Densho
Site: https://densho.org
Densho documents the testimonies of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II before their memories are extinguished. Densho offers these irreplaceable firsthand accounts, coupled with historical images, historical documents, and teacher resources, to explore principles of democracy and promote equal justice for all.
Densho's collections contain oral histories and primary sources that document the Japanese American experience from immigration starting in the late 1800s through redress in the 1980s, with a strong focus on World War II incarceration. The archives are growing as Densho continues to record oral histories and digitize historical materials.
419 Collections
Collection
Kenneth and Masako (Kawaguchi) Yamamoto Family Collection (ddr-densho-492)
The collection consists of three yearbooks, two for Kenneth Yamamoto from Gila River both from his senior year and as a faculty member the following year, and for Masako Kawaguchi from Heart Mountain. The additional 57 photos represent the Yamamoto family's life in Hawaii, including photos of Hilo Boarding School, the family's house and miscellaneous views …
Collection
Tomio Itabashi and Frances (Itabashi) Nishimura Collection (ddr-densho-493)
This collection consists of objects, documents, photographs, and pamphlets from the Itabashi family, siblings Tomio Itabashi and Frances Nishimura (Itabashi) and their aunt and uncle, Kuni and Buichiro Itabashi. The family lived in Auburn, Washington prior to the war, where they operated a dairy farming business and were involved in a Supreme Court of Washington State …
Collection
Meriko Maida Collection (ddr-densho-494)
A memorial website to Meriko Maida's life. Includes biographical essays and photographs from Meriko's life. Meriko was born in Richmond, California to Torayoshi (Muraki) Maida and Kane Maida in 1920. She grew up in Richmond, traveling to Japan in 1937 to receive additional education. She returned to California in 1939. She and her family were incarcerated …
Collection
Francis and Nancy (Nagai) and Yoshida Family Collection (ddr-densho-495)
Photographs and memorabilia from the Yoshida and Nagai. The majority of the collection is arranged in a family history binder that tells the story of Francis and Nancy (Nagai) Yoshida and their respective families, children, and grandchildren.
Collection
Kazuyoshi Kawata Collection (ddr-densho-496)
Written accounts from Kazuyoshi Kawata about his life as a Japanese American, his experience in internment, and his experience serving in World War II.
Collection
Frank Honda Postcard Collection (ddr-densho-497)
A collection of postcards from Frank Honda to his girlfriend Iku Morita from his postings across Europe in the fall and winter of 1944.
Collection
Rev. Robert Inglis Collection (ddr-densho-498)
Reverend Robert Inglis provided kindness and charity to Japanese Americans as they were being removed from Oakland, California to Tanforan Temporary Assembly Center, Topaz War Relocation Center, and Jerome War Relocation Center. The bulk of this collection is correspondence from Japanese Americans thanking Rev. Robert Inglis for his help during their removal. Reverend Inglis also communicated …
Collection
Umeya Company Collection (ddr-densho-499)
Photographs, product packaging, product artwork, and promotional materials from the Umeya Rice Cake Co.
Collection
Takeda Family Collection (ddr-densho-501)
The Takeda Family were a farmers in Milpitas, California. The family consisted of married couple, Shoji and Chizu with their children and Shoji's father. During World War II they were all removed to Tule Lake. While at Tule Lake, members of their farming community helped to manage their farm. The family was about to gain agricultural …
Collection
Densho Legacy Archive Collection (ddr-densho-506)
The Densho Legacy Archive is a physical collection housed on-site at the Densho offices in Seattle. The collection is comprised of institutional records that cover the period from Densho’s conceptualization as the Densho Legacy Project to the present day as a digital repository. 150 photographs from this collection have been published in the Densho Digital Repository. …
Collection
Crossroads Collection (ddr-densho-507)
Crossroads was a Nisei weekly newspaper published in post-war Los Angeles. This collection currently contains 4 editions from 1948-1955.
Collection
Bif Brigman and Dale Watanabe Collection (ddr-densho-508)
A collections of objects related to Japanese American history collected by Bif Brigman and Dale Watanabe with the intention of preserving them within the community if they can not be returned to their families.
