Collection Guide
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Yen (Janice) Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress Collection
SPC.2022.043
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Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Janice Yen Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress Collection
Creator:
Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2022.043
Physical Description:
4 boxes
Physical Description:
1.67 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1981-2019
Abstract: This collection includes flyers, newspaper clippings, organizational documents, press releases, issues of "Banner," digitized
photographs, and other material related to the Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress (NCRR), formally known as the National
Coalition for Redress and Reparations. It also includes material related to the Little Tokyo People's Rights Organization
(LTPRO), Japanese Americans, and Japanese American redress. This collection contains some digitized material.
Language of Material:
English
.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
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.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Janice Yen donated material and loaned photographs to the Gerth Archives and Special Collections in 2022.
This collection was processed by Jennifer Hill with assistance from Anthony Rojo in December 2022. Most of the titles are
from the original folders.
Historical Note for Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress
NCRR (Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress) emerged as a grassroots movement in 1980, fighting for redress and reparations
for Nikkei (Japanese Americans) incarcerated during World War II. Founded by Japanese Americans from across the country, NCRR
was first known as the National Coalition for Redress/Reparations. The non-profit organization worked to bring the community
together to seek justice for the thousands of Nikkei deprived of their civil rights during World War II. NCRR played a pivotal
role in helping former Nikkei incarcerees to testify at the 1981 hearings before the Commission on Wartime Relocation and
Internment of Civilians (CWRIC), a Congress-appointed group charged with conducting an official study of the wartime incarceration
of Nikkei. NCRR worked together with other Nikkei organizations, individuals, and Congress members towards enacting the Civil
Liberties Act of 1988 that granted reparations. They also fought to ensure that redress was implemented and campaigned for
those that were denied the reparations.
In 2000, the Los Angeles Chapter updated its name to Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress to reflect its ongoing mission. Among
the many projects it has undertaken, with the help of grants through the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund (CLPEF), NCRR
made available on video, "Speak Out for Justice," the 1981 CWRIC hearings held in Los Angeles. In 2004, NCRR released "Stand
Up for Justice," an educational short film of Ralph Lazo, who accompanied his incarcerated Nikkei friends during World War
II. In February 2020, NCRR co-chaired and presented in partnership with other organizations the Day of Remembrance 2020, held
annually in remembrance of Executive Order 9066, authorizing the removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans. Today, the
organization continues to engage in similar campaigns against injustice and educate the public on wartime injustices.
Nikkei For Civil Rights and Redress Related Materials
For other material related to Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress, please consult the
Roy Nakano Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress,
Jim Matsuoka Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress, and
Kay Ochi Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress,
This collection is part of the California State University Japanese American Digitization Project. For more information:
CSU Japanese American Digitization Project.
The Janice Yen Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress Collection contains 1.67 linear feet of newspaper clippings, flyers, booklets,
"Banner" publications, organizational documents, two digitized photograph binders, and other material related to the Nikkei
for Civil Rights and Redress (NCRR), formally known as the National Coalition for Redress and Reparations. The digitized photographs
in the collection include Little Tokyo's Peoples events and outreach, Manzanar Pilgrimage, candlelight vigils, NCRR strikes,
NCRR conferences and events, Day of Remembrance events, Big Mountain Support photographs, Office of Redress Administration
(ORA) meeting photographs, and along with other photographs related to the Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress. The collection
was organized by Janice Yen, a member, photographer, and archivist for the Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress.
The Gerth Archives and Special Collections created digital reproductions from the original material for long-term preservation
and access. These preservation files were scanned to and stored on the Gerth Archives and Special Collections Deparment Drive.
For more information on the best practices and standards for the digitization process, please see:
CSU Japanese American Digitization Project technical reference guide.
Existence and Location of Originals
Two photograph binders were loaned to the Gerth Archives and Special Collections for digitization and will be returned to
the donor when digitization is complete.
Biographical Note for Janice Yen
Janice Yen was born in 1942 in Santa Cruz, California, to Masaharu and Haruko. Shortly after she was born, her family was
forcibly removed to the Salinas Fairgrounds and then to the Poston incarceration camp. After leaving Poston in 1944, Janice's
family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Janice attended school in Cleveland until her family moved back to San Martin, California,
in 1948. Her parents worked as farmers and bought land with other family members in California.
Janice graduated from Live Oak High School and then attended UC Davis before transferring to UC Berkley. She also attended
San Jose State College, Columbia University in New York, and UCLA for post-graduate degrees.
Janice became involved with the Little Tokyo People's Rights Organization in 1976 or 1977 as part of the Outreach Committee.
She later became part of the Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress (NCRR), formally known as the National Coalition for Redress/Reparations.
Janice volunteered for various committees while in NCRR, including the Redress and Education committee. She was also the associate
producer of the NCRR/Visual Communications docudrama, "Stand Up for Justice," project coordinator for "Speaking Out for Justice"
videotapes, and has volunteered for other NCRR positions, including photographer and archivist.
Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress and Lane Ryo Hirabayashi. 2018. NCRR : The Grassroots Struggle for Japanese American Redress
and Reparations. Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Japanese Americans -- Civil rights
Japanese Americans -- Reparations
Reparations for historical injustices -- United States
Little Tokyo (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Civil rights
Japanese American newspapers
- Collection Overview
-
Collection Details
- Conditions Governing Access
- Conditions Governing Use
- Preferred Citation
- Immediate Source of Acquisition
- Processing Information
- Historical Note for Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress
- Nikkei For Civil Rights and Redress Related Materials
- Related Materials
- Scope and Contents
- Processing Information
- Existence and Location of Originals
- Biographical Note for Janice Yen
- Bibliography