General Materials, 1943-1945

File — Box: 17, Folder: 5

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This folder contains Community Council meeting minutes, with several ordinances, the criminal code for the camp, and other similar pieces documenting camp life. Matters under discussion are sanitation, food, the keeping of fowl, and myriad other small problems of daily life. A memo of January 20, 1945 provides the minutes of a special session conversed in honor of A.L. Wirin, a lawyer involved in cases on behalf of the Japanese internees. The discussion of the Escheat Law was the primary topic. Among other things, the question of reclamation of the internees' confiscated property is raised: "Question was brought up by K. Hatchimonji concerning the right of Japanese Aliens' to bring suit for property losses on the West Coast. According to Mr. Wirin, the Supreme Court made a decision that an Alien who is not arrested, has the same rights as a citizen as far as the court is concerned." Other documents in the folder are War Relocation Authority bulletins entitled Washington Daily News Digest (the remaining piece is not labeled in English in any way). They provide a daily synopsis of the news for the week in Japanese characters - likely and important concession to some of the camp's residents.

Dates

1943-1945

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this Collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.