Footnotes in History
Historian of Japanese American Life from 1941-1945 🇺🇲 | PNW Native 🌲 | Documentary Maker 📽️ | Perpetually Working on My Book 🗃 | Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦
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- A photograph of Heart Mountain and the barracks of the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. The photograph was taken by Yoshio Okumoto on February 6, 1944. Caption on back: "Ht. Mtn. between blocks 29 and 25, Feb 6 1944" 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- #OTD in 1944, Sgt Ben Kuroki speaks about his military experience and pleads for tolerance. Kuroki served 30 missions and earned a Distinguished Flying Cross during the Ploesti raid. Still, he stated, "I don't know for sure if it's safe to walk the streets of my own country." 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of a Japanese American woman using a typewriter at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. The photograph was taken by Yoshio Okumoto on February 4, 1944. Caption on back: "Yasu Yamaoka, Blocks Office, 29-25, Feb 4 1944" 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- #OTD in 1944, US Attorney General Emmett J. Seawell announced that indictments are being sought against Japanese Americans at Tule Lake. Seawell alleged that government property was stolen, opening yet another probe into the camp. 🗃 #skystorians
- #OTD in 1944, an editorial in the Seattle Times criticizes the WRA. After a Japanese government official attempted to justify mistreatment of Allied POWs, the writer attacks the WRA's supposedly lenient treatment of Japanese Americans as a way to avoid retribution. 🗃 #skystorians
- #OTD in 1944, the Seattle Times reports on the return of Mrs. Lun P. Woo and her family to Seattle. Woo, a Japanese American married to a Chinese man, and her kids were sent to Minidoka in Idaho for nearly two years. She also talked about the camp and the difficulties of returning. 🗃 #skystorians
- #OTD in 1944, the Dies committee published a report claiming that "Japanese elements" are still plotting against the US. The report states that Japan started plotting against America after WWI and calls for legislation to be passed to counter the supposed threat. 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of the Takahasi family. Henri Takahasi (left), stands over his wife, Tomoye (sitting), who holds their daughter, Masako. Tomoyuki Nozawa, Tomoye's father, stands to the right. Caption on back: "January 29th, 1945 / Pinkie's first birthday" 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A photograph of Chizu Kanda posing for a photograph outside of a house. The photograph was taken somewhere in Missouri on January 28, 1945. Caption on front: "For dear Tomo - As ever, Chizu." 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- #OTD in 1944, an editorial in the Seattle Times discusses Japanese American soldiers and the postwar future. Despite resistance against their return to the West Coast, the author states that the service of Japanese American soldiers will make opposition "difficult to enforce." 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A photograph of an unnamed Japanese American soldier squatting in the snow. Location unknown, the photograph was taken sometime between 1942 and 1943 by George Nakamura. 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of a high school physics class at the Granada incarceration camp in Colorado. Those photographed are (left to right): unknown, unknown, Mits Omoto (student teacher), George Yonemura, Harry Williams (teacher), and Martha Murakami. Taken on January 23, 1945. 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- #OTD in 1944, the Chairman of Selective Service Board No. 190 near Pasadena, CA states that they will reclassify almost 1,000 Japanese Americans for service in the armed forces. Two years ago, the same board registered over 18,000 Japanese Americans for incarceration. 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A photograph of a Japanese American soldier posing in front of the Arlington House in Arlington, Virginia. The photograph was taken by George Nakamura sometime between 1942 and 1943. 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of George Nakamura and two fellow Japanese American soldiers posing with a snowman. Caption on back: "Left to Right - / Duke, Kenneth, Myself, '43" 🗃 #skystorians
- A portrait of Shuzo "Bill" Takeda and Fumiko "Nellie" Itahara. The photograph was taken while the couples was engaged, likely in 1940. The two were married on January 19, 1941 in Alameda, CA. 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of a Japanese American soldier standing in front of the United States Capitol Building in Washington DC. The photograph was taken by George Nakamura sometime between 1942 and 1943. 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of a Block Manager's Office at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. The photograph was taken by Yoshio Okumoto on January 15, 1945. Caption on back: "3 women and man doing office work" 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A photograph of a Japanese American boy at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. The photograph was taken by Yoshio Okumoto on January 14, 1944. Caption on back: "Kazuo Fiyii 24-11-E, Jan 14 1944 3PM" 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A photograph of George Nakamura, a Japanese American soldier, standing amongst some Army tents. The photograph was likely taken in Hawaii sometime in 1941. Caption on back: "GEORGE" 🗃 #skystorians
- #OTD in 1944, the Seattle Times reports that the Army is giving up control of the Tule Lake incarceration camp. The Army has controlled the camp for months after outbreaks of violence. With an uneasy peace largely restored at the camp, the WRA will retake administration of the camp. 🗃 #skystorians
- #OTD in 1944, the Seattle Times reports on a hunger strike that occurred at the Tule Lake incarceration camp. The strike lasted several days and included almost 200 Japanese Americans. The strike ended when "a change of policy has been in the making in the past 24 hours" occurred. 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of a Japanese American machinist working on a truck axle at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. The photograph was taken by Tom Parker on January 9, 1943. 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A photograph of Japanese Americans assembling and folding copies of "The Sentinel," a weekly newspaper published at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. The photograph was taken by Tom Parker on January 8, 1943. 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A photograph of Japanese Americans collecting coal at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. The photograph was taken by Yoshio Okumoto on January 7. 1944. Caption on back: "Coal Rush 29-27, Jan 7, 1944 2:30pm." 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A painting by Kango Takamura of a woodcarving class at the Manzanar incarceration camp. Caption on front: "The boys in the woodcarving class of Mr. Bouche were being praised for their good work that day. The teacher was kept very busy showing his pupils how to hold the chisel." 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of a Japanese American soldier playing in the snow. The photograph was taken by George Nakamura sometime in 1943. Caption on back: "My pal, Duke Sugawara, Waimea, Kauai, '43" 🗃 #skystorians
