George Nakamura papers, 1922-1992

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Nakamura, George Nagayuki
Title
George Nakamura papers
Dates
1922-1992 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 linear feet, (2 boxes)
Collection Number
ACCN 2912
Summary
The George Nakamura Papers (1922-1992) consist primarily of correspondence to George Nagayuki Nakamura from Japanese American concentration camps and United States military installations during World War II.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English, Japanese

Historical NoteReturn to Top

George Nagayuki Nakamura was born in California on June 17, 1917. Nakamura graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with an engineering degree. During World War II, he relocated to Colorado for work in the restaurant and dry cleaning industry. In February 1944, Nakamura and his brothers leased a plot of land where they grew vegetables. After the war, Nakamura enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served in Squadron M, 609th Army Air Forces Base Unit in January 1947 and Squadron A, 605th Army Air Forces Base Unit in November 1947 at Elgin Air Force Base in Florida. He was married to Yoshimi Kawaguchi. The couple had three children. Nakamura passed away in April 1985.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The George Nakamura Papers (1922-1992) consist primarily of correspondence to George Nagayuki Nakamura from Japanese American concentration camps and United States military installations during World War II. The 54 letters from the following concentration camps detail the Japanese American experience: Topaz, Utah; Gila River, Arizona; Amache, Granada, Colorado; Heart Mountain, Wyoming; Jerome, Arkansas; Manzanar, California; Poston Arizona; and Tule Lake, California. The letters from various United States military installations were from friends and family including Nakamura's brothers: Hiroshi and Minoru. The general section of the correspondence consists of pre-war, war, and post-war letters. Also included are general materials related to Nakamura's time at the University of California, Berkeley, military records related to his enlistment in the United States Air Force, and printed ephemera.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by format.

Acquisition Information

Purchased from Ken Sanders in 2016.

Processing Note

Processed by Gina C Giang in 2022.

Related Materials

Forms part of Mitsugi M. Kasai Memorial Japanese American Archive.

Separated Materials

Five photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 Affidavits
Certification of Kazuho Kay Kawaguchi's United States citizenship.
1931
1 2 Correspondence
Central Utah Relocation Center. 12 letters.
1944
1 3 Correspondence
General, Pre-War. 13 letters in English and Japanese.
1922-1941
1 4-5 Correspondence
General, War. 68 letters from family and friends in the service.
1942-1945
1 6 Correspondence
General, Post-War. 14 letters in English and Japanese.
1948-1958
1 7 Correspondence
General. Includes printed letter from the Consulate General of Japan concerning renunciation of Japanese nationality. 4 letters.
Undated
1 8 Correspondence
Gila River Relocation Center. 4 letters.
1942-1943
1 9 Correspondence
Granada Relocation Center. 9 letters.
1942-1944
1 10 Correspondence
Heart Mountain Relocation Camp (Wyo.). 6 letters.
1942-1943
2 1 Correspondence
Jerome Relocation Center (Ark.). 2 letters.
1942-1943
2 2 Correspondence
Manzanar War Relocation Center. 2 letters.
1942-1943
2 3 Correspondence
Poston Relocation Center (Arizona). 1 letter.
1943
2 4 Correspondence
Tule Lake Relocation Center. 18 letters.
1942-1944
2 5 Correspondence
United States. War Relocation Authority. 4 letters.
1943-1944
2 6 Envelopes
Empty.
1925-1950
2 7 General materials
Consists of printed and written materials in Japanese.
1932
2 8 General materials
Consists of correspondence, invitations, report cards, and programs related to University of California. Berkeley.
1937-1940
2 9 General materials
Consists of University of Denver. Graduate School party invitations; The Japanese Students Christian Association in North America bulletin, volume 2, number 2, 1939; Gates Rubber Company card; The Cypress: The Annual Intercollegiate Student Faculty Conference; and a statement.
1939-1944
2 10 Greeting cards 1942-1948
2 11 Leases
Lease from Frank Nakata to George and Minoru Nakamura in Colorado.
1944
2 12 Military records
Consists of a ration card, passes, and special orders at Elgin Air Force Base (Fla.)
1947-1948
2 13 Programs
Consists of The Japanese American Citizens League, 6th Annual Talent and Fashion of 1940; The Grand Kabuki at Curran Theater, October 1969; The 50th Anniversary Tule Lake Reunion in San Francisco, California, May 1992.
1940-1942

Finding aid written by Gina C Giang.
2022

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