The Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies

of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania

 Japanese

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JAPANESE

MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS

American Friends Service Committee, Clothing Committee, Japanese American Relocation Centers

Records, 1943-1945.  2 ft.  The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) was established in 1917 and is a service agency related to the Society of Friends.  The Clothing Committee of AFSC sent gifts of clothing, toys, and other articles to Japanese Americans living in relocation centers during World War II.  This collection contains AFSC administrative files for their program with new mothers, consisting of individual index cards for each case.  The cards usually contain the name of the woman, where she resided, the sex and date of birth of the baby, and the date that a gift was ordered or sent.  Some cards contain additional information.  The cards are arranged alphabetically by the mother's surname.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of Haverford College Library.

Chambers, John S.

Papers, 1919-1921.  14 items.  The collection contains correspondence, clippings and ephemera concerned with the dangers of Japanese immigration, particularly to California.  Letters are to Edward F. O'Day from John S. Chambers, Controller of the State of California, and others.  In English.  Register available.

Conroy, Hilary (1919- )

Papers, 1873-1900, ca. 1970-1990.  1 ft.  Hilary Conroy is professor emeritus of history at the University of Pennsylvania and has written extensively on Asian history, including Asian immigration to the United States.  The collection contains materials from Conroy's teaching and research files, and includes correspondence, papers, clippings and miscellaneous printed materials from the 1970s and 1980s.  There is also microfilm of records in the collections of the Archives of Hawaii concerning Japanese immigration in the nineteenth century.  In English.  Inventory available.  Gift of Hilary Conroy.

Denson High School, Jerome Relocation Center, Arkansas

Publications, 1943.  1 folder.

The Sakaguchi family was relocated to the Jerome Relocation Center in Jerome, Arkansas during World War II.  There Thomas Sakaguchi attended Denson High School.  The collection consists of the high school's 1943 annual ``Victoria," and a copy of the graduation issue of the school's bi-monthly newspaper, ``Condensor."  Gift of Thomas and Dorothy Sakaguchi

Denson High School, Jerome Relocation Center, Arkansas

Photographs, 1943.  3 prints.

Two black and white Denson High School yearbook photographs in this collection are of Hiroshi Mayeda and Kiyoshi Tsuji.  One other black and white photograph is of Thomas Sakaguchi at the Jerome Relocation Center -- the Center's barracks are visible in the background.  Gift of Thomas and Dorothy Sakaguchi

Eto, Mamoru (1883- )

Papers, 1900-ca. 1972.  6 ft.  Rev. Eto was born in Japan, and came to the United States before World War II.  He was a minister in Seabrook, New Jersey.  The collection includes church newsletters and bulletins, clippings, and newspapers.  In Japanese.  Inventory available.  Gift of the Rev. Mamoru Eto.

Eto, Mamoru

Photographs, 1898-1949.  6 prints.  Individual and group portraits (family and school); Japan and United States.  Gift of the Rev. Mamoru Eto.

Fujita Family

Papers, 1942-1944.  1 in.  The Fujita family was evacuated under Executive Order 9066 from their home in Los Angeles to the nearby Santa Anita Assembly Center, California, in 1942 and later relocated to the Amache Relocation Center in Prowers County, Colorado, where they spent the duration of World War II.  The collection contains a variety of papers from Amache, including publications from the War Relocation Authority (WRA), the Colorado Council of Churches and the Japanese American Citizens' League, programs from school ceremonies, handouts from the WRA regarding camp regulations, camp newsletters, and a community directory.  In English and Japanese.  Register available.  Gift of June Fujita.

Higuchi Family

Papers, 1930-1943.  1 folder.  Hisaki Higuchi came to the United States in 1914 and settled in Philadelphia.  His wife Hatsuno came to the United States in 1918.  Higuchi sold Japanese imports at several locations and operated summer concessions in Wildwood, New Jersey.  The collection consists primarily of photocopies of records documenting restrictions on the family as a result of World War II, including notification of blocking of a bank account and application forms for permission to travel.  Also included are printed materials regarding postwar relocation.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of George Higuchi.

Higuchi Family

Photographs, 1920s.  69 prints.  Family groups and friends, business places; Wildwood, New Jersey and elsewhere.  Gift of George Higuchi.

