Eddie Sato Comic Strip and Camp Harmony Drawings, 1942-1985

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Sato, Eddie, 1923-2005
Title
Eddie Sato Comic Strip and Camp Harmony Drawings
Dates
1942-1985 (inclusive)
Quantity
60 works, comprising drawings, watercolors, and miscellaneous items (3 boxes)
Collection Number
PH1653
Summary
Original pen and ink and watercolor drawings by a Japanese-American artist
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

Selected images can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Eddie Sato was a Japanese-American artist who grew up in Seattle. In 1942, at age 19, Sato was incarcerated with other Seattle Japanese Americans at the Puyallup Assembly Center, called "Camp Harmony," in Puyallup, Washington. Sato served as a staff artist for the Camp Harmony newspaper, sketching scenes of everyday life at the camp. After his later transfer to the Minidoka relocation Center in Minidoka, Idaho, he began to publish cartoons in The Minidoka Irrigator starring a young boy named “Dokie.” Dokie’s name was chosen through a contest organized by the editors of the Irrigator and derived from that of the incarcerations center. The series ran until May 1943, when Sato enrolled in the US army and left Minidoka.

Sato subsequently fought in the U.S. Army's 442nd Battalion (also known as the 442nd Regimental Combat Team), a highly decorated, all-Nisei unit that took part in the Allied invasion of Italy. Immediately following this demobilization in 1945, Sato began producing cartoons once again, creating new characters and adventures in several narrative strips. As far as can be determined, none of these cartoon strips were published, although Sato produced a few Dokie cartoons for The Northwest Times, “[t]he only all-English Neisei newspaper in the Pacific Northwest,” beginning in March 1947. Dokie re-introduces himself to readers in a front-page article of the March 7, 1947 issue, entitled “Yes, Dokie Has Returned from the Wars. He Surely Misses Camp Life.” Sato later worked as a commercial artist in Chicago. Digitized issues of The Northwest Times can be found through the Library of Congress here.

In later life Sato worked as a commercial artist in Chicago and was involved in efforts to gain recognition for those incarcerated during WWII.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

In 1942, in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor the previous December, over 100,000 Japanese Americans (more than 70% of whom were American citizens) were removed from their homes and incarcerated in camps. These residents of Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and Alaska were sent to local temporary assembly centers and then to remote incarceration camps where many spent the rest of the war. Life at the camps was strictly regulated, with roll calls and curfews, and camp residents lost basic civil rights such as the right to religious freedom, the right to assemble, and the right to privacy. In April 1942, Seattle’s Japanese community began to be shipped to Camp Harmony, the temporary assembly center in Puyallup. Within a week, more than 2,500 Seattle Japanese Americans had been transported to Puyallup; by the end of May, over 7,000 people were living at Camp Harmony. After four months, the residents of Camp Harmony were transported to the Minidoka Relocation Center in southern Idaho, where many spent the duration of the war.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection comprises watercolors, charcoal sketches, original cartoon strips, and mixed media works produced by Eddie Sato. The watercolor and charcoal sketches related to Sato’s time at Camp Harmony and the Minidoka Relocation Center. The original cartoon strips represent unpublished pen and ink designs, none of which correspond to those published in The Northwest Times. The mixed media works are either commercial in subject or related to the incarceration of Japanese Americans.

For further background on the Minidoka Relocation Center, see the Densho encyclopedia entry here.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged in 3 series.

  • Cartoon Works, 1946-47
  • Camp Harmony Works, 1942
  • Poster Mockups and Miscellaneous Works, 1943-1985

Acquisition Information

Donor: Doris Sato, September 9, 2011.

Processing Note

Processed by Grant G. Mandarino, 2022.

Related Materials

Eddie Sato Camp Harmony Sketchbook and Drawings, Digital Collections, PH Coll 664

Camp Harmony Newsletter Souvenir Edition (drawings by Sato)

Camp Harmony Newsletter (May-August, 1942)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Cartoon Works, 1946-47Return to Top

44 cartoon strip mockups, drawn by hand in ink, pencil, and white correction fluid.

These hand-drawn cartoon strips date to the immediate post-WWII period, after Sato had been demobilized. The majority feature a character named "Pettibone," distinguished by his pipe and flat cap; others instead feature the character "Joshua," who wears glasses and smokes cigarettes. In addition to "Dokie," the star of Sato's earlier published cartoon strips from his time in the Minidoka Relocation Center who reappears in several "Joshua" cartoons, there are a number of supporting characters who play a role in one or more strips.

Several of the strips appear to be variations of a common theme or narrative and are indicated as such below. Sketches of characters and related doodles also appear on the reverse of several strips and are noted where applicable. [As far as can be determined, none of these cartoon strips have been published].

