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Occidental College Library: Digital Archive:
Japanese American Relocation Collection: Chronology of Events |
The Chronology of Events is compiled from
different sources (see end of table) to integrate the activities reflected
by the corrrespondence of Remsen Bird with national, local and regional
events. The research is offered as an aid in using the collection. [June
7, 2005] |
Year |
Date |
National Events |
Student Relocation: Higher Education / Secondary Education |
Occidental College / Remsen Bird |
|
1941 |
|
|
|
1941 |
November |
A U.S. Intelligence report known as the "Munson Report"
commissioned by President Roosevelt concludes that the great majority of
Japanese Americans are loyal to the U.S. and do not pose a threat to
national security in the event of war with Japan. (Densho) |
|
|
1941 |
December 7 |
Japan bombs U.S. ships and planes at the Pearl Harbor military
base in Hawaii. Over 3,500 servicemen are wounded or killed. Martial law
is declared in Hawaii. (Densho) |
|
|
1941 |
December 7 |
The FBI begins arresting Japanese immigrants identified as
community leaders: priests, Japanese language teachers, newspaper
publishers, and heads of organizations. Within 48 hours, 1,291 are
arrested. Most of these men would be incarcerated for the duration of the
war, separated from their families. (Densho) |
|
|
1941 |
December 8 |
A declaration of war against Japan is brought by the President
and passed by Congress. (Densho) |
|
Eleanor Roosevelt campus speaker |
1941 |
December |
The FBI searches thousands of Japanese American homes on the
West Coast for contraband. Short wave radios, cameras, heirloom swords,
and explosives used for clearing stumps in agriculture are among the items
confiscated. (Densho) |
|
|
1941 |
December 11 |
The Western Defense Command is established with Lt. Gen. John L.
DeWitt as the commander. (Densho) |
|
Japanese American student Sinpachi Kanow writes to Morgan Odell
of mistreatment of his brother and his plans to drop out |
1941 |
December 15 |
Without any evidence of sabotage, Secretary of the Navy Frank
Knox announces to the press, "I think the most effective Fifth Column work
of the entire war was done in Hawaii..." (Densho) |
|
|
1941 |
December 30 |
|
|
Bird writes to the mayor of Los Angeles concerning the
internment of a former Occidental College student (Tanaka). |
|
1942 |
|
|
|
1942 |
January 9 |
U.S. Attorney General Francis Biddle issues first of a series of
orders establishing limited strategic areas on Pacific Coast and requiring
removal of all enemy aliens from such areas. |
|
|
1942 |
January 22 |
|
|
An article in The Daily Optimist praises Akira Shiraishi and announces his receipt of the
Occidental Scholarship. |
1942 |
February 3 |
|
Bird writes to Thurston Davies, President of Colorado College,
about the possibility of a student exchange. |
|
1942 |
February 13 |
West Coast congressional delegation writes President Roosevelt
urging "immediate evacuation of all persons of Japanese lineage…aliens and
citizens alike" from "entire strategic area" of California, Oregon, and
Washington. |
|
|
1942 |
February 14 |
General John L. DeWitt, commanding Western Defense Command,
sends memorandum to Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson advocating
evacuation of "Japanese and other subversive persons" from West Coast
area. |
|
|
1942 |
February 19 |
President Roosevelt signs Executive Order No.
9066 authorizing Secretary of War or any military
commander designated by the Secretary to establish "military areas" and to
exclude from them "any or all persons." |
|
|
1942 |
February 20 |
Stimson designates DeWitt as military commander authorized to
carry out evacuation under Executive Order No. 9066. |
|
|
1942 |
February 25 |
The U.S. Navy orders all Japanese Americans living on Terminal
Island in the Port of Los Angeles--some 500 families--to leave within 48
hours. As the first group to be removed en masse, they incur especially
heavy losses. (Densho) |
|
Ted Tajima writes an editorial entitled "The Double Column of
What it's all About" regarding the Japanese American relocation. |
1942 |
|
|
|
|
1942 |
March 2 |
DeWitt's Public Proclamation No. 1 sets up western half of three
West Coast states and southern third of Arizona as military area, from
which all persons of Japanese blood are eventually removed. |
|
|
1942 |
March |
The Wartime Civil Control Administration opens 16 "Assembly
Centers" to detain approximately 92,000 men, women, and children until the
permanent incarceration camps are completed. (Densho) |
|
|
1942 |
March 5 |
The State of California "releases" 34 Japanese American civil
servants from their jobs. (Densho) |
|
|
1942 |
March 11 |
DeWitt creates Wartime Civil Control Administration to handle
evacuation program; names Colonel Karl R. Bendetsen as Director. |
|
|
1942 |
March 18 |
Roosevelt's Executive Order No. 9102 establishes the War
Relocation Authority to aid people evacuated under Executive Order No.