Honda Family

Manuscript (photocopy), 1985.  1 folder.  The collection contains a brief history of the family which was written by Edith Aoi Honda.  Her parents came from Japan to the United States in 1920, and the family eventually settled in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of Edith Aoi Honda.

Horikawa Family

Papers, 1942-1944 and n.d.  6 folders.  Shojiro and Kinuye Horikawa were Japanese immigrants married in 1925.  They lived in San Francisco where Shojiro opened a print shop.  In 1942, both were evacuated to the Colorado River Relocation Center at Poston, Arizona.  The collections provides extensive documentation of the family prior to their evacuation and internment and of Shojiro's various activities in the camp, where he served as an interpreter and superintendent of the Poston Print Shop.  The collection's correspondence also illuminates Shojiro's efforts to obtain a job after his release.  In Japanese and English.  Gift of N. Richard Horikawa

Horikawa Family

Photographs, ca. early 1920s and 1960s.  5 prints.  One black and white photograph of Shojiro's Olympic Printing Shop in San Francisco is dated no later than 1926.  There are four additional balck and white prints of various Japanese Americans in group photographs.  Gift of N. Richard Horikawa

Inouye, Saburo and Michiyo

Papers, 1909-1985. 5 folders.  Mr. and Mrs. Inouye were born in Hiroshima and Yanagi, Tokyo, Japan respectively and immigrated to the United States in 1919, settling in Sacramento.  They were relocated under Executive Order 9066 to the Tule Lake Relocation Center in California and later to Jerome Relocation Center in Arkansas.  In 1944 they moved to Philadelphia where they managed the Japanese-American Hostel, which aided Japanese Americans relocating to the area.  The collection includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, speeches, and immigration and naturalization documents.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of Miyoto I. Bassett and Eleanor W. Inouye.

Inouye, Saburo and Michiyo

Photographs, 1944-1974.  7 prints.  Japanese-American Hostel in Philadelphia.  Also included are photos of the Japanese American Citizens' League, Philadelphia Chapter.  Gift of Miyoto Inouye Bassett and Eleanor Ward Inouye.

Iwata, Shigezo and Sonoko

Papers, 1942-1945.  .75 ft.  Shigezo Iwata was born in Japan and immigrated to the United States in 1924.  Sonoko U. Iwata was born in Los Angeles.  The couple made their home in Thermal, California where they farmed and Shigezo was secretary of the Thermal Farmers' Cooperative Association.  Separated in the initial part of World War II when Shigezo was arrested and detained by the FBI at the Lordsburg Internment Camp (New Mexico), the Iwatas were reunited in 1943 at the Colorado River Relocation Center near Poston, Arizona.  The collection contains letters between the Iwatas and their friends detailing life in the relocation center and the internment camp.  There are also personal documents and biographical materials.  In Japanese and English.  Register available.  Gift of Sonoko U. Iwata.

Iwata Family

Photographs, 1902-1986.  25 prints.  Individual and family group portraits, social groups; Poston Relocation Center, Seabrook, New Jersey; and Japan.  Gift of Sonoko Iwata.

Japanese-American Families

Photographs, 1905-1951.  33 prints.  Individual and group family shots including men in military uniform; Japan and California.  Japanese captions.

Kobayashi, Sumiko (1923- )

Papers, 1941-1991.  11 ft.  Sumiko Kobayashi was born in Yamato, a Japanese agricultural community near Palm Beach, Florida, the daughter of Japanese immigrants.  Her family was relocated from San Leandro, California under Executive Order 9066 and interned in the Topaz Relocation Center in Utah.  Sumiko was allowed to leave the camp in order to attend college through the help of the National Japanese American Student Relocation Council, and graduated from Brothers College, Drew University in Madison, New Jersey in 1946.  She has been active in many Japanese-American and Asian-American organizations and served as Redress Chair for Pennsylvania of the Japanese American Citizens' League's National Committee on Redress.  The collection includes personal correspondence, documents and photographs relating to the family's time in the Topaz Relocation Center, but it consists primarily of records of the organizations in which she has been active.  The collection contains unprocessed additions.  For related materials see the Susumu Kobayashi Papers.  In English and Japanese.  Register available.  Gift of Sumiko Kobayashi.

