Historical Resources
Educational materials, archives, and resources for understanding the Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Historical Context
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942. This order authorized the forced removal of approximately 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry—two-thirds of whom were American citizens—from the West Coast.
These individuals were imprisoned in ten concentration camps operated by the War Relocation Authority, located in remote areas across seven states. The incarceration lasted until 1945, though some camps remained open into 1946. Masumi Hayashi documented these sites through her panoramic photo collages, capturing their haunting landscapes decades later.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act, which formally apologized for the incarceration and provided $20,000 in reparations to each surviving internee. The act acknowledged that the incarceration was based on "race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership." Listen to survivors share their memories of this period, and explore the photographs they took to preserve their stories.
Digital Archives & Collections
Densho Digital Repository ↗
Extensive digital archive of oral histories, photographs, documents, and educational materials documenting the Japanese American experience during WWII.
National Archives ↗
Official government records including War Relocation Authority documents, photographs, and administrative files from the incarceration period.
Japanese American National Museum ↗
Los Angeles museum dedicated to sharing the Japanese American experience, with extensive collections and educational programs.
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center ↗
Collections and exhibitions exploring Asian Pacific American history and culture, including Japanese American incarceration.
Library of Congress - Japanese American Internment ↗
Digital collection of newspapers published in Japanese American internment camps during World War II.
Educational Organizations
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) ↗
The oldest Asian American civil rights organization, with resources on Japanese American history and contemporary issues.
National Japanese American Historical Society ↗
San Francisco-based organization preserving and sharing Japanese American history through research and public programs.
Go For Broke National Education Center ↗
Educational organization honoring the legacy of Japanese American veterans who served in WWII while their families were incarcerated.
Camp Preservation & Historic Sites
Manzanar National Historic Site ↗
National Park Service site preserving the history of the Manzanar War Relocation Center in California.
Minidoka National Historic Site ↗
National Park Service site interpreting the Minidoka War Relocation Center in Idaho.
Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation ↗
Interpretive center at the site of the Heart Mountain Relocation Center, with museum and educational programs.
Tule Lake Committee ↗
Organization dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of Tule Lake Segregation Center.
Recommended Reading
Citizen 13660
Miné Okubo (1946)
First-person account with illustrations documenting the author's experience at Tanforan and Topaz.
Farewell to Manzanar
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston (1973)
Memoir of growing up at Manzanar, widely used in American schools.
Years of Infamy
Michi Weglyn (1976)
Groundbreaking historical analysis that helped launch the redress movement.
Only What We Could Carry
Lawson Fusao Inada (ed.) (2000)
Anthology of literature and art from the Japanese American incarceration.
When Can We Go Back to America?
Susan H. Kamei (2021)
Comprehensive history using voices of children who experienced the incarceration.
Documentary Films
Conscience and the Constitution
Directed by Frank Abe (2000)
Documentary about the Heart Mountain draft resisters who challenged the legality of conscripting incarcerated citizens.
Rabbit in the Moon
Directed by Emiko Omori (1999)
Personal documentary exploring the filmmaker's family experience at Poston and its lasting effects.
And Then They Came for Us
Directed by Abby Ginzberg & Ken Schneider (2017)
Documentary connecting Japanese American incarceration to contemporary civil liberties issues.
A Note on Terminology
This website uses the term "concentration camps" in accordance with the recommendation of the Japanese American Citizens League and many scholars. While euphemisms like "internment camps" and "relocation centers" remain common, they obscure the forced nature of the incarceration and the violation of civil liberties it represented. The term "internment" technically refers to the detention of enemy nationals during wartime, but the majority of those incarcerated were American citizens. "Concentration camp"—meaning a place where people are concentrated and confined without trial—more accurately describes these facilities.