J. Stillson Judah: Japanese Camp Books collection, 1942-1946

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Summary

Abstract:
The collection consists of correspondence and book lists sent between Judah and Felter at Pacific School of Religion, the seminary libraries participating in loaning the books, and representatives in the camps coordinating the book collections in their respective camps. The files are in their original order using original folder headings. The folders were arranged by camp. All correspondence to and from a camp is in the folder headed with the camp's name. Folders containing correspondence to individuals are headed with the individual's name. There is correspondence also with the War Relocation Authority.
Extent:
1 box 5 inches
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

J. Stillson Judah: Japanese Camp Books collection, GTU 2001-3-01. Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of correspondence and book lists sent between Judah and Felter at Pacific School of Religion, the seminary libraries participating in loaning the books, and representatives in the camps coordinating the book collections in their respective camps. The files are in their original order using original folder headings. The folders were arranged by camp. All correspondence to and from a camp is in the folder headed with the camp's name. Folders containing correspondence to individuals are headed with the individual's name. There is correspondence also with the War Relocation Authority.

Biographical / historical:

In late 1942, J. Stillson Judah, Librarian at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, started a project to "establish small libraries of religious books for Japanese ministers in the WRA [War Relocation Authority] camps." (Letter: Judah to Eugene B. Hawk, 11/17/1942, File Folder 2) To accomplish this, he first enlisted the aid of the four other seminaries in Berkeley, Berkeley Baptist Divinity School, Starr King School for the Ministry (Unitarian), San Francisco Theological Seminary (Presbyterian), and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (Episcopalian). Judah wrote, "We hope to have about a hundred volumes in each camp library, and intend to rotate these every few months among the several centers." (Letter: Judah to Eugene B. Hawk, 11/17/1942, File Folder 2) Since there were twelve camps, there would be 1,200 volumes total. The combined resources of the Berkeley seminaries were not enough to fill the need. Judah therefore recruited book contributions from seminaries all over the United States reasoning that the more libraries participating, the less interference it would make on their own institutional needs. Six other seminaries joined the original five in Berkeley to total eleven seminaries participating in the project.

Mr. Judah coordinated the project from Berkeley. He compiled lists of books loaned by the various seminary libraries and created a rotation schedule among the camps. Further donations of money for postage and ordering new books requested by ministers in the camps were solicited from other persons and organizations. Mr. Judah also coordinated his project with and received monetary donations from the Protestant Church Commission for Japanese Service, Rev. Gordon Chapman, Executive Secretary. The Commission, headquartered in San Francisco, was formed by a group of churches and organizations in California. It coordinated assistance to internees, aiding needed ministries and service.

Dorothy Felter, an assistant librarian at the Pacific School of Religion, took over the project coordination in early 1944 and oversaw the return of books to the appropriate seminary libraries after the various camps closed in 1945 and 1946.

Correspondence from the camp representatives indicates the appreciation internees felt for the book service. "Your thoughtful and kind assistance has gladdened our hearts. How lonesome we feel here without books and our Caucasian friends. Now we can get books by your kindness. What a great news!" Mansanto Nishimura to Judah, January 7, 1943, Topaz, Utah (File Folder 19). "It is nice to have books in such condition for us all ministers and Christian friends, because they are living far from the church location and very cold these day[s]. We are going to set apple boxes and make our library book-s[h]elf in our church." Yoshikazu Horikoshi to Judah, January 26, 1943, Heart Mountain, Wyoming (File Folder 11). "Indeed it is gratifying to know in times such as these when this world is full of bitterness, hatred and strife there are few who still cling on to the ideal of the Kingdom of God, who try to practice the ideal of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. We appreciate very much for your service of assembling and loaning books to the Japanese ministers in the camps." Junichi Fujimori to Judah, February 18, 1943, Manzanar, California (File Folder 13).

Acquisition information:
Received from the Pacific School of Religion Archives, Kay Schellhase, Archivist, March 2001.
Physical location:
2/K/6
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to The Graduate Theological Union. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Graduate Theological Union as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred citation:

J. Stillson Judah: Japanese Camp Books collection, GTU 2001-3-01. Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley, CA.

Location of this collection:
2400 Ridge Road
Berkeley, CA 94709, US
Contact:
(510) 649-2523/2501
archives@gtu.edu
Website