Allyson's blog

Meet Michelle and Carly at the Youth Expo!

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:39:16 -0700

One of the exciting features of the upcoming national conference is the Youth Expo, which will run from 1:00 pm on July 3 through noon on July 6. Stop by throughout the conference for the different activities, including an area where you can fold cranes with two girls who are coming to Denver all the way from Minnesota!

These two young people are aiming to engage communities to fold cranes in honor of all of the Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during WWII. A photo of the two girls is attached, and a bio explaining their inspirations for undertaking this task is below.

Please be sure to stop by the 4th Floor's Youth Expo to meet them and help them accomplish their goal! Keep up the good work, Carly and Michelle!!!

Pre-Registration Closes June 5

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:29:06 -0700

The conference is just around the corner, with pre-registration closing on June 5. After June 5, registration will only be available on-site.

Click here to download the registration packet. Hotel information is available on page 14 of the reg packet, on the web, and also pasted below -- special room rates expire on June 9!

Click here to read about the new panels, new speakers, and new activities that have been recently added to the line-up.

Congrats to Mark H, Recipient of the Humanities Texas, Teaching Award!!!

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:48:07 -0700

Mary Grace just passed on a news tidbit about one of the Texan educators who has been writing and testing this project's curriculum for the past few years:

Mark H has just won an Excellence in Education award from Humanities, TX. I nominated him for it based on his work with this project plus the glimpses I got of his way of working with his classes and his relationship with his students, which is so clear in the video he made. Well deserved, I say!

This news really made my day. Congratulations, Mark!!!

Are you a University of Denver Alumnus?

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:39:08 -0700

A personal invitation from DU Professor Bonnie Clark:

During World War II, the University of Denver (DU) opened its doors to Japanese American students, beginning a proud tradition that continues today. This tradition will be celebrated on July 3, 2008 at the DU Museum of Anthropology at a dessert reception and open house. For details about the reception, information about the history of DU and Japanese American students, and a page specifically for Japanese American alumni of the University, please go to: http://portfolio.du.edu/amache and look for the section “A Historic Legacy: Amache and DU”

Miyamura Statue Unveiled in Gallup, NM

Fri, 23 May 2008 18:10:00 -0700

Especially in honor of Memorial Day and the many veteran tributes happening, wanted to share this info that pays tribute to a veteran from New Mexico. . .

The next time you're in Gallup, you might check out the new statue of Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura, Medal of Honor Recipient. See the attachment for more info. Thanks to John C for sending this along.

Also note that Mr. Miyamura will be speaking on July 4 at the national conference in Denver!

Scholarships Available for Colorado Students and Educators!

Wed, 21 May 2008 16:52:25 -0700

We are pleased to announce that there is (limited) scholarship money available to support Colorado educators and students to attend the national conference that will take place in Denver from July 3-6, 2008!

What is the purpose of this scholarship?
- Convening at the national conference will be scholars, community members, and history makers of the past and present. The National Museum and its donors and supporters in Colorado have created a scholarship fund to enable a greater number of students and educators from Colorado to attend the conference, which they feel will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

U.S. News and World Report Article about Camp Site Preservation

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:27:51 -0700

We recently had the pleasure of working with a writer with U.S. News and World Report doing research for his May 8 article about camp site preservation. Good job, Justin, and hope to see you in Denver!

Japanese-Americans Fight to Preserve Wartime Internment Camps: As survivors of the camps age, their cause becomes more pressing
By Justin Ewers
Posted May 8, 2008

MANZANAR, CALIF—Ernie Takahashi knows his past is around here somewhere. "I think this is it," says Takahashi, 63, as he stumbles through the eastern California sagebrush, his shirt flapping in the high desert wind. He walks up to a small wooden post, pounded into the sun-blasted landscape on the edge of Death Valley. Stenciled into it are the words "Block 27."

Fort Missoula Historic Preservation Sign Dedication

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:18:37 -0700

The Historic Museum at Fort Missoula (Montana) is making great gains in preserving the World War II Detention Center!

Thanks to Diane S for passing this on this article from the Missoulian:

Clearing ‘dark air': Ritual cleanses Fort Missoula building's past
By CHELSI MOY of the Missoulian

Draped in a traditional Buddhist robe, Zen master Genki Takabayashi bowed his head on the porch of a building that some 65 years ago served as a place where hundreds of Japanese-American detainees were forced to prove their loyalty to this country.

