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 (219)
Mass removal ("evacuation") (623)
Preparation (339)

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339 items

doc Aliens Turn In 256 Contraband Articles (February 28, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-654)

The Seattle Daily Times, February 28, 1942, p. 3

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-654/

doc Japanese Here Obey Military Curfew Orders (March 28, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-723)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 28, 1942, p. 1

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-723/

doc Whites Try to Buy Them Out at Low Price, Say Japanese (March 6, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-669)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 6, 1942, pp. 1, 12

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-669/

doc U.S. Lists Jobs for Evacuees (April 3, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-743)

The Seattle Daily Times, April 3, 1942, p. 3

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-743/

doc Japanese Good-Natured As They Register (April 26, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-772)

The Seattle Daily Times, April 26, 1942, p. 3

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-772/

doc Japanese Sells Store, Buys $13,500 Bonds (May 1, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-782)

The Seattle Daily Times, May 1, 1942, p. 8

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-782/

doc Sugar Hoards Found In B.C. Jap Homes (March 22, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-702)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 22, 1942, p. 5

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-702/

doc California Japanese Warned to Report (April 26, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-775)

The Seattle Daily Times, April 26, 1942, p. 30

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-775/

doc Japs Register While Working (March 12, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-686)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 12, 1942, p. 9

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-686/

doc U.S. Custodianship to Guard Evacuated Aliens' Property (March 10, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-680)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 10, 1942, p. 1

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-680/

doc Document from scrapbook page (ddr-densho-72-41)

Document titled "Pertinent Facts About Relocation Centers and Americans of Japanese Ancestry," from page of scrabook titled "Scrapbook: 1943-45."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-72-41/

img Registering for mass removal (ddr-densho-34-164)

Surrounded by U.S. army soldiers, Nisei men register their families during the exclusion from Bainbridge Island, Washington.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-34-164/

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/

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 American family preparing for the journey to the Pomona Assembly Center (ddr-densho-242-4)

Caption by Ike Hatchimonji: "May 1942 - El Monte, California - In front of family store. Hatchimonji family about to leave for the Pomona Assembly Center then the WRA camp at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. L-R: Tasuke Ike, Megumi Mike, Kumezo father, Nobue mother, and daughter Gloria, wearing the family ID tags."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-242-4/

img Two teen boys (ddr-densho-242-9)

Caption by Ike Hatchimonji: "Ike and Mike on day of departure to a camp May 1942."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-242-9/

doc Agreement regarding care of property during the war (ddr-densho-203-19)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-203-19/