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Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter records, 1921-2010

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Japanese American Citizens' League. Seattle Chapter
Title
Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter records
Dates
1921-2010 (inclusive)
Quantity
31.71 cubic feet (47 boxes and 2 oversize items)
Collection Number
0217
Summary
Records of a Japanese American organization in Seattle, Washington that promoted active citizenship and civil and human rights
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Some material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Request at UW

Languages
English, Japanese
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The Seattle Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League served as the voice of the Nisei (second generation Japanese). The members (primarily professionals) tended to be highly nationalistic and proud of their American citizenship, promoting good citizenship and active participation in civic life. Organized 1921, as Seattle Progressive Citizens' League, it became the Seattle Chapter of national Japanese American Citizens League in 1930.

Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Seattle Japanese American Citizens League met to organize an Emergency Defense Council composed of the presidents of many Nisei organizations. When incarceration became inevitable, the Seattle Japanese American Citizens League began to cooperate with the War Relocation Authority in the removal and in governing the Puyallup Assembly Center (Camp Harmony). James Sakamoto, Chairman of the Emergency Defense Council, became Chief Supervisor of the Japanese staff at the Puyllup Assembly Center.

The Chapter was inactive during the period immediately following the war, but was formally reactivated in 1948. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Seattle Japanese American Citizens League became involved in civil and human rights issues. Chapter members participated in the statewide effort to eliminate from the Washington state constitution the 1899 Alien Land Law which prohibited Asians from owning land. In 1966, SJR 20 passes as an amendment to the constitution. In 1962 the seventeenth National Japanese American Citizens League Biennial Convention was held in Seattle. Minoru Tsubota was president circa 1960, Minoru Masuda in 1971, Chuck Kato in 1980, and Lloyd Hara in 1981.

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Content Description

Correspondence, minutes, financial and membership records, newsletters, convention materials, and photographs relating to the Seattle chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League and its predecessor, the Seattle Progressive Citizens' League. Includes papers on the Japanese American evacuation during World War II and activities of the Emergency Defense Council (set up after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941), the chapter's successful efforts to repeal the Washington State Alien Land Law, its participation in the redress movement, and its activities as host for the Japanese American Citizens League's 17th Biennial National Convention in 1962.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Creator retains literary rights.

Preferred Citation

Japanese-American Citizen's League, Seattle Branch records. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, Washington.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged in 6 accessions:

  • Accession No. 0217-005, Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter minutes and introduction, 1942, 1970
  • Accession No. 0217-006, Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter records, 1921-1981 (bulk 1941-1977)
  • Accession No. 0217-007, Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter artifacts, 1942-1945
  • Accession No. 0217-013, Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter records, 1933-1996 (bulk 1960-1990)
  • Accession No. 0217-014, Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter records, 1942-2001 (bulk 1981-1999)
  • Accession No. 0217-015, Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter records, 1921-2010 (bulk 1960-2000)

Processing Note

Partially processed.

Separated Materials

Japanese American Citizens League Photograph Collection PH0732 .

Related Materials

The Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter website has been regularly captured by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine since 2020. The snapshots can be viewed here: https://wayback.archive-it.org/4224/*/http://seattlejacl.org/

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Detailed Description of the Collection