<Begin Segment 22>

NM: Their car of course was an official car I think and so I probably understood or knew that, yeah.

RP: One of the ironies that you mentioned about that is that you said that your husband would submit all the materials that he was going to use --

NM: Uh-huh.

RP: -- to the administration. So they knew exactly what he was using and what the content --

NM: Yeah, of course.

RP: -- was of his discussion. But yet they still had that sort of suspicion that he might slant something.

NM: Oh yes, uh-huh. I think, yeah, I think that's true.

RP: And did this, did these gatherings or readings, did these occur after the strike?

NM: I think that was before.

RP: Before.

NM: I think he started early, early, yeah.

RP: He started early?

NM: Soon after, yes, because all the people were insecure and all that so I think he started it up soon after we got there.

RP: And so it went on for, for a --

NM: We were there --

RP: -- a good time.

NM: '43, probably he started in the fall.

RP: Of '42?

NM: Probably so. So, almost a year I guess. Of '43 in fall he was taken.

RP: Right. And you said that at first a few people showed up in the mess hall and the word got around and then you have all these folks. I can just see truckloads of people coming from Camp II and III.

NM: Yeah, yeah. They came, that was after there were so many people that they started the talks out on the recreation blank spaces, open spaces. They had, they had a stage set up for plays and stuff like that I think. So everybody took their little homemade camp stools and sat on the ground, listened to him.

RP: These were, the materials he used were magazines and newspapers? English magazines and newspapers?

NM: Yeah, uh-huh. What was available, yes. 'Cause I think they had those available for the English-speaking people. But the Japanese speaking people didn't have any kind of reading material.

RP: There were, to your knowledge, there never was a Japanese edition of the, the newspaper in Poston?

NM: I don't think so. Like the Rafu Shimpo and all? No. Oh, because they were all sent to camp. They couldn't do any work, they couldn't publish.

RP: I just wanted to, a few more questions about Poston. What do you remember about a gentleman by the name of Dr. Herbert Nicholson?

NM: Remember him as a kindly minister and very humble. He loved Japanese.

RP: Did he visit you and your husband in Poston?

NM: Yes. I don't specifically remember an occasion where he came to the room. But I know he was there at the church that we had or barrack there. And actually he brought my husband a bicycle. Some, it was donated, I guess. And my husband was of course going from Block 6 all the way across to the administration buildings and doing a lot of walking. So Reverend Nicholson thought he needed a bicycle. And so he brought that. I guess somebody had donated or he probably asked for a donation of bicycles.

RP: Did he bring any other items for you personally?

NM: Not that I remember, no. I don't think so. But he helped a lot of the people though. I'm sure if there are people who, who were in need, he'd probably help them out.

RP: Was, is there any other important event or person that stands out in your mind when you think of Poston?

NM: No. No, I don't, I don't think of any special person or all... because I was more or less house, what do you call, house ridden, or, I was in the, my room most of the time, taking care of Miyo. And I didn't go out and do much socializing at all. And so I don't know that I went out to any of the meetings or anything like that. It was a chore to carry a little baby around in those days. Had to really carry them.

Off Camera: They said somebody made a wagon?

NM: That was in Gila.

Off Camera: Oh, that was in Gila.

NM: That's after you started walking.

<End Segment 22> - Copyright © 2010 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.