Topaz (Central Utah)

img Tadaichi Yoshioka (ddr-densho-357-768)

Hanako Terakawa's caption: "Tadaichi Yoshioka, Topaz Relocation Center, July 1944."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-357-768/

img Topaz Camp (ddr-densho-357-774)

Hanako Terakawa's caption: "Taken at Topaz, Utah 1944?" Families gather around a picnic table to eat.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-357-774/

img Labor in Topaz (ddr-densho-357-744)

Handwritten caption: "Cooks, assistants, dishwashers."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-357-744/

img Yoshioka family in Topaz (ddr-densho-357-733)

Private Masaru Yoshioka visits his parents in the camp in Topaz, Utah. Left to right: Yoni Yoshioka, Masaru Yoshioka, Tadaichi Yoshioka.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-357-733/

img Buddhist Temple (ddr-densho-357-776)

After their collective forced relocation, members of the Oakland Buddhist Church started a new Buddhist church community in the Topaz concentration camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-357-776/

img Tadaichi Yoshioka (ddr-densho-357-745)

Handwritten caption: "Tadaichi Yoshioka, Topaz, Utah 1944."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-357-745/

img Nursery school (ddr-densho-37-560)

Original WRA caption: Topaz, Utah. Central Utah Relocation Center. Nursery school.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-560/

img Japanese American soldiers on furlough (ddr-densho-37-568)

Original WRA caption: Topaz, Utah. Back from the fighting front on furloughs to visit their families at Topaz Relocation Center are left to right: Ben Moriwaki, and Fred Tamakassubo. These fighting men saw real action during occupied Attu under heavy fire.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-568/

img Japanese Americans relocating to a different camp (ddr-densho-37-289)

Original WRA caption: "Easier than going through the door loading hand baggage for departure." The Japanese Americans shown in this photograph are presumably bound for the Tule Lake concentration camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-289/

img Japanese American knitting (ddr-densho-37-562)

Original WRA caption: Topaz, Utah. Knitting warm woolen clothing for her children against the coming winter, this Japanese mother, at the Topaz Relocation Center, takes advantage of the warm Utah sun.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-562/

img Motoyoshi family at Topaz (ddr-ajah-6-655)

Caption below photo: Motoyoshi family, Topaz incarceration camp in Utah. Baby Miyuki was born June 30, 1942. The family was from Alameda, CA.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-655/

doc Community Activity document from Topaz Concentration Camp (ddr-densho-379-331)

James Lamb, Community Services Department at Topaz Concentration Camp, describes activities of the department and plan to merge with the Educational Department.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-331/

img Japanese American making jewelry (ddr-densho-2-61)

Peggie Yorita makes jewelry from shells found at the Tule Lake concentration camp. Tule Lake was drained in the early 1900s. The camp was located on the old lake bed, where people found shells for making jewelry to sell to camp personnel. Shells were scarce, and digging became competitive. To beat the rush, some peopel got …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-2-61/

img Shells used for jewelry making (ddr-densho-2-51)

Japanese Americans at the Tule Lake concentration camp enjoyed making jewelry from shells, such as the ones shown here, which were found within the confines of the camp. These shells have not yet been bleached. Tule Lake was drained in the early 1900s. The camp was located on the old lake bed, where people found shells …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-2-51/

img Japanese Americans digging for shells (ddr-densho-2-48)

Left to right: Peggie Yorita, Margaret Frost (wife of one of the camp's teachers), Kumataro Nishimura, and his wife, Kadju, dig and sift for shells at the Tule Lake concentration camp. Kumataro made the sieve by hand from scrap lumber and wire from a door screen. The shells were bleached and used for jewelry-making, which was …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-2-48/

img Japanese Americans preparing shells for jewelry making (ddr-densho-2-50)

Kumataro (left) and Kadju Nishimura measure and separate shells to be used in jewelry-making. The Nishimuras woke up at the crack of dawn and dug waist-deep holes to find the shells. The shells were then bleached white and later painted. Tule Lake was drained in the early 1900s. The camp was located on the old lake …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-2-50/

img Japanese American making shell jewelry (ddr-densho-2-58)

Peggie Yorita making jewelry from shells found within the confines of the Tule Lake concentration camp. Making jewelry was a popular pastime for the Japanese Americans. Tule Lake was drained in the early 1900s. The camp was located on the old lake bed. As a result, shells were available for people to fashion into jewelry for …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-2-58/

img Japanese American and friend digging for shells (ddr-densho-2-60)

Jimmie Yorita (right) digs for shells used by people in camp to make jewelry. His sister, Patsy (left), and Neal Frost, son of one of the camp's teachers, sift the dirt. Tule Lake was drained in the early 1900s. The camp was located on the old lake bed, where camp inmates found shells for making jewelry …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-2-60/