Kobayashi, Sumiko

Photographs, 1977-1987.  363 prints.  Congressional hearings on redress legislation and Japanese American Citizens' League (JACL) events; other events and activities; United States.  Gift of Sumiko Kobayashi.

Kobayashi, Susumu (1892-1975)

Papers, 1942-1975.  1 ft., .5 ft. sound recordings.  Susumu Kobayashi was born in Hirata, Shamane-ken, Japan, and came to the United States in 1914 to join Yamato, a Japanese agricultural community near Palm Beach, Florida.  He later worked as a florist and estate gardener in Chicago, and as a florist in San Leandro, California.  He and his family were evacuated under Executive Order 9066 to Tanforan Assembly Center, and later to the Topaz, Utah, Relocation Center.  When released from the camp, the family relocated first to Connecticut and then to the Philadelphia area, where Susumu operated a contract gardening business.  The collection contains personal and business correspondence, business records including a ledger and daybook, and papers related to the family's relocation which include an alien registration book, an indefinite leave certificate, and a claim sheet for compensable items.  Also present are recordings of Japanese music.  For related materials see the Sumiko Kobayashi Papers.  In English and Japanese.  Register available.  Gift of Sumiko Kobayashi.

Kobayashi Family

Photographs, 1915-1985.  12 prints.  Informal portraits of Susumu Kobayashi, family portraits; Florida and Japan.  Gift of Sumiko Kobayashi.

Mary Koga Photographs

Photographs, 1987-1989.  3 prints.  Group playing kanuta, Buddhist service and portrait of Kashiro Mizuno (calligrapher) from the photographic series "The Issei in Illinois."  Gift of Mary Koga.

Moonsammy, Rita

Photographs, 1985-1989.  3 prints.  Obon festival, Ukrainian and Estonian crafts; New Jersey.  Gift of Rita Moonsammy.

Nakai Family

Photographs, 1940-1950.  52 prints.  Poston Relocation Center, Arizona, including family groups and activities at the center.  Views of Seabrook, New Jersey, family groups and activities; California, Arizona, New Jersey.  Gift of Ichiyo Nakai.

Nakano Family

Papers (photocopies), 1944-1953.  1 folder.  The collection consists of photocopies of clippings concerning a controversy which arose when Naomi Nakano, a Japanese-American student at the University of Pennsylvania, was discouraged from accepting a fellowship for graduate study as a result of an informal policy against accepting new Japanese-American students during the war.  For related materials see the Yosuke W. Nakano Papers.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of Marilyn Tanaka.

Nakano, Yosuke W. (1887-1961)

Papers, 1906-1953. 6 folders.  Yosuke Watanabe Nakano was born in Yamaguchi City, Japan, and immigrated to the United States ca. 1906.  He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in architecture.  He was employed as chief engineer and corporate secretary with Wark and Company Builders in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The collection contains correspondence, financial papers, news clippings, and immigration documents.  It also contains information on the successful efforts of Wark and Company, a defense contractor, to retain Nakano during World War II.  For related materials, see Nakano Family Papers.  In English and Japanese.  Register available.  Gift of Teru Nakano Graves.

Okamoto Family

Photographs, 1910-1975.  24 prints.  Family portraits, groups and activities, Heart Mountain Relocation Center, business places; Philadelphia, Wyoming and France.  Gift of Yone Okamoto.

Patterson, Henry C. (1889-1972)

Papers, 1929-1972.  1 ft.  Henry C. Patterson was a Quaker civil rights advocate and the first Philadelphia Director of the United Negro College Fund.  The collection consists of correspondence related to such matters as Patterson's solicitation of funds for African American colleges, particularly Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania; integration of the armed forces; Republican Party politics and the Hiss-Chambers case.  It also includes correspondence relating to Patterson's service as an official of the War Relocation Authority and support for compensation for relocated Japanese Americans through the 1970s.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of Mrs. Henry Patterson.

Potts, Marion E. ( -1974)

Papers, 1942-1973.  .25 ft.  Marion E. Potts worked in Japan for the Lutheran Church as a school teacher from 1921 to 1941.  Upon her return to the United States, she was assigned to work with Japanese Americans at the Manzanar, California, Relocation Center from 1942 to 1945.  She served as vice-principal of the high school there.  She returned to Japan, then came back to the United States in the mid-1950s and taught adult classes for the foreign-born at the Chinese Christian Church and Center and several other Philadelphia locations.  The collection consists primarily of materials relating to Potts' work at Manzanar and contains correspondence, student papers, publications, clippings, a report, a speech, and related materials.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of Ethel C. Potts.