April 30 in Fort Worth

Sun, 11 May 2008 23:22:25 -0700

If, like me, you've flown through Dallas/Fort Worth Airport but never had a chance to venture beyond the airport, you might be surprised to find out that Dallas and Fort Worth are two somewhat distant cities, with the airport and green prairie between them.

When we were in Fort Worth on April 30, we were very lucky to have museum members and supporters from both Fort Worth AND Dallas join us for a reception hosted by Sylvia K., Anna McF., and Elaine Y. We were especially grateful to get so many in attendance, despite it being a Wednesday night and also because the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth's 2008 Awards Dinner and Silent Auction is happening on May 12.

It was also nice to

May 1 in Houston

Sun, 11 May 2008 08:16:04 -0700

As promised, here is the second entry about our recent Texas trip. On May 1, we were in Houston and attended a reception generously hosted by Donna C. We had a chance to talk with both long-time and newer museum supporters, including Japanese Texans whose families have lived in the Lower Rio Grande Valley for several generations and therefore not incarcerated during World War II, families who moved to Texas after World War II, two members of the 442, and also newly immigrated Japanese Texans. These folks are

May 2 in San Antonio

Mon, 05 May 2008 23:52:59 -0700

We just came back from a whirlwind trip to Texas. It was so nice to get to meet the museum's enthusiastic members and supporters in three different cities. Talking to these folks about their interesting and varied experiences during WWII and beyond made it even more clear how different the non-West Coast Japanese American experience was and continues to be.

To this first installment of blog entries related to the Texas trip (San Antonio leg), I am attaching two photos:

U. of Oregon Awards Honorary Degrees

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:36:27 -0700

Here is an article from the Chronicle of Higher Education, relating to Min Yasui. Thanks to Art H for passing this on!

Note that the University of Colorado, Denver will be mounting an exhibit of Min Yasui's papers at the Auraria Library (walking distance from the conference hotel) throughout the month of July, including during the conference on July 3 and July 5. For more information, on the exhibit, please click
here.

U. of Oregon Awards Honorary Degrees to Japanese Americans Who Were Expelled in 1942

http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/04/2428n.htm

By PETER MONAGHAN
April 6, 2008

Eugene, Ore.

When Midori Funatake came here to the University of Oregon in 1940, she never suspected that she would not get her degree until Sunday, April 6, 2008. She had set out from home, on the outskirts of Portland, 100 miles to the north, with a student's traditional motivation: "It was far enough away from home that I could feel independent," recalls Mrs. Midori Komoto, as she later became.

Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, during her second year. Fellow students and campus officials expressed sympathy to her, she says, but "the newspapers said anybody of Japanese descent was the enemy."

She and her fellow nursing students were quickly shipped up to Portland and thrown straight into nursing, as the war effort demanded. "That," she says, "is where I was when the government said all Japanese had to be moved out of what they called the war area.

"My school didn't think so. They said, 'You're absolutely essential here.'"

JAVA Advocate (JAVA Newsletter) for April 2008

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:39:10 -0700

Just found out that the upcoming conference is mentioned in the JAVA Advocate for April 2008. A pdf version is attached, and in addition to mentioning the conference, it mentions a lot of other good work that is happening related to Japanese American Veterans. Click here to learn more about JAVA.

Newsweek article about Poston

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:55:22 -0700

3/5/08: NEWSWEEK followed 5 Japanese-American internees on a road trip back to Poston. Here is a link to the entire article:

Return to an Internment Camp

Here is an alternate link, just in case.

Thanks to Karen L for passing this on!

San Antonio's Japanese Tea Gardens

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:34:34 -0700

The Japanese Tea Gardens in San Antonio had a grand re-opening ceremony this month! Thanks to Mary Grace K for alerting us of this good news. Here are a few articles about the tea gardens interesting history and recent re-opening:

San Antonio Parks & Recreation Department's Japanese Tea Garden: A History

Japanese Tea Gardens to Reopen - 2/15/08 article from the San Antonio Express-News

Japanese Tea Garden Memories - San Antonio Express-News Readers' Comments