Guide to the Walerga oral histories collection MS0174
Finding aid by Kim Hayden
Center for Sacramento History
2023
Contributing Institution:
Center for Sacramento History
Title: Walerga oral histories collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS0174
Physical Description:
3 Linear Feet
(14 boxes, photographs)
Date (inclusive): 1942-1980
Date (bulk): 1979-1980
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests to publish or quote from private collections held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted
in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron.
No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.
The photographs in this collection were copied from originals owned by Rev. Yasunobu Kojima. No copies of these photographs
are to be made; they are for reference only.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Walerga oral histories collection, MS0174, Center for Sacramento History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Transferred from the City of Sacramento Museum and History Division in 1979 (accession 1979/107).
Related Materials
The Center for Sacramento History holds the Issei Oral History Collection, MS0173, which was also conducted by the Issei Oral
History Project Inc.
Biographical / Historical
The Walerga Oral History Project was a joint project between the Center for Sacramento History (then known as the Sacramento
Museum and History Division) and the Issei Oral History Project Inc. Oral histories were conducted in 1979 and 1980 by IOHP
with people who were interned or worked at the Walerga Assembly Center during the period of Japanese incarceration during
World War II. Work on the project was coordinated by the Rev. Heihachiro Takarabe and former CSH director James Henley. Most
interviews are in English, with some in Japanese.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of cassette tape recordings of oral histories, a small number of typed transcripts of the oral histories,
administrative records related to the project, and photographs. Digital copies have been made of all of the oral histories,
and these are available on the Center's Internet Archive page.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series:
- Series 1. Oral history recordings
- Series 2. Administrative records and photographs
Series 1. Oral history recordings
1979-1980
box 1
Fujii, Toko
1980-03-24
Fujii, Toko oral history
General
Interview # 346. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2. Number
of cassettes: 2.
box 1
Hayashi, Dr. Ako (Nisei)
1979-07-10
Hayashi, Dr. Ako oral history
General
Interview # 325. Interviewer: Ono, Mari. Number of cassettes: 2.
box 1
Higashino, Loise (Nisei)
1979-08-16
Higashino, Loise oral history
General
Interview # 327. Interviewer: Ono, Mari. Number of cassettes: 1.
box 1
Hiyama, Frank (Nisei)
1979-05-23
Hiyama, Frank oral history
General
Interview # 302. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 3. Number
of cassettes: 2.
box 1
Iki, Marsha (Nisei)
1979-12-14
Iki, Marsha oral history
General
Interview # 339. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 1.5.
Number of cassettes: 1.
box 2
Imai, Akio R.
1980-03-25
Imai, Akio R. oral history
General
Interview # 347. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.5.
Number of cassettes: 2.
box Missing
Imai, Fred
1980-03-31
General
Interview # 349. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.75.
box 2
Imai, Mrs. Sammy (Sami)
1980-03-31
Imai, Mrs. Sammy (Sami) oral history
General
Interview # 348. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.5.
Number of cassettes: 2. Interview may be in Japanese.
box 2
Imura, Frances and Tak (Nisei)
1979-09-01
Imura, Frances oral history
General
Interview # 316. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Yamanaka, Carey. Interview length (hours): 3. Number of cassettes:
2.
box 2
Ito, Chui (Nisei)
1979-08-21
Ito, Chui oral history
General
Interview # 328. Interviewer: Ono, Mari. Number of cassettes: 1.
box 2
Ito, Kazuo (Issei)
1979-09-18
Ito, Kazuo oral history
General
Interview # 310. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2. Number
of cassettes: 2. Interview in Japanese.
box 3
Kashiwagi, Betty (Nisei)
1979-10-28
Kashiwagi, Betty oral history
General
Interview # 335. Interviewer: Chikasawa, Vivian. Number of cassettes: 1.
box 3
Kashiwagi, Robert (Nisei)
1979-08-07
Kashiwagi, Robert oral history
General
Interview # 305. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 3.5.
Number of cassettes: 4.
box 3
Kimura, Kazuo (Nisei)
1979-07-26
Kimura, Kazuo oral history
General
Interview # 326. Interviewer: Ono, Mari. Interview length (hours): . Number of cassettes: 2.
box 4
Koga, Rev. Sumio (Nisei)
1979-07-05
Koga, Rev. Sumio oral history
General
Interview # 303. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 3.5.
Number of cassettes: 3.
box 4
Kojima, Chikako (Issei)
1979-11-08
Kojima, Chikako oral history
General
Interview # 331. Interviewee's religion: Tenrikyo?. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.5.
Number of cassettes: 2. Interview in Japanese.
box 4
Kubo, Dr. James J.
