Ruby Inouye Interview Segment 20

Born in Seattle, Washington, given both English and Japanese names (ddr-densho-1000-143-1) - 00:02:16
Family background: mother came as "picture bride" to join prospective husband in U.S. (ddr-densho-1000-143-2) - 00:05:48
Mother's family background: learning to cope with difficult circumstances (ddr-densho-1000-143-3) - 00:05:54
Parents' early life in the U.S. (ddr-densho-1000-143-4) - 00:03:04
Early memories of growing up in Seattle, Washington: childhood activities (ddr-densho-1000-143-5) - 00:05:04
Attending Sunday School and being baptized (ddr-densho-1000-143-6) - 00:02:37
Parents' values: wanting their children to become Americanized; sister's experience living in Japan during high school (ddr-densho-1000-143-7) - 00:05:50
Growing up bilingual; attending Japanese language school (ddr-densho-1000-143-8) - 00:08:02
Emerging awareness of ethnic differences in grade school; father's emphasis on education (ddr-densho-1000-143-9) - 00:05:11
Hectic life helping with family's restaurant business in Seattle's Nihonmachi (ddr-densho-1000-143-10) - 00:09:54
Discussion of prewar kenjinkai activities (ddr-densho-1000-143-11) - 00:05:09
Attending Broadway High School, "trying real hard to become more Americanized" (ddr-densho-1000-143-12) - 00:05:00
Taking college-preparation courses while in high school, graduating salutatorian (ddr-densho-1000-143-13) - 00:06:35
Making the decision to switch from a home economics to pre-medicine focus at the University of Washington (ddr-densho-1000-143-14) - 00:09:00
Busy schedule as a pre-med student at the University of Washington (ddr-densho-1000-143-15) - 00:03:28
Little awareness of the world political climate preceding the bombing of Pearl Harbor (ddr-densho-1000-143-16) - 00:04:29
Memories of December 7, 1941: feeling ashamed, losing customers at the family restaurant because of Japanese ancestry (ddr-densho-1000-143-17) - 00:08:58
Preparing for mass removal, worrying about younger brother who was hospitalized (ddr-densho-1000-143-18) - 00:07:20
Deciding what to bring to assembly center, parents' stoic attitude toward mass removal (ddr-densho-1000-143-19) - 00:08:15
First impressions of Puyallup Assembly Center; resourcefulness of the camp inmates (ddr-densho-1000-143-20) - 00:05:22
Volunteering at the first aid station at Puyallup Assembly Center (ddr-densho-1000-143-21) - 00:02:08
Life at the Puyallup Assembly Center: poor food, playing cards, and wondering about the future (ddr-densho-1000-143-22) - 00:09:11
Moving to Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho and working as a nurse's aide (ddr-densho-1000-143-23) - 00:07:02
Obtaining permission to leave camp; first exposure to segregation in Texas (ddr-densho-1000-143-24) - 00:09:55
National Student Relocation Council's help in obtaining leave clearance to attend the University of Texas (ddr-densho-1000-143-25) - 00:05:51
Fond memories of living in Texas (ddr-densho-1000-143-26) - 00:03:51
Excelling in pre-med classes at the University of Texas; applying to medical schools (ddr-densho-1000-143-27) - 00:08:41
Moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to attend Woman's Medical College (ddr-densho-1000-143-28) - 00:05:44
Working to save money while attending medical school: living with sister, doing piecework in factories (ddr-densho-1000-143-29) - 00:06:51
Recollections of the end of World War II; sister's experiences returning to Seattle (ddr-densho-1000-143-30) - 00:06:37
Finding an internship at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (ddr-densho-1000-143-31) - 00:06:45
Discussion of emphasis on teaching women's issues at Woman's Medical College (ddr-densho-1000-143-32) - 00:04:33
Memories of lessons learned at Woman's Medical College: "Don't pretend like you're a man" (ddr-densho-1000-143-33) - 00:07:18
Changes in childbirth practices since the 1940s (ddr-densho-1000-143-34) - 00:03:39
Experiencing prejudice when applying for a medical internship (ddr-densho-1000-143-35) - 00:08:24
Returning to Seattle to open private practice in Nihonmachi, receiving support from the Issei community (ddr-densho-1000-143-36) - 00:06:17
Experiences in private practice: memories of treating first patient, benefits of speaking Japanese, and assisting in surgery (ddr-densho-1000-143-37) - 00:06:13
Establishing private practice with father's advice, and meeting future husband (ddr-densho-1000-143-38) - 00:07:25
Getting married to Evan Shu, a doctor from China (ddr-densho-1000-143-39) - 00:05:31
Raising children while running own practice: trying incidents when bringing kids on house calls (ddr-densho-1000-143-40) - 00:08:16
Unique experiences as a female physician (ddr-densho-1000-143-41) - 00:06:39
(ddr-densho-1000-143-42) - 00:02:01
Delivering babies a cherished aspect of practice; coping with an inconsistent schedule (ddr-densho-1000-143-43) - 00:05:53
(ddr-densho-1000-143-44) - 00:01:52
Discussion of family's views on interracial marriage (ddr-densho-1000-143-45) - 00:03:31
Involvement in early discussions to build a Japanese American nursing home in Seattle (ddr-densho-1000-143-46) - 00:04:35
Japanese American community attitudes toward building a nursing home (ddr-densho-1000-143-47) - 00:04:24
Involvement in establishing a nursing home which preceded Keiro (ddr-densho-1000-143-48) - 00:09:07
Decision to retain maiden name as professional name (ddr-densho-1000-143-49) - 00:02:21
Retiring from private practice at age seventy-five (ddr-densho-1000-143-50) - 00:06:15
Discussion of changes and advancements in the medical field over the years (ddr-densho-1000-143-51) - 00:02:06
Important characteristics for having a successful practice: "be compassionate and thoughtful" (ddr-densho-1000-143-52) - 00:06:43
Thoughts on redress, using the money to "pay back" the community (ddr-densho-1000-143-53) - 00:06:02
Thoughts on social change, current events (ddr-densho-1000-143-54) - 00:04:50
Reflections; pride in passing on values to children and grandchildren (ddr-densho-1000-143-55) - 00:05:41
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Densho
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SEGMENT ID

ddr-densho-1000-143-20 (Legacy UID: denshovh-iruby-01-0020)

SEGMENT DESCRIPTION

First impressions of Puyallup Assembly Center; resourcefulness of the camp inmates

00:05:22 — Segment 20 of 55

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DATE

April 3 & 4, 2003

LOCATION

PARENT COLLECTION

Densho Visual History Collection

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CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

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Densho
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INTERVIEW ID

ddr-densho-1000-143

NARRATOR

Ruby Inouye

INTERVIEW TITLE

Ruby Inouye Interview

05:19:28 — 55 segments

DATE

April 3 & 4, 2003

LOCATION

Seattle, Washington

DESCRIPTION

Nisei female. Born November 17, 1920, in Seattle, Washington. Grew up in Seattle, and graduated salutatorian from Broadway High School. Was enrolled in the pre-medical program at the University of Washington on December 7, 1941. During the war, removed to the Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington, and the Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Left camp to attend the University of Texas, and later Woman's Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Returned to Seattle to open a private family medicine practice, and succeeded with the help of the Issei community. Involved in helping to establish a nursing home for Japanese Americans in Seattle, and retired from private practice at age seventy-five.

PRODUCTION

Alice Ito, interviewer; Dee Goto, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

RIGHTS

API