George S. Iwanaga Papers, 1942-1950

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Summary

Creators:
Iwanaga, George S. (Shinichi)
Abstract:
A collection of 33 original photographs from the Japanese internment camp at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. The black and white images depict the people of the camp, their living quarters, and daily life. The Heart Mountain War Relocation Center opened in June 1942 and closed on November 10, 1945. It was one of ten concentration camps used for the internment of Japanese Americans evicted from the West Coast Exclusion Zone during World War II. The photographs were taken by George S. (Shinichi) Iwanaga (1921–2012), a 21-year-old Los Angeles resident of Japanese descent. Born in Fresno, he never visited Japan and had completed two years of college. He lived for two years at Heart Mountain before being released in August 1944.
Extent:
3 linear feet (1 oversized flat box + 1 small document box)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English .

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of 33 original photographs from the Japanese internment camp at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. The black and white images depict the people of the camp, their living quarters, and daily life.

Most of the black and white photographs of varying sizes are lightly mounted with double-stick tape on 28 x 22 inch white board with pencil captions below. The printing date of the photographs is not noted. Among the scenes is a three-panel panoramic of the Heart Mountain camp, a group of skilled workers in front of the carpenters shop, and views of internees bidding farewell to visitors through a barbed wire fence. A photo captioned "mess hall workers" is missing from one board and another of "St. Francis" is loose.

Also included in the papers is a program from Iwanaga's 2002 UCLA exhibit which contains a bit of biographical information; two letters sent from materials vendors to Iwanaga at Heart Mountain when he worked in the Public Works Department; a report on color photography he completed in 1945 for and English class at the University of Minnesota; and a 1947 thesis he co-wrote in pursuit of his master's degree at the University of Washington.

Acquisition information:
Purchase, 2015.
Arrangement:

The collection has been arragned into the following series:

  • Series 1: Manuscripts
  • Series 2: Photographs

Within each series, materials are organized alphabetically by title.

Physical location:
Please consult repository.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
800 N. Dartmouth Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711, US
Contact:
(909) 607‑3977
specialcollections@claremont.edu
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