Japanese American Incarceration Era Collection -- Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts classes at the relocation camps filled several voids in the detainees’ lives. Some viewed this as a way to continue pursuing the activities they did before EO 9066. Others saw it as a means to grapple with the traumatic experience of incarceration. A few used it as means to make connections with their fellow prisoners. And still, others used arts and crafts as a practical means to create ornaments for themselves and their homes. If nothing else, arts and crafts were a means of having something to do, which was why some classes were taught specifically for the elderly.
The type of arts and crafts created in camp ranged from wood carvings to delicate brooches. Most of these objects were made from natural materials found outside the camp. Or, detainees reused any salvaged goods found within the camps.
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papier-mache bonsai tree
- Description
- There were many reasons driving individuals to create beautiful and intricate works of art like this papier-mâché bonsai tree. Arts and crafts were important for managing the stress, depression, and anger of imprisonment. This bonsai tree was crafted from wood, paper, and wire at Gila River Relocation Center in Arizona.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1943
- ID Number
- 2006.0167.01
- accession number
- 2006.0167
- catalog number
- 2006.0167.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Wooden Tool
- Description
- These ironwood tools were made inside Gila River Relocation Center by Yoichi Asada. He used them to make artificial flowers. Many internees made flowers to decorate their barracks in an attempt to brighten their otherwise bleak living conditions. Ironwood refers to woods that have a unique hardness and density. For other tools like this see records 2006.0167.03-.05
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2006.0167.02
- accession number
- 2006.0167
- catalog number
- 2006.0167.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Wood carving, fish and plants
- Description
- This carving demonstrates the artistic skill that many incarcerated Japanese American possessed. Internees found a way to express their emotions through their talents. Many objects made in the internment camps revealed and represented the resilience of these imprisoned people.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1943-1945
- maker
- Mantaro, Matsumoto
- ID Number
- 1986.3144.14
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3144
- catalog number
- 1986.3144.14
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Love birds and hearts pin
- Description
- This pin was made in Rohwer Relocation Center in Arkansas. Crafts like this pin served to create or reinforce connections and relationships between people imprisoned at the camps. On the back of this pin, featuring two lovebirds perched on a heart, are the initials "HGK/45". Perhaps in 1945, someone gave this pin to their sweetheart as a token of love and affection.
- date made
- 1943-1945
- ID Number
- 1986.3144.19
- catalog number
- 1986.3144.19
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3144
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Button Necklace
- Description
- Unless people imprisoned in the camps could get outside friends to send them supplies, internees had to rely on what they could find or repurpose for their crafts. For example, this necklace was made from buttons that were used on overalls. Approximately 76 buttons were used to make this necklace.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1986.3144.26
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3144
- catalog number
- 1986.3144.26
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Tin Tray, Fish Design
- Description
- This ordinary tin can lid was retrieved from the camp mess hall. The edges were folded up and the center was punched with a nail in order to create a decorative tray.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1986.3144.30
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3144
- catalog number
- 1986.3144.30
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Carved Kobu, man and animals
- Description
- This object is an example of kobu art, in which roots and trunks of trees provide natural sculptures. Some artists left the kobu looking natural, while others carved or painted the piece to use for other purposes. This particular kobu functioned as a vase.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1943-1945
- ID Number
- 1986.3144.59
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3144
- catalog number
- 1986.3144.59
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Relief carving, bird and flower
- Description
- This object was carved from a single piece of wood most likely found from the landscape surrounding the camp or a piece of scrap wood found within it. The carving would have served as a decoration hung on a wall inside the barracks.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1943-1945
- ID Number
- 1986.3144.58
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3144
- catalog number
- 1986.3144.58
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Bookmark, "Rohwer Relocation Center 1944"
- Description
- This bookmark was likely created in the arts and crafts classes offered at most of the War Relocation Centers. On the back of the bookmark "Julia Nitta" was written in ink. Perhaps Julia made this bookmark to use in her books or it could have been given to her as a present from a fellow internee.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1944
- ID Number
- 1986.3144.52
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3144
- catalog number
- 1986.3144.52
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Merry Christmas 442nd Combat Team Card
- Description
- The 442nd Combat Team was a segregated division of the US Army made up of second-generation Japanese Americans. Many of these men left the relocation camps to fight in combat. Family members stayed connected to their loved ones overseas, sending them small gifts and mementos. This Christmas card was sent to a special person in Topaz Relocation Center from Ken Nihei, a 442nd soldier stationed in Italy.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1986.3132.01
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3132
- catalog number
- 1986.3132.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
