Inventory of the Siberius Y. Saito drawings
Finding aid prepared by Siberius Y. Saito and Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2009, 2013
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
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Title: Siberius Y. Saito drawings
Date (inclusive): 1942
Collection Number: 79026
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1 envelope
(0.1 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Photographic copies of sketches depicting the physical facilities at the Tanforan Assembly Center.
Creator:
Saito, Siberius Y.
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1979.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Siberius Y. Saito drawings, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical/Historical Note
Japanese-American architect and evacuee at Tanforan Assembly Center, California, 1942.
Scope and Content of Collection
In February 1942 President Roosevelt issued Executive Order #9066 which enabled the military to evacuate all Americans of
Japanese descent from California, Oregon and Washington. Internment camps were planned in the remote areas of Idaho, Wyoming,
Utah, Arizona, Arkansas and California to receive the evacuees. The implementation of the order was started in March and evacuation
started in April.
Since the construction of the permanent camps was just underway, the evacuees were temporarily placed in race tracks, county
fair grounds, and livestock exhibition halls hastily converted into detention camps with barbed wire fences, search lights,
and guard towers. Tanforan Assemby Center was located at the Tanforan Race Track in San Bruno about ten miles south of San
Francisco. It was home to 5000 San Franciscans for about 6 months until the permanent camp in the desert area of Utah was
completed, the Central Utah Relocation Center, better known as the Topaz War Relocation Center.
San Francisco was divided into evacuation districts and notices of the departure dates were posted in prominent places. On
the appointed day, the evacuees reported to the district depot with bed rolls and hand baggage. No other possessions were
allowed. Cameras, radios and weapons (including kitchen knives) had been confiscated previously. Transportation to Tanforan
was by means of Army commandeered buses.
The content of the collection is 24 photographic copies of sketches depicting the physical facilities at the Tanforan Assembly
Center. Titles and descriptions from paperwork included with images.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Japanese Americans -- Forced removal and internment, 1942-1945
Pictorial works
World War, 1939-1945 -- Pictorial works
World War, 1939-1945 -- United States
Drawing
Tanforan Assembly Center (San Bruno, Calif.)
envelope A
Horse Stalls used as apartments
Scope and Contents
Composed of a front and rear compartment--some with no door between. Exterior doors were rough woods planks and the windows
were mostly fixed in place. There were no windows in the rear compartments. Flood was either existing asphalt or new wood
planks over earth. Partitions between apartments stopped at the top horizontal plate and the space above was open. The least
sound traveled from one end of the building to the other. There were neither plumbing nor heating and one single light bulb
on a pull chain per compartment. Reminder of the former occupants was quite strong.
envelope A
Buildings with stairs
Scope and Contents
The buildings with stairs were mess halls and the two small buildings on the right were toilets. Other buildings shown were
barrack apartments built to supplement the horse stalls. They were flimsily constructed with tar paper on the outside walls
held in place by batens. Roof was thing roll roofing. The single wood plank floor on the inside shrank leaving gaps of 1/2"
or more through which the wind whistled. As in the horse stalls, the partition between apartment units were partial. Here
again, no plumbing, no heating and a single light bulb on pull chain. Size of a typical apartment was 16 x 20 ft. with an
average occupancy of 6. Privacy within the apartment was achieved by stringing up blankets etc. The camp was divided into
blocks of barracks housing about 300. Each block had its own mess hall, toilets and showers. One laundry building served
two blocks.
envelope A
Grandstand
Scope and Contents
The grandstand dominated the entire complex. It was the center of activities and housed the camp administration, visitors
hall, canteen, scrip book office and one huge bachelors dormitory.
envelope A
View from the top seats of the grandstand
Scope and Contents
View looking north on El Camino Real at that time the main highway between San Francisco and San Jose. Some barracks appear
on the right.
envelope A
View from lower seats of the grandstand
Scope and Contents
View looking north. The racetrack is on the right and the South San Francisco hills are in the background.
envelope A
From the box seats of the grandstand looking down on people waiting in line to get their scrip book
Scope and Contents
View of
envelope A
From the box seats of the grandstand looking down on people in line to get into the canteen
Scope and Contents
Scrip coupons were exchanged there for sundries. There was only one canteena nd choices of items were limited.
envelope A
View of the barracks being built when the evacuees started to stream in
envelope A
View of gardens
Scope and Contents
There were many skilled landscape gardeners. They converted a dried up pond in the infield into a beauty spot complete with
Japanese garden, bridges, trees, walks, etc.
envelope A
The hospital group
Scope and Contents
Facilities and equipment were inadequate and supplies meager. It was staffed by evacuee doctors, dentists and nurses. The
care and dedication were first rate. (2 images)
envelope A
Horse stall area (4 images)
envelope A
Horse stall and Barrack apartments (2 images)
envelope A
Barrack apartments in the infield
envelope A
Barrack apartments at race track curve
envelope A
View of the grandstand (3 images)
