Footnotes in History
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Footnotes in History
@footnotesinhistory.bsky.social
Historian of Japanese American Life from 1941-1945 🇺🇲 | PNW Native 🌲 | Documentary Maker 📽️ | Perpetually Working on My Book 🗃 | Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦

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A photograph of nine Japanese American girls at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. The group poses just outside of a barrack and a snowman can be seen on the left side of the photograph. Caption on front: "November 26, 1944. Heart Mt. Wyoming"
🗃 #skystorians #OTD
November 26, 2025 at 2:51 PM
A photograph of Henri Takahasi holding two chickens. Caption on back: "11/25/39 Portland Oregon Dear Tomoye me and my two old "hens" ha! Ha! This print (and me) is terribly finished if you ask me."
🗃 #skystorians #OTD
November 25, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Footnotes in History
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November 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
A photograph of a fourth grade class at the Rohwer incarceration camp in Arkansas. The class, located in Barrack 35-4-B, was taught by Nareen Oura. The photograph was taken by Tom Parker on November 24, 1942.
🗃 #skystorians #OTD
November 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
#OTD in 1943, Iris Watanabe of CA becomes the first Japanese American to join the Women's Army Corps. Watanabe's induction into the WAC was also slated for December 7. She was quoted saying, "I hope to help make the land of my ancestors pay for its unwarranted attack on my country."
🗃 #skystorians
November 23, 2025 at 11:39 PM
A photograph of Paul and Kenji Ima posing with each other on Thanksgiving day. The photograph was taken on November 22, 1945. Caption on front: "Thanksgiving 1945"
🗃 #skystorians #OTD
November 22, 2025 at 11:58 PM
A photograph of the Manzanar incarceration camp officially closing. "Manzanar is now officially closed. Mr. [Ralph] Merritt addressing the staff that gathered at the gates of Manzanar to witness the departure of the last evacuee from the Center. November 21, 1945."
🗃 #skystorians #OTD
November 21, 2025 at 2:59 PM
A photograph of a Japanese American soldier standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington DC. Date unknown, the photograph was taken sometime in 1942 or 1943.
🗃 #skystorians
November 20, 2025 at 2:50 PM
#OTD in 1943, the Seattle Times details the tenacity of Japanese American soldiers in Italy. Despite being injured, Japanese American soldiers frequently refuse to leave the battlefield. A humorous story of an injured surgeon gives readers an example of their gritty attitude.
🗃 #skystorians
November 19, 2025 at 2:58 PM
A photograph of a WRA car leaving the Manzanar incarceration camp in California. A group of Japanese Americans can be seen waving goodbye to the car. Original caption: "Departure by WRA Escort in Station Wagon en route to Reno." The photograph was taken on November 18, 1943.
🗃 #skystorians #OTD
November 18, 2025 at 2:55 PM
A photograph of Japanese American students at the Rohwer incarceration camp in Arkansas. The students rush between barracks to get to their respective classes. The photograph was taken by Tom Parker on November 17, 1942.
🗃 #skystorians #OTD
November 17, 2025 at 7:54 PM
#OTD in 1943, a California Grange representative urged the national convention to endorse the deportation of all Japanese Americans after the war. The rep also promoted placing all the camps under Army control. However, the National Master opposed the deportation resolution.
🗃 #skystorians
November 17, 2025 at 12:10 AM
#OTD in 1943, Major General David McCouch Jr announces that no firearms or explosives have been found at Tule Lake. Despite persistent rumors, an extensive search has turned up no weapons. McCouch also states that no incidents have taken place at the camp since the Army arrived.
🗃 #skystorians
November 16, 2025 at 6:08 PM
#OTD in 1943, WRA Director Dillon S. Myer pushes back against reports about the Tule Lake disturbances and called for accurate reporting. Myers described the reports as "exaggerated and even hysterical" and warned that harsh crackdowns could harm American POWs in Japan.
🗃 #skystorians
November 14, 2025 at 7:34 PM
A photograph of Japanese American soldiers in France. Original WRA caption: "A Japanese-American unit moves out of its old command post. The unit--Company F, 2nd Battalion, 442nd Regiment (Combat Team)--is holding a section of the front lines. St. Die area, France. 11/13/44."
🗃 #skystorians #OTD
November 13, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Original Caption: "Two Color guards and color bearers of the Japanese-American 442nd Combat Team, stand at attention while their citations are read. They are standing on ground, in the Bruyeres Area, France, where many of their comrades fell. 12 November 1944."
🗃 #skystorians #OTD
November 12, 2025 at 2:50 PM
#OTD in 1943, an FBI probe investigates the Tule Lake disturbances. The article alleges that knives and bombs were being made at the camp before the Army stepped in. Work strikes continue at the camp, while the last of the "loyal" Japanese Americans leave Tule Lake for other camps.
🗃 #skystorians
November 12, 2025 at 12:03 AM
#OTD in 1943, Representative Clair Engle calls for placing the Tule Lake incarceration camp under the control of the Army rather than the WRA. Engle and others highlighted the dangers that are rife in the camp, adding that "disloyal" Japanese Americans should be disenfranchised.
🗃 #skystorians
November 10, 2025 at 6:57 PM
#OTD in 1943, farmers and businessmen in Kent, WA distribute and display signs that state "We Don't Want Any Japs 'Here EVER" to protest the return of any Japanese Americans in the future. Kent's Mayor, Police Chief, and Fire Chief also add their vocal support the movement.
🗃 #skystorians
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
#OTD in 1943, the Seattle Times reports on a cooperative farm outside of Spokane. The farm, which is sponsored by the Church of the People, is run by Black, White, Japanese, and Chinese Americans. The farm emerged after formerly incarcerated Japanese Americans congregated in Spokane.
🗃 #skystorians
November 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
#OTD in 1943, Representative Clair Engle of CA arrived at Tule Lake to investigate the protests. He will be followed by members of the Committee on Un-Amerícan Activities as the disturbances have become national news.
🗃 #skystorians
November 8, 2025 at 6:44 PM
#OTD in 1943, an editorial in the Seattle Times blasts WRA Director Dillon S. Myer for "coddling" Japanese Americans leading up to the Tule Lake disturbances. The writer alleges that Myer's policies only emboldened the incarcerees and calls for the Army to take over Tule Lake.
🗃 #skystorians
November 8, 2025 at 2:56 AM
#OTD in 1943, a Seattle Times article reports that the Tule Lake camp remains quiet after armed Army troops arrived. The soldiers used tear gas to scatter the crowds. As of now, 20 Japanese Americans and at least one "civilian" were reportedly injured due to the disturbances.
🗃 #skystorians
November 6, 2025 at 7:51 PM
#OTD in 1943, two articles in the Seattle Times describe how the unrest at Tule Lake took place and was later quelled by armed soldiers. Japanese Americans at the camp have been on strike for weeks before violence occurred. Despite the presence of troops, tensions remain high.
🗃 #skystorians
November 5, 2025 at 8:05 PM
#OTD in 1943, WRA Director Dillon S. Myer publicly minimizes an incident that took place at the Tule Lake incarceration camp. On November 1, a number of Japanese Americans protested and made demands of camp leaders before being disbursed. Nevertheless, unrest mounts at Tule Lake.
🗃 #skystorians
November 4, 2025 at 7:38 PM