1980-11-30
Kubo, Dr. James J. oral history
General
Interview # 342. Interviewer: Tokuno, Asako. Number of cassettes: 1.
box 4
Kunibe, Alice
1979-11-19
Kunibe, Alice oral history
General
Interview # 344. Interviewer: Tsue, David. Number of cassettes: 1.
box 4
Kuyama, Mae Okamura (Nisei)
1979-06-12
Kuyama, Mae Okamura oral history
General
Interview # 314. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Tokuno, Asako. Interview length (hours): 1.5. Number of cassettes:
1.
box 5
Masaki, Amy
1979-10-27
Masaki, Amy oral history
General
Interview # 343. Interviewer: Tsue, David. Number of cassettes: 1.
box 5
Masaki, Percy and Glatus (Nisei)
1979-05-02
Masaki, Percy-Glatus oral history
General
Interview # 301. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 4. Number
of cassettes: 3.
box 5
Matsui, Camille and Dick (Nisei)
1979-10-09
Matsui oral history
General
Interview # 317. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2. Number
of cassettes: 2. Interview in Japanese.
box 5
Mitsutome, Shimako (Issei)
1979-09-18
Mitsutome, Shimako oral history
General
Interview # 309. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.5.
Number of cassettes: 2. Interview in Japanese.
box 6
Miyakawa, Jun (Nisei)
1979-08-31
Miyakawa, Jun oral history
General
Interview # 321. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Tsue, David. Interview length (hours): 3. Number of cassettes:
2.
box 6
Miyamoto, Sumio (Nisei)
1979-08-11
Miyamoto, Sumio oral history
General
Interview # 323. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Tsue, David. Interview length (hours): 1.5. Number of cassettes:
1.
box 6
Moriya, Shizuko (Issei)
1979-10-04
Moriya, Shizuko oral history
General
Interview # 313. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 1.5.
Number of cassettes: 1. Interview in Japanese.
box 6
Muramoto, Mrs. Miti (Nisei)
1979-09-06
Muramoto, Mrs. Miti oral history
General
Interview # 306. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.5.
Number of cassettes: 2.
box 7
Nagano, Charles (Nisei)
1979-08-02
Nagano, Charles oral history
General
Interview # 304. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 3.25.
Number of cassettes: 3.
box 7
Nasu, Kinuko (Issei)
1979-09-21
Nasu, Kinuko oral history
General
Interview # 311. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.5.
Number of cassettes: 2. Interview in Japanese, card in box says she prohibits use of her name.
box 7
Nishimi, Ralph (Nisei)
1979-09-19
Nishimi, Ralph oral history
General
Interview # 324. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Tsue, David. Interview length (hours): 1.5. Number of cassettes:
1.
box 7
North, John C.
1979-11-02
North, John C. oral history
General
Interview # 329. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 1. Number of cassettes: 1.
box 7
Olsen, Melvin J.
1980-01-23
Olsen, Melvin J. oral history
General
Interview # 341. Interviewer: Tokuno, Asako. Number of cassettes: 1.
box 7
Omoto, Miyo
1979-11-26
Omoto, Miyo oral history
General
Interview # 345. Interviewer: Yamanaka, Carey. Number of cassettes: 1.
box 8
Ouye, Carnegie (Nisei)
1979-12-17
Ouye, Carnegie oral history
General
Interview # 340. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2. Number
of cassettes: 2.
box 8
Ouye, Harold (Nisei)
1979-09-16
Ouye, Harold oral history
General
Interview # 319. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Chikasawa, Vivian. Interview length (hours): 2.5. Number
of cassettes: 2.
box Missing
Ryugo, Kikuji (Nisei)
1979-12-04
General
Interview # 337. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.5.
box 8
Sato, Dr. Alwin (Nisei)
1979-09-28
Sato, Dr. Alwin oral history
General
Interview # 315. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Tokuno, Asako. Interview length (hours): 1.5. Number of cassettes:
1.
box 8
Seto, Dr. Masaharu (Nisei)
1979-11-19
Seto, Dr. Masaharu oral history
General
Interview # 333. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.75.
Number of cassettes: 2.
box 8
Seto, Hideko (Nisei)
1979-11-26
Seto, Hideko oral history
General
Interview # 334. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.75.
Number of cassettes: 2.
box 9
Shimada, Paul K.
1980-04-11
Shimada, Paul K. oral history
General
Interview # 350. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.75.
Number of cassettes: 2.
box 9
Shirai, Fusaye and Hiroshi
1980-04-25
Shirai oral history
General
Interview # 352. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.75. Number of cassettes: 2.
box 9
Shirai, Noboru (Issei)
1979-12-06
Shirai, Noboru oral history
General
Interview # 338. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.5.
Number of cassettes: 2. Interview in Japanese.
box 9
Suzuki, Yoneo
1980-04-22
Suzuki, Yoneo oral history
General
Interview # 351. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.75.
