ddr-janm-4 — Tsuyako Kitashima Collection

Tsuyako Kitashima Collection

Japanese American National Museum
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ddr-janm-4

Various materials from Topaz, Redress, the National Coalition for Redress and Reparations (NCRR), and the Japanese American Citizens' League (JACL) by Tsuyako "Sox" Kitashima. Kitashima was born in Hayward, California in 1918. Her and her family were among the 120,000 Japanese Americans forcefully interned in war relocation camps during World War Two. They were first taken to a temporary assembly center in Tanforan, California and then relocated to the Topaz Incarceration Camp in Utah. After the war, Kitashima was on the front line fighting for redress. She became a well-known activist and a spokesperson for the NCRR. With her help, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 was passed which called for the formal apology of the American government to the Japanese Americans as well as compensation of $20,000 for every surviving internee.

1940-1999

1981-1991

43 objects pertaining to the Topaz Incarceration Camp, Japanese American Redress, the National Coalition for Redress and Reparations, and the Japanese American Citizens' League.

Japanese American National Museum

Kitashima, Tsuyako "Sox" (author)

Courtesy of the Japanese American National Museum (2003.123)

43 Objects

doc Thank you card (with envelope) to Tsuyako "Sox" Kitashima from George Kudo (May 29, 1991) (ddr-janm-4-1)

Thank you card to Tsuyako "Sox" Kitashima from George Kudo (May 29, 1991). White card with illustration in blue/yellow/red of a hanging scale holding a basket of blue, purple, and pink flowers. "Thank You" is written in the top right corner. Envelope is postmarked May 29, 1991 from Marysville, California.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-4-1/

doc Masaichi Nishimura War Ration Book Four (ddr-janm-4-2)

War Ration Book Four belonging to Masaichi Nishimura.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-4-2/

doc Soul Corner cartoon about Tsuyako "Sox" Kitashima (ddr-janm-4-3)

Xerox copy of a Soul Corner cartoon about Tsuyako "Sox" Kitashima sharing her experience in camp during World War Two.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-4-3/

doc Mailgram to Tsuyako "Sox" Kitashima (ddr-janm-4-4)

Western Union Mailgram to Tsuyako "Sox" Kitashima regarding her testimony before the Commission on Wartime Relocation.

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

doc Letter (with envelope) and copy of Tsuyako "Sox" Kitashima's testimony before the Commission on Wartime Relocation (August 13, 1981) (ddr-janm-4-5)

Letter to Tsuyako "Sox" Kitashima from Katrina Shores, Special Assistant to the Chair of the Commission on Wartime Relocation (January 11, 1982). It encloses a draft copy of Kitashima's testimony before the Commission on Wartime Relocation she gave at the hearing on August 13, 1981 in San Francisco, California. Envelope is postmarked January 20, 1982 from …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-4-5/

doc Poster informing the public to attend the Commission hearings (ddr-janm-4-6)

Poster informing the public to attend the Commission hearings. It gives a list of dates and times as well as the location and telephone numbers for more information.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-4-6/

doc A variety of letters to various politians in Washington, D.C. most likely from the NCRR (ddr-janm-4-7)

Four 1-paged letters. One addressed to Vice President George Bush, one to House Majority Leader Thomas Foley, one to an unknown representative, and one to Richard Darman. It is unknown from where or from whom the letters came from because none of them are signed or even dated.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-4-7/

doc NCRR (National Coalation for Redress/Reparations) pamphlet (ddr-janm-4-8)

NCRR (National Coalation for Redress/Reparations) brief history and membership sign-up pamphlet.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-4-8/

doc Program for a Day of Remembrance event (February 18, 1990) (ddr-janm-4-9)

Beyond Redress: Building on our Victories, Day of Remembrance event program sponsored by the National Coalition for Redress/Reparations (February 18, 1990).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-4-9/