Japanese-American Relocation Center Newsletters, 1942-1943

Overview of the Collection

Creator
United States. War Relocation Authority
Title
Japanese-American Relocation Center Newsletters
Dates
1942-1943 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 linear foot, (2 boxes)  :  14 newsletters
Collection Number
MSS 16
Summary
This collection includes 14 different titles (newsletters) from Japanese American relocation centers located in the United States from 1942-1943.
Repository
Western Oregon University Archives
Hamersly Library
345 N. Monmouth Ave.
Monmouth, OR
97361
Telephone: 5038388419
Fax: 5038388399
libarchives@wou.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is available for research

Languages
English, Japanese
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, domestic policies and orders issued by the United States were formulated around avoiding future threats. This was especially prevalent along the Pacific Coast, where both citizens and government feared potential attacks. After receiving calls for the removal of Japanese citizens from Secretary of War Henry Stimson and local leaders on the West Coast, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942. This order led to the assembly and evacuation and relocation of nearly 122,000 men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry on the west coast of the United States. Most people evacuated under Executive Order 9066 were United States citizens that had never previously displayed any actions that were considered disloyal.

To enforce the Executive Order, the War Relocation Authority (WRA) was created in March 1942 “to provide for the removal from designated areas of persons whose removal is necessary in the interests of national security.” Designated people included ancestry considered to be a threat to the United States during World War II – Japanese, German, and Italian Americans. The WRA evacuated citizens from their homes in California, Oregon, and Washington and removed them to assembly centers, relocation centers, and internment camps among desolated areas throughout the United States. Relocation centers were mostly located in the western states (California, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona) but also in Arkansas. Once in place, the WRA supervised all activities, living conditions, and employment of internees.

During internment, families worked, studied, and lived their lives in small quarters of the relocation centers. These camps, some of which housed up to 8,000 people, functioned as small communities. The United States government provided medical care, schooling, food, and shelter to internees. Adults often held employment at their camp in food service, agriculture, medical clinics, teachers, and other jobs required for daily life.

Living conditions inside of the centers and camps were partially documented through local newsletters and newspapers created within each location. The writers and editors for these local papers were primarily Japanese-American internees. These newspapers occasionally included an article from the camp’s director. While these newsletters were written and edited by Japanese-American internees, these publications existed with funding and oversight of the WRA. These newsletters were intended to provide an account of daily happenings to the residents of these camps. The newspapers purposely did not recount particular hardships internees faced in the camps. Newspapers were printed in both English and Japanese.

Japanese-Americans lived at these relocation centers until 1944, when President Roosevelt rescinded Executive Order 9066 and began a six month process of shutting down the camps. Internees were returned to normal living conditions over the next two years. Almost one year after the completion of World War II, the government shut down the last relocation center, Tule Lake, located in northern California, in March 1946.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection includes newsletters from Japanese American relocation centers located in the United States from 1942-1943. The collection includes 14 titles from throughout the United States, including 8 of the 10 relocation centers in California, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Arkansas, and New York. One title in particular, Topez Times from Utah, makes up half of this collection. Newsletters are written both in English and in Japanese. Topics range from children and families, education, sports and recreation, and daily life in relocation camps. Some of the newsletters are published by the War Relocation Authority and feature articles written by people outside of the centers, while others circulated within relocation centers, written by internees.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

For further information, see the Western Oregon University Archives Research Rules.

Copyright Information: Researchers are hereby cautioned that materials within archival and manuscript collections may be protected by copyright laws (Title 17, U.S. code). Researchers who plan to eventually publish their work are responsible to inquire about publication restrictions before beginning their research. Researchers wishing to quote from materials in any collections held by University Archives should consult the University Archivist. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Preferred Citation

Japanese-American Relocation Center Newsletters, MSS 16, Western Oregon University Archives

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by the title of the newsletter, then chronologically.

