Agriculture

Many Issei (first-generation Japanese immigrants) began as sharecroppers. Others sought to buy land, but the Issei had to overcome obstacles preventing them from competing with white farmers. California and other states passed alien land laws prohibiting Asian immigrants from purchasing or leasing agricultural land. There were ways around the discriminatory laws: an Issei father could put the property in the name of his American-born child, or issei could form corporations in which a majority of the shareholders were American citizens. Despite the alien land laws, Issei farmers played a significant role in West Coast agriculture. In the years just prior to World War II, Japanese American families grew 35 percent of the produce in California. By the 1920s, Japanese Americans supplied 75 percent of the produce and half the milk to the Puget Sound region.

Industry and employment (588)
Agriculture (810)

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810 items

doc An Oral History with Mitsuo Nitta (ddr-csujad-29-4)

Oral history with Nisei farmer/businessman from pioneering Orange County, California family gives prewar biographical information with emphasis on Japanese Americans in Orange County. Discusses World War II forced removal, experiences in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the role of the Japanese American Citizens League before and after World War II. This oral history was conducted …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-4/

img Man stands in front of workers and farming equipment (ddr-densho-480-64)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-480-64/

img A man sits on agricultural machinery (ddr-densho-480-14)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-480-14/

img Sugar Cane Harvesting (ddr-densho-363-238)

Pat Kuroda attended the 442nd Regimental Combat Team 10th Anniversary Reunion in Hawaii from July 27th to July 31st, 1953.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-238/

img Family on their farm (ddr-densho-153-16)

Amy Matsushita and parents Kyoko Amitani Matsushita and Yasutaro Matsushita.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-153-16/

img Farmers (ddr-densho-153-13)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-153-13/

img Japanese farms near Midlakes (ddr-densho-353-54)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-54/

img Men hauling produce in a truck (ddr-densho-353-49)

Captioned: "Produce hauled to the Pike Place Market on a new Mack truck."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-49/

img A group of cannery workers (ddr-densho-353-56)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-56/

img Man on a farm (ddr-densho-353-59)

Captioned: "Thomas lettuce cultivator."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-59/

img Numoto family farm (ddr-densho-353-60)

Captioned: "The Numoto family working on their thriving strawberry farm. The water tower is reminiscent of the days before a city water system existed."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-60/

img A group on a truck (ddr-densho-353-51)

Family, neighbors, and a dog on a truck. Captioned: "Aiko and brother on running board, mother in driver's seat, Hideo Akachi (Mrs. S. Osawa's brother) on fender, died young."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-51/

img A family on a dairy farm (ddr-densho-353-35)

A dairy farm located in King County.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-35/

img The Koichi Hoida family on their dairy farm (ddr-densho-353-50)

Captioned: "Hoida father and four children."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-50/

img Man digging potatoes (ddr-densho-153-4)

Yasutaro Matsushita

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-153-4/

doc Crystal City Chatter Issue 118 (ddr-densho-537-117)

Issue 118 includes an article about Bob Fletcher, an article about a Tujunga camp monument, a story of a prison break at Lordsburg, and more.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-537-117/

img A man gathering crops (ddr-densho-316-58)

Possibly Yasujiro Sakahara.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-316-58/

img Harvesting crops (ddr-densho-316-63)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-316-63/

img Man working in field (ddr-densho-293-81)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-293-81/

img Cart (ddr-one-1-632)

Black and white photographic negative of a cart with dirt covering the wheels.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-632/

img Welding (ddr-one-1-442)

Color slide of an unidentified man wearing a welding helmet and holding tools. Appears to be working on repairing a piece of machinery. According to donor processed on June 20, 1951.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-442/

img Tractors (ddr-one-1-452)

Color slide of two parked John Deere tractors in a field, appears to be an old John Deere 1940s model M and a newer 1950s Model A with a fork loader attached to the front. According to donor processed on June 20, 1951. For black and white negative please see ONLC 4821, for black and white …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-452/