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The Japanese American Citizens League

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) was organized in the late 1920s by a small group of young, professional nisei in response to the anti-Japanese fervor of the times. The organization was decidedly patriotic and dealt with discrimination by emphasizing American citizenship, loyalty, and assimilation. Because of their ideology, JACL members were recruited by the military to assist in carrying out the "evacuation" orders, and they urged Japanese Americans to cooperate with the government. The group inspired strong, mixed feelings among Japanese Americans during this time. However, in the years following the war, the JACL regained much of its former support by successfully overturning many legal barriers for Japanese Americans.

Community activities (1956)
Associations and organizations (728)
The Japanese American Citizens League (2107)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Warren Furutani, Japanese American Citizens League, Saburo Kido, James Sakamoto, Masao Satow, Walter Tsukamoto, Edison Uno

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2107 items
The Japanese American Citizens League Mt. Rainier outing (ddr-densho-353-355)
img The Japanese American Citizens League Mt. Rainier outing (ddr-densho-353-355)
Captioned: "Delegates enjoyed a respite from serious issues with an outing at Mt. Rainier."
First Hill drum and bugle corps (ddr-densho-353-360)
img First Hill drum and bugle corps (ddr-densho-353-360)
The Corps performed at the national Japanese American Citizens League convention.
The Japanese American Citizens League opening session (ddr-densho-353-351)
img The Japanese American Citizens League opening session (ddr-densho-353-351)
The opening session was held in the Seattle Chamber of Commerce auditorium.
The Sayonara Ball (ddr-densho-353-354)
img The Sayonara Ball (ddr-densho-353-354)
The 1936 Sayonara Ball was held in the Spanish Ballroom.
The Sayonara Ball (ddr-densho-353-353)
img The Sayonara Ball (ddr-densho-353-353)
The 1930 Sayonara Ball was held at the Seattle Yacht Club.
Meeting Minutes from the Special National Board Meeting of the Japanese American Citizens League on March 8, 1942 (ddr-densho-356-768)
doc Meeting Minutes from the Special National Board Meeting of the Japanese American Citizens League on March 8, 1942 (ddr-densho-356-768)
Meeting minutes from the JACL Special Nation Board Meeting. Topics include bids for national membership, future organization and activities, Appointment of national committee chairmen, nomination of officers, Washington representative, Special report on evacuation, and discussion on general evacuation principles.
JACL National California District Council Meeting Photograph (ddr-densho-356-15)
img JACL National California District Council Meeting Photograph (ddr-densho-356-15)
Panaramic photograph of the Japanese American Citizen's League National California District Council Meeting attendees standing on the steps of a building. Inscribed on the photograph is "J.A.C.L. National California District Council meeting Santa Rosa, California, June 6, 1937"
Invitation (ddr-densho-356-213)
doc Invitation (ddr-densho-356-213)
Invitation from the Eden Township Japanese American Citizens League and Japanese Association to a ceremony to honor Japanese Draftees.
JACL Northern California District Council Convention (ddr-densho-356-17)
img JACL Northern California District Council Convention (ddr-densho-356-17)
Panaramic photograph of the Japanese American Citizen's League Northern California District Council Convention attendees standing outdoors holding signs with their town names. Inscribed on the photograph is "Outing at Seacliff Second Biannial Northern California District Council Convention Sept. 4-5-6 1937 - Watsonville"
Yuriko Domoto JACL ID (ddr-densho-356-741)
doc Yuriko Domoto JACL ID (ddr-densho-356-741)
Yuriko Domoto Tsukada's JACL Identification card that includes her photograph and finger print.
Meeting Minutes from Committee of Immigrant Serving Agencies meeting on February 20, 1942 (ddr-densho-356-767)
doc Meeting Minutes from Committee of Immigrant Serving Agencies meeting on February 20, 1942 (ddr-densho-356-767)
Meeting Minutes from Committee of Immigrant Serving Agencies meeting on February 20, 1942. Topics covered in the meeting include: reading correspondence regarding Japanese Americans, summery of recent board meeting, planned community outreach regarding public sentiment towards Japanese Americans, and planning financial assistance for Japanese Americans.
Red Cross Membership Card (ddr-densho-356-740)
doc Red Cross Membership Card (ddr-densho-356-740)
Yuriko Domoto Tsukada's Red Cross Membership Card for 1942.
Selected Bibliography (ddr-densho-356-850)
doc Selected Bibliography (ddr-densho-356-850)
A select bibliography on Japanese American History distributed by the Japanese American Citizens League.
Couple sitting at a table (ddr-densho-379-485)
img Couple sitting at a table (ddr-densho-379-485)
Yuri and Aiji Endo at JACL Installation Dance in January 1949. Caption written on the page in the photograph album is "JACL Installation Dance Jan 1949".
Award winners of JACL National Rhetorical Contest (ddr-densho-379-437)
img Award winners of JACL National Rhetorical Contest (ddr-densho-379-437)
In the photograph from left to right are Dee Dee Ishida, Roy Nishikawa, Todd Endo, and Carol Suzuki, winners of the JACL National Rhetorial Contest
Japanese American Citizens League reception at National Convention (ddr-densho-379-436)
img Japanese American Citizens League reception at National Convention (ddr-densho-379-436)
In the photograph from left to right are Mike Masaoka, Marjorie Yohko Sumida Matsumoto, Todd Endo, and Dan Matsumoto.
Men and women pose in evening wear (ddr-densho-379-484)
img Men and women pose in evening wear (ddr-densho-379-484)
Caption written on the page in the photograph album is "JACL Installation Dance Jan 1949".
Couple sitting at a table (ddr-densho-379-487)
img Couple sitting at a table (ddr-densho-379-487)
Tets and Sumi Sumida at JACL Installation Dance in January 1949. Caption written on the page in the photograph album is "JACL Installation Dance Jan 1949".
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