Processing Note

Reprocessed by Erin Passehl in 2011.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 14
1942 August 1
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 17
1942 August 5
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 19
1942 August 7
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 28
1942 August 18
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 29
1942 August 19
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 30
1942 August 20
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 31
1942 August 21
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 32
1942 August 22
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 33
1942 August 24
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 35
1942 August 26
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 40
1942 September 1
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 41
1942 September 2
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 42
1942 September 3
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 43
1942 September 4
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 50
1942 September 12
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 3, Issue 89
1942 October 29
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 4, Issue 1
1942 November 12
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 4, Issue 16
1942 December 1
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 4, Issue 37
1943 January 1
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 50
1943 May 18
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 54
1943 May 22
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 55
1943 May 24
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 57
1943 May 26
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 58
1943 May 27
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 58
1943 May 27
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 59
1943 May 28
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 61
1943 May 31
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 62
1943 June 1
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 63
1943 June 2
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 64
1943 June 3
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 65
1943 June 4
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 67
1943 June 7
1 1 Daily Tulean Dispatch
Volume 5, Issue 68
1943 June 8
1 2 Denson Jiho 1943 May 14
1 2 Denson Jiho 1943 June 15
1 2 Denson Tribune
Volume 2, Issue 11
1944 February 8
1 2 Denson Tribune
Volume 2, Issue 12
1944 February 11
1 3 Desert Sentinel
Volume 1, Issue 5
1942 December 24
1 3 Desert Sentinel
Volume 1, Issue 15
1943 June 21
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 1
1 4 Gila News-Courier
Volume 2, Issue 53
1943 May 4
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 6
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 11
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 13
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 15
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 22
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 25
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 27
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 May 29
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 June 1
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 June 10
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 June 12
1 4 Gila News-Courier
Volume 2, Issue 71
1943 June 15
1 4 Gila News-Courier
Volume 1, Issue 4
1943 June 15
1 4 Gila News-Courier 1943 September 2
1 4 Gila News-Courier
Volume 1, Issue 0
1943 December 2
1 5 Granada Pioneer
Volume 1, Issue 4
1942 November 7
1 5 Granada Pioneer
Volume 1, Issue 6
1942 November 14
1 5 Granada Pioneer
Volume 1, Issue 62
1943 May 5
1 6 Heart Mountain Sentinel
Volume 2, Issue 8
1943 February 20
1 7 Hi School News
Volume 1, Issue 2
1942 November 2
1 8 Information Bulletin
Issue 8
1942 June 9
1 9 Manzanar Free Press
Volume 1, Issue 27
1942 June 23
1 9 Manzanar Free Press
Volume 4, Issue 1
1943 September 10
1 10 Poston Chronicle
Volume 2, Issue 50
1943 August 24
1 10 Poston Chronicle
Volume 2, Issue 89
1943 November 21
1 10 Poston Chronicle
Volume 16, Issue 25
1943 December 2
1 10 Poston Chronicle
Volume 2, Issue 96
1943 December 9
1 10 Poston Chronicle
Volume 2, Issue 98
1943 December 14
1 11 Resettlement Bulletin
Volume 1, Issue 1
1943 February
1 11 Resettlement Bulletin 1944 April
1 12 Rohwer Outpost
Volume 3, Issue 32
1943 December 6
1 12 Rohwer Outpost
Volume 3, Issue 50
1943 December 24
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 September 17
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 September 26
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 September 30
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 3
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 7
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 10
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 14
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 17
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 21
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 24
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 27
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 28
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 29
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 30
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 October 31
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 3
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 4
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 5
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 6
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 7
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 11
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 12
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 13
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 14
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 17
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 18
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 19
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 20
2 13 Topaz Times 1942 November 21
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 November 24
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 November 25
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 November 26
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 November 27
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 November 28
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 1
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 2
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 3
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 4
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 5
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 7
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 8
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 9
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 10
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 11
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 12
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 14
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 15
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 16
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 17
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 18
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 19
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 21
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 22
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 23
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 24
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 24
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 28
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 29
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 30
2 14 Topaz Times 1942 December 31
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 1
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 4
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 5
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 6
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 7
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 8
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 9
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 11
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 12
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 13
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 14
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 15
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 16
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 18
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 19
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 20
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 21
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 22
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 23
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 25
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 26
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 27
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 28
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 29
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 January 29
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 February 1
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 February 2
2 14 Topaz Times 1943 February 3
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 4
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 5
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 6
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 8
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 9
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 9
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 10
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 11
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 12
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 13
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 15
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 16
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 17
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 18
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 19
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 20
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 22
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 23
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 24
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 25
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 26
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 February 27
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 1
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 2
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 3
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 4
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 5
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 6
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 8
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 10
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 11
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 12
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 13
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 16
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 17
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 18
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 19
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 20
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 22
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 23
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 24
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 25
2 15 Topaz Times 1943 March 27
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 March 30
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 1
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 3
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 6
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 8
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 10
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 12
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 13
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 15
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 16
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 17
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 20
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 20
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 22
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 24
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 27
2 16 Topaz Times 1943 April 29
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 1
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 4
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 8
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 11
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 13
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 15
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 18
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 20
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 22
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 25
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 27
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 May 29
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 1
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 3
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 5
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 8
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 10
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 12
2 17 Topaz Times 1943 June 24

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Committee on Resettlement of Japanese Americans
  • Japanese Americans--California--Newspapers
  • Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
  • Japanese Americans--Utah--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945--Newspapers
  • United States.; War Relocation Authority
  • World War, 1939-1945--Japanese Americans -- Newspapers
  • World War, 1939-1945--Japanese Americans--Periodicals

Corporate Names

  • Central Utah Relocation Center
  • Gila River Relocation Center
  • Granada Relocation Center
  • Heart Mountain Relocation Center (Wyo.)
  • Manzanar Assembly Center (Calif.)
  • Manzanar War Relocation Center
  • Tule Lake Relocation Center
  • United States.; War Relocation Authority

Geographical Names

  • Amache (Colo.)--Newspapers
  • Denson (Ark.)--Newspapers
  • Manzanar (Calif.)--Newspapers
  • McGehee (Ark.)--Newspapers
  • Newell (Calif.)--Newspapers
  • Poston (Ariz.)--Newspapers
  • Rivers (Ariz.)–-Newspapers
  • Topaz (Utah)--Newspapers

Form or Genre Terms

  • Newsletters
  • Periodicals

Titles within the Collection

  • Daily Tulean Dispatch
  • Denson Jiho
  • Denson Tribune
  • Desert Sentinel
  • Gila News-Courier
  • Granada Pioneer
  • Heart Mountain Sentinel
  • Hi School News
  • Information Bulletin
  • Manzanar Free Press
  • Poston Chronicle
  • Resettlement Bulletin
  • Rohwer Outpost
  • Topaz Times

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Committee on Resettlement of Japanese Americans (creator)