1942 Nov 14 Letter from Kay to Martha
Dublin Core
Title
1942 Nov 14 Letter from Kay to Martha
Description
Page 1: Kay Yamashita has had several job offers, but is hesistant in leaving, anxious to jump at leaving because her parents worry for him. Despite this, Kay and Iyo are pretty sure that they will leave. She works in Student Relocation- advising, helping students with curricula, contacting the National Student Relocation Council. She has been placed in charge of Student Relocation by the Caucasian head of the Community Welfare dept, and works with Kiro Katayama, Nobu Kumekawa, Martha Nozawa and a typist. The head of the WRA visited and encouraged him. Greatest problem is lack of funds. She is trying to arrange employment for students to pay for tuition and fees. Ida Shimanouch received a scholarship from Smith College. Kaz Nomura, Fred Kawakami, Kiyoko Tsuchida, Gloria Kambara all went to Free-Methodist schoo, Chesbrough in Chili, New York.
Page 2: May Yoshino to Univ. of Utah, Yosh Hibino to Univ. of Texas and "many others." The permit to leave takes a long time to come. Kay asks Martha about kids in Poston and San Diego. Kikuye Kubota arrived from Santa Anita and told about "San Diego kids" before leaving for Drake Univ in Des Moine, Iowa. Yo and Kay miss Mari who is with Marty. She wonders how the social dynamics in Poston is with a mixture of people from different areas, since Topaz camp is full of the "old Bay Region bunch." Miss Coxhead is visiting the camp for 5 days and is experiencing the camp first-hand by staying in the Tanaka's tiny room, taking a bath in their block-shower-room, and changing in the room while Mr. Tanaka and Shin turn their backs. Miss Coxhead insists upon doing the dishes after eating in the mess-hall and standing in line with everyone else. Mary McMillan has come to teach, speaking in Japanese to parents for Education Week. Dr. Smith and Caleb Foote came to visit. Caleb Foote has been working hard for the Japanese-American as the West Coast Sec. of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. His articles include: "Have We Forgotten Justice?" and "America's Refugees" and rents Dave Tatsuno's house.
Page 3: Kay's parents feel bad about her sister's family the Ono's in Arkansas and are trying to get them transferred to Topaz by sending in requests to S.F. "Mother would be so much happier if Neich were here." Kazu Ikeda is marrying Tak Iijima. He's coming on a "furlough," and she plans to join him next year. Yuki Shiozawa marries Taro Katayama. They have obtained a leave permit to honeymoon to Salt Lake. Kay's sister, Chiz got out to visit Univ. of Utah Nursing school, "but her real reason I guess is to get away for a few days and breathe freedom." Against the protest of her family, Kay brought "all the pictures and little things in [her] room by sandwiching them in with [her] clothes." She's put up the "darling Hummel picture in the living room part of the room and "Tom the cockery sheep" Martha gave her. She thanks Martha "a million for them since those and the picture Kay gave both you and I (the Japanese girl) are the few things we have to brighten our place."
Recreation and amusement is minimal since nothing has been set up like at Tanforan's full recreational program. There is no place large enough to accommodate large groups. The rec halls and dining halls are used for small gatherings and church services. She mentions how the movies are so old- Back Street with Charles Boyer and Margaret Sullivan. She doesn't go unless it's especially good since she must stand or sit on her "fanny". High schoolers enjoy dances, but the "oldsters" go over to each others' "terribly crowded rooms." Hers is more roomy than most since Tommy and Tom Misumi did not end us coming ("sugar beet topping"?) making their barrack room for 4 instead of 6 people. Iyo has almost finished on pair of sox for Tommy, but "John tells me to quit kniting and read some good books...He's right but you know, just everyone does so it's the thing to do." Kay sands her love to Martha's mother, father, John and Willie.
Page 2: May Yoshino to Univ. of Utah, Yosh Hibino to Univ. of Texas and "many others." The permit to leave takes a long time to come. Kay asks Martha about kids in Poston and San Diego. Kikuye Kubota arrived from Santa Anita and told about "San Diego kids" before leaving for Drake Univ in Des Moine, Iowa. Yo and Kay miss Mari who is with Marty. She wonders how the social dynamics in Poston is with a mixture of people from different areas, since Topaz camp is full of the "old Bay Region bunch." Miss Coxhead is visiting the camp for 5 days and is experiencing the camp first-hand by staying in the Tanaka's tiny room, taking a bath in their block-shower-room, and changing in the room while Mr. Tanaka and Shin turn their backs. Miss Coxhead insists upon doing the dishes after eating in the mess-hall and standing in line with everyone else. Mary McMillan has come to teach, speaking in Japanese to parents for Education Week. Dr. Smith and Caleb Foote came to visit. Caleb Foote has been working hard for the Japanese-American as the West Coast Sec. of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. His articles include: "Have We Forgotten Justice?" and "America's Refugees" and rents Dave Tatsuno's house.
Page 3: Kay's parents feel bad about her sister's family the Ono's in Arkansas and are trying to get them transferred to Topaz by sending in requests to S.F. "Mother would be so much happier if Neich were here." Kazu Ikeda is marrying Tak Iijima. He's coming on a "furlough," and she plans to join him next year. Yuki Shiozawa marries Taro Katayama. They have obtained a leave permit to honeymoon to Salt Lake. Kay's sister, Chiz got out to visit Univ. of Utah Nursing school, "but her real reason I guess is to get away for a few days and breathe freedom." Against the protest of her family, Kay brought "all the pictures and little things in [her] room by sandwiching them in with [her] clothes." She's put up the "darling Hummel picture in the living room part of the room and "Tom the cockery sheep" Martha gave her. She thanks Martha "a million for them since those and the picture Kay gave both you and I (the Japanese girl) are the few things we have to brighten our place."
Recreation and amusement is minimal since nothing has been set up like at Tanforan's full recreational program. There is no place large enough to accommodate large groups. The rec halls and dining halls are used for small gatherings and church services. She mentions how the movies are so old- Back Street with Charles Boyer and Margaret Sullivan. She doesn't go unless it's especially good since she must stand or sit on her "fanny". High schoolers enjoy dances, but the "oldsters" go over to each others' "terribly crowded rooms." Hers is more roomy than most since Tommy and Tom Misumi did not end us coming ("sugar beet topping"?) making their barrack room for 4 instead of 6 people. Iyo has almost finished on pair of sox for Tommy, but "John tells me to quit kniting and read some good books...He's right but you know, just everyone does so it's the thing to do." Kay sands her love to Martha's mother, father, John and Willie.
Source
Note book A page 94.3-94.5
Date
Nov 14 1942
Files
Collection
Citation
“1942 Nov 14 Letter from Kay to Martha,” Yamashita Family Archives, accessed November 21, 2024, https://yamashitaarchives.ucsc.edu/items/show/725.
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