Potts, Marion E.

Photographs, 1940s.  43 prints.  Manzanar, California, Relocation Center, including prints by Ansel Adams.  The collection includes building views, informal portraits and groups, and activities; California.  Gift of Ethel C. Potts.

Shapp, Muriel

Papers, 1943-1944.  2 folders, 1 audiocassette.  The collection contains a 1944 yearbook from Topaz High School, uncataloged photographs of staff and students, and a recorded interview with Mrs. Muriel (Matzkin) Shapp, who taught at the high school from 1943-1945.  A partial transcript of the interview is available.  In English.  Inventory available.  Gift of Mrs. Muriel Shapp.

T. Masuda Company

Document, 1807.  1 page.  The company dealt in wholesale and retail sales of Japanese provisions and general merchandise.  This receipt is for money for "56 Japanese advance to Alaska work."  In English.  Register available.

United States. Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians

Records (microfilm), 1942-1983.  35 reels.  The Commission was established in 1980 "to review the facts and circumstances surrounding both the decision to issue Executive Order 9066 and the way in which the order was implemented, as well as to assess the impact of the order on American citizens and resident aliens who were relocated and interned."  The collection contains Part One of the Commission's records, the Numerical File Archive.  This includes correspondence, reports and statistics, legal papers and investigative files, and diaries and telephone transcripts, and memoranda from relevant federal agencies.  Also included are papers of all officials involved in relocation and internment.  In English.  Register available. 

United States. War Relocation Authority.

Photographs, 1944-1945.  6 prints.  Japanese Americans who were relocated to Philadelphia, one group portrait of families at the Rohwer Relocation Center; Arkansas and Philadelphia.  Gift of Hiroshi Uyehara.

Yabuki Family

Papers, 1943-1983.  1 folder.  The collection contains papers of a Japanese American family which was relocated to the Topaz, Utah, Relocation Center during World War II under the provisions of Executive Order 9066.  After leaving Topaz, the family settled in Philadelphia.  Included are photocopies of applications for leave clearance and printed materials concerning relocation and the Japanese in Oakland, California.  For related materials see the Saburo Inouye Papers.  In English.  Register available.  Gift of Dean M. Yabuki.

SERIALS

All Aboard

Newspaper, 1944.  1 issue.  Published in Topaz, Utah by the Central Utah Project.

Bulletin

Newspaper, 1942.  Partial reel.  Published semiweekly in Granada, Colorado, a temporary publication of the Granada Relocation Center.  Continued by the Granada Pioneer.

Chicago Shimpo

Newspaper, 1946-1960, 1962-1966.  10 reels.  Published weekly and semiweekly in Chicago, Illinois by the Chicago Japanese American, beginning in 1945.  In Japanese and English.

Colorado Times

Newspaper, 1945.  Partial reel.  Published triweekly in Denver, Colorado by F.I. Kaihara, beginning in 1918.  In English and Japanese.

Communique

Newspaper, 1942-1943.  Partial reel.  Published semiweekly in Denson, Arkansas at the Jerome Relocation Center, 1942-1943.  Continued by the Denson Tribune.  In English and Japanese.

Daily Tulean Dispatch

Newspaper, 1942-1943.  1 reel.  Published daily at the Tule Lake, California, Relocation Center, established by the War Relocation Authority, 1942-1943.  In English and Japanese.

Denson Tribune

Newspaper, 1943-1944.  Partial reel.  Published semiweekly in Denson, Arkansas by the War Relocation Authority, 1943-1944.  Continues the Communique.  In English and Japanese.

Gila Bulletin

Newspaper, 1945.  Partial reel.  Published semiweekly in Rivers, Arizona by the War Relocation Authority.  Continues the Gila News Courier.  In English and Japanese.

Gila News-Courier

Newspaper, 1942-1945.  2 reels.  Published semiweekly in Rivers, Arizona by the War Relocation Authority.  Continued by the Gila Bulletin.  In English and Japanese.

Granada Pioneer

Newspaper, 1942-1945.  Partial reel.  Published semiweekly in Amache, Colorado, by R. Yoshida, 1942-1945.  Continues the Bulletin.  In English and Japanese.

