Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
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)19421985
- 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
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Cartoon Works, 1946-47Return to Top
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 |
Various sketches of cartoon figures, mainly the
characters Dokie and Joshua [recto]; Further sketches [verso] 10in x11in.
Black ink on Strathemore paper.
Unsigned.
|
between 1946 and 1947 |
Camp Harmony Works, 1942Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
3/1 | 45 |
Camp Harmony-Puyallup, WA
[Various scenes from the camp in miniature, including the "Pitcher
Field"]. 12in x 17.5in.
Watercolor on paper.
Signed: Eddie Sato.
|
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 |
Mess Hall #4--Lineup to Lunch
11:45 A. M. [Standing group of figures lined up in front of entrance to
a building]. 7.625in x 15.75in.
Watercolor on paper.
Unsigned.
|
June 4, 1942 |
3/4 | 48 |
Basketball Ground [Two
figures playing basketball outdoors between two buildings]. 8in x 13.25in.
Watercolor on paper.
Unsigned.
|
June 4, 1942 |
3/5 | 49 |
A Game of Japanese Chess
[Several standing figures watching a game of chess
outdoors]. 7.75in x 12.5in.
Charcoal on paper.
Unsigned.
|
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 |
Vegetable crew--Mess Hall #4
[Seated figures indoors preparing vegetables] 10.75in x 15in.
Charcoal on paper.
Unsigned.
|
June 29, 1942 |
3/8 | 52 | 1942 |
Poster Mockups and Miscellaneous Works, 1943-1985Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
3/9 | 53 | 1943 | |
box:oversize | |||
XE3 | 54 | 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 | 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? |