best, Project Director, Tule Lake Project, to Lt. Frank S. Okusako, October 19, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-232)
Correspondence from Raymond R. Best to Frank Okusako regarding the status of his family members at the Tule Lake incarceration camp including records of their conduct and renunciation of citizenship. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0234
Letter from Wayne M. Collins, Attorney-at-Law, March 27, 1950 (ddr-csujad-55-2259)
doc Letter from Wayne M. Collins, Attorney-at-Law, March 27, 1950 (ddr-csujad-55-2259)
Correspondence and update from attorney Wayne Collins regarding the status of mass equity suits for Japanese Americans who renounced their U.S. citizenship during their incarceration during World War II. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2362
Memo from W.W. Woodbury, American Vice Consul, to Masako Adachi, September 21, 1951 (ddr-csujad-55-2250)
doc Memo from W.W. Woodbury, American Vice Consul, to Masako Adachi, September 21, 1951 (ddr-csujad-55-2250)
Memorandum of understanding from W.W. Woodbury to Masako Adachi regarding her application for permit for exit from Japan. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2353
Letter from Joseph W. Stilwell, General, U.S. Army, to Lt. Frank S. Okusako, November 15, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-236)
doc Letter from Joseph W. Stilwell, General, U.S. Army, to Lt. Frank S. Okusako, November 15, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-236)
Correspondence from Joseph Stilwell to Frank Okusako regarding the case of Okusako's family. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0238
Letter from Frank S. Okusako, 1st Lt., Infantry, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-233)
doc Letter from Frank S. Okusako, 1st Lt., Infantry, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-233)
Statement by Frank Okusako describing his family's loyalty to the United States, his upbringing in Auburn, California, service in the United States Army, and arguing for his family's release from Tule Lake incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0235
Memo from Richard B. Finn to Masako Adachi, January 10, 1950 (ddr-csujad-55-2262)
doc Memo from Richard B. Finn to Masako Adachi, January 10, 1950 (ddr-csujad-55-2262)
Memorandum of understanding from Richard Finn to Masako Adachi regarding voting certificates. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2365
Letter from Akio Adachi to American President Lines, October 5, 1951 (ddr-csujad-55-2247)
doc Letter from Akio Adachi to American President Lines, October 5, 1951 (ddr-csujad-55-2247)
Correspondence from Akio Adachi to American President Lines regarding Masako Adachi's travel from Japan to the United States. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2350
Supplemental affidavit to be submitted with passport applications of Japanese
doc Supplemental affidavit to be submitted with passport applications of Japanese "renunciants" (ddr-csujad-55-2308)
Affidavit form for individuals of Japanese ancestry who renounced their American citizenship during World War II. Form partially completed by Masako Adachi. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2413
Letter from Akio Adachi to Sio, October 9, 1951 (ddr-csujad-55-2248)
doc Letter from Akio Adachi to Sio, October 9, 1951 (ddr-csujad-55-2248)
Correspondence from Aki [Akio Adachi] to Sio [Masako Adachi?] regarding her travel from Japan to the United States, family affairs, and Akio's work. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2351
Letter from Tetsujiro Nakamura, Tule Lake Defense Committee, to Masako Adachi, January 21, 1949 (ddr-csujad-55-2260)
doc Letter from Tetsujiro Nakamura, Tule Lake Defense Committee, to Masako Adachi, January 21, 1949 (ddr-csujad-55-2260)
Correspondence from Tetsujiro Nakamura to Masako Adachi regarding the cancellation of renunciation and restoration of citizenship for plaintiffs and financial issues involved in the cases. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2363
Notice to persons who renounced American citizenship (ddr-csujad-55-2263)
doc Notice to persons who renounced American citizenship (ddr-csujad-55-2263)
Notice to Japanese Americans who renounced U.S. citizenship during their incarceration during World War II. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2366
Letter from Wayne M. Collins, Attorney at Law, to Miss Haruye Imahori, January 13, 1950 (ddr-csujad-55-2246)
doc Letter from Wayne M. Collins, Attorney at Law, to Miss Haruye Imahori, January 13, 1950 (ddr-csujad-55-2246)
