Report on the influx of repatriation to Japan requests from Manzanar Incarceration Camp. Report describes camp life in Tule Lake compared to Manzanar, special concerns with Kibei and Issei individuals, the draft, and family dilemma related to repatriation. The Willard Schmidt collection, documents some of the administrative duties of Willard Schmidt, the Chief of Internal Security for the War Relocation Authority and the Tule Lake incarceration/segregation camp. This collection contains administrative records and photos documenting the Tule Lake camp, the largest incarceration camp with a peak population of 18,789 and with the most turbulent history. In 1943, the camp was turned into a segregation center to house "disloyal" Japanese Americans relocated from other camps based on their answers to a confusing loyalty questionnaire. The camp endured martial law from November 1943- Jan 1944 after escalating protests and unrest. The hostile environment of the camp lead to many incarcerees renouncing their American citizenship upon the end of incarceration, a process which took 14 years to reverse if they did not wish to be deported to Japan.
World War II--Administration--War Relocation Authority--Community Analysis Section World War II--Resistance and dissidence--Expatriation/repatriation/deportation Identity and values--Kibei Identity and values--Japanese American identity Identity and values--Issei
Place
Newell, California Incarceration Camps--Tule Lake Incarceration Camps--Manzanar
Source
San Jose State University Department of Special Collections and Archives
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.