COLLECTIONS
Convicting the Innocent: Japanese American Youth at Topaz
"Mickey Mouse Money"
!["Mickey Mouse Money"](http://usudigital.lib.usu.edu/files/square_thumbnails/87ff91eedca970a5c472bb9a8af1fc0c.jpg ""Mickey Mouse Money"")
These are some monetary notes that were circulated during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II. Filipinos dubbed this money "mickey mouse money" which implies that it was fake.
Map of U.S. Aerial Bombardment Targets in Tokyo
This map, titled: "New Map of Great Tokyo and Yokohama" highlights the U.S.A.A.F's possible aerial bombardment targets in Tokyo during World War II.
Student Papers from Tule Lake
This is a collection of essays from an English class at Tule Lake, a relocation center in California. They discuss the students' experiences of evacuation and life at a relocation center. This particular collection is a part of University of Utah…
O. J. Henderson to Utah Governor Herbert B. Maw
This is a letter from O. J. Jensen to Governor Herbert B. Maw discussing Japanese American relocation. Jensen discusses how his fear of what people will think of him if he hired a Japanese American man to work on his farm, but explains to Governor…
N. H. Smith to Utah Governor Herbert B. Maw.
This is letter from N. H. Smith, a Californian, to Utah Governor Herbert B. Maw concerning Japanese American relocation. Smith uses strong anti-Japanese language and suggests that Governor Maw "change the constitution to deport every single one of…
Midvale City Council letter to Utah Governor Herbert B. Maw
This is a letter from the Midvale City Council to Utah Governor Herbert B. Maw, dated April 8, 1942. The letter describes a "colony of Japanese" in the Salt Lake area who the council deemed to be a "definite hazard" to the community. This letter is a…
"Meeting of County Commissions on Importation of Japanese"
!["Meeting of County Commissions on Importation of Japanese"](http://usudigital.lib.usu.edu/files/square_thumbnails/040387e4689e641ce799dc0fadefda9c.jpg ""Meeting of County Commissions on Importation of Japanese"")
These are the meeting minutes from Utah's County Commissioners on the subject of Japanese American relocation, held in the state capitol on March 16, 1942. The manuscript has a list of responses from various counties as to whether or not they would…
Barbed wire lettering at the Topaz site
This photo was taken at Topaz in September of 2019 by Alyson Griggs. This barbed wire lettering is located next to the Topaz Monument at the Topaz Site.
Topaz site with wood debris
This photo was taken at Topaz in September of 2019 by Alyson Griggs. All that remains at this site is some of the foundations of the hospital and other administrative buildings, pottery debris, and wood scraps. After the relocation centers were…
Topaz site
This photo was taken at Topaz in September of 2019 by Alyson Griggs. All that remains at this site is some of the foundations of the hospital and other administrative buildings, pottery debris, and wood scraps. After the relocation centers were…
Interior of Recreation Hall at the Topaz Museum
This photo was taken at Topaz in September of 2019 by Alyson Griggs at the Topaz Museum in Delta, Utah. This is the interior of the refurbished recreation hall at the Topaz Museum. The recreation halls were built to house a variety of activities.…
Exterior of Recreation Hall at the Topaz Museum
This photo was taken at Topaz in September of 2019 by Alyson Griggs at the Topaz Museum in Delta, Utah. This is a refurbished recreation hall. The recreation halls were built to house a variety of activities. Some became cantinas, while others became…
Inside the Barracks at the Topaz Museum
This photo was taken at Topaz in September of 2019 by Alyson Griggs at the Topaz Museum in Delta, Utah. This is the interior of the barracks replica. All of the furniture—except the beds—were created by Japanese Americans at Topaz.
Minoru Kiyota, a perspective of a Kibei at Topaz.
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…
Kay Uno remembers Pearl Harbor
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.
Donald Nakahata Oral History
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.
Final Issue of "Tanforan Totalizer"
![Final Issue of "Tanforan Totalizer"](http://usudigital.lib.usu.edu/files/square_thumbnails/0139eab6fa8814819e15677f680991b4.jpg "Final Issue of "Tanforan Totalizer"")
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…
To Parents, Patrons, and Friends of the Topaz City High School
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…
First Issue of Topaz Times Jr.
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…
Nagare no Tabi (A Stream's Journey)
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 1944
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…
Ramblings 1943
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 of the Center
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…
Dealing with Japanese Americans
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…
“Our Younger Generation”
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…
Evacuation of the West Coast
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.
“Little Citizens Speak”
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…
“Year's End” by Henry Tani
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…
Overview of High School Curriculum and Graduation Speeches
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…
High School Teachers Reports of Students
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 …
Student Attitudes at Topaz High
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…
Teacher Perceptions of Topaz High
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…
Student Perceptions of Topaz High
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…
Perceptions of Evacuation and Relocation
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…
"Instructions to All Persons of Japanese Ancestry"
!["Instructions to All Persons of Japanese Ancestry"](http://usudigital.lib.usu.edu/files/square_thumbnails/eda26a2097c455845da745c5766e2454.jpg ""Instructions to All Persons of Japanese Ancestry"")
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.
“Your Enemy is the Jap”
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.
The first High School Graduation
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" showing the first High School Graduation.
Illustration of High School class
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" depicting a High School class at Topaz.
The first Christmas at Topaz
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" showing the first Christmas at Topaz.
Japanese Americans gathered around a stove
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" which shows Japanese Americans gathered around a pot belly stove.
Welcome to Topaz
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" depicting Japanese American arrival at Topaz.
Illustration of Tanforan living quarters
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
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.