9066; names Milton S. Eisenhower as director. |
|
|
1942 |
March 21 |
|
Bird writes to Guy Snavely of the Association of American
Colleges expressing concern for Japanese American students and proposing
student exchanges. |
|
1942 |
March 22 |
First big contingent of Japanese, aliens and citizens, moved
from Los Angeles to Manzanar Assembly Center. |
|
|
1942 |
March 23 |
DeWitt's Civilian Exclusion Order No. 1 calls for all people of
Japanese descent living on Bainbridge Island, Puget Sound, to be removed
to the Puyallup Assembly Center. |
|
|
1942 |
March 27 |
DeWitt's Public Proclamation No. 4 halts all voluntary migration
of Japanese from the military areas. |
|
|
1942 |
March 28 |
Minoru Yasui walks into a Portland police station to surrender
himself for arrest in order to test the curfew regulations in court.
(Densho) |
|
|
1942 |
April |
|
The State Department holds the Conference of Advisors of Foreign
Students in Cleveland. Attended educators are presented the dilemma facing
Nisei students and the matter of possible relocation of these students. |
|
1942 |
April 1 |
|
Remsen Bird, E. R. Hedrick (vice president of U.C. and chairman
of the Committee on American-born Japanese and Aliens, Western College
Association, and others (?) meet with Governor Culbert Olson to discuss
issues related to the student relocation. |
Bird writes to Guy Snavely (president of the Association of
American Colleges) urging Snavely to work with Western College Association
on the relocation issue. |
1942 |
April 2 |
|
Recommendations regarding the Re-education of children and youth
in internment camps published by the State of California Department of
Education: copy sent to Bird |
Dr. Bird writes to Francis Hutchins, President of Berea College,
thanking him for arranging the transfer of Occidental student Mary Kariya
to the college. |
1942 |
April 4 |
|
Hedrick writes to invite Bird to become a member of the
Committee on American-born Japanese and Aliens. Bird accepts the
invitation four days later. |
|
1942 |
April 5 |
|
|
Helen Matsunaga sends Dr. Bird a list of "some of the most
outstanding leaders in this American-Japanese community." |
1942 |
April 6 |
|
|
J. L. McCorison, President of Yankton College in South Dakota,
writes to Remsen Bird, stating that Yankton College would be happy to
admit any American-born Japanese student. [This is the first letter of its
kind to be received by Bird.] |
1942 |
April 7 |
Governors and other officials from ten western states confer at
Salt Lake City with Colonel Bendetsen and WRA Director Eisenhower. Most
officials strongly protest unrestricted resettlement of Japanese in their
states. |
Bird writes to E. Fay Campbell (board of Christian education)
regarding formation of an organization to care for Japanese American
students and their education. / Bird writes to Rev. Gordon Chapman asking
about relocation efforts. |
Bird
writes to Charles Wishart, President of the College of Wooster, expressing
concerns of Japanese American student relocation and recommending Ted
Tajima for transfer. |
1942 |
April 9 |
|
|
Bird writes to Dr. Harry Cotton of the Presbyterian Theological
Seminary recommending Oxy student Russell Nakata. |
1942 |
April 10 |
|
Dr. Bird initiates a correspondence with Jitsuio Morikawa
regarding student relocation in which he states that any help by Morikawa
would be appreciated. |
George Day, Oxy Professor of Sociology, gives an account of his
visit & activities in Little Tokyo. |
1942 |
April 13 |
|
Guy Snavely writes to Charles Fitts (Pomona College) relaying
information about the Western College Association, and correspondences
with J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI. |
