Mass removal ("evacuation")

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. On the appointed "evacuation" day, thousands of Japanese Americans gathered at designated locations, with the numbered identification tags they had been issued tied to their coats. Watched by curious onlookers, they were met by armed soldiers and transported in buses, private cars, and trains to sixteen temporary "assembly centers" in California, Washington, Oregon and Arizona.

World War II (277)
Mass removal ("evacuation") (743)

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743 items

doc Letter (with envelope) to Molly Wilson from June Yoshigai (July 7, 1943) (ddr-janm-1-83)

Handwritten letter to Molly Wilson from June Yoshigai (July 7, 1943). Envelope is postmarked July 7, 1943 from the Gila River Incarceration Camp in Rivers, Arizona.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-1-83/

doc A Tule Lake Interlude (ddr-densho-291-1)

This collection of poems and stories related to life in Tule Lake was published on concentration camp's first anniversary.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-291-1/

doc Gidra, Vol. I, No. 6 (September 1969) (ddr-densho-297-6)

Selected article titles: "Isaac Honored" (p. 1), "Birth of Amerasia" (p. 1), "Hoover's Yellow Peril" (p. 2), "Dawn of Awakening" (p. 2), "UCLA Sells Out" (p. 5), "Potential for What" (p. 5), "The Failure of Democracy in a Time of Crisis" (p. 6-7).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-297-6/

doc Letter to Kinuta Uno at Fort Missoula (ddr-densho-324-4)

Correspondence from Kinuta Uno's daughter discussing, school, paperwork and the imminent mass removal of the Japanese American community from Washington.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-4/

doc Letter to Kinuta Uno at Fort Missoula (ddr-densho-324-5)

Correspondence from Kinuta Uno's daughter discussing mass removal and the need to sell their car. Also included, a document for the lost title and registration cards.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-5/

doc Letter to Kinuta Uno at Fort Missoula (ddr-densho-324-6)

Correspondence from Kinuta Uno's daughter discussing daily life, mass removal to Puyallup "Camp Harmony" Assembly Center asking about life at Fort Missoula, and requesting more letters from him.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-6/

doc Letter sent to Kayuko Uno at Pinedale Assembly Center (ddr-densho-324-70)

Correspondence from Carl Prato regarding management of the Uno's farm while they were incarcerated.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-70/

doc Letter to Kinuta Uno at Fort Missoula (ddr-densho-324-8)

Correspondence from Kinuta Uno's daughter discussing plans for their removal and how they had to quit school after being banned from going into the city limits.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-8/

doc Letter to Kinuta Uno at Fort Missoula (ddr-densho-324-7)

Correspondence from Kinuta Uno's daughter requesting power of attorney to sell their belongings before being removed.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-7/

doc Letter sent to Kinuta Uno at Tule Lake concentration camp (ddr-densho-324-71)

Correspondence from Carl Prato regarding sale of the Uno's farm and equipment.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-71/

img Scrapbook (ddr-densho-361-1)

Written on tape on cover: "This scrapbook is original--1942 Nobuko Omoto (Sakai) Bainbridge Island, WA. Please handle with care."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-361-1/

doc The Evacuation of the Japanese During World War II (ddr-densho-390-141)

An essay describing the evacuation of Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II, including a list a recommended further readings.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-141/

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/

doc American Concentration Camps VOLUME 1 July, 1940- December 31, 1941 (ddr-densho-372-1)

Volume 1 divides into three sections. Description about this volume reads directly from the book as follows: The first section contains archival documents regarding pre-Pearl Harbor materials that deal largely with discussion between the War and the Justice Departments over responsibilities for enemy aliens in case of war and with internal Army documents about construction of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-372-1/

doc American Concentration Camps VOLUME 3 February 20, 1942- March 31, 1942 (ddr-densho-372-3)

Volume 3 divides into 4 sections. Description about this volume reads directly from the book as follows: Section 1 contains archival documents from February 20, 1942 to March 19, 1942 regarding the basic decision of how to remove more than 100,000 human beings which was delegated to General De Witt and his staff. Section 2 contains …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-372-3/

doc Letter to Guyo and Larry Tajiri (ddr-densho-338-165)

A letter discussing the forced removal, the Tajiri's effort to keep the Pacific Citizen running in Salt Lake City, and the state of the country.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-338-165/

doc Notification of warrants for arrest and detention of Gentaro and Iku Takahashi (ddr-densho-355-173)

From Harold T. Landers to H.L. Stafford, Project Director Minidoka

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-355-173/

doc Letter from Harold S. Fistere to Takami Hibiya (ddr-densho-381-147)

Harold S. Fistere writes to Takami Hibiya to inform him that the War Relocation Authority has some articles of contraband belonging to him. The letter gives instructions on how to retrieve the articles and what will happen if the articles are not claimed.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-147/

doc Gila New-Courier Supplement, Issei, Nisei, Kibei (ddr-densho-382-12)

Transcription of Fortune magazine article from April, 1944. "The U.S. has put 110,000 people of Japanese blood in 'Protective Custody'"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-382-12/

doc Scrapbook of newspaper clipping (ddr-densho-483-100)

Loose scrapbook pages containing newspaper and magazine clipping, a press release, and a speech transcript. Selected article titles: Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "Seattle Japs return home" (p. 1), "The National Director speaks to residents" (p. 2), "237 Bainbridge Japs leave, head south" (p. 3), "No refunds for japs, says city" (p. 4), "Sad farewells while troops stand by" …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-100/

doc Scrapbook of newspaper clipping (ddr-densho-483-95)

Loose scrapbook pages containing newspaper and magazine clipping, bulletins, program, school essay, photograph, and ephemera. Selected article titles and additional contents: Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "Bainbridge Japs prepare to leave" (p. 1), "Tired old woodenface sets new attendance record" (p. 3), Hunt High School Commencement Program (p. 4), "Prober Dies would find dust but no 'coddling' at center" …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-95/

doc "Exclusion Act - 1942 Model" (ddr-densho-423-152)

Article by Clarence W. Hall for The Christian Advocate, criticizing the Exclusion act and its impact of Japanese Americans

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-423-152/

doc "Evacuation - American Style" (ddr-densho-423-158)

Reprinted from Journal of Social Work reviewing the progress and problems of the early stages of evacuation, "Property of M. Nozawa" written inside front cover.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-423-158/

doc "Democracy and Japanese Americans" (ddr-densho-423-157)

Transcription of pamphlet by Norman Thomas, published by the Post War World Council, criticizing the incarceration and identifying actions to take to protest. Includes letter of support signed by prominent civil rights activists, lawyers, writers and pastors who opposed incarceration: Helen Marston Beardsley, Ernest Besig, John Dos Passos, Harry Emerson Fosdick, Esther Fiske Hammond, Arthur Garfield …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-423-157/

doc What About Our Japanese-Americans? (ddr-densho-493-36)

31-page pamphlet authored by Carey McWilliams for the American Council of the Institute of Pacific Relations, published by the Public Affairs Committee, Inc. as part of a Public Affairs Pamphlets series. Inner note says that the text was also to be published shortly by Little, Brown and Company under the title of Prejudice. The Japanese-Americans: a …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-493-36/