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Osborne (James H.) Nisei Collection
SPC.2017.001
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: James H. Osborne Nisei Collection
Creator:
Terada, Emiko
Creator:
Terada, Usami
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2017.001
Physical Description:
1 box
Physical Description:
.20 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1941-1971, undated
Abstract: The James H. Osborne Nisei Collection contains mostly correspondence between Emiko and Usami Terada, incarcerees in the Rohwer
incarceration camp, McGehee Arkansas, and the Thomas family in Lawndale, California and some photographs of the Teradas and
the Thomases. The letters describe the trip from the Santa Anita temporary detention faciility to the Rohwer incarceration
camp, their lives and conditions in the camp, and their concerns about their properties in Lawndale, California. Also included
are photographs taken in the camp, fliers published during wartime, holiday and sympthany cards from the Terada and Nakawaki
families to the Thomas family, clippings regarding Japanese American incarceration, and other documents. Some of this collection
is digitized and available online.
Language of Material:
English
.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Collection is arranged in 1 box.
Rohwer Incarceration Camp History
On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which gave the military the authority to
exclude any citizen who posed a threat to national security. As a result, approximately 120,000 Japanese-Americans living
on the West Coast were removed and incarcerated in concentration camps. One of these camps was Rohwer incarceration center
located in Desha County in southeastern Arkansas- a heavily wooded and swampy area with high humidity. Most of the incarcerees
imprisoned at Rohwer came from Los Angeles and San Joaquin counties in California. The living quarters in the main residential
area was approximately 500 acres and was surrounded by barbed wire fences and eight guard towers that were staffed by military
police. All incarcerees were housed within partitioned sections of 20' by 120' barracks which were arranged in groups of 12
blocks. Each block housed approximately 200-300 individuals. Rohwer officially closed on November 30, 1945 making it the last
WRA camp to close, except for the Tule Lake Segregation Center.
Emiko [Amy] Terada (1924-) and her brother Usami [Sam] Terada (1923-2013) were living in Lawndale, California before they
were forcibly removed and sent to Rohwer incarceration camp in 1942. While living in Lawndale, they were neighbors with
Albert William (A.W.) Thomas (1883-1974), his wife Helen L. Thomas (1888-1987) and their daughter Laura E. Thomas (1928-)
who were also living on Prairie Avenue in Lawndale. In 1949, Emiko married Dave T. Nakawaki.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
This collection was processed by Karen Clemons, 2017.
This collection is part of the California State University Japanese American Digitization Project. For related materials please
consult:
CSU Japanese American Digitization Project.
The James H. Osborne Nisei Collection (1941-1971, undated) contains mostly correspondence between Emiko and Usami Terada,
incarcerees in the Rohwer incarceration camp, McGehee Arkansas, and the Thomas family in Lawndale, California. Also included
are photographs of the Teradas and Thomases, including images taken while the Teradas were incarcerated at Rohwer. The letters
describe the trip from the Santa Anita Assembly Center to the Rohwer incarceration camp, their lives and conditions in the
camp, their concerns about their properties in Lawndale, California; and other topics. Also included are: fliers published
during wartime, holiday and sympthany cards from the Terada and Nakawaki families to the Thomas family, clippings regarding
Japanese American incarceration, exhibit flyers,and other documents.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Availability of Digitized Materials
Some of the collection has been digitized and is available at the CSU Japanese American Project site:
James H. Osborne Nisei Collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Concentration Camps -- United States
World War, 1939-1945 -- Concentration Camps -- United States
Japanese Americans
Japanese Americans -- Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
Japanese American families
Japanese Americans -- California
Rohwer Relocation Center (Ark.)