This collection primarily consists of handwritten, illustrated letters with the exception of a few postcards and one photograph. Sohei Hohri wrote the letters while incarcerated at Manzanar to his friend, Harold Landon. The bulk of the documents are dated from 1941 to 1943. A smaller portion of the collection is from the post-camp years, ranging from 1972 to 1982 and 1997 to 2011.

Harold Edgar Landon was born on August 6, 1924 to Ed Landon and Blanche Louise (Simpson) Landon in Los Angeles, California. Harold grew up in West Los Angeles and attended Emerson Junior High and University High School. In high school, Harold participated in gymnastics, track and field, and a variety of other sports. While at University High School, Harold became friends with classmate Sohei “John” Hohri. Harold and Sohei continued their friendship, as evidenced through letters, despite Hohri’s forced relocation to Manzanar in 1942. After Harold graduated from University High School in the spring of 1942, he volunteered to serve in the United States military.

.4 linear feet (1 box)

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management and Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum (collections@janm.org).

By appointment only. Please contact the Collections Management and Access Unit (collections@janm.org). Advanced notice is required.