Behind the barbed wire of assembly centers and relocation centers around the country during World War II, interned Japanese-Americans produced newspapers to chronicle the stories and experiences of their community in a time of crisis.
"December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy" - President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, fears ran high among the American people. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, that allowed the forcible removal of nearly 120,000 U.S. citizens and residents of Japanese descent from their homes to federal assembly and relocation camps across the West and further inland.
Many of the camps were located in desolate locations such as Manzanar at the base of the Sierras, Poston in the Arizona desert, and Granada on the eastern Colorado plains. Allowed to bring only the possessions they could carry, many arrived at the camps unprepared for the extreme conditions.
The living conditions in the camps were deplorable, with large families housed in small rooms or even converted stables, in crudely constructed barracks that were not insulated against harsh winters or high heat.
The adverse conditions and prison-like environment, however, did not prevent residents of the camps from forming their own wartime communities and culture, organizing necessary services, such as governing bodies, schools, libraries, and churches. They also began producing their own newspaper publications.
Camp Newspapers
Camp newspapers kept residents informed, relaying administrative announcements, orders, events, vital statistics, news from other camps, and other tidbits concerning daily camp life. They published not only straight news, but also editorials, opinions, human-interest stories, and entertainment pieces such as sports news, literary works, and comic strips. They recorded the daily activities of residents for whom, even in detention, life still continued on.
Newspapers were typed, handwritten, and drawn, and either printed or mimeographed for distribution. Some were published in English only, while others, like the January 4, 1946 The Newell Star seen below, published in both English and Japanese.
The Collection
The Library of Congress has made available online a rare collection of the newspapers produced by Japanese-Americans interned at assembly centers and relocation centers around the country during World War II. The collection includes more than 4,600 English and Japanese language issues published in 13 camps.
Life Continued On
Uprooted from their lives, Japanese-Americans had to adapt to their new situation. This meant adjusting to new living conditions, attending new schools, and finding inventive ways to pass the time. They attempted to maintain a sense of normalcy by attending religious meetings and by finding employment. Soon camps were operating like small towns.
Camp newspapers maintained a small-town feel, reading like a paper from anywhere in rural America. They announced new library additions, promoted job opportunities, covered baseball games, posted church schedules and advertised community events.