March 2020 Auction Ends Thursday, March 26th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/26/2020
Very moving autograph album kept by a Japanese girl during her internment at The Tule Lake War Relocation Center, the most repressive of the ten concentration camps housing Japanese Americans during World War II. Owned by a young woman named Akiko, the autograph book contains approximately 125 entries, with the earliest inscribed by her fellow classmates graduating from McCarver Jr. High School in Tacoma, Washington in January 1942. These ominous well-wishes of good luck from Akiko's classmates quickly segue to entries in July 1942 at Pinedale, California, one of thirteen temporary detention centers following approval of Executive Order 9066 on 19 February 1942, which established the camps. Then, beginning in October 1942 until September 1943, all entries are from Tule Lake, with several individuals recording their block and cell number in lieu of the place. The last entries from late 1943 make mention of Akiko's upcoming transfer to a different camp (in Minidoka, Idaho), which mirrors the historical record of low-risk inmates who scored ''high'' on loyalty questionnaires being moved to lesser security camps. It was in 1943 when Tule Lake became a maximum security prison housing those who the government considered disruptive or disloyal.
Nearly ever page of the autograph book is filled out, with excerpts revealing a culture of brave stoicism and almost an absurd juxtaposition that a young girl like Akiko (described as a ''swell girl'' with a ''smiling personality'') would be considered a threat. A few are even comical, with one person signing off as a ''Next Block Neighbor'' instead of next door neighbor, and one individual draws a mountain range, likely the Sierra foothills outside Sacramento. One individual even writes ''Remember Pearl Harbor'', perhaps trying to rationalize their stay at the camp. Uncorrected excerpts are a small sampling of the content.
An entry from Pinedale reads, ''It sure was glad knowing a swell girl from Tacoma. But now...we mite have to depart. Since we all don't know when the duration will be over...'' Many of the entries from Tule Lake - which comprise the bulk of the inscriptions, reference Block 74 where Akiko lived, and also working with her in the ''68 mess''. Excerpts include, ''[cell block] 7406-D&E / Tulelake W.R.A. [War Relocation Authority]...Since neither of us know where we're going yet, here's hoping we land in the same camp......Minidoka? Topaz? Granada? But I hope not in Arkansas!...A fellow blocker, 'Remember Pearl Harbor' & Blk. '74'''; ''Remember the good ole block 74...I'll see you again in Minidoka when I visit the camp''; ''This Tule Lake will remain in my memory for ever''; ''Segregation is now well on its way...I'll just wish you all the success and happiness in the future''; ''Now the time has come for us to go our own ways - not because of our wish. Whether I'll see you or not in Minidoka, best of luck, Aki. Be good.''; ''May you have health, wealth, and happiness in the future. May we meet again after segregation.''; ''I hope after segregation is over we will meet again...What has the future in store for us-? Well, let's hope for the best''; From cell block 6901-B, ''I wish you the best of everything. I hope we will meet again under better circumstances.''; ''I hope you'll enjoy life at Minidoka. I sure envy you. May we meet again someday, somewhere under better circumstances. I'll certainly miss you.''; ''here's hopeing that we meet up again somewhere other than a camp. Good luck - That Next Block Neighbor''; ''It has really been grand knowing and working with you in good ole 68 Mess. May it live in your memories forever''; ''Hope we can all meet again, somewhere, someday, sometime. Been swell knowing you and keep your chin up as better days will come''; ''May our paths cross again under brighter circumstances''; ''It has been fun having a bundle of joy in Block 74 and I'll never forget you.''; ''May we meet again in more pleasantier surroundings''; ''with the segregation coming up were going to have to part but let's hope we go to the same camp, heh?''; ''We may each be going a different direction so just in case we don't land up in the same camp -- may you have 'Happy Landing!'''; ''here's hoping our paths will cross somewhere, and someday, under better circumstances''; ''Together we have been through a lot, haven't we? I shall always remember the good ole' times we've had in Tacoma, Pinedale Assembly Center and here, in Tule Lake. I'm really sorry to part this time...With your never-ending sweet smile and pleasing personality you'll really go far. May you always keep it!''; ''I hope that our paths may cross again under more pleasant circumstances''; ''I hope our path will cross again in a 'outside' world''; ''It's really been swell knowing you and being in the same block. It seems we'll be going to the same camp so I hope we can continue our friendships - The stay in Tule Lake will be memories but let's just remember the happy days''. A few of the entries are in Japanese, with one translating in part, ''You're kind tears are sweet. Deep emotion of young days Beautiful You with a lot of tears. Akiko don't be infatuated with the pleasure of life. Go straight down the road of an honest, kind and happy life''.
Autograph book measures 6.25'' x 4.75'', with working clasp on front. An extraordinary and unusually large collection of personal remembrances from one of the nation's dark chapters during World War II.
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Extraordinary Autograph Album of a Young Japanese Girl Imprisoned in the Tule Lake Concentration Camp During WWII -- ''...Tule Lake will remain in my memory for ever...''
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