Exclusion orders

On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which allowed the military to exclude people from any location without a trial or hearing. While it did not name people of Japanese ancestry specifically, it was clearly aimed at them and was enforced accordingly. Under the authority of Executive Order 9066, General John DeWitt defined 108 exclusion areas throughout the West Coast, each containing approximately 1,000 Japanese Americans. The first exclusion orders were issued for Bainbridge Island, Washington on March 24, 1942. Orders were posted around town, informing all Japanese American residents of the impending mass removal. Individuals and families were given only one week to prepare. By the end of October 1942, all 108 exclusion orders had been issued, forcing over 110,000 Japanese Americans into concentration camps around the country.

World War II (231)
Mass removal ("evacuation") (668)
Exclusion orders (115)

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115 items

doc Instructions to all persons of Japanese ancestry (ddr-csujad-55-2389)

Newspaper clipping with a reprint of the exclusion orders and evacuation instructions for persons of Japanese ancestry residing in Alameda County, California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2495

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2389/

img Exclusion order posted on telephone pole (ddr-densho-151-315)

Original caption: Sacramento, California. Scene in residential section of the Japanese quarter two days prior to evacuation. Note Civilian Exclusion Order posted on the telephone pole. Note also crated furniture on porch of corner house.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-315/

img Japanese Americans registering for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-115)

Original caption: San Francisco, California. In response to the Army's Exclusion Order Number 20, residents of Japanese ancestry appear at Civil Control Station at 2031 Bush Street, for registration. The evacuees will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-115/

img Posted exclusion orders (ddr-densho-151-76)

Original WRA caption: San Francisco, California. Exclusion Order posted at First and Front Streets directing removal of persons of Japanese ancestry from the first San Francisco section to be effected by the evacuation.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-76/

img Posted exclusion orders (ddr-densho-151-77)

Original WRA caption: San Francisco, California. On a brick wall beside air raid shelter poster, exclusion orders were posted at First and Front Streets directing removal of persons of Japanese ancestry from first San Francisco section to be affected by evacuation. The order was issued April 1, 1942, by Lieutenant General J.L. DeWitt, and directed evacuation …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-77/

img Exclusion orders posted in vacated restaurant (ddr-densho-151-127)

Original caption: San Francisco, California. Civilian Exclusion Order Number 5, ordering evacuation of residents of Japanese ancestry, posted in a vacant store window on Grant Avenue in Chinatown. This establishment, like many others in Chinatown, was operated by proprietors of Japanese descent. Evacuees will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-127/

img Shoppers looking at posted exclusion orders (ddr-densho-151-84)

Original caption: San Francisco, California. Saturday afternoon shoppers reading order directing evacuation of persons of Japanese ancestry. This store on Grant Avenue in Chinatown was vacated by an art dealer of Japanese descent. Evacuees will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-84/

img Japanese Americans discussing exclusion orders (ddr-densho-151-274)

Original caption: Byron, California. Field laborers of Japanese ancestry from a large delta ranch have assembled at Wartime Civil Control Administration station to receive instructions for evacuation which is to be effective in three days under Civilian Exclusion Order Number 24. They are arguing together about whether or not they should return to the ranch to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-274/

img Three men standing in front of posted exclusion orders (ddr-densho-151-83)

Original WRA caption: Field laborers of Japanese ancestry in front of Wartime Civil Control Administration station where they have come for instructions and assistance in regard to their evacuation due in three days under Civilian Exclusion Order Number 24. This order affects 850 persons in this area. The men are now waiting for the truck which …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-83/

img Japanese Americans registering for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-116)

Original caption: The full caption for this photograph reads: San Francisco, California. In response to the Army's Exclusion Order Number 20, residents of Japanese ancestry appear at Civil Control Station at 2031 Bush Street for registration. The evacuees will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-116/

img Nisei helping to post exclusion orders (ddr-densho-34-46)

Some of the Nisei men on Bainbridge Island helped the soldiers hand out and post the exclusion notice that gave instructions for the exclusion of the Japanese American community on Bainbridge Island. Bainbridge Island, Washington was one of the first areas to be evacuated due to its proximity to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyards.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-34-46/

vh Hideo Hoshide Interview I Segment 34 (ddr-densho-1000-184-34)

Hearing about mass removal: "we just didn't believe that evacuation would actually happen"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-184-34/

vh Lon Inaba Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-537-11)

Father's questioning of the exclusion orders

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-537-11/

vh Lon Inaba Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-537-10)

Still growing crops up until the mass removal

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-537-10/

vh Kenge Kobayashi Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1000-37-4)

Removal of the persons from the "red zone," the "yellow zone" in California

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-37-4/

vh Kenge Kobayashi Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1000-37-3)

Curfew, contraband, and removal of persons from the "red zone" and the "yellow zone" in California

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-37-3/

vh Gordon Hirabayashi Interview II Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-18-13)

Making the decision to defy the curfew

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-18-13/

vh Gordon Hirabayashi Interview II Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-18-17)

Handing oneself over to the FBI, and trying to accommodate a colonel's need to report "100% evacuated"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-18-17/

vh Gordon Hirabayashi Interview II Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-18-16)

Defying the May '42 exclusion order, the last Japanese American in Seattle

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-18-16/

vh Fumiko Uyeda Groves Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1000-10-15)

Notice of "evacuation" orders, preparing for removal

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-10-15/

vh Bob Y. Sakata Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-216-6)

Coping with curfew and travel restrictions

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-216-6/

vh Bob Y. Sakata Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-216-7)

Preparing for mass removal

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-216-7/

vh Roy H. Matsumoto Interview Segment 40 (ddr-densho-1000-153-40)

Coping with having bank assets frozen after the bombing of Pearl Harbor

Although Mr. Matsumoto does not identify himself as a Kibei (American-born person of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.), some of his life experiences are similar to those who do identify themselves …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-153-40/

vh Sue Kunitomi Embrey Interview Segment 4 (ddr-manz-1-2-4)

Description of Executive Order 9066

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-2-4/

vh Ben Chikaraishi Interview Segment 3 (ddr-chi-1-11-3)

Hearing about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, father's arrest by the FBI

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-chi-1-11-3/