Returning home

When the camps closed, Japanese Americans were handed $25 and put on trains headed for the places they had been forcibly removed from nearly four years earlier. Harassment was common -- many returning Japanese Americans were greeted with signs reading "No Japs Allowed." Other discovered their property had been vandalized or stolen. Homes and businesses that had been boarded up or left in the care of others were abandoned and stripped of furnishings and goods. For the majority, who did not have homes to return to, housing was the most serious problem. Housing discrimination was severe in many areas and persisted to varying degrees until the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. Former camp inmates with no other options moved into hostels and converted community institutions with conditions not much better than the camps they had just left. Although this period was stressful, it is remembered as a time when people came together to share what they had.

World War II (277)
Leaving camp (372)
Returning home (1150)

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1150 items

doc Letter from Tomoye to Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-170)

Pushing him to keeping looking for another house for her father, knows that it will not work to have all of them (Tomoye, Henri, two children, Helen, Martha and her father) under one roof, Pinkie has the chicken pox and they are under quarantine

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-170/

doc Card from Tomoye (Nozawa) Takahashi to Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-426)

News of her pregnancy, how Pinkie's doing, when her father is heading to S.F.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-426/

doc Letter from Martha Nozawa to Tomoye Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-200)

Confirming plans to come to Topaz to help after the baby is born, and travel together to San Francisco

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-200/

doc Letter from Tomoye Takahashi to Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-408)

Ideas about what needs to be done at the house in San Francisco, how to pick up their property.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-408/

doc Letter and card from Martha Nozawa to Tomoye (Nozawa) Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-425)

She is still deciding about her chance for a job at Archer Daniels in the Midwest, asks what Henri thinks about the conditions in San Francisco. Inside envelope addressed to Henri Takahashi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-425/

doc Letter from Helen to Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-142)

Thinks there may be hope for her relationship with Mas but in meantime will apply for positions at Stanford and Boulder.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-142/

doc Letter form Martha Nozawa to Tomoye Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-157)

Disappointed that their father is not coming to visit her, not optimistic about her love life and chances to be married, looking for work in a lab, possible in the mid-west

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-157/

doc Transcribed copy of letter from Tomoye Takahashi to Frank Nedbal (ddr-densho-410-577)

Asking him to negotiate with the Fabers about moving out, recognizing that it will be difficult for them and thanking them for being such good tenants, but that the camps are closing and they have no choice but to move back into the house

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-577/

doc Letter from Helen Takahashi to Henri Takahashi; Letter from Tomoye (Nozawa) Takahashi to Henri Takahashi. In same envelope (ddr-densho-410-413)

Letter 1: Helen plans to come to San Francisco to visit him after Easter, sent cards to the Yabuki family. Letter 2: Rice is scarce in the camps now, most being sent overseas as part of the lend-lease program, some have had no rice for weeks, encourages Henri to get a job soon as they will …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-413/

doc Letter from Tomoye Takahashi to Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-399)

Detailed instructions on building a "fence" for a child's bed for when they return to San Francisco, plans for when she will leave camp after she and the baby (Norman) are okay to travel, asking Henri to send crackers for Pinkie (Masako)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-399/

doc Letter from Helen to Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-141)

Her future plans with Mas fell through, is considering applying to Stanford to teach

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-141/

doc Alien Travel Permit (ddr-densho-410-402)

Issued to Henri Hiroyuki Takahashi for travel San Francisco to return to home. Envelope with addresses written on back.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-402/

doc Postcard from M. to Tomoye Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-441)

News of how they are doing working at Boys Republic

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-441/

doc Letter from Walter Derr, Office of Price Administration, to Tomoye Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-580)

Including regulations for evicting tenants under the Housing Regulation

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-580/

doc Letter from Tomoye Takahashi to Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-422)

Gossip about what Mrs. Harada's intentions are for her father, concerns about Henri getting a job, needing help in camp when the baby is born

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-422/

doc Card from Martha Nozawa to Tomoye Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-97)

Telling Tomoye that she is planning to stay in Minneapolis and has a chance for a job with Archer-Daniels company, instead of returning to California

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-97/

doc Letter from Marian Stiffen to Tommie (Tomoye Takahashi), letter from Tomoye (Nozawa) Takahashi to Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-404)

Two letters together in same envelope. Letter one related to finding housing in San Francisco. The second with news of life in camp, plans for leaving, and details about the house in San Francisco. Envelope dated February 23, 1945

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-404/

doc Letter and card from Martha Nozawa to Tomoye (Nozawa) Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-414)

Their father is visiting her in Minneapolis, she is planning to stay there for the time being, better prospects for a job and husband, had a long talk with their father about him marrying Mrs. Harada, visited with friends stationed at Fort Snelling

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-414/

doc Letter from Tomoye Takahashi to Helen Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-439)

Thanking her for the thread and crackers for Pinkie, discusses the difficulty of getting a seat on a bus or train to travel, women in camp giving lessons making Japanese food

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-439/

doc Letter from Ardeane to Tomoye Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-163)

Describes trying to find a permanent home, and difficulties of resettlement in California

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-163/

doc Letter from Martha Nozawa to Tomoye Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-103)

Has an opportunity for a good job with Archer-Daniels-Midland, but would have to start right away and wouldn't be able to come see Tomoye or help move to San Francisco, encourages her to consider moving to mid-west

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-103/