|
1942 |
April 14 |
|
|
Dr. Bird writes a recommendation of Iko Tanzawa. |
1942 |
April 15 |
|
Mary Engberg writes Eleanor Roosevelt expressing concern for the
Japanese American relocation and discussing problems with it. |
|
1942 |
April 16 |
|
|
Charles Wishart writes Bird stating that he cannot accept all
Japanese American students but is tentatively committed to Ted
Tajima. |
1942 |
April 17 |
|
Jerry Voorhis (CA Representative to US Congress) writes Bird in
support of efforts to relocate Japanese American students. |
|
1942 |
April 18 |
|
|
Francis Hutchins writes Dr. Bird acknowledging Mary Kariya's
arrival at and adjustment to Berea College. |
1942 |
April 21 |
|
|
Bird writes Carter Davidson, President of Knox College,
regarding John Nishiyama's interest in attending the college. |
1942 |
April 23 |
|
Bird writes Lt. General John DeWitt expressing interest in
assisting with the efforts of relocating Japanese American college
students. |
|
1942 |
April 23 |
|
Hedrick writes Bird regarding secondary education at reception
centers |
|
1942 |
April 27 |
|
Tom Clark, Wartime Civil control acknowledges receipt of Bird
letters with plan to help in relocating students. |
|
1942 |
|
|
|
|
1942 |
April 28 |
|
Gertrude Laws writes to Lt. General John DeWitt regarding camp
education and recreation. |
Remsen Bird and Gertrude Laws, Pasadena City Schools, visit Santa Anita Assembly
Center |
1942 |
April 29 |
|
Gertrude Laws writes to Super of pub instruction et al re camp
conditions, cc's to Bird |
John Badgley describes students departure from school,
especially John Nishiyama in THE OCCIDENTAL. |
1942 |
April 30 |
|
Lucy Adams (Commissioner of Indian Affairs) writes Dr. Bird
regarding the education of Japanese American evacuees and educational
facilities within the relocation centers. / Bird writes Claude Reeves
(Superintendent of Education in L.A.) with hopes to help provide materials
for recreation and study. |
|
1942 |
May |
The incarcerees begin transfer to permanent WRA incarceration
facilities or "camps." They total ten: Manzanar, Poston, Gila River,
Topaz, Granada, Heart Mountain, Minidoka, Tule Lake, Jerome, and Rohwer.
(Densho) |
|
Mary Engberg, Polytechnic HS, Pasadena, sends camp publications
with Roosevelt-Johnson ltrs. |
1942 |
May 1 |
|
|
|
1942 |
May 3 |
|
|
Marguerite Prince requests Bird's help for Noel Tsuneishi. |
1942 |
May 4 |
|
Bird writes Ishida, JACL explaining Western Assoc of Colleges
committee for student relocation. |
Bird writes a letter of encouragement to Russell Nakata. |
1942 |
May 5 |
|
Assistant Secretary of War John H. McCloy asks Clarence Pickett,
executive secretary of the American Friends Service Committee, to
undertake with other organizations the relocation of over 1,000 Japanese
American students. / Bird writes Snavely with
encouragement and hope for the National Student Federation. |
|
1942 |
May 6 |
|
|
Charles Adamec, Dean of Knox College, writes to Dr. Bird stating
that the student council is in support of allowing Japanese American
students into Knox. |
1942 |
May 8 |
First evacuees reach Poston for Gila River Relocation Center. |
|
|
1942 |
May 12 |
|
C.L. Reeves invites Dr. Bird to attend a meeting on the
continuing education of Japanese evacuees. |
|
1942 |
May 15 |
|
|
Bird requests a list of Japanese American students who left
Occidental or are planning to attend Occidental from Dr. Fitch, Professor
of Philosophy at Occidental. |
1942 |
May 16 |
University of Washington student Gordon Hirabayashi turns
himself in to the authorities with a four-page statement explaining why he
would not submit to the imprisonment on Constitutional grounds.
