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This is an excerpt of Minoru Kiyota's book "Beyond Loyalty: The Story of a Kibei." Originally, this book was published in Japan as "Nikkei Hangyaku" but was later translated into English. This excerpt describes Kiyota's memories of an FBI interview…
This is an excerpt from "A Fence Away From Freedom," edited by Ellen Levine. This item explores Kay Uno's memories of Pearl Harbor as a child on the West Coast. Kay Uno was later interred at the Granada Colorado relocation center.
This is an oral history with Donald Nakahata, who was 12 at the time of evacuation and 15 by the time he left Topaz. Nakahata discusses his impressions and recollections of his internment experience.
This copy of the "Tanforan Totalizer" Vol 1, No. 19 is the final issue of the magazine published on September 12, 1942. This issue includes a history of life at Tanforan and is by far the largest issue. It also includes an introduction to the Topaz…
This is a newsletter from L.G. Noble, the principle of Topaz High in 1942, to the parents of the high school and jr. high students. This document lists a number of expectations and goals that the high school staff hoped to accomplish. Topics include…
This is the first issue of the "Topaz Times Jr.," the Topaz High newspaper, published on December 23, 1944. Later, the name was changed to "The Topazette," and it included a section for the jr. high. This issue announces a school play as well as…
Chiura Obata, a renowned art professor and artist interred at Topaz, produced the art and text for this story. It was originally published in the New Year’s edition of the ""Topaz Times"" in January of 1943. Translated, the story reads:
“Under the…
“Under the…
Ramblings '44 is the second yearbook produced by the Associated Students of Topaz High School. Covering the school year September 1943 through June 1944, it describes the scholastic activities and accomplishments of Japanese American students…
Japanese American students interned at the Topaz Relocation Center produced high school yearbooks during the 1943 and 1944 school years. The introduction to the 1943 yearbook provides some insight into the unusual nature of their school: "The Topaz…
Guidebook to the Central Utah Relocation Project in Topaz, Utah describes to incoming residents the layout, facilities, and services of the center. Illustrated by Yuri Sugihara, the guidebook contains maps, building layouts, a diagram of the "Topaz…
Written in October 1942 to staff of the War Relocation Authority, this paper stresses the importance of understanding the cultural background of the Japanese Americans living in relocation centers. It describes common behavior patterns among the…
Hiro Katayama wrote this article which was included in "All Aboard," which was a literary and art magazine published by Japanese Americans in 1944 at Topaz. This article discusses the difficulties that youth encountered at Topaz, including boredom…
M. Yubuki created this hand drawn map of evacuation, which was published in "All Aboard" in 1944, a literary and art magazine published in Topaz. Included on the map are eight relocation centers as well as major cities in the western United States.
This is an article from "All Aboard" which was a literary magazine that was published in Topaz in the Spring of 1944, written by 7th grade students at Topaz High. This article records several experiences and stories from the lives of these students…
This is an article from "All Aboard" which was a literary magazine that was published in Topaz in the Spring of 1944. Henry Tani was the author while Tamiko Kosakura was the illustrator. This article describes briefly the format and brief history of…
This is an excerpt from "The Education Program Central Utah Relocation Center" which is an explanation of the curriculum for both the elementary schools and high school at Topaz. This provides some introduction to how Topaz High was structured and…
This is an excerpt from "The Education Program Central Utah Relocation Center" which is an explanation of the curriculum for both the elementary schools and high school at Topaz. Also included is a brief history of the education program. This …
This is an excerpt from "The Education Program Central Utah Relocation Center" which is an explanation of the curriculum for both the elementary schools and high school at Topaz. Also included is a brief history of the education program. This…
This is an excerpt from "Japanese American Youth in Topaz Relocation Center Utah: An Oral History," which is a thesis written by Akiko J. Tohmatsu in 1994. In this thesis, Tohmatsu interviews several Japanese American students who attended Topaz…
This is an excerpt from "Japanese American Youth in Topaz Relocation Center, Utah: An Oral History," which is a thesis written by Akiko J. Tohmatsu in 1994. In this thesis, Tohmatsu interviews several Japanese American students who attended Topaz…
This is a notice posted by the Western Defense Command on May 5, 1942. This poster directs all Japanese Americans to report to the Civilian Control Station and gives them a week to settle their affairs and leave their homes.
This is a World War II Official Navy Poster, created by Hotchkiss-USNR in 1944. The poster describes Japanese labor capabilities, and by doing so, attempts to encourage American workers to increase their own efforts on the homefront.
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" showing the first High School Graduation.
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" depicting a High School class at Topaz.
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" showing the first Christmas at Topaz.
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" which shows Japanese Americans gathered around a pot belly stove.
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" depicting Japanese American arrival at Topaz.
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" showing the sawdust covered Tanforan horse stalls where some Japanese Americans were housed in the assembly center.
Japanese Americans working in a strawberry patch, caption reads: "In the strawberry patch, Wada, founder of colony, talks things over with the superintendent of a neighboring mine.
Image of high school students waiting for an assembly meeting.
Photograph of internees pounding dough to make mochi (a sticky Japanese rice cake) for New Years.
Photograph of workers clearing fields for agricultural use. Some of the works appear to be adolescents.
Photo of an adult night class at Topaz. There were many night classes at Topaz that taught adults subjects from English language and Americanization to Psychology.
Photograph of Topaz "residents" arriving at Topaz. Luggage is piled high next to barracks.
Japanese American girl standing in front of drying laundry hanging outside of barrack.
Japanese American boy standing in front of barracks at Topaz. Back of the photo reads "Sumida."