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 Densho offers these irreplaceable firsthand accounts, coupled with historical images, historical documents, and teacher resources, to explore principles of democracy and promote equal justice for all.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.
376 Collections
Collection
Kazuichi Takanishi Collection (ddr-densho-314)
The Kazuichi Takanishi Collection is comprised of government documents the family gained through the Freedom of Information Act. The documents detail Takanishi's arrest after Pearl Harbor, his interragation, internment, parole to Chicago, Illinois, and return to Hawaii after the war ended.
Collection
Brimhall Collection (ddr-densho-315)
The Brimhall Collection contains photographs of the Brimhall Family during their time at Gila River concentration camp. Jesse D Brimhall and Lilla Brimhall both worked in the camp, Jesse as a vocational shop teacher and Lilla as a nurse. The photographs in this collection show the couple with their sons Jesse (Duke) and Bruce at their …
Collection
Sakahara and Tanaka Families Collection (ddr-densho-316)
A family photograph album documenting the Sakahara and Tanaka families' pre-World War II life on Vashon Island and other areas of Washington State.
The Tanakas were farmers on Vashon Island between 1916 and 1940. Hatsuguma Tanaka was buried on Vashon Island in 1940. Hatsuguma's wife Momoye later married Sam Torakichi Migita and moved to Wapato, Washington. …
Collection
Barbara P. Narita Collection (ddr-densho-317)
The Barbara P. Narita Collection contain photographs, negatives, and documents related to the 1976 movie version of Farewell to Manzanar. Included are Barbara Narita's journal and scene stills taken during filming.
Collection
T.K. Pharmacy Collection (ddr-densho-319)
The T.K. Pharmacy Collection consists of letters, invoices, and other documents related to the daily business of a Japanese American owned and run pharmacy in Denver, Colorado during the 1940s. Many of the letters and orders come from Japanese and Japanese Americans incarcerated in the 10 WRA concentration camps. Requests range from sake to art supplies …
Collection
Seiki Miyasato Collection (ddr-densho-320)
The Seiki Miyasato collection is comprised of personal correspondences, WRA documents, a copy of the Portland Orgonian’s “The Wrong Ancestors” article, and a photographic portrait from the personal family collection of Seiki Ronald Miyasato, a Japanese American incarceree who was held at the Santa Anita assembly center and both the Gila River and Minidoka concentration camps. …
Collection
Fujii and Mori Families Collection (ddr-densho-321)
The Fujii and Mori Families Collection consists of 6 photograph albums documenting life in Tacoma and Vashon Island, Washington before World War II, incarceration at Heart Mountain and Jerome concentration camps and relocation to California after the war.
Collection
Ami Kinoshita Collection (ddr-densho-322)
The Ami Kinoshita Collection is comprised of nine photographs from the family's personal collection. These photos, mostly taken in pre-war era, depict Ami Kinoshita's wedding day, honeymoon, and her family in Oregon and Washington. One photo was taken at Minidoka.
Collection
Fred Shiosaki Collection (ddr-densho-323)
The Fred Shiosaki Collection consists of a few photographs and a letter. Mr. Shiosaki is a narrator; he was born and raised in Spokane, WA and currently lives in Seattle. He served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and fought in Europe during WWII. These photos depict his time as a soldier, and later, his wedding.
Collection
Kinuta Uno Collection (ddr-densho-324)
The Kinuta Uno Collection consists of letters and documents regarding the Uno Family's life in Seattle, Washington pre-World War II through their removal and life in Pinedale Assembly Center, Tule Lake and Minidoka concentration camp. Pre-war topics include: family business dealings and Kinuta Uno's work with the Northwest American Japanese Association, Seattle Zairyudobo, and the Consulate …
Collection
Nimura Family Collection (ddr-densho-325)
Materials of the Nimura Family spanning from the arrival of Shizuko Nimura to the United States as the picture bride of Junichi Nimura through their life building a family in California. The collection centers on the life of their eldest child, Hisa, born in 1925 and her experience during the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII …
Collection
Matsuo Sakagami Collection (ddr-densho-326)
The Matsuo Sakagami Collection consists of photographs and ephemera from the 1930s through the 1950s. Topics include: recreational activities such as fishing and picnicking, weddings and funerals, and sports such as baseball and judo. Second accession consists of two photo albums from the 1930's. Album 1 contains photos of Matsuo Sakagami's tour of Japan with his …
Collection
Jerome T. Light Collection (ddr-densho-327)
The Jerome T. Light Collections consists of two bound volumes containing the dissertation of Jerome T. Light entitled "The Development of a Junior-Senior High School Program in a Relocation Center for People of Japanese Ancestry during the War with Japan" submitted to the School of Education of Leland Stanford Junior University for his degree of Doctor …
Collection
Umeyo Sakagami Collection (ddr-densho-328)
The Umeyo Sakagami Collection consists of photographs from four albums ranging in date from the 1930s to the 1950s. Topics include: life in the Pacific Northwest before the war, experiences in the camps, Umeyo Sakagami's brothers' (Masao and Matsuo) service in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service, her travels after the war …
Collection
Kaneji and Sally (Fujii) Domoto Collection (ddr-densho-329)
Accessions 1-2: The Kaneji and Sally (Fujii) Domoto collection consists mostly of correspondence to Kaneji Domoto from his wife Sally, and his sisters Wakako and Yuriko. The letters primarily date between 1942 and 1952, when Kaneji was on the East Coast looking for work and his family was held at Amache, and after WWII when his …
Collection
Maryknoll Seattle Collection (ddr-densho-330)
The Maryknoll school was a Catholic-run school in Seattle. This collection includes a box of Maryknoll-related slides, photos and documents.
