Densho Digital Archive
Manzanar National Historic Site Collection
Title: Sumiye Takeno Interview
Narrator: Sumiye Takeno
Interviewer: Richard Potashin
Location: Denver, Colorado
Date: July 5, 2008
Densho ID: denshovh-tsumiye-01-0022

<Begin Segment 22>

RP: So have you been back to Manzanar since you left?

ST: It's been about four or five years since I've been to Manzanar.

RP: Really?

ST: Yes, uh-huh. So I haven't been back there. Are they having anything special?

RP: Well, we have, yes, we have an interpretive center, a visitor center, kind of a museum type of thing.

ST: Oh, uh-huh. Yeah, I don't think I've seen the new museum. Someday I'd like to see but I don't know.

RP: It would be nice to have you visit there.

ST: What kind of things do they have in that museum or are they going to have?

RP: We have exhibits and talk about the, about life in camp and some of the...

ST: Is this an ongoing thing?

RP: Uh-huh.

ST: Is that right?

RP: So, National Park Service runs or administers Manzanar as part of a unit of the Park Service. A few more questions about camp. One about Robert Brown.

ST: Uh-huh.

RP: He was a good friend of, of Roy.

ST: Yes.

RP: I think he might have even been his boss.

ST: Uh-huh.

RP: But you mentioned to me that they both went to school together at USC.

ST: That's right, that I know of.

RP: Do you, did you know Bob in camp at all?

ST: Yes. He took us around and that's where you saw the picture.

RP: He took pictures of you at the...

ST: Yeah. He took us around and took all those pictures. Yes, uh-huh.

RP: I'm sorry, I forgot to bring some of those with me. But you might have them.

ST: I think I have some.

RP: There's a picture of Roy and you sitting on a couple of rocks near that park.

ST: By the bridge?

RP: Yeah, by the bridge. There's another picture by the bridge.

ST: Yeah, he took several picture of us and I think I have... that's the one I came across the other day. I don't know where... I was thinking, "Where did I leave the others?" I don't know if I have others or not.

RP: So that, was that the only time you ever visited that garden, Merritt Park?

ST: Uh-huh.

RP: Was when Rob, Bob took pictures of you?

ST: Uh-huh. Yes. He wanted especially there because there's a nice scenery.

RP: Like nice scenery. Yeah, it's a very beautiful picture of both of you.

ST: I don't know about that, but the scenery is beautiful. [Laughs]

<End Segment 22> - Copyright © 2008 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.