Frank Nakata collection, 1940 -1947

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Summary

Creators:
Nakata, Frank and Oye, Wataru
Abstract:
Many of the almost 50 letters are in Japanese and many, but not all, of those have been translated. There are letters from other Relocation Camps in Topaz, Utah; Granada, Colorado (Amache); and Newell, California (Tule Lake). Other locations include: Fort Riley, Kansas and Brigham City, Utah.
Extent:
.25 linear feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

Frank Nakata collection. MSS 322. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library.

Background

Scope and content:

Many of the almost 50 letters are in Japanese and many, but not all, of those have been translated. There are letters from other Relocation Camps in Topaz, Utah; Granada, Colorado (Amache); and Newell, California (Tule Lake). Other locations include: Fort Riley, Kansas and Brigham City, Utah. There is also a Japanese Tulean Dispatch from June 22, 1943 that has been translated as well as information from the Tule Lake Union Church.

Generally, the letters describe camp life at the Relocation Centers. Weather and lack of things to do are the most common topics. The writers occasionally wonder about individuals that they have not seen since before relocation. Wataru Oye's letters illustrate the life of a Japanese-American soldier stationed in Kansas during World War II.

Biographical / historical:

Frank M. Nakata appears to have lived in Windsor, California (near Santa Rosa) in 1940 and was briefly in the Pomona Assembly Center before being moved to Heart Mountain Relocation Center near Ralston, Wyoming. He likely returned to San Francisco in 1945. Many of the letters in this collection come from his nephew Wataru Oye (1912-2001). According to his biography (http://www.wataruoye.com/Bio.html), Oye was in San Francisco when World War II started. He was drafted, and trained at Camp Phillips, Kansas. Oye later fought with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Europe. He was discharged in late 1945 and studied art at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. All of Oye's letters in this collection come from his times in Kansas. Other identifiable letter writers include: Sadako Arima, Mitsuko Kawashima, Eiko Arima, Eili Uchida, George and Kishiko Hoshide, and Yoshiko Kanashiro. Frequently, letter writers to Nakata would ask about a Mr. Sakaguchi.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection open for research.

Terms of access:

Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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 researcher.

Preferred citation:

Frank Nakata collection. MSS 322. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library.

Location of this collection:
University of the Pacific, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University Library
Stockton, CA 95211, US
Contact:
(209) 946-2404
Website