(Densho) |
Dr. Bird writes a detailed letter to Guy Snavely about student
relocation in which he mentions meetings "on the Japanese-American
situation." / W. Q. Mendenhal writes Earl Hedrick (UCLA Provost)
describing two committees for student relocation and calling for speedy
action. |
|
1942 |
May 18 |
Franklin Roosevelt writes to Culbert Olson, Governor of
California, addressing the issue of Japanese American students. |
Bird notifies Snavely that he will not be able to attend the May
29th meeting, and advises Snavely to contact Clarence Pickett (AFSC) to
attend. Bird also writes Pickett about this matter. |
Remsen Bird writes to Charles Fitts, secretary of the Committee
on American-born Japanese and Aliens, stating "I believe this Committee is
doing something of great historical significance." |
1942 |
May 25 |
|
|
Bird sends Arthur Gould (L..A. Board of Education) a two-page
list of supplies compiled by Mary Engberg. |
1942 |
May 27 |
First evacuees reach Tule Lake Relocation Center in Northern
California. |
|
Robert Fitch sends list of student status to President Bird. /
Sophie Toriumi writes Dr. Bird thanking him for his kindness to her family
and mentioning Ted Tajima's correspondence. |
1942 |
May 28 |
|
Charles Fitts writes the members of committee on Japanese
American students describing a large meeting of educators nationwide
regarding Japanese American students and their continuing education. |
John Nishiyama writes Dr. Bird describing his life at Oberlin
College. |
1942 |
May 29 |
|
Meeting to establish the Japanese American Student Relocation
Council is held in Chicago. 46 individuals representing the government,
institutions of higher education, the Japanese American Citizens League,
and other organizations attended the meeting. Occidental College did not
send a representative.[Bird could not attend] / Bird writes C.C.
Trillingham (L.A. schools) commending his plans concerning Japanese
American evacuees and his proceeding with the commencement exercises. |
|
1942 |
June 1 |
Manzanar Assembly Center transferred from Army's Jurisdiction to
that of WRA, becomes Manzanar Relocation Center. |
|
A photo essay from La Encina, the Oxy yearbook, mentions the
Japanese American relocation: "The evacuation…of our Japanese students and
the strange realization that they, our friends, were of a different
race." |
1942 |
June 2 |
DeWitt's Public Proclamation No. 6 halts voluntary migration of
Japanese from eastern half of California; announces that they will be
removed to WRA Centers. |
Mary Engberg describes her visit to Santa Anita and her
impressions of the center. |
|
1942 |
June 3-6 |
The Allies victory at the Battle of Midway is significant, thus
turning the advantage in the war to the United States. (Densho) |
|
|
1942 |
June 4 |
|
|
Dr. Bird writes George Seno encouraging him and stating plans to
visit Santa Anita. He also writes recommendations for Seno and Inafuku. /
Oxy alum Jack Harmon writes Bird expressing disgust over Japanese American
internment and the racial discrimination. |
1942 |
June 15 |
|
|
Dr
Bird writes Howard Hanson of the Eastman School of Music recommending
George Seno. He also sends a recommendation from Maurice Blair, principal
of Seno's high school. |
1942 |
June 17 |
Dillon S. Myer succeeds Milton Eisenhower (resigned) as
Director, WRA. |
|
|
1942 |
June 19 |
|
Aubrey Douglas writes Irene Heinemen discussing the difficulty
of finding schoolbooks and toys for Japanese American students in the
assembly centers. |
|
1942 |
July 12 |
Mitsuye Endo's attorney files a writ of habeas corpus on her
behalf. The case wouldn't be decided upon until December 1944, but its
ruling would signal the end of the incarceration camps. (Densho) |
|
|
1942 |
July 27 |
Two men are shot to death by a camp guard while allegedly trying
to escape from the Lordsburg, New Mexico internment camp. Both men had
been too ill to walk from the train station to the camp gate prior to
being shot. (Densho) |
|
|
1942 |
August 7 |
DeWitt announces that 110,000 people of Japanese blood have been
removed from their homes. |
|
|
1942 |
August 10 |
|
Dr. Bird writes to Norman Littell, Assistant Attorney General,
expressing concern over Japanese American relocation and suggesting that
poor conditions in camps may breed hostility. |
|
1942 |
August 18 |
|
|
Dr. Bird asks Elizabeth McCloy, College Librarian, to keep a
record of all documents relating to the Japanese American struggle, as he
considers it an important event of the day. |
1942 |
September 18 |
|
|
Dr. Bird writes to John Gault (Assistant U.S. Attorney) in
support of Kinjiro Shiraisihi and asking advice for proper action in
regards to Shiraishi. |
1942 |
October 1 |
|
|
Dr. Bird writes Sinpachi Kanow thanking him for the copy of