Collection
M. Katayama and Ben Nakagawa Collection (ddr-densho-510)
The M. Katayama and Ben Nakayama Collection consists of correspondence by M. and Kathy Katayama, and Ben Nakayama in response to Bob Hope's use of the word "Jap" in a speech to the Boy Scout jamboree in 1973. The Katayamas wrote letters to various leaders, officials, and personal representatives seeking condemnation and an apology from Bob …
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Buddhist Temple of Alameda Collection (ddr-densho-512)
The Buddhist Temple of Alameda Collection contain modern materials from the Temple. These materials include photographs from a chicken teriyaki fundraising dinner from 2020, programs from various Temple anniversaries, documents around the retirement of Reverend Eiyu Terao, and other materials around significant events for the Temple.
Collection
Jeff Furumura Collection (ddr-densho-513)
The Jeff Furumura Collection consists of 11 photographs from the family of Jeff Furumura. Interviewed by Densho in 2023, Mr. Furumura shared images of his mother's family prior to World War II, his father while at the Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming, and his uncle who became a navy pilot. He also wrote for Gidra while …
Collection
Japanese Association of North America Censuses Collection (ddr-densho-514)
Japanese Association of North America (JANA) Censuses collection contains original census records created by JANA about Japanese American communities in the 1920s and 1930s. They cover many of the same data fields that are found in United States censuses, for example: head of household, names, address, birth place, education level, and occupation. There were also separate …
Collection
Santa Fe Internment Camp Hospital Collection (ddr-densho-515)
Collection of 3 photographs, 2 of the hospital staff at the Santa Fe Internment Camp, 1 a photograph of an unidentified nurse.
Collection
Roy T. Murano Collection (ddr-densho-517)
The Roy T. Murano Collection is comprised of two photographs taken at Tule Lake in Newell, California.
Collection
Tadao "Tod" Fujihira Collection (ddr-densho-518)
The Tadao "Tod" Fujihira Collection consists primarily of a photograph album from the Fujihira family's time incarcerated at Minidoka concentration camp. Tod collected numerous photographs of family and friends inside Minidoka as well as on excursions to nearby Idaho locations and as the family departed camp for resettlement. Additionally, there are two photographs from Tod's travels …
Collection
Tule Lake Directory (ddr-densho-520)
A book complied by Harry Inukai and published in May 1988. It includes a directory of Tule Lake concentration camp between May 1942 through September 1943 including barrack addresses. The second half of the book includes camp news in the following categories: Shows and Entertainment, Social Highlights, Vital Statistics, Departures, Arrivals and Transfers, Service News, Farm …
Collection
Yoshiko (Abe) Shiomi Family Collection (ddr-densho-522)
The Yoshiko (Abe) Shiomi Family collection consists of 21 photo albums with photographs of Hardy and Yoshiko Shiomi's family and friends from the time of their resettlement after leaving Tule Lake and Heart Mountain respectively. Most albums contain photos of travels around the United States and Asia. Includes photos from 1992 Heart Mountain Reunion.
Collection
J. David Sakura Family Collection (ddr-densho-523)
The David Sakura Family collection consists of a photo album with photos of the Sakura family before incarceration and after relocation to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, material related to the J. David Sakura's work on the redress movement and the establishment of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC).
Collection
Trent Alley Video Project Collection (ddr-densho-525)
This collection contains two short films and five photographs. The first film gives a brief history of the Trent Alley district of Spokane, Washington. The second film is an interview with Alice Tanaka concerning her life growing up in Trent Alley. The five photographs show the historic marker in Spokane dedicated in May 2023.
Collection
Fusae Ishikawa Collection (ddr-densho-532)
Collection contains three daily diaries by Fusae Ishikawa from 1915-1917 when she was a young girl living in Los Angeles.
Collection
Pauline Sakahara Ikebana Collection (ddr-densho-534)
Collection consists of two albums containing photos of Ikebana, bonsai and demonstrations created and performed by Ikebana artist, Pauline Sakahara, and two diplomas from Ikebana flower arranging schools. In 1958, she was secretary, interpreter, and student of the Ikebana expert, Madame Josui Oshikawa, headmaster of the Sho-fu Ryu school. Mrs. Sakahara graduated from the Sho-fu Ryu …