- #OTD in 1944, the Seattle Times publishes an article on James Sakamoto, the founder of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), who is now at the Minidoka incarceration camp in Idaho. Sakamoto discussed Christmas at the camp and said he found "much for which we can be thankful." 🗃 #skystorians
- A painting of a New Year's Day scene at the Manzanar incarceration camp in California. The piece was painted by Kango Takamura on January 1, 1943. Caption on back: "At leisure on New Year's afternoon on Block 35." 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A photograph of a miniature landscape made by Japanese Americans at the Poston incarceration camp in Arizona. The landscape includes a body of water, a boat, and small islands with buildings. The photograph was taken by Francis Stewart on December 31, 1942. 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A photograph of a Japanese American child standing in the snow with a teddy bear at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. The photograph was taken by Yoshio Okumoto on December 30, 1944. 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- #OTD in 1943, the Seattle Times publishes an article describing Gordon Hirabayashi's journey to the Catalina Federal Honor Camp in Arizona. After the Supreme Court upheld the conviction, Hirabayashi hitchhiked over 1,600 miles from Spokane to Tucson to serve his sentence. 🗃 #skystorians
- #OTD in 1943, the Seattle Times reports on the exploits of the 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy. The all-Japanese unit from Hawaii has garnered a reputation for their prowess in combat. The article states that two commanding officers stepped down due to health issues on the campaign. 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of Marion and Herbert Nakao at the Manzanar incarceration camp in California. Reverend Shinjo Nagatomi likely officiated the wedding ceremony for the newlyweds. Caption on front: "Rev. & Mrs. S. Nagatomi / Mr. & Mrs. H.K. Nakao / Dec. 27, 1943." 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A photograph of a Japanese American soldier in the snow. Caption in album: "Hawaiian boy's surprise Xmas weekend visit / December 24, 1946 / Charles K. 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- #OTD in 1943, the Seattle Times publishes a photograph of five Japanese American women at the Women's Army Corps Training Center in Fort Des Moines, IA. The women in the photograph were Iris Watanabe, Bette Nishimura, Margaret Fukuoka, Frances Iritani, and Sue Ogata. 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of Japanese American children waiting in line to meet Santa at the Minidoka incarceration camp in Idaho. The photograph was taken on December 22, 1945. 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- #OTD in 1943, Tule Lake Director Ray Best calls for the Army to maintain control over the camp. Best testified to the Dies Subcommittee that he thought that camp was orderly until a group of over 200 Japanese Americans incarcees "were armed with clubs and were intent on using them." 🗃 #skystorians
- #OTD in 1943, Relocation Supervisor Ottis Peterson states that the full-scale release of Japanese Americans will resume in the spring. He cited winter weather and overloaded transportation for the delays. Over 26,000 Japanese Americans have been released from the camps since 1942. 🗃 #skystorians
- #OTD in 1943, the Seattle Times reports that a Canadian politician calls for the deportation of all Japanese Canadians. George Cameron, a Conservative barrister from Vancouver, made the statements ahead of the upcoming Canadian general elections. 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of snow covering the streets and barracks at the Manzanar incarceration camp in California. The Sierra Nevada mountains can be seen prominently in the background. The photograph was taken sometime between 1942 and 1945. 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of a Japanese American soldier in the snow. Caption on back: "A pal Duke Sugawara '43". The photograph was taken by George Nakamura sometime in 1943.
- #OTD in 1943, a organization called the American Foundation for Expulsion of Japanese is created in Los Angeles. Among the stated goals of the group is the "Expulsion of every person born in the Empire of Japan or Islands adjacent to the empire from California and the United States." 🗃 #skystorians
- #OTD in 1943, the Seattle Times publishes a photograph of Japanese American soldiers with the 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy. The photograph shows soldiers opening mail, with one soldier holding up a package of rice. 🗃 #skystorians
- #OTD in 1943, the California State Senate committee warns against the return of Japanese Americans to the state. In a telegram to the President, the committee claims that "the relocation in this state of the Japanese during the war will inevitably lead to violence and bloodshed." 🗃 #skystorians
- A photograph of the Granada incarceration camp in Colorado. Camp barracks can be seen stretching out across the landscape. The photograph was taken by Tom Parker on December 12, 1942. 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A photograph of Japanese American hairdressers working at a cooperative beauty salon at Granada incarceration camp in Colorado. The photograph was taken by Tom Parker on December 11, 1942. 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- A photograph of a Japanese American school nurse examining a child at the Granada incarceration camp in Colorado. The photograph was taken by Tom Parker on December 10, 1942. 🗃 #skystorians #OTD
- #OTD in 1943, Attorney General Francis Biddle questions the legality of Japanese incarceration. Biddle also suggested that revoking citizenship may be a way to clamp down on unrest at Tule Lake. He cautioned that prisoner mistreatment may result in retaliation against American POWs. 🗃 #skystorians
