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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)

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2107 items

img The Japanese American Citizens League first national convention (ddr-densho-353-350)

The group is gather in front of the Rainier Heat and Power Building.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-350/

img The Japanese American Citizens League national officers for 1936-1938 (ddr-densho-353-349)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-349/

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."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-355/

img First Hill drum and bugle corps (ddr-densho-353-360)

The Corps performed at the national Japanese American Citizens League convention.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-360/

img The Japanese American Citizens League opening session (ddr-densho-353-351)

The opening session was held in the Seattle Chamber of Commerce auditorium.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-351/

img The Sayonara Ball (ddr-densho-353-354)

The 1936 Sayonara Ball was held in the Spanish Ballroom.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-354/

img The fourth biennial National Japanese American Citizens League conference (ddr-densho-353-348)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-348/

img The Sayonara Ball (ddr-densho-353-353)

The 1930 Sayonara Ball was held at the Seattle Yacht Club.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-353/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-768/

doc Yuriko Domoto JACL Membership (ddr-densho-356-742)

Yuriko Domoto Tsukada's JACL Membership card.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-742/

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"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-15/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-213/

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"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-17/

doc Yuriko Domoto JACL ID (ddr-densho-356-741)

Yuriko Domoto Tsukada's JACL Identification card that includes her photograph and finger print.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-741/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-767/

doc Red Cross Membership Card (ddr-densho-356-740)

Yuriko Domoto Tsukada's Red Cross Membership Card for 1942.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-740/

doc Selected Bibliography (ddr-densho-356-850)

A select bibliography on Japanese American History distributed by the Japanese American Citizens League.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-850/

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".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-485/

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

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-437/

img Roy Nishikawa and Todd Endo with first place trophy (ddr-densho-379-438)

Roy Nishikawa and Todd Endo pose with first place trophy.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-438/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-436/

img Wedding portrait of Masasuki "Mack" Shikuma and Hiroko Nakata (ddr-ajah-6-276)

Includes biographical data on family

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-276/

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".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-484/

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".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-487/

img Attendees of the 4th biennial JACL convention (ddr-densho-493-189)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-493-189/