Archives West Finding Aid

On December 7, 1941 the Japanese military bombed Pearl Harbor thus pulling the United States into World War II. Entering the war had drastic and unforeseen consequences on many living in the country. Not only were many people now preparing for war, but a sector of the population saw their rights infringed upon and were forced to relocate from their homes. Deemed a potential threat to the security of the United States, Italian and German immigrants, as well as those of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast were forcefully relocated to incarceration and internment camps further inland, two of which were located in Idaho. Though Italian and German immigrants were also targeted, those of Japanese ancestry, including many American citizens, faced forced removal in larger numbers.

Approximately 120,000 Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans were affected by the forced removal. Those forced to relocate were ordered to report to temporary detention centers, called assembly centers. There were 15 of these centers total spread throughout Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona. Operated by the War Relocation Authority (WRA) these temporary detention centers were located on fairgrounds, horse tracks, and other makeshift facilities. While living in the detention centers, evacuees often faced food shortages and unsanitary conditions. For months, evacuees lived in these conditions until more permanent detention centers, called relocation centers, were finished being constructed further inland. These more permanent camps began receiving evacuees in May 1942, with the final transfer to relocation centers occurring in October 1942.

Idaho was home to one WRA relocation center in southern Idaho, near Hunt. The Minidoka War Relocation Center extended over 33,000 acres with 900 of those acres used to house, at it's peak approximately 9400 individuals incarcerated there. The remaining land was used either for administrative work or agriculture.

When the first incarcerees arrived at Minidoka in August 1942, the construction of the camp was not finished, there was no running water and a sewage system had not been installed. Those who arrived were discouraged and unhappy with their living conditions. Families faced cramped living quarters with it being common for a family of 8 or 9 people living in a one bedroom apartment. Beyond that, the camp was situated in a high-desert climate. The majority of the incarcerees were from the Pacific Northwest and were not prepared for the harsh winters and summers of southern Idaho. Even with these conditions, incarcerees worked to improve the camp conditions by planting trees, flowers, and shrubs to beautify the camp, as well as keeping gardens for fresh produce.

The camp closed in October 1945 and the land was later offered for homesteading to veterans. Today, much of the former site is occupied by farmhouses and irrigated fields, but in 2001 72-acres of the site was established as the Minidoka National Historic Site. It's purpose today is to educate the public about the experiences of incarcerees to ensure a similar experience doesn't happen again.

Prior to the United States entering World War II, the Shitamae family ran a hotel in Seattle. In 1942, when the forced removal of those of Japanese ancestry began, they were sent to the temporary detention center in Puyallup, Washington. This center was referred to as Camp Harmony. They were later sent to the permanent detention center near Hunt, Idaho known as the Minidoka Relocation Center.