This name plate identified the residence of Michibiku Ozamoto. Her name is spelled out in both Japanese characters and English. The numbers 24-4-3 stand for Block 24, Barracks 4, Apartment 3. The sign was constructed from scrap wood found around Manzanar Relocation Center.
This rejection letter from Yale University dated July 14, 1945 reflected the prejudicial sentiments that characterized reality for people of Japanese ancestry, like Kinji.
This Butsudan-Buddhist altar was made from scrap lumber in Jerome Relocation Center in Arkansas. Buddhism was among the religions that was practiced in the internment camps. However, it was not formally recognized in the camp or marked with a specific house of worship within the internment camp grounds. This altar would have been kept in the barracks and used privately.
The Rohwer High School National Honor Society created these posters to advertise a war stamp and bond drive they were hosting. Although these people were being imprisoned by the government, they still held events to support the war effort and promote their patriotism.
In 1943, Akio Ujihara along with another internee found a large meteorite just 16 miles west of Topaz Relocation Center at the Drum Mountains. The pair was searching for rocks to use in jewelry when they discovered the 1,164 pound meteorite. Ujihara, who had received a degree from Polytechnic Engineering College at Oakland prior to internment, asserted that this was a unique find that should be studied by the Smithsonian Institution. The meteorite was shortly thereafter delivered into the museum’s possession, and is today in the Natural History Museum’s Collections.
Many Japanese American internees typically made their own clothing in the camps. Sewing was a prized skill that created and strengthened community bonds. People who had this ability mended old clothing and created new pieces for fellow camp detainees. This purse was sewn using one piece of cloth and oil wicks.
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.
Drawn in Topaz War Relocation Center, Utah. Although Akio Ujihara donated this watercolor along with others, this particular painting was done by Toshio Asaeda.
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.
Many incarcerated people were not prepared for the camps because of the quick “evacuation” process. One major problem was lack of appropriate clothing for the camp environment and for growing children. As a result many people made clothing for their families. This could have been the case for this hand-knit red sweater vest.
These coasters made from raffia cords would have added a personalized touch to the stark and shabby living conditions imprisoned Japanese Americans faced.