The Pacemaker, noting his visit
to Santa Anita, and sends words of encouragement. |
1942 |
October 13 |
|
|
Robert O'Brien, director of the National Student Relocation
Council, writes to Bird, seeking permission to "borrow" George Day
(Professor of Sociology) to serve on the JASRC. Two days later, Bird
writes back to grant permission. |
1942 |
November 3 |
Final contingent of evacuees from Fresno Assembly Center arrives
at Jerome (Arkansas) Relocation Center. This completes transfer of control
from Army to WRA. |
|
|
1942 |
November 9 |
|
Harunko Matsushita writes to Mary Engberg with many questions
relating to his secondary school education. |
|
1942 |
November 14 |
Trouble begins with demonstration in Gila River Center
protesting arrest of two evacuees charged with beating a third. |
|
|
1942 |
November 23 |
Trouble at Poston Center settled by an agreement. |
|
|
1942 |
December 6 |
Military Police temporarily take over control of Manzanar Center
to stop demonstrations. |
|
|
|
1943 |
|
|
|
1943 |
January |
The War Department announces the formation of a segregated unit
of Japanese American soldiers, and calls for volunteers in Hawaii (where
Japanese Americans were not incarcerated) and from among the men
incarcerated in the camps. (Densho) |
|
|
1943 |
January 14 |
|
|
Dr. Bird writes to David Walden, commending him on his project
to write a historical novel on Japanese evacuation and suggesting
individuals to contact in this endeavor. |
1943 |
January 28 |
Stimson reveals plan to organize a Japanese American Army Combat
Team. |
|
|
1943 |
February 8 |
"Loyalty" registration both for Army enlistment and leave
clearance begins in WRA Centers. |
|
|
1943 |
March |
10,000 Japanese American men volunteer for the armed services
from Hawaii. 1,200 volunteer out of the camps. (Densho) |
All West Coast Relocation Offices are closed and the entire
student relocation program moved to a centralized office in Philadelphia.
The National Student Relocation Council is re-named the National Japanese
American Student Relocation Council. |
|
1943 |
March 11 |
Director Myer writes Stimson urging relaxation of West Coast
exclusion orders against Japanese. (Stimson rejects this on May 10.) |
|
|
1943 |
April 1 |
|
|
Akira Shiraishi writes to Dr. Bird thanking him for his help in
the release of his father and desrcibing his life at the camp in
Wyoming. |
1943 |
April 2 |
|
|
Kinjiro Shiraishi writes to Mr. and Mrs. Engberg thanking them
for their help and describing his journey home. |
1943 |
April 6 |
|
|
Dr. Bird responds to Akira Shiraishi's letter and encloses a
letter of recommendation. |
1943 |
April 8 |
U.S. Senator A. B. Chandler of Kentucky, who has been head of a
subcommittee investigating WRA, writes to Director Myer recommending that
"disloyal" evacuees be segregated from other residents of the Centers. |
|
|
1943 |
April 29 |
|
Dr. Bird writes Mary Engberg thanking her for Japanese American
materials. He mentions letters received from the Shiraishis. |
|
1943 |
May 4 |
|
|
Elizabeth McCloy sends Dr. Bird a summary report of the project
which Dr. Bird requested (documents relating to Japanese American
evacuation). She requests his help in this endeavor. |
1943 |
June |
The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of the
curfew order in Hirabayashi v. U.S. and Yasui v. U.S. (Densho) |
|
|
1943 |
June 15 |
|
Dr. Bird writes Francis Biddle (Attorney General) decrying
attacks on the Japanese American minority. |
|
1943 |
June 25 |
Director Myer writes Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy
on plans for a segregation program and selection of Tule Lake as the
segregation center. |
|
|
1943 |
September |
From the results of the "loyalty questionnaire," "loyal"
incarcerees from Tule Lake begin to depart to other camps and "disloyal"
incarcerees from other camps begin to arrive at Tule Lake. (Densho) |
|
|
1943 |
September 16 |
|
|
Minister Gordon Chapman writes Dr. Bird recommending Sinpachi
Kanow and describing his past academic history, as well as requesting
information regarding his Oxy career. |
1943 |
October 11 |
Final contingent of "disloyal" evacuees reaches Tule Lake. |
|
|
1943 |
October 17 |
|
Afton Dill Nance writes Dr. Bird describing the situation facing
Paul Kusada, a Japanese American student denied acceptance to the
University of Chicago because of time spent in a relocation center. Nance
asks for advice in this case. |
|
1943 |
October 21 |
|
Bird writes a letter to Imra [?] stating that all
Japanese-Americans should be treated fairly and not persecuted due to
their blood. |
|
1943 |
November 1 |
Tule Lake's troubles begin with mass demonstration. |
|
|
1943 |
November 4 |
Riots at Tule Lake. Army takes over control of Center. |
|
|
1943 |
November 30 |
|
|
Dr.