Heart Mountain Sentinel

Newspaper, 1942-1945.  2 reels.  Published weekly in Heart Mountain, Wyoming, by Community Enterprises, 1942-1945.  In English and Japanese.

Kashu Mainichi (California Daily News)

Newspaper, 1931-1968.  93 reels.  Published daily in Los Angeles, California, by Sei Fujii, beginning in 1931.  In Japanese and English.

Manzanar Free Press

Newspaper, 1942, 1944.  2 reels.  Published weekly in Manzanar, California at the Manzanar Relocation Center, 1942-1945.  In English and Japanese.

Minidoka Irrigator

Newspaper, 1942-1945.  2 reels.  Published weekly in Hunt, Idaho by the War Relocation Authority, 1942-1945.  In English and Japanese.

Newell Star

Newspaper, 1944-1946.  1 reel.  Published weekly in Newell, California by the War Relocation Authority, 1944-1946.  Continues the Tule Lake WRA Center Information Bulletin.  In English and Japanese.

Official Information Bulletin

Newspaper, 1942.  Partial reel.  Published daily in Poston, Arizona by the War Relocation Authority, 1942.

Pacific Citizen

Newspaper, 1929, 1932-1933, 1935, 1937-1942, 1942-1989.  29 reels.  Published monthly in San Francisco, California by the Japanese American Citizens' League, beginning in 1932.

Poston Christian Church

Newspaper, 1942-1945.  Partial reel.  Published weekly in Poston, Arizona by the First Christian Church of Poston, 1942-1945.  In English and Japanese.

Poston Chronicle

Newspaper, 1942-1945.  2 reels.  Published daily in Poston, Arizona by the War Relocation Authority, 1942-1945.  Continues the Press Bulletin.  In English and Japanese.

Poston News

Newspaper, 1942-1945.  Partial reel.  Published weekly in Poston, Arizona by the American National Red Cross, 1942-1945.  In English and Japanese.

Poston Official Bulletin

Newspaper, 1942-1945.  Partial reel.  Published semiweekly in Poston, Arizona by the Issei Information Bureau Office, 1942-1945.  In English and Japanese.

Press Bulletin

Newspaper, 1942.  Partial reel.  Published daily in Poston, Arizona by the War Relocation Authority, 1942.  Continues the Daily Press Bulletin.  In English and Japanese.

Rocky Shimpo

Newspaper, 1944-1945.  1 reel.  Published triweekly in Denver, Colorado by the Japanese Publishing Company, 1933-1961.  In English and Japanese.

Rohwer Outpost

Newspaper, 1942-1945.  2 reels.  Published weekly in Rohwer, Arkansas by the Rohwer Relocation Camp, 1942-1945.  Absorbed in part by the Rohwer Relocator.  In English and Japanese.

Rohwer Relocator

Newspaper, 1945.  Partial reel.  Published semiweekly in McGehee, Arkansas by the Rohwer Relocation Camp, 1945.  Absorbed in part the Rohwer Outpost.  In English and Japanese.

San Francisco Chronicle

Newspaper, 12/15/1894.  1 issue.  Published daily in San Francisco, California by the San Francisco Newspaper Print Company, beginning in 1869.

Santa Anita Pacemaker

Newspaper, 1942.  Partial reel.  Published semiweekly in Santa Anita, California by the Santa Anita Assembly Center, beginning in 1942.

Tanforan Totalizer

Newspaper, 1942.  Partial reel.  Published weekly in San Bruno, California by the Tanforan Assembly Center, 1942.

Topaz Times

Newspaper, 1942-1945.  2 reels.  Published weekly in Topaz, Utah by the War Relocation Authority, 1942-1945.  In English and Japanese.

Trek

Newspaper, 1942-1943.  Partial reel.  Published in Topaz, Utah by the Central Utah Relocation Center, 1942-1943.  In English and Japanese.

Tule Lake WRA Center Information Bulletin

Newspaper, 1944.  Partial reel.  Published weekly in Newell, California, by the War Relocation Authority, 1944.  Continued by the Newell Star.  In English and Japanese.

Tulean Dispatch

Newspaper, 1942-1943.  1 reel.  Published at the Tule Lake, California Relocation Center by the War Relocation Authority, 1942-1943.

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