Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Warren G. Johnson Collection of War Crimes Trial Records, 1942-1946
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Johnson, Warren G., 1921-2003
- Title
- Warren G. Johnson Collection of War Crimes Trial Records
- Dates
- 1942-1946 (inclusive)19421946
- Quantity
- 0.25 Linear feet of shelf space, (1 Box)
- Collection Number
- Cage 963 (collection)
- Summary
- The Warren G. Johnson collection of war crimes trial records consists of sworn testimony and other documents compiled during the prosecution of war crimes which occurred in the Pacific theater during WWII.
- Repository
-
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
This collection is open and available for research use.
- Languages
- English, Japanese
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
First Lieutenant Warren G. Johnson was a military aide present at the war crimes trials in Tokyo, Japan following WWII. He was born 19 September 1921 in Grass Range, MT and died 7 March 2003 in Bellflower, CA. Relatives recalled seeing Johnson in the background as war crimes trials were broadcast from Tokyo. Additional information about his function during the trials, his military service, and his biography is not currently available.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Warren G. Johnson collection of war crimes trial records consists of sworn testimony, correspondence, memoranda, and other documentation with bearing on the prosecution of war crimes by members of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces in the course of World War II. Most of the material pertains to the treatment of internees at prisoner of war camps in the Philippines including Cabanatuan, Camp O’Connell, Nichols Field, Bilibid prison (old and new), Pasay Elementary School, and Las Pinas.
Many of the documents are stamped with the label "U.S.A. vs. Shiyoku Kou" and an exhibit number indicating their use by the prosecution in a war crimes trial. The trial of Shiyoku Kou, also known as Shiyoku Ko or Hong Sa-Ik, concluded in 1946. Sa-Ik, a Lieutenant-General in the Japanese Imperial Army and of Korean descent, was sentenced to death 18 April, 1946 by a military commission in Manila. Sa-Ik was oversaw all prisoner of war camps in the Philippines beginning December of 1944. [Source: Law Reports of Trials of War Crminials. Selected and prepared by the United Nations War Crimes Commission. Volume IV. London: HMSO, 1948. Pp. 86.]
All records in this collection are typewritten documents. Many if not all are copies of originals.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright restrictions may apply but the bulk of the material was created by U.S. government agencies and officials.
Preferred Citation
[Item description]
Warren G. Johnson Collection of War Crimes Trial Records, 1942-1946 (Cage 963)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The processing archivist arranged this material into five categories. See box and folder list for detailed information.
Acquisition Information
Janis Hall donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries in 2023. (MS-2023-19).
Processing Note
Will J. Gregg processed this collection in 2023.
Related Materials
Records of Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II (National Archives record group 331)
Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Army) (National Archives record group 153)
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Sworn testimony and depositions (1 of 2) | 1945 |
| 1 | 2 | Sworn testimony and depositions (2 of 2) | 1945 |
| 1 | 3 | Letters protesting treatment of prisoners of war | 1944 |
| 1 | 4 | Letters by war crimes trial defendants | 1945-1946 |
| 1 | 5 | Records of prisoner of war camp administration | 1942, undated |
| 1 | 6 | Other trial exhibits | 1946, undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Internment camps -- Philippines
- Prisoners of war -- Philippines
- Prisoners of war -- United States
- Tokyo Trial, Tokyo, Japan, 1946-1948
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Philippines
Personal Names
- Johnson, Warren G., 1921-2003 -- Archives
- Kō, Shiyoku, 1889-1946
Finding aid prepared by Will J. Gregg
2023
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
