Japanese American Incarceration Era Collection -- Biography: Kinji Imada
Biography: Kinji Imada
Detainees from Gila River, and other relocation centers, tried to carry on with life as close to normal as possible. As for Kinji Imada, his next step in life was to apply to colleges after graduating from the incarceration center’s high school. Kinji struggled with barriers to pursue higher education, which is evident through a series of letters.
In the end, Kinji spent a year at Harvard University before enlisting in the United States Army, a branch of the same government that denied him his civil rights not too long before. After serving in the Army, he returned to Harvard to study architecture. Kinji had a lengthy career as an architect in the San Francisco Bay Area, which included contributions to the once popular Mid Century Eichler Houses. Kinji passed away in March 2005 at the age of 77.
-
Rejection letter from Yale University
- Description
- This rejection letter from Yale University dated July 14, 1945 reflected the prejudicial sentiments that characterized reality for people of Japanese ancestry, like Kinji.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1945-04-14
- ID Number
- 1986.3097.01
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3097
- catalog number
- 1986.3097.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Letter from friend concerning admission to Yale
- Description
- In order to understand the circumstances of the rejection letter, Kinji wrote to a friend already at Yale University. The friend’s reply on August 13, 1945 stated that for the moment, Kinji’s chances of acceptance to Yale were dismal. Although the Chairman of Admissions personally did not agree with the extreme measures affecting Kinji, he had to comply with them. However, the letter contained suggestions from the Dean of Yale on how to work around these severe impediments.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1945-08-13
- ID Number
- 1986.3097.06
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3097
- catalog number
- 1986.3097.06
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Letter Regarding Re-Application to Yale
- Description
- Once Public Proclamation No. 24 went into effect, Kinji reapplied to Yale University among other institutions. Yale acknowledged his re-application in a letter dated September 25, 1945. Like most other Japanese Americans, Kinji was trying to reassemble his life after the war.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1945-09-25
- ID Number
- 1986.3097.04
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3097
- catalog number
- 1986.3097.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Letter from Yale acknowledging enrollment at Harvard
- Description
- Despite his large efforts to get into Yale University, Kinji ultimately chose to study at Harvard University. On October 25, 1945, he formally wrote Yale to withdraw his name from the applicants list.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1945-10-29
- ID Number
- 1986.3097.05
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3097
- catalog number
- 1986.3097.05
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