Number of cassettes: 2.
box 10
Takai, Larry (Nisei)
1979-11-16
Takai, Larry oral history
General
Interview # 332. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.75.
Number of cassettes: 2.
box 10
Taketa, Henry (Nisei)
1979-09-24
Taketa, Henry oral history
General
Interview # 312. Interviewee's religion: None. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 4.5. Number
of cassettes: 3.
box 10
Tamai, Shigeru
1980-05-06
Tamai, Shigeru oral history
General
Interview # 354. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2. Number of cassettes: 2.
box 10
Tanaka, Fusaye (Kibei Nisei)
1979-10-05
Tanaka, Fusaye (Kibei Nisei) oral history
General
Interview # 330. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2. Number
of cassettes: 2. Interview in Japanese.
box 11
Teramoto, William
1980-05-02
Teramoto, William oral history
General
Interview # 353. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2. Number
of cassettes: 2.
box 11
Tsugawa, Wataru (Dubby) (Nisei)
1979-09-07
Tsugawa, Wataru (Dubby) oral history
General
Interview # 322. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Tsue, David. Interview length (hours): 1.5. Number of cassettes:
1.
box 11
Yagi, Sadayoshi (Nisei)
1979-10-15
Yagi, Sadayoshi oral history
General
Interview # 318. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.5.
Number of cassettes: 2. Interview in Japanese.
box 11
Yamada, Haru (Kibei Nisei)
1979-10-25
Yamada, Haru (Kibei Nisei) oral history
General
Interview # 320. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.75.
Number of cassettes: 2. Interview in Japanese.
box 11
Yamasaki, Tomeichi (Nisei)
1979-09-14
Yamasaki, Tomeichi oral history
General
Interview # 308. Interviewee's religion: Buddhist. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.5.
Number of cassettes: 2. Interview in Japanese.
box 12
Yoshikawa, Setsu (Issei)
1979-09-11
Yoshikawa, Setsu oral history
General
Interview # 307. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 2.25.
Number of cassettes: 2. Interview in Japanese.
box 12
Zipf, Dr. Alfred
1979-12-04
Zipf, Dr. Alfred oral history
General
Interview # 336. Interviewee's religion: Christian. Interviewer: Takarabe, Rev. Heihachiro. Interview length (hours): 1. Number
of cassettes: 1.
Series 2. Administrative records and photographs
1942-1980
box 13, folder 1
List of interviewees
1979-1980
box 13, folder 2-4
Summary reports of interviews and legal releases
1979-1980
box 13, folder 5
Transcript of oral history with Sumio Koga
1979-1980
box 13, folder 6
Articles by Henry Taketa
1967; 1969; undated
box 13, folder 7
Article on the Walerga Oral History Project written in Japanese
undated
box 13, folder 8
Walerga manager files (photocopies) - Hospitals
1942
box 13, folder 9
Walerga manager files (photocopies) - Housing and feeding
1942
box 13, folder 10
Walerga manager files (photocopies) - Badges, office equipment and furniture, and miscellaneous records
1942
box 13, folder 11
Walerga manager files (photocopies) - Personnel, Caucasian; personnel, Japanese
1942
box 13, folder 12
Walerga manager files (photocopies) - Police, internal and military police
1942
box 13, folder 13
Walerga manager files (photocopies) - Press relations, property accountant
1942
box 13, folder 14
Walerga manager files (photocopies) - Repatriation, reports on intake, and other reports
1942
box 13, folder 15
Walerga manager files (photocopies) - Service Division, transportation census
1942
box 13, folder 16
Walerga manager files (photocopies) - Teletype messages received and sent by Sacramento, works & maintenance
1942
box 13, folder 17
Minutes of council meetings
1942
box 13, folder 17
Hand-drawn map of Tule Lake camp
undated
box 13, folder 18
War Relocation Authority publications (photocopies)
ca. 1942-1945
box 13, folder 19
Magnet, the Jerome Relocation Center (Denson, Ark.) magazine (photocopy)
1943-04
box 13, folder 20
Articles: "Nisei Lobby Scores in Sacramento,"
"What We're Fighting For"
ca. 1942; 1951
box 14, folder 1
Oral history project correspondence
1979-1980
box 14, folder 2
Summary reports of interviews
1979-1980
box 14, folder 3
Transcripts
1979-1980
General
Not all oral histories in this colleciton are transcribed; there are only a small number of transcriptions.
folder Photographs 1979/107
Photographs of Walerga camp and residents
ca. 1942
Conditions Governing Use
Photographs were copied from originals owned by Rev. Yasunobu Kojima. No copies of these photographs are to be made; they
are for reference only.
Photograph Aerial photograph 1979/107
Aerial photograph of Walerga
ca. 1942
Conditions Governing Use
Photographs were copied from originals owned by Rev. Yasunobu Kojima. No copies of these photographs are to be made; they
are for reference only.
