Instructions posted during Japanese American relocation
A notice posted on a wall in San Francisco, California, lists “evacuation” instructions for the area’s Japanese American residents, 1942. They were deported, first to temporary “assembly centers,” and from there to relocation centers in remote areas of the United States.
Item ViewSign hung in storefront of a Japanese American family's business
Tatsuro Matsuda, whose family owned the Wanto Co. grocery store, hung this sign in front of the store, Oakland, California, March 1942. The store was closed following orders for the evacuation of Americans of Japanese ancestry. Evacuees were forcibly deported to relocation centers.
Item ViewJapanese Americans in line to register with the War Relocation Authority
Japanese Americans wait in line to register with the War Relocation Authority, San Francisco, California, April 1942.
A government agency, the War Relocation Authority was tasked with removing “enemy aliens” from designated zones. Local authorities on the West Coast forced all “persons of Japanese ancestry” to register. They were then deported, first to temporary “assembly centers” and from there to relocation centers.
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Japanese American relocation
American residents of Japanese ancestry wait with their luggage for transportation during relocation, San Francisco, California, April 6, 1942.
Item ViewNursery school children at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center
A group of nursery school children at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming, January 4, 1943. The Heart Mountain Relocation Center was one of ten relocation centers where Japanese Americans were forcibly deported.
Item ViewTown hall meeting at the Manzanar Relocation Center
Japanese Americans hold a town hall meeting at the Manzanar Relocation Center in California, 1943.
Item ViewArmy Military Police guard the Manzanar Relocation Center
Army Military Police guarding the boundaries of the Manzanar Relocation Center in California, one of ten relocation camps where American residents of Japanese ancestry were forcibly deported, April 2, 1942.
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