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Collections > Clara Breed Collection > [Letter to Helen McNary from Fusa Tsumagari,
Arcadia, California, August 9, 1942]
[Letter to Helen McNary from
Fusa Tsumagari, Arcadia,
California, August 9, 1942]
Fusa Tsumagari [bio]
Arcadia, Calif., August 9, 1942
Enlarge Image (113.5KB)
(93.75.31AI)
Gift of Elizabeth Y. Yamada
Clara Breed Collection
letter
H: 8 in, W: 9.75 in (sheet); H:
4.25 in, W: 5.25 in (envelope)
ink
paper
Exhibition(s):
Subject Tags
American letters
Assault and battery
Assembly Centers, Santa
Anita
Barracks
California
Candy
Concentration camp life
Description
1 letter and envelope from Fusa Tsumagari to Helen
McNary. | Transcription: August 9, 1942 / Santa Anita
Assembly Center / District 5 F-27-5 / Arcadia, California
/ Dear Miss McNary, / It was my intention to write to you
on the same day I wrote to Miss Breed, but a mob riot
developed and caused all suspension of work. / Before I
tell you about it I want to thank you for sending me the
candy and also for lending me your shorthand book. At
the present time my shorthand is at a standstill, but as we
may move soon, I hope to resume my lessons in the
winter. / Though we don't know where we will be moving
we expect to be snowbound in the winter. At any rate, it
certainly will be much colder than San Diego. / On
Wednesday, the army (not from Frisco, though) ordered
our barracks searched for contraband. Previous to this
whenever such an order was issued we were given
bulletins and notified on everything. This, however, was
Concentration camps
Correspondence
Koreans
McNary, Helen
Mess halls
Riots
Shorthand
Smuggling
Study and teaching
Tsumagari, Fusa
United States. Army
Violence
Weather
Winter
World War, 1939-1945
done abruptly with no reason given and did not give the
people a very good attitude toward the search. Then, they
closed certain gates and would not allow the people to
pass unless they were searched. This, too, aroused their
anger. / Then, to top that, they began to confiscate such
things as scissors and knitting needles as contraband.
Then, some of the police had the nerve to steal people's
money and also remove things from people's houses
without allowing the occupant to see what was taken. One
policeman in particular aroused the people to such a
degree that they began to mob him. Incidentally a Korean
was leading the men in their raid. Many people had
grievances against him before as he was claimed to be a
"stool pidgeon". Unfortunately the mob of people were so
aroused that they chased him and beat him with chairs.
This was wrong, but a mad mob is very hard to control.
Incidentally this led to the discovery of liquor smuggling
and jailing of some of the stewards of the mess hall. The
army took control for three days and everything was at a
standstill. We and also the army were glad they finally
moved out. The newspapers did not give this version, but
that's the way we saw it. Just a few days before the
incident we were all craving for excitement, but now that
it is over we are glad that it is over. / Once again thank
you for the candy and book. If you have time, please write
to me sometime. / Sincerely, / Fusa Tsumagari
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or
quote from materials in this collection must be submitted
to the Hirasaki National Resource Center at the
Japanese American National Museum (hnrc@janm.org).
http://www.janm.org/collections/online/Clara_Breed_Collection/93.75.31AI
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Collections > Clara Breed Collection > [Letter to Clara Breed from Louis Ogawa, Poston,
Arizona, January 6, 1942]
[Letter to Clara Breed from
Louis Ogawa, Poston,
Arizona, January 6, 1942]
Louise Ogawa [bio]
Poston, Ariz., January 6, 1942
Enlarge Image (90.2KB)
(93.75.31AC)
Gift of Elizabeth Y. Yamada
Clara Breed Collection
Description
1 letter and envelope from Louise Ogawa to Clara Breed.
| Transcription: January 6, 1942 / Dear Miss Breed, / I
received the sweater and my brother's shorts. Thank you
very very much for going through so much trouble for
me. You need not have hurried in buying them. I wish
you had shopped during your leisure time. Thank you
again. The shorts are just fine. They fit perfectly. My
sweater is excellent. I just love it!!! I am sorry I did not
mention the price. Hearing that sweaters have gone up I
did not write the price. No, you need not worry about the
letter
cost because I intended to pay about that much. / I was
H: 10.5 in, W: 8 in (sheet); H:
very glad to hear you liked the flowers. I wish I could
3.5 in, W: 6.25 in (envelope)
have sent 10 dozen Am. beauty roses (red ones) to show
ink
my appreciation for everything you have done for me. / In
paper
my last letter I said the fence was torn down--well, it is up
again. This time a few feet further out. We have been told
that the reason for the fence building was so the cattle
won't come near our homes. In other words cattle is going
to be grazed outside the fence. But as yet, we have not
Subject Tags
seen any. Yes, I think the fence tends to weaken the
Agriculture
morale of the people. / New Year's I attended the New
American letters
Year Festival which was held in Camp II. It was held 3
Arizona
days, Jan. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. There were various exhibits.