Collection
Takasugi Family Collection (ddr-densho-331)
The Takasugi Family Collection contains photographs and documents related to Minoru and Mitsuye (Sano) Takasugi and their family's life at Rohwer concentration camp. Topics include: Minoru and Mitsuye's wedding, their children, and life in the camps.
Collection
Yoshihara Collection (ddr-densho-332)
Yoshihara collection. Centers around George and Hisano Yoshihara whose son Elmer served in the U.S. Army during the occupation of Japan and was later killed in Korea. Elmer's fiance whom he met in Japan was later brought to the United States. Includes photographs and documents
Collection
Min & Uhachi Tamesa Collection (ddr-densho-333)
The Min & Uhachi Tamesa Collection consists of correspondence, photographs, documents, and ephemera related to the lives of Uhachi Tamesa and his son Min Tamesa. Much of the collection documents Min's life as a draft resister, his imprisonment at Leavenworth Penitentiary, and Uhachi's support of his son during that period. Also, found in the collection are …
Collection
May Sakuma Collection (ddr-densho-334)
The May Sakuma Collection consists of one composition notebook. Some time after World War II May Okano Sakuma wrote this essay about her experiences in Minidoka concentration camp. Topics include: schools, working at the hospital, social life, the Irrigator, strikes, and camp conditions.
Collection
Thomas & Agnes Rockrise Collection (ddr-densho-335)
The Thomas and Agnes Rockrise collection consists of letters, photographs, and ephemera. These materials cover their life in New York City and upstate New York. Thomas Rockrise was an architect. He practiced under both his English name, Thomas S Rockrise, and his Japanese name, Iwahiko Tsumanuma. Agnes (Asbury) Rockrise worked a practical nurse and companion in …
Collection
Lake Sequoia Retreat Archive Collection (ddr-densho-336)
The Lake Sequoia Retreat Archive Collection consists of photographs and documents from the Lake Sequoia Retreat (LSR), a summer camp for Japanese American Christian youth which ran from 1946 until 1990. This retreat was organized after Japanese Americans returned to California after World War II. It was organized by the Central California Young People's Christian Conference …
Collection
Guyo Tajiri Collection (ddr-densho-338)
The Guyo Tajiri Collection consists of photographs, correspondence, and documents chronicling the life of Tsuguyo "Guyo" Marion Okagaki Tajiri and her husband Larry Tajiri. Photographs cover Guyo Tajiri's life and family from infancy through adulthood. The letters and documents highlight Guyo and Larry Tajiri's work running the Pacific Citizen from 1942 to 1952, Guyo's help in …
Collection
Doris & Carl Saito Collection (ddr-densho-339)
The Doris & Carl Saito Collection consists of photographs, documents, illustrations, and ephemera from the Saito Family's time at Heart Mountain concentration camp. There are photographs depicting life in the camps, needlework done by Asano Ota, fashion illustrations by Doris Saito, and photographs and documents regarding Carl Saito's time in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
Collection
California Young People's Christian Conference Collection (ddr-densho-341)
The California Young People's Christian Conference Collection consists of two scrapbooks of clippings, programs and photos from conferences, social activities and events held by the Northern California Young People Christian Conference, the Bay Region Young People's Christian Conference, the Central California Young People's Christian Conference and the Fresno Young People's Fellowship.