Japanese-American Internment
After the attack on Pearl Harbor and fearful of facing a domestic insurgency, the U.S. Government rounded up nationals of Japanese, German and Italian descent and placed them in internment camps. Over the course of World War II, nearly 31,300 people resided in these facilities. The material depicted on these pages have been drawn from the War Relocation Authority Collection and includes original art by Japanese-Americans interned in the camps as well as publications on the internment issue.
"Outcasts! The Story of America's Treatment of Her Japanese-American
Minority." Published by the Fellowship of Reconciliation, circa 1944.
"Without a Country." Published by the Women's International League
for Peace and Freedom, circa 1947. This brochure discusses the difficult position
of Japanese-Americans who were viewed as Japanese in the U.S. and as Americans
in Japan.
"Displaced Japanese-Americans." Published by the American Council on Public Affairs and reprinted from Fortune Magazine, April 1944, under the title, "Issei, Nisei, and Kibei." This booklet attempts to point out the injustice of internment efforts and points out the damage such efforts did to the reputation of the U.S. in Asian countries.
Art work by unidentified Japanese-American internee of Camp Topaz, the Central Utah Relocation Center, where many San Franciso Bay Area residents were incarcerated. Ink wash on rice paper.
Art work by unidentified Japanese-American internee of Camp Topaz. The sketch shows a tall guard tower, surrounded by barbed wire, and guarded by dogs. Ink wash on rice paper.
Painting by Charles Erabu (Suiko) Mikami, Japanese-American internee of Camp Topaz, depicting barracks in winter. Ink wash on rice paper.
Painting by Japanese-American internee of Camp Topaz, depicting barracks in winter. Artist name in lower left corner is difficult to read but may be George Matsusaburo Hibi. Ink wash on rice paper.