This collection contains artifacts, photographs, and papers pertaining to Claire (Tsuyuko Fukumitsu) and Isao Suzuki’s family history, childhood, their incarceration at Tule Lake during World War II, and their post-war business careers.

Tsuyuko and Yukie Fukumitsu grew up in Ogden and Brigham, Utah where their father worked various jobs on sugar beet farms, in restuarants, and for railway companies such as Western Pacific. When Tsuyuko was five and Yukie, was three, their mother, Tazu Fukumitsu, took them to Hiroshima to live with relatives and receive a Japanese education. While Yukie shortly returned home, Tsuyuko remained in Japan until she was fifteen years old. When the Fukumitsu family moved to Nevada, Tsuyuko attended an intensive English language program for four years. The family moved to Sacramento in 1935, and would lived there until 1942 when they were incarcerated in the Tule Lake concentration camp. During this period, Yukie had a child with her husband and Tsuyuko taught sewing classes. Tsuyuko was accepted into fashion design school.

7.3 linear feet

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.