Japanese Americans preparing shells for jewelry making

Free re-use available This object is protected by copyright, but the rights holder has allowed us to make it available to you for non-commercial, educational projects.

Learn more...

ddr-densho-2-50 (Legacy UID: denshopd-p2-00050)

Bain Collection

Kumataro (left) and Kadju Nishimura measure and separate shells to be used in jewelry-making. The Nishimuras woke up at the crack of dawn and dug waist-deep holes to find the shells. The shells were then bleached white and later painted. Tule Lake was drained in the early 1900s. The camp was located on the old lake bed, where people found shells for making jewelry to sell to camp personnel.

Photographs

Still Image

Densho

Courtesy of the Bain Family Collection

Copyright restricted
Copyright restricted

API