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/1 1
Four-panel strip--Pettibone goes shopping for groceries
6in x 22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie Sato.
[Variation of same theme found in item number 10].
October 9, 1946
1/2 2a-b
Four-panel strip--Pettibone contemplates ordering a hotdog at a sports event [recto]; Sketches of Dokie [verso]
6in x 22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie Sato.
[Variation of same theme found in item numbers 7, 9, 25, 38, and 39].
October 9, 1946
1/3 3a-b
Four-panel strip--Pettibone with a painting of a nude woman [recto]; Sketches of Dokie [verso]
6in x 22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie Sato.
[Variations of same theme found in item numbers 12 and 28].
October 10, 1946
1/4 4
Four-panel strip--Pettibone neglects to take umbrella and is caught in the rain
6in x 22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie Sato.
[Variation of same theme found in item numbers 13 and 30].
October 11, 1946
1/5 5
Five-panel strip--Pettibone struggles with luggage and misses his plane
6in x 22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie Sato.
[Variation on same theme found in item number 26].
October 14, 1946
1/6 6
Eight-panel strip--Pettibone helps a woman by looking after her baby in a carriage
12in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation on same theme found in item number 37].
October 26, 1946
1/7 7
Four-panel strip--Pettibone contemplates ordering a hotdog at a sports event
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation on same theme found in item numbers 2, 9, 25, 38, and 39].
October 27, 1946
1/8 8
Eight-panel strip--Pettibone goes to a studio to get his portrait taken by a photographer
12in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation on same theme found in item number 41].
October 27, 1946
1/9 9a-b
Four-panel strip--Pettibone contemplates ordering a hotdog at a sports event [recto]; Sketches of Dokie [verso]
5.75in x 19.5in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item numbers 2, 7, 25, 38, and 39].
[Verso side with Dokie sketches includes mention of the Northwest Times, an English Nisei -focused Seattle newspaper that began in 1947. Dokie is introduced therein and becomes a regular feature that same year].
October 29, 1946
1/10 10a-b
Four-panel strip--Pettibone goes shopping for groceries [recto]; Sketches of Dokie [verso]
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation on same theme found in item number 1].
[The final panel is cut and appears to have a second layer appended over it].
October 29, 1946
1/11 11
Four-panel strip--Pettibone orders cantaloupe for dessert
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation on same theme found in number 24].
October 30, 1946
1/12 12
Four-panel strip--Pettibone with a painting of a nude woman
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item numbers 3 and 28].
October 30, 1946
1/13 13
Four-panel strip--Pettibone neglects to take umbrella and is caught in the rain
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item numbers 4 and 30].
October 31, 1946
1/14 14
Four-panel strip--Pettibone gets a skinny chicken from a farmer
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item number 27].
November 2, 1946
1/15 15
Four-panel strip--Pettibone has an encounter at the gym
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
November 2, 1946
1/16 16
Four-panel strip--Pettibone awakes to find a spider on his nose
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item number 35].
November 5, 1946
1/17 17
Four-panel strip--Pettibone meets a genie
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
November 5, 1946
1/18 18
Four-panel strip--Pettibone heats his room by stoking coal on a cold day
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
November 6, 1946
1/19 19
Four-panel strip--Pettibone is interrupted while taking a bath
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item number 33].
November 6, 1946
1/20 20
Four-panel strip--Pettibone troubled by amount of gifts on Xmas lists he must purchase
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation on same theme found in item number 32].
November 7, 1946
1/21 21
Four-panel strip--Pettibone has difficulties while talking on the telephone
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation on same theme found in item number 29].
November 8, 1946
1/22 22
Four-panel strip--Pettibone goes fishing
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
November 8, 1946
1/23 23
Four-panel strip--Pettibone goes dancing
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
November 9, 1946
1/24 24
Four-panel strip--Pettibone orders cantaloupe for dessert
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation on same theme found in item number 11].
November 10, 1946
2/1 25
Four-panel strip--Pettibone contemplates ordering a hotdog at a sports event
5.75in x19.5in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item numbers 2, 7, 9, 38, and 39].
November 10, 1946
2/2 26
Four-panel strip--Pettibone struggles with luggage and misses his plane
5.75in x19.5in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item number 5].
November 11, 1946
2/3 27
Four-panel strip--Pettibone gets a skinny chicken from a farmer
5.75in x19.5in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item number 14].
November 12, 1946
2/4 28
Four-panel strip--Pettibone with a painting of a nude woman
5.75in x19.5in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item numbers 3 and 12].
November 12, 1946
2/5 29
Four-panel strip--Pettibone has difficulties while talking on the telephone
5.75in x19.5in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item number 21].
November 13, 1946
2/6 30
Four-panel strip--Pettibone neglects to take umbrella and is caught in the rain
5.75in x19.25in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item numbers 3 and 13].
November 13, 1946
2/7 31
Five-panel strip--Pettibone conducts an orchestra
5.75in x19.5in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
November 14, 1946
2/8 32
Three-panel strip--Pettibone anxious about Xmas
5.75in x19.5in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item number 20].
November 15, 1946
2/9 33
Four-panel strip--Pettibone is interrupted while taking a bath
5.75in x19.5in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item number 19].
November 15, 1946
2/10 34
Four-panel strip--Pettibone attempts weightlifting
5.75in x19in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
November 16, 1946
2/11 35
Four-panel strip--Pettibone awakes to find a spider on his nose
5.75in x20in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on poster board.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of the same theme found in item number 16].
November 17, 1946
2/12 36
Four-panel strip--Pettibone suffers through a restless night
5.75in x20in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on poster board.
Signed: Eddie.
November 17, 1946
2/13 37
Eight-panel strip--Pettibone helps a woman by looking after her baby in a carriage
11in x22in.
Black ink, white correction, and watercolor on poster board.
Signed: Eddie.
[Variation of same theme found in item number 6].
November 19, 1946
2/14 38a-b
Four-panel strip--Pettibone contemplates ordering a hotdog at a sports event [recto]; Various sketches of cartoon figures and caricatures [verso]
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie Sato.
[Variation of same theme found in item numbers 2, 7, 9, 25, and 39].
between October 1946 and November 1946
2/15 39a-b
Four-panel strip--Pettibone contemplates ordering a hotdog at a sports event [recto]; Sketches of Pettibone [verso]
6in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie Sato.
[Variation of same theme found in item numbers 2, 7, 9, and 38].
between October 1946 and November 1946
2/16 40a-b
Sketches of Joshua and Dokie [recto]; Further sketches of Joshua and Dokie [verso]
9in x19in.
Black ink, and pencil on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie.
between October 1946 and November 1946
2/17 41
Eight-panel strip--Joshua and Dokie visit a photo studio
12in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie Sato.
between October 1946 and November 1946
2/18 42
Nine-panel strip--Joshua and Dokie discuss the return to school for Dokie
12in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie Sato.
between 1946 and 1947
2/19 43
Ten-panel strip--Joshua and Dokie get ice cream
12in x22in.
Black ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on Strathemore paper.
Signed: Eddie Sato.
between 1946 and 1947
2/20 44a-b between 1946 and 1947

