PARTNER

OBJECT ID

ddr-fom-2-1

PARENT COLLECTION

Arthur Kleinkopf Collection

DESCRIPTION

From September 26, 1942, until February 9, 1946, War Relocation Authority (WRA) employee Arthur Kleinkopf recorded his day-to-day experience at the Minidoka concentration camp in Southern Idaho. His diary begins with his first day at Minidoka and the challenges of establishing a school system. Kleinkopf discusses social tension between Japanese American incarcerees and WRA staff, racist ideologies held by staff and community members, varying concepts of patriotism and American identity, how people retained cultural practices, and the logistical and emotional issues with running a school system for incarcerated children during a war. Arthur’s wife Edith later retyped his diary; this typewritten copy is today cared for by the Twin Falls Public Library in the Idaho Room archives.

CONTRIBUTOR

Friends of Minidoka

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Kleinkopf Diary Collection, Friends of Minidoka, Densho

RIGHTS