Correspondence from Wayne Collins to Haruye Imahori regarding individuals who renounced their United States citizenship and repatriated to Japan but wish to return to the United States. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2349
Declaration of individuals entering or leaving Japan (ddr-csujad-55-2245)
doc Declaration of individuals entering or leaving Japan (ddr-csujad-55-2245)
Customs declaration from regarding Masako Adachi's belongings being transported from Japan to the United States. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2348
Letter from Wayne M. Collins, Attorney-at-Law, October 5, 1948 (ddr-csujad-55-2261)
doc Letter from Wayne M. Collins, Attorney-at-Law, October 5, 1948 (ddr-csujad-55-2261)
Correspondence and update from attorney Wayne Collins regarding the status of mass equity suits to restore citizenship for Japanese Americans who renounced their U.S. citizenship during their incarceration during World War II. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2364
To the descendants of George and Masako Okabe (ddr-csujad-55-2311)
doc To the descendants of George and Masako Okabe (ddr-csujad-55-2311)
Transcription of an oral history interview with George and Masako Okabe regarding their experiences during World War II. Interview covers Pearl Harbor, mass removal, daily life at Tule Lake and Grenada incarceration camps, repatriation to Japan, and return to U.S. Includes Yamazaki's report on the interview for her Sophomore World History class. See this object in …
Memo from the Foreign Service of the United States of America to Masako Adachi, September 4, 1951 (ddr-csujad-55-2309)
doc Memo from the Foreign Service of the United States of America to Masako Adachi, September 4, 1951 (ddr-csujad-55-2309)
Memorandum of understanding from the Foreign Service of the United States to Masako Adachi regarding her passport and notification of departure from Japan. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2414
Letter from Robert H. Henrion, Sgt 1C, 24th Inf Div, to American Consular Service, November 18, 1949 (ddr-csujad-55-2255)
doc Letter from Robert H. Henrion, Sgt 1C, 24th Inf Div, to American Consular Service, November 18, 1949 (ddr-csujad-55-2255)
Correspondence from Robert H. Henries to American Consular Service regarding a recommendation for Masako Adachi. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2358
Letter from Harold A. Barratt, Depot Manager, to Foreign Service of the United States of America, August 24, 1951 (ddr-csujad-55-2252)
doc Letter from Harold A. Barratt, Depot Manager, to Foreign Service of the United States of America, August 24, 1951 (ddr-csujad-55-2252)
Correspondence from Harold Barratt to Foreign Service of the United States regarding the employment of Masako Adachi. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2355
Issue slip (ddr-csujad-55-2254)
doc Issue slip (ddr-csujad-55-2254)
List of items belonging to Masako Adachi being transported from Japan to the United States. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2357
Menu from the S.S. President Cleveland (ddr-csujad-55-2253)
doc Menu from the S.S. President Cleveland (ddr-csujad-55-2253)
Dinner menu served on board the S.S. President Cleveland sailing from Japan to the United States. Cover includes an illustration of Spanish dancers and musicians. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2356
Memo from Thomas H. Murfin, American Vice Consul, to Masako Adachi, October 11, 1950 (ddr-csujad-55-2256)
doc Memo from Thomas H. Murfin, American Vice Consul, to Masako Adachi, October 11, 1950 (ddr-csujad-55-2256)
Memorandum of understanding from Thomas Murfin to Masako Adachi regarding Adachi's application for a passport. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2359
Letter from Wayne M. Collins, Attorney-at-Law, to Masako Adachi (ddr-csujad-55-2258)
doc Letter from Wayne M. Collins, Attorney-at-Law, to Masako Adachi (ddr-csujad-55-2258)
Correspondence from Wayne Collins to Masako Adachi regarding the cancellation of plaintiff's renunciation of U.S nationality and restore their citizenship. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2361
Report on renunciation suits (ddr-csujad-55-2249)
doc Report on renunciation suits (ddr-csujad-55-2249)
Report from attorney Wayne Collins to clients regarding developments in renunciation suits. Covers habeas corpus proceedings, mass equity suits, results achieved by mass suits, alien enemy act, effects of Supreme Court decisions, individual hearings, what renunciants must not do, renunciant plaintiffs in Japan, and conclusions. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization …
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