Artificial flowers
The Camp II Industry exhibit--displayed various kinds of
art schools
things made by the department. Education was very
Breed, Clara E.
interesting too. There the work of the school children
Cameras
were displayed. Agriculture was another. In this building
Carey, Miles E.
were many different kinds of vegetation. They were very
Cattle
green and looked as fresh as a daisy. The one I enjoyed
Christmas cards
most was the Arts and Craft. The longest line was in front
Closets
of this building. My girl friend and I actually waited half
Clothing and dress
an hour in line. It was worth the waiting time, I thought.
Concentration camp life
Men have gone to cut mesquite trees and have made
Concentration camps
Concentration Camps, Poston lovely flower vases out of them. The crooked branches
and the bumpiest ones make the prettiest vases. In the
Correspondence
vases there were many varieties of artificial flowers.
Education
Many beautiful canes were made too. Such things as ash
Exhibitions
trays, book ends, pencil holders, fruit baskets, vases, little
Fences
jewelry chests, and crocket and checker sets were made
Festivals
out of mesquite. / When we saw the rolls and rolls of
Flowers
beautiful artificial flowers--chrysanthimums / of adobe.
Food
The adobe bricks are going to be made here. / The movie
Gifts
for this Friday night is "Confirm or Deny." I am very
Handicraft
anxious to see it. / As a Christmas gift, we, the students of
Menus
Poston III High School, received $500.00 from the
Morale
McKinley High School of Honolulu.--this is to buy
Motion pictures
athletic equipments. Dr. Carey, who is our Superintendent
New Year
of Schools in Poston is a former principal of McKinley
Noguchi, Isamu
High School. / Now, I must answer your questions before
Ogawa, Louise
I forget about them. Yes, many varieties of Xmas cards
Photography
were made here in Poston. I do not know who the artist is
Poston II
that made the card I selected. I wish I knew. There is no
Poston III
President William McKinley art school here. Yes, there is a famous artist here in
Poston. I do not know much about him. The little I know
High School (Honolulu,
of him is--his name is Mr. Isamu Noguchi, a famous
Hawaii)
sculptor. He has gone to New York on a short "furlough".
Privacy
He expects to return in a few months. / As time marches
Scarcity
on, more and more Poston seems like a home to me. After
Sculptors
leaving home for a visit to Camp 1 or 2, it certainly feels
Shopping
good to be home again. No longer is the thought of being
Staffs (sticks, canes, etc.)
in a camp afloat in my mind. But every time I see the
Student newspapers and
Exhibition(s):
periodicals
Suitcases
Sweaters
Vases
World War, 1939-1945
fence, it seems like a dark cloud has lifted and a
realization of camp life comes before my eyes. Often I
use to think as I laid on my pillow, "What will happen to
be if I had to live in this camp for 5 year?" but now, I
don't seem to think about camp. I guess I have adopted
myself to this situation. But many a time I have wished
with all my heart that I could go back to San Diego. / Yes,
we can hear conversation through the partition. We can
hear every word our neighbor is saying. / One apt. is
divided into 4 units. There is no closet or chest of drawers
to keep our clothes
Inscription
Written on inner flap of envelope: I hope you'll / be able
to use the / ticket I enclosed - I cannot.
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or
quote from materials in this collection must be submitted
to the Hirasaki National Resource Center at the
Japanese American National Museum (hnrc@janm.org).
http://www.janm.org/collections/online/Clara_Breed_Collection/93.75.31AC
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Collections > Clara Breed Collection > [Letter to Clara Breed from Margaret and
Florence Ishino, Poston, Arizona, December 21, 1942]
[Letter to Clara Breed from
Margaret and Florence
Ishino, Poston, Arizona,
December 21, 1942]
Margaret Ishino [bio]
Enlarge Image (98.3KB)
Poston, Ariz., December 21, 1942
(93.75.31AT)
Gift of Elizabeth Y. Yamada
letter
H: 10 in, W: 8 in (sheet) H:
3.5 in, W: 6.25 in (envelope)
ink
paper
Clara Breed Collection
Description
1 letter and envelope from Margaret Ishino (also signed
by Florence) to Clara Breed. | Transcription: December
21, 1942 / Dear Miss Breed, / We just don't know how to
thank you for all you have done for us, but we certainly
Exhibition(s):
appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. / Being
naughty girls, we opened the presents and cannot tell you
how thrilled we were! Little Thomas just will not let go of
Subject Tags
the cute little doll you sent him. Florence was 'tickled
American letters
pink' over the colored pencils, and thank you for Beautiful
Artificial flowers
Joe. / I know this is very little, but I feel I must send you
Breed, Clara E.
something in return. Please accept this material made in
Christmas presents
Concentration Camps, Poston Japan and these flowers mother made with our sincere
wishes for a MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A
Correspondence
HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR!! / Gratefully, / Florence
Dolls
Gardenia
Ishino, Florence
Ishino, Margaret
Pencils
Textile fabrics
and Margaret Ishino / P/S Please give a gardenia to Miss
McNary
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or
quote from materials in this collection must be submitted
to the Hirasaki National Resource Center at the
Japanese American National Museum (hnrc@janm.org).
http://www.janm.org/collections/online/Clara_Breed_Collection/93.75.31AT