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
(231)
Mass removal ("evacuation")
(668)
Preparation
(366)
Related articles from the
Densho Encyclopedia :
Military Areas 1 and 2
366 items
366 items
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Closed Japanese American store (ddr-densho-151-43)
Original WRA caption: Oakland, California. Following evacuation orders, this store, at 13th and Franklin streets, was closed. The owner, a University of California graduate of Japanese descent, placed the "I AM AMERICAN" sign on the store front on Dec. 8, the day after Pearl Harbor. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry will be housed in War Relocation Authority …
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Government worker interviewing father and son (ddr-densho-151-218)
Original caption: Lodi, California. Father and son give pre-evacuation information at wartime Civil Control Administration Station. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.
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Last laundry drying in sun before mass removal (ddr-densho-151-178)
Original caption: San Lorenzo, California. Washday 48 hours before evacuation of persons of Japanese ancestry from this farming community in Santa Clara County. Evacuees will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.
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Moving van ready to load baggage (ddr-densho-151-94)
Original caption: San Francisco, California. The mioving van backs up to the curb to load possessions of residents of Japanese ancestry who are being evacuated from this flat building on Post Street. Evacuees will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.
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Japanese Americans waiting to register for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-239)
Original caption: Byron, California. Laborers of Japanese ancestry from a large-scale asparagus ranch are at the Wartime Civil Control Administration station awaiting their return to be interviewed prior to evacuation.
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Father and son preparing for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-273)
Original caption: San Francisco, California. Dave Tatsuno, graduate of University of California in 1936, is making preparations for evacuation which is due in a few days. In packing his possessions, he came across college notes and is shown re-reading them.
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Farmer preparing for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-269)
Original caption: Woodland, California. Tenant farmer of Japanese ancestry who has just completed settlement of their affairs and everything is packed ready for evacuation on the following morning to an assembly center.
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Japanese Americans registering for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-133)
Original caption: San Francisco, California. The residents of Japanese ancestry appear at 2031 Bush Street for information on evacuation. Evacuees will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.
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Family transplanting tomato plants (ddr-densho-151-448)
Original caption: San Leandro, California. Family labor transplanting young tomato plants under canvas about ten days prior to evacuation of residents of Japanese ancestry to Assembly Centers.
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Issei farmers returning to work (ddr-densho-151-240)
Original caption: Byron, California. Laborers of Japanese ancestry are returning to large-scale asparagus ranch after interview at Wartime Civil Control Administration station regarding their evacuation which is due in three days.
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Issei man waiting to register for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-237)
Original caption: San Francisco, California. Oldest member of the Japanese Methodist church, who came from Japan 50 years ago. He is at the Wartime Civil Control Administration station waiting for instructions regarding his evacuation to Tanforan Assembly center.
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Schoolchildren with American flag (ddr-densho-151-53)
Original WRA caption: San Francisco, California. Flag of allegiance pledge at Raphael Weill Public School, Geary and Buchanan Streets. Children in families of Japanese ancestry were evacuated with their parents and will be housed for the duration in War Relocation Authority centers where facilities will be provided for them to continue their education.
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Mass removal registration (ddr-densho-151-79)
Original WRA caption: San Francisco, California. Father and son register for evacuation of persons of Japanese ancestry. Evacuees will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.
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"Evacuation sale" at Japanese American store (ddr-densho-151-92)
Original caption: San Francisco, California. Customers buy merchandise in a store operated by a proprietor of Japanese ancestry during a pre-evacuation sale. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.
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Issei man waiting to register for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-238)
Original caption: Byron, California. Toshi Mizoguchi waiting at the Wartime Civil Control Administration station to register for evacuation. Mr. Mizoguchi came to the United States from Japan in 1892 and has been a farm laborer on California ranches since that time. He is unmarried. He is seen wearing an American flag on a celluloid button.
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Japanese Americans registering for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-219)
Original caption: Lodi, California. Heads of families and persons living alone, of Japanese ancestry, have concluded their arrangements at the Wartime Civil Control Administration Control Station under Civilian Exclusion Order Number 70. Their papers are in order and they are turning them in at a desk before they leave for the Assembly Center.
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Japanese American Citizens League stenographer (ddr-densho-151-119)
Original caption: Centerville, California. Stenographer for Japanese American Citizens League of Mt. Eden township. Helps the farmers of the vicinity to close out their affairs before evacuation.
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Family preparing for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-235)
Original caption: San Francisco, California. This family is preparing to move from their Bush Street home to an Assembly center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry.
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Sign advertising household goods (ddr-densho-151-318)
Original caption: Sacramento, California. Preparations are being made for evacuation two days hence of all residents of Japanese ancestry from this city.
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Sign advertising free kittens (ddr-densho-151-62)
Original WRA caption: A home is sought for kittens as owners prepare to evacuate. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.
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Japantown store prior to mass removal (ddr-densho-151-325)
Original caption: Florin, California. View on main street of this little agriculture town in the center of the strawberry and grape-producing area occupied mostly by residents of Japanese ancestry. Evacuation is due in two days of people of Japanese descent from this community.
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Japanese Americans waiting in line for inoculations (ddr-densho-151-131)
Original caption: San Francisco, California. Waiting in line, 2031 Bush Street, for voluntary inoculation against typhoid, preceding evacuation of residents of Japanese ancestry. Evacuees will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.
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Japanese Americans registering for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-134)
Original caption: San Francisco, California. The residents of Japanese appear at 2031 Bush Street, for information on evacuation. Evacuees will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.
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Japanese American discussing financial affairs (ddr-densho-151-98)
Original caption: San Francisco, California. A business man of Japanese ancestry confers with a representative of the Federal Reserve Bank at Wartime Civil Control Administration station to arrange disposition of his financial affairs prior to evacuation. Evacuees will be housed at War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.
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Japanese American boarding up store (ddr-densho-151-93)
Original caption: San Francisco, California. With the the owner scheduled to be evacuated, a store front is boarded on Post Street, San Francisco, California.