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
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Karen Clemons, 2017.
Related Materials
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
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."