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Jr. High students standing with Golden Wolff and LeGrand Noble (educators) in the front.
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.
Wanto Company Grocery store in California with sign, "I AM AN AMERICAN" in 1942. Once relocation was ordered, Japanese Americans were forced to sell their businesses and leave their jobs regardless of loyalty to the United States.
Photograph of internees pounding dough to make mochi (a sticky Japanese rice cake) for New Years.
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.
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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 "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…
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…
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 children saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Image is identified as being a class at Raphael Weill Elementary School in San Francisco, California. Mary Ann Yahiro, the child in the center, was separated from her mother. Her mother was…
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 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…
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…
Japanese American girl standing in front of drying laundry hanging outside of barrack.
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" showing the first Christmas at Topaz.
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" showing the first High School Graduation.
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…
"The Combo" preforming at Topaz. Sadie Tokata (piano); Ich Sasaki (guitar); G. Sakashita; Kaz Maruoko (trumpet): Albert Noda (saxophone)
Topaz Deputy Director, James F. Hughes, giving merit badges to Boy Scouts at a Court of Honor.
Image of high school students waiting for an assembly meeting.
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…
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…
Illustration from Mine Okubo's "Citizen 13660" depicting Japanese American arrival at Topaz.
Photograph of workers clearing fields for agricultural use. Some of the works appear to be adolescents.