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Dave M. Tatsuno Japanese-American internment camp video

 Collection
Identifier: A0668

Scope and Contents

The Dave M. Tatsuno Japanese-American internment camp video (1942-1993) consists of a VHS videocassette dub of amateur film footage shot by Dave M. Tatsuno while he was interned at the Topaz War Relocation Center, the Japanese-American internment camp located in Delta, Utah. The J. Willard Marriott Library does not hold the original film. The footage dates from 1942-1945, the years that Tatsuno was interned in the camp. All footage was shot in secret as neither moving image nor still cameras were allowed in any of the Japanese-American internment camps. The VHS tape also includes "San Francisco WWII History TV Production", with an interview with Dave Tatsuno; "Reunion of Japantown San Francisco Channel 7", with another interview with Dave Tatsuno; "Topaz Reunion 1992" at the Hyatt Regency filmed by Tatsuno; and "Return to Topaz '93", unclear if Tatsuno was the cameraman. This video has been digitized.

Dates

  • 1942-1993

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials must be used on-site; no use of original material, access copies will be made available for viewing. Five business days advanced notice required. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Dave M. Tatsuno Japanese-American internment camp video must be obtained from the Special Collections Multimedia Archivist.

Historical Note

The Topaz War Relocation Center (11 September 1945-31 October 1945) was the fifth largest city in Utah during World War II, when it was home to over 9,000 Japanese-Americans and Japanese immigrants, who were relocated from the West Coast of the United States of America as a result of Executive Order 9066. Relocated from California's Bay Area, Dave M. Tatsuno recorded his experiences in the camp in moving images. All footage was shot in secret as neither moving image nor still cameras were allowed in any of the Japanese-American internment camps. In fact, evacuees were required to turn in all cameras to the War Department once the war began. Tatsuno, rather than give up his camera to the authorities, loaned it to a Caucasian friend who lived in Oakland, California for the duration of the war. After he was sent to Topaz, Tatsuno mentioned to a camp employee that he wished he had a camera to document life in camp. The worker offered to have Tatsuno's camera sent to himself and agreed to give Tatsuno the camera once it arrived at the camp. Tatsuno was a young, married man at the time he was sent to Topaz. He and his wife had a son who was still a toddler and Tatsuno's wife gave birth to their daughter while in camp.

Extent

1 VHS

Abstract

The Dave M. Tatsuno Japanese-American internment camp video (1942-1993) consists of a VHS videocassette dub of amateur film footage shot by Dave M. Tatsuno while he was interned at the Topaz War Relocation Center, the Japanese-American internment camp located in Delta, Utah. The footage dates from 1942-1945, the years that Tatsuno was interned in the camp. The VHS tape also includes "San Francisco WWII History TV Production", with an interview with Dave Tatsuno; "Reunion of Japantown San Francisco Channel 7", with another interview with Dave Tatsuno; "Topaz Reunion 1992" at the Hyatt Regency filmed by Tatsuno; and "Return to Topaz '93", unclear if Tatsuno was the cameraman.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Dave M. Tatsuno in 2001.

Related Materials

This collection forms part of the Mitsugi M. Kasai Memorial Japanese American Archive.

Processing Information

Title
Guide to the Dave M. Tatsuno Japanese-American internment camp video 1942-1993
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid created by Tawnya Mosier.
Date
© 2002 (last modified: 2024)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863