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 (871)
Associations and organizations (537)
The Japanese American Citizens League (1812)

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1812 items

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/

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

Yuriko Domoto Tsukada's JACL Membership card.

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

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/

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 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 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 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/

doc The Vanguard, Vol. 1, No. 1 ( August 1947) (ddr-densho-358-2)

Selected article titles: "Local JACL Unit's Role in Community Aired by Leader" (p.1), "Evacuation Claims Bill Discussed by Dr. Leonard Bloom" (p.1, 6), "The Birth of the Vanguard" (p.2).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-358-2/

doc American Concentration Camps VOLUME 2 January 1, 1942- February 19, 1942 (ddr-densho-372-2)

Volume 2 divides into two sections. Description about this volume reads directly from the book as follows: The first section features archival documents that show chiefly how the decision to relocate the West Coast Japanese evolved from conflicting views both outside and inside the executive branch. The second section features reports of the Anti-Axis Committee, Los …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-372-2/

img Adelphons Group Photo (ddr-one-1-1)

Original black and white photographic print of the Adelphons, a young women's service group of the Portland Chapter of the Japanese American Citizen's League, in formal attire. Back Row (left to right): Sumiko “Sue” (Kawasaki) Fujino, unidentified, Minnie (Oyama) Abe, Ochiyo (Nishioka) Hasuike, unidentified, Mary (Furusho) Iwasaki, Tamae "Butch" Yamamoto, Kathryn (Kawata) Niita, Irene (Kawata) Nakagawa, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-1/

img Adelphons Group Photo (ddr-one-1-2)

Black and white photographic negative of the Adelphons, a young women's service group of the Portland Chapter of the Japanese American Citizen's League, in formal attire. Back Row (left to right): Sumiko “Sue” (Kawasaki) Fujino, unidentified, Minnie (Oyama) Abe, Ochiyo (Nishioka) Hasuike, unidentified, Mary (Furusho) Iwasaki, Tamae "Butch" Yamamoto, Kathryn (Kawata) Niita, Irene (Kawata) Nakagawa, Sophie …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-2/

img Adelphons Group Photo (ddr-one-1-3)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-3/

doc Book of 70th Anniversary of Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-446-455)

The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary coincided with the 100th Anniversary of the Japanese Christian Mission in North America. This book traces the history of JCC within the larger setting of national and local events, and some of the photos and narratives may be of interest. Ai Chih Tsai was pastor at JCC from 1948 to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-455/

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 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 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 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/