Inventory of the James H. Osborne Nisei Collection SPC.2017.001

Karen Clemons
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2017-10-31
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
archives@csudh.edu


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 .

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Arrangement

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.

Biography

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.

Preferred Citation

For information about citing archival material, see the Citations for Archival Material  guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Karen Clemons, 2017.

Related Materials

This collection is part of the California State University Japanese American Digitization Project. For related materials please consult: CSU Japanese American Digitization Project. 

Scope and Contents

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.

Conditions Governing Use

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.)

box 1, folder 1

Letters from Usami Terada to Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Thomas 1942

box 1, folder 2

Letters from Usami Terada to Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Thomas 1944-1945

box 1, folder 3

Letter from Emiko [Amy] Terada to Laura Thomas 1942-08-30

box 1, folder 4

Letters from Emiko [Amy] Terada to Laura Thomas 1944

box 1, folder 5

Letter from Emiko [Amy] Terada to Miss Laura Thomas 1945-01-19

box 1, folder 6

Letters from Emiko [Amy] Terada to Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Thomas 1948, 1951, 1957

box 1, folder 7

Letters from Amy [Nakawaki] to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas 1972-1973

box 1, folder 8

Letter and photographs from Amy [Nakawaki] to Laura Thomas 2007-05

box 1, folder 9

Letters from Usami Terada to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas; and from Emiko [Amy] Terada to Miss Laura Thomas 1943-09-13 1943-09-17

box 1, folder 10

Postcard for "War Damage Insurance" sent to Helen Thomas July 3, 1942

box 1, folder 11

Postcards from Usami Terada to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas; and from Amy Terada to Laura Thomas 1942-1943

box 1, folder 12

Rohwer incarceration camp- general information and regulations written by Ray D. Johnston, Project Director. Includes a drawing of a layout plan of Rohwer. circa 1943

box 1, folder 13

Holiday greeting cards from the Terada family to the Thomas family circa 1970s-1980s

box 1, folder 14

Holiday greeting cards from the Nakawaki family to the Thomas family circa 1970s-1980s

box 1, folder 15

Sympathy cards from the Terada and Nakawaki families to the Thomas Family undated

box 1, folder 16

Letter regarding Kurata Ranch reunion 2010-01

box 1, folder 17

Photographs of the Terada and Thomas families. Includes images taken at Rohwer incarceration camp 1943-1944, 1978, 2005

box 1, folder 18

Bookmarks created by the War Food Administration (WRA) and United States Department of Agriculture Forest Services circa 1942-1945

box 1, folder 19

Exhibit flyers for events regarding Japanese American World War Two incarceration 1995, 2007

box 1, folder 20

Printed and hand-drawn maps of Lawndale Japanese farms 1941

box 1, folder 21

Clippings regarding Japanese American World War Two incarceration 1942, 2004, 2005, 2010

box 1, folder 22

The Rowher Output May 19-May 26, 1943

Language of Material: English.

Contains:

Vol. 2, No. 40-43
box 1, folder 23

Japanese character cards circa 1942

General

From note with cards: "These Japanese characters were created by Lawndale resident Emiko Tereda for her friends and neighbor Laura Thomas just before she was sent to the interment camp at Rhower, Arkansas."