Bird writes Myrtle Fetzer, assistant director of USO, recommending Helen
Matsunaga to the USO. |
1943 |
December 7 |
|
|
Helen Matsunaga writes to Dr. Bird describing her life at
Rockford college, relating news of her family, and with reflections on
12/7/41. |
|
1944 |
|
|
|
1944 |
January 14 |
Military control ends at Tule Lake. |
|
|
1944 |
January 20 |
Stimston announces Japanese Americans hereafter will be drafted
for military service. |
|
|
1944 |
May 10 |
63 Heart Mountain draft resisters are indicted by a federal
grand jury. On June 26th the 63 are found guilty and sentenced to jail
terms. The 63 were pardoned on December 24, 1947 by President Truman.
(Densho) |
|
|
1944 |
April 5 |
|
|
Dr. Bird responds to C.V. Hibbard's (director of NJASRC) March
28 letter. He requests material for the library and expresses concern
about racial issues and the postwar situation. |
1944 |
Summer |
|
The National Japanese American Student Relocation Council select
13 Nisei college students who, during summer vacation, return to their
"Home Project" to promote the advantages and values of student
relocation. |
|
1944 |
June 30 |
Jerome Relocation Center, last to open, is the first to close,
with 5,000 remaining residents transferred to other centers. |
|
|
1944 |
July 1 |
Roosevelt signs Public Law 405 (Seventy-Eighth Congress)
permitting American citizens to renounce citizenship in time of war. |
|
|
1944 |
December 17 |
War Department announces that, effective on January 2, 1945, the
West Coast exclusion orders against Japanese will be revoked. |
|
|
1944 |
December 18 |
Director Myer announces closing of all Centers before the end of
1945 and liquidation of entire WRA program by June 30, 1946. His decision
follows U.S. Supreme Court rulings. |
|
|
1944 |
December 25 |
|
|
Helen Matsunaga sends a Christmas card to the Bird family with
greetings and reflections on "peace and goodness." |
|
1945 |
|
|
|
1945 |
January 2 |
The War Department announces that the exclusion orders are
rescinded after the Supreme Court rules in the Endo case that "loyal"
citizens could not be lawfully detained. (Densho) |
|
|
1945 |
January 8 |
Returnees' many troubles begin with attempt to burn and dynamite
packing shed of a Japanese in Placer County, California. |
|
|
1945 |
April 30 |
Director Myer officially estimated that on June 30 the Centers
will still hold 44,000 "relocatable" evacuees. |
|
|
1945 |
May 7 |
Germany surrenders, ending the war in Europe. (Densho) |
|
|
1945 |
May 14 |
Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickles strongly denounces
the continuing West Coast terrorism against returnees. |
|
|
1945 |
June 13 |
|
|
Bird writes a letter to Helen Matsunaga, in which he mentions
his decision to end his term as President of Occidental College. |
1945 |
August 6 |
The U.S. drops the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Three days later, a
second bomb is dropped on Nagasaki. Japan surrenders on August 14th.