Camp Harmony Works, 1942Return to Top

Watercolors and charcoal sketches from Camp Harmony, Puyallup
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
3/1 45 June 1, 1942
3/2 46
View of a building in the camp through barbed-wire fencing
6.75in x 9in.
Watercolor on paper.
Signed: Eddie Sato.
June 2, 1942
3/3 47 June 4, 1942
3/4 48 June 4, 1942
3/5 49 June 29, 1942
3/6 50
Geta Factory [Seated figure among boxes making geta footwear]
11in x 15.25in.
Charcoal on paper.
Unsigned.
[Figure is identified as Mr. Fujikado and further information can be found in the Camp Harmony Newsletter, vol. 1, no. 7 (June 17, 1942), p. 7].
June 29, 1942
3/7 51 June 29, 1942
3/8 52
Boy seated in front of a structure
9.5in x 9in.
Charcoal on paper.
Unsigned.
1942

Poster Mockups and Miscellaneous Works, 1943-1985Return to Top

Mockups of poster designs from various periods.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
3/9 53
Japanese Americans Volunteer!
15.5in x 13in.
Ink and correction fluid on poster board.
1943
box:oversize
XE3 54
"Mineral Springs" water advertisement
14in x 21.75in.
Collage on cardboard.
Unsigned.
between 1947 and 1960?
Box/Folder
3/10 55
Survivors of America's Concentration Camps
17in x 11in.
Ink and correction fluid on Crescent poster board.
Signed: E.S.
January 1985
folder:oversize
Conservation 56
Soldier, watermelon, and rattlesnake
24in x 19.75in.
Ink on paper.
Unsigned.
between 1946 and 1950?
Conservation 57a
Comic scenes from military boot camp
26.5in x 20in.
Ink and white correction fluid on paper.
[This is the first of a two page drawing--see 57b].
between 1946 and 1947
Conservation 57b
Pvt. Peep-site Sgt. Yamada n' pvt. Sato
26.75in x 20in.
Ink and white correction fluid on paper.
Signed: Eddie.
[This is the second of a two page drawing--see57a].
between 1946 and 1947
Conservation 58
Battlescene with troops marching across a globe and spectators in foreground
20in x 30in.
Ink on F. Weber Co. illustration board.
Signed: Eddie H. Sato.
between 1946 and 1950?

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)