Guide to the Japanese Internment Camp Photograph Collection
circa 1942-1946

Scope and Content

Photographs of Japanese Americans in an internment camp, possibly at Tule Lake, California. Most of the photographs are of groups or individuals outside; also included are children playing in the snow and views of the landscape and guard towers.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Restrictions on Access

The collection is open to the public. Entire collection is available on digital site. Use digital site to preserve original photographs.

Historical Background

The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 led to great fear within the United States. Residents along the Pacific Coast of the U.S. were particularly affected by this event and feared additional bombings. On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which decreed that residents of Japanese ancestry be evacuated from their homes and relocated to inland locations. Executive Order 9066, and the resulting War Relocation Authority evacuated, relocated and interned 120,000 American citizens and permanent resident aliens who were of Japanese ancestry.

The Tule Lake Relocation Center in California (the likely location for these photographs) opened in 1942. It was quickly turned into the camp for "disloyal" Japanese--those who answered "no" on the loyalty test. Because of this, Tule Lake was the longest running interment camp, remaining open until March 20, 1946.

Acquisition Info

Source: Fairlook Antiques, 2006

Processing Info

Processed by Marion Brown, 2008.

Inventory

Date

1-2

View of landscape, fence and guard tower at an internment camp (possibly at Tule Lake, California)

circa 1942-1946

3

Group of Japanese men and women outside a building

circa 1942-1946

4

Group of Japanese men and women on a hill

circa 1942-1946

5

Group of Japanese men and boys in the snow

circa 1942-1946

6

Japanese men and boys having a snowball fight in front of barracks

circa 1942-1946

7-8

Group of Japanese men posing outside a building

circa 1942-1946

Hiroki Nishimura is on the far right.

9-10

Hiroki Nishimura and another Japanese man posing in snow

circa 1942-1946

11

A smaller version of #10, cropped to only show Hiroki Nishimura

circa 1942-1946

12

Hiroki Nishimura and another Japanese man outside a building

circa 1942-1946

13-14

Hiroki Nishimura outside buildings

circa 1942-1946

15

Hiroki Nishimura outside a building

circa 1942-1946

"To Johnny Matsuda. Hiroki Nishimura"

16

Hiroki Nishimura smoking next to an automobile

circa 1942-1946

17

Young Japanese man leaning against an automobile

January 1946

"To Mr. Matsuda, sincerely K."

18

Man in a uniform standing outside a snow-covered building

circa 1942-1946

"To John. Always Tom"

Subject Terms

Organizations:

Tule Lake Relocation Center--Photographs, subjecy.

Geographic Names:

California--Photographs.

Subjects:

Concentration camp inmates--California--Photographs.

Concentration camp inmates--United States--Photographs.

Japanese Americans--California--Photographs.

Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945--Photographs.

World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--California--Photographs.

World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--United States--Photographs.

Genre Headings:

Photographs.