(Densho) |
|
|
1945 |
August |
Some 44,000 people still remain in the camps. Many have nowhere
to go having lost their homes and jobs. Many are afraid of anti-Japanese
hostility and refuse to leave. (Densho) |
|
|
1945 |
August 15 |
VJ Day. |
|
|
1945 |
September 4 |
Western Defense Command revokes all individual exclusion orders
and all military restrictions against Japanese. |
|
|
|
1946 |
|
|
|
1946 |
March 3 |
|
|
Bird writes to Elizabeth McCloy discussing the significance of
the Japanese American collection: "How we have behaved towards these
people should be known and carefully recorded for future reference." |
1946 |
March 20 |
Tule Lake Segregation Center is officially closed. |
|
|
1946 |
April 15 |
|
Ann
Graybill, director of the Council, calls for a final meeting to discuss
the closing of Council operations. |
|
1946 |
June 1 |
|
|
Ted Tajima's portrait, on class page in the La Encina
yearbook. |
1946 |
June 30 |
War Relocation Authority program officially ends. |
The National Japanese American Student Relocation Council
officially closes. |
|
1946 |
July 15 |
"You not only fought the enemy but you fought prejudice... and
you won." These were the words of President Truman on the White House lawn
as he received the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. (Densho) |
|
|
1946 |
September |
|
|
McCloy describes Oxy's Japanese American Relocation Colletion in
the California Library Association (CLA) Bulletin. (1946:22) |
|
1948 |
|
|
|
1948 |
1948 |
President Truman signs the Japanese American Evacuation Claims
Act. Approximately $38 million was paid from this act, only a small
fraction of the estimated loss in income and property. (Densho) |
|
|
|
1952 |
|
|
|
1952 |
June |
The Senate and House override President Truman's veto and vote
the Walter-McCarren Act into law. This bill grants Japan a token
immigration quota and allows Japanese immigrants to become naturalized
U.S. citizens. (Densho) |
|
|
|
1980 |
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1980 |
1980 |
The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians
is established calling for a congressional committee to investigate the
detention program and the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066.
(Densho) |
Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund
launched by New England Nisei group in tribute to those who assisted them
during WWII: "seeks to aid and uplift poor & underprivileged Pacific
American racial minorities in the US by providing scholarships to attend
univs, colleges, & training schools [Storied Lives: 143] |
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1981 |
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1981 |
1981 |
The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians
holds hearings in 10 locations. They hear testimony from over 750
witnesses. (Densho)
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1983 |
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1983 |
1983 |
The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians
issues its report, Personal Justice Denied, on February 24th and its Recommendations, on June 16th. The
Recommendations call for
a presidential apology and a $20,000 payment to each of the approximately
60,000 surviving persons excluded from their places of residence pursuant
to Executive Order 9066. (Densho) |
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1983-1988 |
The
wartime convictions of Gordon Hirabayashi, Minoru Yasui, and Fred
Korematsu (the three men who protested the curfew and/or incarceration
orders) are vacated ("nullified") on the basis of newly discovered
evidence that the U.S. military lied to the Supreme Court in the original
proceedings. (Densho) |
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1988 |
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August 10 |
President Ronald Reagan signs HR 442 into law. It acknowledges
that the incarceration of more than 110,000 individuals of Japanese
descent was unjust, and offers an apology and reparation payments of
$20,000 to each person incarcerated. (Densho) |
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1990 |
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October 9 |
In a Washington D.C. ceremony, the first nine redress payments
are made. (Densho) |
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Sources: |
Chronology of Events compiled from to
integrate the activities reflected in the corrrespondence with national,
local and regional events. The research is offered as a rough guide. Created November 2004. Digital Archive, Japanese American
Collection, Special Collections, Occidental College Library. Los Angeles
California. |
Bosworth. America's Concentration
Camps. Norton: NYC. 1967 |
Densho Legacy Project, http://www.densho.org/
[accessed 9.15.2004] |
Ito. Afterword: Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative
Fund. Storied Lives |
Okihiro. Storied Lives.
1999 |
Papers of Remsen Bird: correspondence and NJASRC
printed materials |
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