Resources
History and Heritage
Japanese American WWII Incarceration and IU
On Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the internment of tens of thousands of American citizens of Japanese ancestry. Sharing in the hysteria, the IU Board of Trustees voted on May 9, 1942 to bar the admission of Japanese American students to IU. In this video history briefing, John Summerlot, former director of the Center for Veteran and Military Students at IU Bloomington, talks with IU Alumnus Eric Langowski and explores how Japanese-American veterans played a role in breaking that ban.
The Day of Remembrance: Japanese American Incarceration
February 19 is a significant date in American history. “On this day in 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which gave the U.S. Army the authority to remove civilians from the military zones established in Washington, Oregon, and California during WWII. This led to the forced removal and incarceration of some 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast, who had to abandon their jobs, their homes, and their lives to be sent to one of ten concentration camps scattered in desolate, remote regions of the country."Below we have books, articles, and other resources to learn more about this topic. This is not an exhaustive list, but just a few resources to get you started.
- “IU Expresses Regret for WWII Ban on Japanese Americans” — Herald-Times
- “The WWII Incarceration of Japanese Americans Stretched Beyond U.S. Borders” — Erika Lee, TIME
- “The Unlikely Story Behind Japanese Americans’ Campaign for Reparations” — Isabella Rosario, NPR
- “The Injustice of Japanese American Internment Camps Resonates Strongly to This Day” — T.A. Frail, Smithsonian Magazine
- The Long Afterlife of Nikkei Wartime Incarceration — Karen Inouye
Explores how the history of Japanese American wartime incarceration continues to shape individual and collective memory, political engagement, and advocacy. Drawing on interviews and archival materials, Inouye examines the experiences of former prisoners and their involvement in educational and legislative efforts. - Farewell to Manzanar — James D. Houston and Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
A memoir of Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston’s childhood experience at the Manzanar incarceration camp during World War II. At age seven, Houston was forced to leave her home in Long Beach with her family and recounts life in the camp through the perspective of a child. - Only What We Could Carry — Lawson Fusao Inada, Patricia Wakida, and William Hohri
An anthology of personal documents, artwork, and historical materials that captures the fear, confusion, resilience, and strength of Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II. - Setsuko’s Secret — Shirley Ann Higuchi
Explores the legacy of Heart Mountain, one of the Japanese American incarceration camps created after Executive Order 9066. Higuchi reflects on her family’s connection to the camp and the lasting impact of wartime incarceration across generations.
- Densho
A nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Japanese American incarceration during World War II through oral histories, photographs, documents, and educational resources. Densho promotes equity and justice by connecting this history to contemporary issues. - Campu Podcast
A podcast from Densho that explores the history of Japanese American incarceration through personal stories and survivor accounts. Hosts Noah and Hana Maruyama highlight lesser-known aspects of the incarceration experience through everyday objects, memories, and experiences. - Order 9066 Podcast
A podcast from AMP Reports that chronicles the history of Japanese American incarceration through first-person accounts from survivors. The series examines how this violation of civil liberties occurred and explores its lasting legacy today, narrated by actors Sab Shimono and Pat Suzuki, who were both incarcerated at the Amache camp in Colorado.
- Asian American History and Culture: An Encyclopedia — Edited by Huping Ling and Allan Austin
- Encyclopedia of Asian American Issues Today — Edited by Edith Wen-Chu Chen and Grace J. Yoo
- Encyclopedia of Asian American Literature — Seiwoong Oh
- Winning the Future: A Road Map for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community — White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (U.S.)
- Building the American Mosaic: A Report from the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders — President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
- The Slanted Screen: Asian Men in Film and Television
- The New Generation: Vietnamese Americans Today
- Between Two Worlds
- An Asian American Story: Research Summary and Life Review
- Yellow Tale Blues: Two American Families