RELOCATION AWAY FROM CAMP - 1942-1945, Script 1996-1997
Scope and Contents
After the United States government forced the Japanese Americans into the ten detention camps, it then tried to move them out of the camps to anywhere except the West Coast where it was still declared a war zone and off limits for the people of Japanese ancestry. Beginning in November 1942, an individual “resettlement: policy was announced by the War Relocation Authority. The Relocation Office at Heart Mountain was established by the end of July 1943, with two counselors, one Issei and one Nisei, who were drafted one from Block Managers; Council and the other from the Council of Block Chairman. Their work included translating into Japanese the clearance procedure, alien regulations, coordination of hostel programs outside the camp, and communicate with organizations that were participating in the “relocation: program such as the YMCA, YWCA, and Protestant Churches. A $25.00 allowance was given to families to “relocate: plus $3.00 a day while traveling. Etc. By 1944 several hundred detainees had left Heart Mountain to attend universities, join the Armed Services, or take work away from the West Coast. They often wrote back to the Heart Mountain Sentinel, describing their experiences. It was frequently reported that there was remarkably little hostility in the Middle West. In January 1945 persons of Japanese ancestry were no linger restricted from the West Coast area. Steps were made to encourage the previously excluded Japanese Americans to return. The majority of those who did relocate were Nisei; young people willing to take the risk. Anne Freed, WRA community analyst, concluded that many Issei had lost their economic security with the force evacuation, felt keenly the racial discrimination, and had come to be motivated mainly by a search for security.
Dates
- Script 1996-1997
Conditions Governing Access
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Extent
From the Collection: 20 boxes
Language of Materials
English
Creator
- From the Collection: Heart Mountain Relocation Center (Organization)
Repository Details
Part of the McCracken Research Library Repository