Japanese Americans of Merced County

Japanese Americans of Merced County

Japanese Americans of Merced County is the latest book published partially funded by a CCLPEP grant.
This photographic journal was compiled by the committee of Marlene Tanioka, Eric Andow, Grace Kimoto, Frances Kirihara, Jake Kirihara, Sherman Kishi, Patti Kishi, Dan Kubo, Caroline Nakashima, Tom Nakashima, Jean Okuye, Emiko Tanioka, and Peter Yamamoto.

A wonderful addition to anyone’s library on Japanese American heritage. The images are excellent quality, with brief text and explanations of the time period of 1906 to 1960—from the Issei and farming, to the internment, to rebuilding their lives after returning from camp. Some of the well-known central valley Nikkei families names in the book are Andow, Tanji, Naka, Narita, Miyahara, Nakashima, Okuye, Ohki, and many others.

Active Image
 
Merced Assembly Center Memorial

Several months after the signing of  Executive Order 9066,  Civilian Exclusion Order 51 was posted. The Order unabashedly stated: "INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL PERSONS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY" and  followed with orders describing specific directions for the unimaginable but true evacuation of all Japanese Americans from designated areas. 

The Livingston-Merced JACL together with the Cortez JACL have organized the Merced Assembly Center Committee to plan for and to build a memorial to all internees at the Merced County Fairgrounds,  site of the assembly center for 4669 Japanese Americans and Japanese. One of the reasons for building this memorial is to make sure that we do not forget.

Committee members are looking for anyone who was interned at the Merced Assembly Center in the spring of 1942 or anyone who remembers the events of that time to work with us.  We are also searching for photos, stories artists, and writers. 

Please join us to work on grants, collect funds, provide information and to plan and create the memorial. 

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