DNO-0017_Topaz Japanese American Internment Camp Digital Collection

Report describes how the War Relocation Authority was established, organized, and managed. It covers in detail the logistics of setting up, staffing, supplying, and then closing the centers. One section covers the agency's records management of 450 four-drawer filing cabinets of evacuee information, 90 file cabinets of office paperwork, 10 filing cabinets of personnel files, and 100 of financial paperwork, mostly paid vouchers. Report chapters are: Introduction; The Place of Administrative Management in the Program; Gradual Development of the administrative Management Function; Program Developments that Affected Personnel; The Organizational Pattern; The WRA Manual; The Budget Making Process; Personnel Management; Fiscal Management; Supply Operations; Mess Operations; Records Management; Other Functions of Administrative Management; Mass Transportation Operations; and Center Closure.

Aerial view of barracks at Topaz War Relocation Center

Aerial view of barracks at Topaz War Relocation Center

Written and illustrated by residents of Topaz, this 55 page collection of stories and articles recounts the experiences and feelings of the Japanese Americans forced to leave cherished homes, jobs, possessions, and pets for the dusty, stark barracks of Topaz Relocation Center. Included is a chronology of events at the Center and stories told of relocation experiences from the eyes of issei (those born in Japan), a mother with several daughters, 7th graders, a 3 year old going to pre-Kindergarten at the Center, and travelers who meet briefly at the Delta train station on their way to college, jobs in other cities, army assignments, etc. 'Around the Bend' reports results of a questionnaire sent to 900 Japanese Americans who were relocated to cities such as Salt Lake City, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Paul, Ogden, Dayton, Ann Arbor, etc.

Written and illustrated by residents of Topaz, this 55 page collection of stories and articles recounts the experiences and feelings of the Japanese Americans forced to leave cherished homes, jobs, possessions, and pets for the dusty, stark barracks of Topaz Relocation Center. Included is a chronology of events at the Center and stories told of relocation experiences from the eyes of issei (those born in Japan), a mother with several daughters, 7th graders, a 3 year old going to pre-Kindergarten at the Center, and travelers who meet briefly at the Delta train station on their way to college, jobs in other cities, army assignments, etc. 'Around the Bend' reports results of a questionnaire sent to 900 Japanese Americans who were relocated to cities such as Salt Lake City, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Paul, Ogden, Dayton, Ann Arbor, etc.

Public Law 100-383, called the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, acknowledged "the fundamental injustice of the evacuation, relocation, and internment" of people of Japanese ancestry during World World II.

Climbers! Bear River Range limestone is the home to several plants that grow nowhere else in the world. These plants can be found growing on cliffs that climbers frequent. You, as a climber, can help protect these plants. When you see them, avoid them. Primula maguirei (Maguire's primrose), Erigeron cronquistii (Cronquist's daisy), Musineon lineare (Rydberg's musineon), and Viola frank-smithii (Frank Smith's violet)

Report examines the development and function of community government within the relocation centers. It describes early debates on how centers should be governed, problems caused by differences in attitudes and values held by alien Japanese (Issei) and those with American citizenship (Nisei and Kibei), and the negative reaction of evacuees to the exclusion of Issei from elective office as well as to the questionable extent of self-government allowed. Several violent incidents, the Poston Strike and Manzanar Riot, are discussed. Other points of conflict arose with regard to the forced registration of center residents and relocation policies. The last section describes the All-Center Conference held in Salt Lake City in February, 1945 organized and financed by evacuees from all the centers to discuss concerns about the closure of the centers announced in December, 1944.

Crossing Great Salt Lake on Southern Pacific

First document: Dealing with Japanese Americans by John F. Embree with background information instructing staff on Japanese culture. Second document: Staff memo including a bibliography of new books of interest to educators

Executive Order 9102 signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 18, 1942 established a War Relocation Authority to "provide for the removal from designated areas of persons whose removal is necessary in the interests of national security." The War Relocation Authority was instructed to provide for their needs 'in such manner as may be appropriate, and supervise their activities.'

Congressional hearings in Jan. and Feb. 1944 on several bills, H.R. 2701, 3012, 3446, and 3489, proposing (1) expatriation of Japanese Americans who under oath expressed loyalty to Japan and (2) creation of a Japanese Deportation Commission. The bills were largely the result of a questionnaire given to some 40,000 residents of relocation centers asking them to swear unqualified alliegiance to the United States, defend it from all attack, and forswear any form of allegiance to Japan. Statements include some discussion of the relocation centers as well as a letter from the War Relocation Agency providing the results of the questionnaire and the complexities behind the answers given. Statements are given by Harry R. Sheppard, Clair Engle, J. Leroy Johnson, W.F. Norrell, Sam M. Russell, Francis Biddle, John H. Provinse, R.W. Flournoy Jr., and Herman P. Eberharter.

Farming at Topaz War Relocation Center

Guard on duty in watch tower at Tanforan Assembly 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 shield,' schedules for work, religious services, etc., and written policies, procedures as well as a list of 'do's' and 'don'ts.' Cover says: Welcome to Topaz!

Illustration by Wanda Robertson - 'Public Washroom'

Illustration: 'Relocation'

Illustrations: 'Crowded Christmas,' 'Victory Gardens,' and 'Public Showers'

Illustrations: 'Japanese people carted off to custody,' 'Tanforan race track,' and 'Horse stalls cleaned for human use'

Illustrations: 'Packing it up again' and 'Jammed into trains, moved inland'