Marjorie Matsushita Sperling Interview Segment 5

Born in Wapato, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-273-1) - 00:01:36
Description of father: establishing a Japanese American community in the Yakima valley (ddr-densho-1000-273-2) - 00:06:32
Mother's arrival in the U.S. as a "picture bride": "it was a shock for her" (ddr-densho-1000-273-3) - 00:04:22
Description of two older sisters (ddr-densho-1000-273-4) - 00:06:33
The prewar Japanese American community in Wapato, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-273-5) - 00:05:13
Relations between whites and Japanese in the Yakima valley: "I think they tolerated each other" (ddr-densho-1000-273-6) - 00:04:34
Parents' leasing of land under daughter's name (ddr-densho-1000-273-7) - 00:02:21
Feeling free to speak out, even as a child (ddr-densho-1000-273-8) - 00:03:13
Attending school (ddr-densho-1000-273-9) - 00:02:46
Helping out on the family farm (ddr-densho-1000-273-10) - 00:02:59
Moving to Seattle, attending the University of Washington (ddr-densho-1000-273-11) - 00:02:10
Returning to family in Wapato after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (ddr-densho-1000-273-12) - 00:03:40
Firebombing incident of family home (ddr-densho-1000-273-13) - 00:02:18
Hearing about other areas being removed (ddr-densho-1000-273-14) - 00:03:28
The journey to the Portland Livestock Center (ddr-densho-1000-273-15) - 00:06:21
Home community divided and sent to separate camps (ddr-densho-1000-273-16) - 00:03:59
Early impressions of Heart Mountain (ddr-densho-1000-273-17) - 00:04:22
Working for the recreation department, planning activities for kids (ddr-densho-1000-273-18) - 00:04:24
Adjusting to life in camp (ddr-densho-1000-273-19) - 00:06:39
Leaving camp and going to school in Minnesota (ddr-densho-1000-273-20) - 00:04:04
Working for a municipal recreation department (ddr-densho-1000-273-21) - 00:03:30
Returning to Wapato, observing changes in the Japanese American community (ddr-densho-1000-273-22) - 00:04:48
A new experience: working in Great Falls, Montana (ddr-densho-1000-273-23) - 00:03:57
Job as Service Club Director at Larson Air Force Base (ddr-densho-1000-273-24) - 00:04:09
Moving to Santa Rosa, California (ddr-densho-1000-273-25) - 00:03:31
Shifting careers: working as Director of Volunteers (ddr-densho-1000-273-26) - 00:03:14
Working for community and educational groups (ddr-densho-1000-273-27) - 00:05:35
Involvement in Teens Make a Difference Day (ddr-densho-1000-273-28) - 00:02:26
Working with groups in an effort to preserve the concentration camps (ddr-densho-1000-273-29) - 00:04:50
Reflections: importance of speaking up (ddr-densho-1000-273-30) - 00:01:17
Free to use This object is offered under a Creative Commons license. You are free to use it for any non-commercial purpose as long as you properly cite it, and if you share what you have created.

Learn more...

PARTNER

Densho
Visit partner

SEGMENT ID

ddr-densho-1000-273-5 (Legacy UID: denshovh-smarjorie-01-0005)

SEGMENT DESCRIPTION

The prewar Japanese American community in Wapato, Washington

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

00:05:13 — Segment 5 of 30

Previous segment Next segment

DATE

February 24, 2010

LOCATION

PARENT COLLECTION

Densho Visual History Collection

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

RIGHTS

PARTNER

Densho
Visit partner

INTERVIEW ID

ddr-densho-1000-273

NARRATOR

Marjorie Matsushita Sperling

INTERVIEW TITLE

Marjorie Matsushita Sperling Interview

01:58:51 — 30 segments

DATE

February 24, 2010

LOCATION

Culver City, California

DESCRIPTION

Nisei female. Born July 27, 1922, in Wapato, Washington. Grew up in Wapato, where family ran a farm. Was attending the University of Washington when the war broke out on December 7, 1941. Removed with family to the Portland Assembly Center, Oregon, and the Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming. While in camp, worked for the recreation department. Left camp and attended college in St. Paul, Minnesota. After the war, became very active in the field of recreation, as well as with community and educational groups. Involved in efforts to preserve the sites of the wartime incarceration camps.

(This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.)

PRODUCTION

Tom Ikeda, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

RIGHTS

API